Page 65 of The Cowboy's Surprise Return

“The ranch house special.”

Bacon and eggs, toast, sausage and oatmeal, if he recalled correctly.

“You getting the Wylder special?” she asked.

“They still have that?” As teenagers, he and his brothers would often have breakfast at home, hustle through their chores, then head to school early, stopping by for a second breakfast if time permitted. During their teenage growth spurts he was pretty sure their constantly hollow stomachs had kept the diner’s financials well in the black. Every day they’d order the same thing. Bacon and scrambled eggs, sourdough toast, shredded hash browns and pancakes. It had been nicknamed the Wylder special, and it surprised him people still referred to it as such.

“Laura ordered it when she came to town,” Jackie said.

“That little bit of a thing? Are both her legs hollow?” Laura Oakes still had the physique of a fashion model, her former career, and it amazed him to hear she could and would consume a meal as large as the Wylder special.

“The town’s goal is to get her back to human size,” Jackie said with a laugh. “Although she doesn’t seem to put up much of a protest. That girl likes her food. I can’t imagine what it must’ve been like trying to stay a size zero or whatever she was while working.”

“Are you talking about Laura?” Mrs. Fisher asked, coming along with her coffeepot. She filled their cups without asking, then placed cream and sugar in front of Jackie.

“I was saying how she ordered the Wylder special when she came to town.”

“Oh yes,” Mrs. Fisher said, beaming. “Bill gave her a fright that morning. And when she put in her order, I knew she and Levi were destined to be a couple. She even asked for extra syrup like he does.” She gave a satisfied little shoulder wiggle. “I wasn’t wrong.”

“You don’t get credit for them,” Jackie protested. “I’m the one who took them to a game.”

“You think you’re a matchmaker,” Mrs. Fisher teased with a sly smile and a twinkle in her eyes.

“I am!” Jackie said loudly, causing people to turn her way. Letting go of Cole’s hand, she leaned out into the aisle and spied Davis Davies, the local radio DJ. “Aren’t I? People go to a game with me and soon they’re matched up with their true love. Right?”

Mrs. Fisher sucked in her cheeks as though fighting a grin.

“Yes, Jackie,” Davis said impatiently. “We all know. Levi, Myles, Brant, Ryan.” He gave Cole a meaningful look.

Cole raised his hands as if innocent. He’d never gone to a game with Jackie. Not technically.

“Yeah, you’re a problem,” Jackie said, eyeing him. “You’re marring my perfect Wylder match-up streak.”

“Too bad the season is over,” Mrs. Fisher said. “But from what I’ve heard, neither of you are single, anyway.” She pivoted, topping up Davis’s cup with coffee.

“Want to know a secret?” Cole asked, leaning across the table. Jackie swiveled back into the booth. “I was sitting behind you at the state championship game.”

There was a long moment of silence.

“You were not,” Jackie said in a tiny voice.

“You were wearing leggings under a miniskirt, a white sweatshirt, and your were taking stats.”

She gasped, then her eyes narrowed. “You saw me on TV.”

“If you’d turned around, you would have seen me three rows up.”

“No,” she breathed. “Perfect score. Five for five.”

“I don’t think that counts,” Mrs. Fisher said, turning back to their table, having obviously eavesdropped. “Can you setyourselfup with someone? Especially if you don’t know they’re there?”

Jackie’s attention was still on Cole. “Whywereyou there?”

“To watch the game. I’ve been to all of the State games.”

“Why didn’t you…” She grew silent and dropped her eyes. She knew why he hadn’t come down to celebrate, to speak to his brothers or show his face. April had been there. And Cole had been respecting her wishes, not wanting to horn in on a celebration on-field, not ready to break the silence with his family.

Sitting in a small brew pub in Blueberry Springs, Colorado, day after day he’d mulled over the decision: go home or give everyone more time? He’d always opted to play it safe. In part, he knew, because he was afraid what he might return to. His father hadn’t reached out to him at all over the years, his brother Brant being the only one making an effort. Levi had finally started calling a few months ago, but had never left more than a ‘“Levi here”’ message that didn’t give Cole anything to act upon. It had been enough to keep him away.

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