Page 41 of Home to the Cowboy's Arms

He laughed and shook his head. “Well, I mean it. You give your name at the gate—you are already on the list—and you can come out here anytime and visit Ladybug. The hands all know this horse belongs to the mayor. So whenever the job gets too much or people make you mad—present company included—let this be your quiet spot away from it all. No strings attached, Tori. You deserve it.”

“Why are you doing this? What is the game?” She might as well lay it on the line.

“What do you mean?”

“Look, we couldn’t stand each other in the beginning. Then we took a business trip. And you actually paid attention and now we’re going to see a lot of people get really good help. That should have been that. But now my whole family is involved with you. We’re having dinners and…” She was fumbling it.

“And I kissed you. That’s what changed. It’s no longer professional. It’s personal. And it is uncharted territory for me. I was never going to let anything, or anyone get too personal. But then an irritating woman came along who didn’t care what my last name was or how many fans I might have. She didn’t have any problem putting me in my place.”

“I’m a novelty to you,” Tori said. “Because I’m different. I’m not all sleek and sophisticated like the women in your usual life. That’s more your speed. And I won’t play games. I’m not made for that. One man one woman…no space for a third or fourth party…or more. And it isn’t fair trying to bribe me with over-the-top things for my niece or knowing what a horse does to me and telling me it’s all mine. It isn’t and it never will be. So, please just let it go.”

She walked away. It was the hardest thing she ever did but it had to be done. Make the cut quick…that is what she’d learned from the days of being tossed around as a child. Somehow, she’d get past all of this and things would be normal again. Maybe not tomorrow or the next day…even the days after that. But it would come. Just no looking back.

Chapter Sixteen

Two weeks.Twoweeks was how long it had been since her speech in the barn at Lockwood Ranch. She should feel good about the fact that she had neither seen nor heard from Cade in all that time. Matt and even Maggie seemed to steer clear of mentioning him around her. If they did, in Maggie’s case, it was that things were progressing with the springs and the medical communities were all on board. Cade Lockwood was doing everything he had promised.

And she should be glad of that. It would mean so much to so many—help so many. Sitting on her front porch with her morning coffee, she had garnered another homeless cat who had wandered up and never left. That was fine. The weather was turning and Easter and then spring would come out in full force. She’d have to get Jillie’s basket of goodies planned out. Plan the family dinner. Do all the usual things. Three out of four cabins were rented and two of them were long term. She liked having the small cabins, each decorated in their own style, instead of strangers coming and going in the house as Addie had done with the previous boarding house.

Primrose Inn would have an incredible garden bursting with color in the spring. That’s as it should be. One of the tenants turned out to have a green thumb and had already made some inroads in preparation for the spring.

Her thoughts in the early morning sunrise and the evening sunset often went to Ladybug…hoping someone was giving her the nose rubs she enjoyed. And as much as she hated to admit it, Cade would often intrude in those moments too. She thought by cutting him out of her life for good that it would all ease up. But it only brought the realization that he had stolen into her heart, and it would take a lot longer to rid herself of his memory. She was used to heartbreak in her life, but this was so different and so much more painful, which only seemed to increase in intensity rather than decrease. She would keep moving forward just as she always did. That was her plan.

The phone rang. So much for the peace and quiet. She opened the cell and saw a familiar name. She was already smiling. “Who is this stranger calling me?”

“Okay, I deserved that. But I don’t have long to talk. I’m about to get a case and I am passing through your neck of the woods. How about lunch?”

“Well, let me check my social calendar.” She paused. “Okay I can fit you in.”

“I’ll meet you at Tillie’s at eleven thirty. Bye.”

“Bye to you, too.” But he was already gone. The smile had remained on her face. It’s just what the doctor ordered. So she needed to get a move on. Get to the office and then to her lunch date. She grinned for the first time in a long time.

Tillie’s was crowded but she had called ahead and explained the circumstance and Tillie had come through for her. She took her right to a table in the corner of the big room, next to the window. It was nice and she could see most of the goings on around the square. She was on the lookout for a familiar face. She didn’t hear anyone approaching.

“Looking for me by any chance?”

She jumped up and hugged the man. The huge smile on her face summed it up. He was a welcome sight for sore eyes. He hugged her right back. Then he took off his hat and sat it on the corner of the table as they both sat down.

Tori couldn’t stop smiling. “You look good. Tired maybe…a little older. But good. Now tell me how you really are.”

“Still the mother hen, I see,” he said. “I’m good. I’ve just been working a couple of cases that have kept me busy…lots of travel. But I have another assignment that will take me to the border for a while so this would be my only chance to see you. I would like to have seen Matt, but I hear he’s tied up in the next county on a court case. I’ll catch him next time.”

“We missed you at Jillie’s party, but she understood. She did love your gift.”

“She’s growing like a weed from the last photo Matt sent.”

Tillie came up at that moment and they both knew what they wanted, and she gave him a quick hug and she was off to turn in the orders.

“Nothing changes around here…still the best place to eat in town by the looks of the crowd. And now it’s time you tell me what you’ve been up to, Mayor Parker. And don’t leave anything out.”

She gave him the highlights of her time in office with one or two minor adjustments. The burgers arrived and he took a quick bite. “Okay so now give me the scoop on this Lockwood character that Cassie has told me so much about. When do I meet him and how much would you miss him if he disappeared?”

“That’s not amusing, Rance.” She gave him a level look. “And not what a U.S. Marshal should be saying in public.”

“And you’re stalling. Is it serious?”

“No. It’s done. So, you can stand down, Mr. Lawman. And remember, your sister can take care of herself.”

---