Page 34 of Roaring Fork Wrangler

“Yes, ma’am, err, Sam.”

When I walked them out, they said they’d be in touch.

Since I was on East Coast time, there was a chance Six-pack might still be in hisoffice, so I called to let him know about the new development. I shouldn’t have been surprised when the call went to voicemail.

I went into town and ate at the same tavern where I’d initially met with Pete.

I was on my way home from there when I thought I saw Juniper walking down the street. Alone. In the dark. In the middle of winter. There wasn’t a chance in hell I’d keep driving without knowing for sure whether it was her.

The minute I was certain, I felt a calmness wash over me. I was so damn happy just toseeher. And then, I’d blown it, saying the first shit that came to mind without thinking before I spoke.

After droppingher off at her house, I pulled out of the driveway, certain I couldn’t have bungled things with her any worse than I had.

Even though I wasn’t lying when I said I missed her, should I have said it? More than once? God, it had probably freaked her out.

So often, I found myself wishing I’d handled things differently at the tavern the night when I was with Pete. I should’ve gone after her and explained. If not then,I should’ve called her rather than believe her uncle would take care of it.

The only reason she would’ve hightailed it out of there, as he’d said, was if her feelings were hurt. I wasn’t so insensitive that I hadn’t realized that was the case. And yet, I’d let two weeks go by before I finally called. When I didn’t hear anything, I gave it one more shot, but she didn’t answer or call back.

“You should get to know more people here. Make some friends,” she’d said when I told her I missed her a second time. I’d tried that. For a small town, there were a lot of bars in East Aurora, but I’d learned which ones to frequent and which to steer clear of quickly. Anywhere I knew the cowboys who worked at the Lilacs frequented were immediately scratched from my list.

I drove home,but knowing I wouldn’t sleep after the way my conversation with Juniper ended, I turned around and went back into town, pulling up to the first open bar I found.

I was about to go inside when I came face-to-face with Beau and Samantha.

“Evenin’,” I said, removing my hat.

“Hello, Cord. We were just on our way out, but can we buy you a drink?” Beau asked.

I looked beyond them and noticed a man I’d seen with Schultz a few times. He was looking this way and appeared to be sneering at us. “Nah, but thanks. I don’t think I’ll stick around.”

I turned and walked out.

“What was that about?” Beau asked once we were outside.

“Is there somewhere we can talk? Privately, I mean?” I asked.

“We could return to the Lilacs,” he suggested. “Give us twenty minutes?”

“See you there,” I said, returning to my truck.

I parked near the cottage,walked up to the main house, and sat on the porch steps. When Beau and Samantha pulled in a few minutes later, I followed them inside.

I removed my hat and sat in the living room after Sam had.

“Cord, are you a wine drinker?” Beau asked when he joined us, carrying a bottle and three glasses.

“I am, thanks.”

“Where shall we begin?” he asked after pouring the wine and taking a seat beside Sam.

I set my glass on the table in front of me, leaned forward with my elbows on my knees, then sat up straight and scrubbed my face. “What I’m about to tell you is going to sound crazy.”

Sam chuckled. “No crazier than my story.”

I smiled. “Guess you’re right, ma’am, I mean, Sam. Now, I sound like Dr. Seuss.” We all laughed, but what I was about to tell them wasn’t the least bit funny. “My father passed away last year.”

They both offered their condolences.

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