Page 6 of The Cowboy's Witchy Second Chance
“Well, yeah. Al is amazing. But she has zero interest in me. She's made that clear.”
The end of April threatens rain, so I spend my morning-off buying materials for patching up the roof of my shed. Waiting in line to pay, I spot a familiar, gorgeous auburn-haired woman at the customer service desk.
Alona looks up and our eyes meet. I give her a wave. She first returns it with a tight grin, but then gives a quick wave back. Next thing I know, she spins on her heel and walks out of the store. I allow a long sigh to tumble out and, when I look up, I see the cashier is waiting impatiently for me to move up in the line.
In the parking lot, I load up my truck when I’m interrupted by a teasing voice behind me.
“Don’t tell me you’re doing more manual labor on your day off.”
I turn to find Beau and his wife, Scarlett, walking toward me.
“Hey. Hi Scar. Yeah, I have to. Rain is in the forecast and my shed’s roof leaked the last time we had a storm.”
Beau helps me load the rest of my purchases into the truck, when Scarlett pipes in with a singsong voice.
“I hear that your high school sweetheart is back in town, Ford.”
I give her husband a look, who shrugs sheepishly at me.
“She is, yeah. But she wants nothing to do with me. I actually just saw her inside. She gave me a half wave, that's it.”
Beau frowns at this story, but Scarlett gives my arm a squeeze.
“Well, my husband seems to think you two are getting back together.”
I interrupt her with a snort, and she continues.
“Maybe he’s right. Give her time. You never know.”
As they walk into the store, I realize I should suggest to Beau that he introduces Alona to Scarlett. I don’t know if Scar considers herself a witch, but she definitely works with magic when she reads people’s auras.
The next day, when I arrive at work in the morning, I can hear voices through the open farmhouse windows. Beau’s voice sounds peeved.
“Clem, what is up with your friend, anyway?”
“I have more than one friend, brother. Be more specific.”
“Alona. She basically ignored Ford when he bumped into her yesterday. What’s that about? He spent all of that time helping her on her goat ranch.”
Walking up the porch steps, I want to make my entrance so that they know I am around. I feel weird eavesdropping on them. I reach the door when Clem’s voice floats out the window with words I never expected to hear.
“I think she’s struggling with her feelings for him. She told me the other day that she can’t stop thinking about him. But she sees him as a risk and doesn’t want a repeat of what she went through with him last time.”
I don’t know what Beau says in reply, because I open the front door as loudly as possible to announce my arrival.
5
Alona
Ford returned to his job at the Brooks’ ranch last week. And, while the new hires are working out great so far, I miss having him around.
It’s not like we were all buddy-buddy while he was here. I kept my distance from him, mostly. But I enjoyed the moments we had together that weren’t just about ranch needs. He still knows how to make me laugh.
I feel conflicted. Part of me tells me to get over myself, while the other half reminds me to stay pragmatic.
On Friday night, I meet up with Clem and Nattie at the Cowpoke Saloon for a couple of beers. I have, of course, made friends throughout my adult life, but there's something really nice about connecting with hometown friends.
During our second round, Clementine brings up Ford.
