Page 18 of Don't Trust the Cowboy

Then she hits me with an answer I don’t expect.

Chapter 6

Piper

AsIsitthere,patting Mazy, grateful that I was here to witness this miracle, Billy asks me a question, and when I answer, he gets a strange look on his face. “I was worried about her.” I say. “I didn’t want Mazy to be alone when she’s about to give birth. Especially since we took her out riding, I felt bad, and I didn’t want anything to happen to her because of me.”

He swallows, looking down, as though ashamed. “Well, that’s awfully kind of you, darlin’, but I could have easily looked after her. I’ve got the ears of a hawk.”

“If that’s true, then how come you didn’t hear me pull up to the house? And you didn’t hear me come into the barn, either.” I point out.

“Well, that’s true. But I did hear Mazy the second that she whinnied, and you were still asleep.” He points out.

“So, you hear your horse, but you don’t hear an intruder?”

He’s speechless for a moment. “Like I said, Mazy lets me know if anyone comes around.”

“But she didn’t. I was fast asleep next to her.”

“Well, that’s because, to her, you’re not an intruder, darlin. She knows you and trusts you, and she probably knew that you were coming in to look after her. She might have even appreciated the company, even though horses usually like to calf alone.”

I rise and go to my things, and as I start to roll up my sleeping bag, he kneels next to me. “What do you say you sleep in my spare room, hm?”

I shake my head no. “I couldn’t. Really, I’m fine. I’ve got almost five hundred dollars saved up, and I can probably rent a room for that in this town, in fact, I have a lead on something.”

He chuckles. “Now, that’s a lie if I’ve ever heard one.”

“How do you know?” I demand, trying to keep the irritation out of my voice.

“If you had a place to lay your head, other than the back seat of your car, or in a pile of hay, you’d be there already. Anyone with any sense would.”

I swallow, knowing that I’m defeated. “Alright. I lied, so what. I told you I don’t want to be a burden to anyone, and you said so yourself that the town watches you like a hawk. Think about how it would look if I stayed here with you.”

“I thought you said that I worry too much about what people think.”

“Yeah, well, I’m not going to tell you how to run your life, Billy. That’s none of my business. I’m here to help you not to hinder you.”

He draws in a deep breath and then releases it, and then he changes tack. “How much of a good employee are you going to be to me sleeping in your car, hm? I don’t go for staff that fall asleep at their desk, and I certainly don’t condone sleeping on the floor of my barn. So how’s this. You sleep in my spare room and I’ll either take a hundred bucks a month or I’ll deduct it from your paycheck. Just until you get on your feet. What do you say.” He offers in a non-committal, yet a straight-up tone.

My response is immediate. “Aren’t you afraid that people will talk? What are you going to say to people when they ask? And what about your folks? Aren’t they going to have something to say about me living here?”

He grunts softly, combing his fingers through his hair. “I think the issue here is more that I’m employing a vagrant. They find out you’re living out of your car and working for me it’ll look way worse.”

“But we would be living together. Isn’t that weird? Since I work for you?”

“It’s just temporary, Piper. Just to get you out of your car and on your feet. I’d rather you live here than on the streets, where it’s unsafe. At least this way, I don’t have to worry about you getting mugged and coming in to work late.”

I have trouble saying no. There are no further refutes. “I’ll pay you a hundred bucks upfront.”

“If that makes you happy, fine. I’ll give you a hand bringing your stuff in.”

“It’s okay. I can do it.”

He gets frustrated. “Now, dammit, Piper! You’ve got your whole life in that car, and it’s late, and you’re going to be coming in and out, keeping me up, so let’s just get this over with, okay.”

“I’m...sorry. Sure. I forgot that you haven’t slept much.”

“It’s no different from you, darlin’. You’re dead on your feet, too. Now, let’s get this done, so we can both get some rest. Christ, it’s nearly dawn.”

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