Page 29 of What the Cowboy Wants
As quickly as she could, Rose walked to Departures.She had checked in online since Arlene’s bag was small enough to keep with her, so she kept her head down, praying no one else would recognize her.
Chapter Eight
Monday was abusy day.This time of year, the bulls were sperm tested to make sure they were daddy material and fences were checked before the cattle were put out.All the damage caused by winter storms and wildlife had to be repaired, so they worked from early morning till late in the evening.
Cooper had skipped lunch because he wanted to check up on Scarlett again, so by dinner he was hungry.And irritated.And restless.Rose, of course.Keeping busy had been to keep his mind so occupied he’d stop thinking about her.It wasn’t working.
When he’d stopped to pick up the animals, Ebony had given him anotherwhat-is-wrong-with-youlook and had disappeared.Prince and Charlie had taken pity on him though, keeping close to him.
“I’m fine, you can go and play,” he said as he entered the dining room.The rest of his family were already there.As he sat down, Hunter joined them.With a faint smile, he pulled out the only unoccupied chair—the one across from Willow.
His sister’s immediate irritation reached Cooper in waves.Angling his head, he watched his sister.There was something else besides the irritation, but she’d shut down her thoughts, he couldn’t read her.
“Is your new dog still staying with Isabella and Ricardo?”Laura asked.
Cooper nodded.“Yes.According to Isabella, she’s doing better.”
“But you’re hoping Rose will take her?”Willow asked.
Cooper shrugged.“If she wants to.We’ll see.”
Hayden and Hunter struck up a conversation about the mornings work and Becket joined in.Cooper tried to listen to their conversation, but his mind had wandered to a certain redhead again.
“…found Rose’s page on Instagram,” Ellie’s voice finally penetrated his thoughts.
She was leaning toward Laura and Willow.“Someone has taken a picture of her today.I’m not sure where, but it was shared on Instagram, tagging Rose.Shame, she looked petrified.According to this post, all her followers have been looking for her.The video when she was dumped is also still up, but I didn’t want to watch it.I’ve read the comments, though and if those are any indication, the stunt her ex and her cousin pulled, hadn’t helped him gain more followers.You won’t believe what people have been saying.I don’t know how many followers Rose had, but at the moment she’s close to fifty thousand!”
Cooper was up before he knew what he was doing.“Excuse me.”With long strides, he left, his dogs on his heels.
As he drove back to his house, both Charlie and Prince moved as close to him as the truck allowed, their eyes fixed on him.
Stroking their heads, he tried to calm down.“No, I don’t know why I’m upset.Rose is brave, she can handle this.”Of course, his dogs would know how he felt at the moment.
With a soft whimper, Charlie climbed on to his lap while Prince snuggled closer.
“I’ll be okay, guys.I just need a minute.”
But even back in his own house, he couldn’t settle down.Ebony sauntered in and joined the two dogs who were sitting side by side, watching him as he paced.
Finally, he threw his hands in the air.“Okay, you’re right.I should phone her.”
With his phone in his hand, he sat down on the couch and called Rose.She didn’t pick up, though.He checked his watch.It was just after nine, probably around eight in Seattle.Maybe she’s out, maybe…?
Someone had taken her picture, posted it online.Even though he couldn’t sense anything, she had to be upset.His immediate reaction after he’d heard Ellie talk about Rose, had been to book a ticket to Seattle to see her, but that wasn’t a good idea.
Jumping up, he began pacing again.There were so many reasons why it was better he stayed right where he was.His mind racing, he went through them all—it was a busy time on the ranch, Rose had a lot of things on her mind, Scarlett hadn’t yet settled down, he had to check on Lady.
Ebony gave him ayeah-rightlook before she moved in the direction of his bedroom.Rubbing his face, he sighed.Ebony was right.Those were all good reasons but notthereason he wasn’t already on his phone looking for a flight.
What he felt when he was with Rose, was freaking him out.There.He’d acknowledged it.He could so easily fall for her and she…well she deserved better than a cowboy who felt too deeply and talked to animals.
But damn, he’d never met a woman like Rose.He loved that they could laugh together, he loved that his mom and sister loved her, that his dogs had fallen for her within seconds.Okay, it had taken Ebony a little longer but even she, who didn’t like anyone, moved toward Rose whenever the redhead was around.He loved that Rose knew how to calm his horses down when he was working with them, but most of all he loved touching her, kissing her.
As he stopped pacing, he noticed Prince and Charlie were still looking at him expectantly.
“I’ve tried.She’s not answering.I’ll try again tomorrow.”
Dejectedly, both of them gave him a reproachful look before they made their way to his bedroom, probably to join Ebony on the bed.
