Page 6 of Don't Trust the Cowboy

“The house went into foreclosure, my only living relative is blind and living in Dallas, and I’ll be damned if I’m going to burden her with my problems. I’ve almost got enough saved up for first and last month’s rent, and until then, my head rests on my back seat, Mister Barnes.” I stare at him. “Or, what has the town been saying about me.”

He rakes a hand through his hair. “I don’t know shit about what the town says, nor do I care.”

“Good. I feel the same.”

Then, he shoots me with something else I don’t expect. “If I pay you under the table, will that help with your schooling?”

“I’m afraid my combined income doesn’t earn me enough to worry about that. Besides, my scholarship ran out earlier in the year, and I’m too old to apply for an orphan’s pension.”

“How old are you?”

“It’s...not an appropriate question to ask on an interview.”

“You routing through my things isn’t an appropriate way to behave during an interview, either.”

“This wasn’t an interview.”

“Then we don’t have a problem. How old are you, Miss Charlon.”

“I’m twenty-three. I went to university a year late, if that matters to you.”

“How come?”

“Because my folks were hell bent on keeping me here in Copper Cove, and wouldn’t pay for my schooling, whether it be here or away on campus, so it took me an extra year to come up with the money and to apply for a scholarship.” I swallow. “And why does it matter how old I am, anyway?”

He smirks distastefully, scraping a hand down his face. “Because the last thing I need is for the town to be thinking...things...about what I’m doing with you. Last thing I need is for them to think that you’re a minor. At least this way it’s half the trouble.”

“Why do you care so much about what people think, Mr. Barnes? You’re about to bring this town a decent revenue stream once this ranch is up and running smoothly. If you can get your act together, half of your problems will go away, if you want my opinion.”

“It’s easier said than done, I’m afraid, Miss Charlton. You see, I have the added bonus of my folks’ word getting around town, too. And even they don’t care much for me.”

“Mine didn’t care at all for me, Mister Barnes.”

“At least yours are dead, and they can’t cause you problems anymore. No offence.”

I raise a hand. “None taken. I mean, I loved my mama and my daddy, but I can’t even remember a time when either of them cared for me. I was a burden to them.”

“And that’s why you don’t want to be a burden to anyone.”

“Exactly. My folks did one thing right, Mister Barnes, they gave me nothing, which made me work for what I have and ask for nothing in return. I don’t work for free, mind you, but I never take anything.”

He walks around to the monitor and tears off one of the sticky notes. He shows me the back of it. It’s got his bank card number and the pin number. “I suppose you’re right about that. Hell, you could have cleaned my clock if y’all wanted to.”

I look at him expectantly.

He swallows and scrapes a hand down his face again. “Fine. You’re hired. But I just have one more question.”

My face is like stone, despite the relief I feel inside. “Go ahead, Mr. Barnes.”

“Why the hell did y’all come back to this town, anyway?”

Then I hit him with an answer that I never expected would come out of my mouth. “Some day I’ll tell you.”

Chapter 3

Billy

I’mnotsurethatI believe her, but I’m dead on my feet, and too goddamn tired to probe her any further. “Fine. Let me pay you for what you’ve done here tonight.” I say as I lift my wallet out of my back pocket.

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