Page 3 of Rogue Cowboy
And it was the only thing that gave him a glimmer of hope as he watched her trudge through the snow like the guitar and duffel bag weighed a thousand pounds.
How are things?
What things?
Really kicked in the door with that one.Wide open.
I like open doors, white-hat cowboy.
That’s an awkward nickname.
I like it.
Cole smiled and hesitated.Not sure how to ask what had been burning up his brain since the month he’d left her at her folks’ ranch in the foothills of the Absaroka mountain range.It was in his nature to keep his business private.But Riley was his business.And women liked to talk.They wanted men to communicate.Right?
Any news?
Slow at the ranch.
Which told him nothing.
Chapter One
Riley Telford tuckedher phone in her back pocket and gave one last pat to Siouxsie’s golden rump as she visually checked the six horses comfortably munching their treats.She had to stop looking at her texting history with Cole.He’d just been kind, reaching out over the years—sometimes a couple times a week, other times months would pass, and she’d worry, and she’d wonder if she should initiate.
But that would have made her look needy.And she didn’t want him to feel responsible.He’d done his good deed, and she didn’t want to be a yoke.One day he’d show up and cut her loose for good.Her white-hat cowboy’s patience would run out.She knew it was coming.It would be for the best—maybe they could both fully move on.
But she dreaded the day.
Her gaze swept the horse training indoor and outdoor arena, the pastures and the forest beyond that marched up the Absaroka mountains to the tallest peak that dominated in this part of Paradise Valley—Copper Mountain.She had everything she needed.She’d triple-checked, and she needed to stop stalling.
It was only a twenty-five-minute ride southeast to the Marietta fairgrounds where the horses would board in the stables for the duration of the Copper Mountain Rodeo.Her duffel was packed along with a garment bag hanging in the narrow closet in the trailer’s living quarters.Even with the rodeo close to home, Telfords didn’t leave their stock alone.Anywhere.Ever.
And with her mother more involved with organizing the rodeo this year and receiving an honor for her years of service, Riley was going to have to deal on her own.She’d dealt before.Heck, she’d camped during the rodeo since she was a child, but never alone.And it was mortifying to admit, but it was getting harder, not easier to hide her anxiety from her family.
Why was she getting worse?It had been years now.If Cole knew how jumpy she felt inside, he’d… She didn’t even want to think about how disappointed he’d be.He’d been charmed by the adventurous and spontaneous girl she’d once been.The woman now was more problematic.
She squeezed her eyes shut, not wanting to see the bits and pieces of memory scrape her brain like shards of a broken Coke bottle.She didn’t want to worry her parents—or worse become a burden.She’d been young and dumb.Cocky.Over her horse thinking she was all that.Wanting more.But she’d crashed and burned and had come home.She’d stick with her decision.She’d been raised to honor commitments.And to live a productive life and to be of service to her family and community.
“So deal.”
She pulled the keys to the Ford F-250 out of her dark denim jacket.Palmed them.She had her water Hydro Flask.Coffee thermos.She and her mom had packed the trailer last night with supplies and feed for the horses and her—not that there wouldn’t be plenty of food trucks and stands at the fairgrounds for the rodeo crowd, and downtown Marietta was only a stroll away.
Camping out during the rodeo had been one of her cherished memories as a child and now that too was fading as her world tunneled smaller.She balled her fists, keys pressing into her calloused palms.It was a matter of will.She had to do it so she would.She ducked her head to look at the tread of the trailer ramp and unconsciously sang a new Jason Isbell song.
She grabbed the handle to lift up the ramp to shut the back of the trailer, but it was surprisingly easy.Her brother, Rohan, had joined her—using his sneaky former Special Forces soldier superpower.
“Now isn’t that a cheerful start to a Thursday morning,” he said, sliding one bolt home and then the second while Riley did the same on the other side.“‘Bury Me’?Stop.I can’t take the happiness.It’s blinding.”
“You can walk away.”Riley dug deep for the sassy ’tude he’d expect from her.
“Nope.”He held his hand out.“Nice try.Mom wants me to drive you to the fairgrounds.Get the horses settled.”
“Nice try,” she shot back.“I’m driving.”
“Mom said.”His fingers curled, inviting her to toss him the keys.
“You’re a grown man.A daddy now.”She stuck her tongue out.“You can’t pull the mom card out and slap it on the table.Sheesh.I’m nearly twenty-six.”
