Page 14 of Healing Her Cowboys
“Reese?” Atlas called, but she couldn’t answer.
Her eyes stayed fixated on the line of boats in front of them. It wasn’t until Brik pulled her away that she snapped out of her trance.
“Time for a drink,” he said.
She couldn’t agree more. They found an open area of high-top tables and barstools next to a vacant dance floor. Reese wasn’t a big lover of beer, but that was the only alcohol they had on hand to help steady her nerves. No one forced her to talk about what happened, and she was grateful for that. Still, she felt like she owed them some kind of explanation.
She sipped the beer Brik handed her. The taste wasn’t as bad as she thought, with a hint of fruit behind the hops. She took a big gulp before saying anything. “The last time I talked to my parents, they were about to get on a boat with friends. I was supposed to go with them, but I canceled because my nursing finals were coming up. They sounded so proud of me and understood why I couldn’t come. I used to ask myself if the guilt of not being with them or being glad that I didn’t die next to them bothered me more.” She took another large swig of beer.
“There’s nothing wrong with wanting to live,” Atlas said. “I didn’t know your parents, but I doubt they would have wanted you on that boat with them, and it’s hard to believe they would want you to suffer from guilt when you did nothing wrong. We all have our own issues to go through, but at least you experienced love and support of wonderful parents. That’s more than many other people ever get.”
Reese had never really thought about it that way before. They were kind and caring parents. She never really lacked for anything under their care. All she ever thought about was losing them.
“I’m going to go get us some more beers,” Brik said, sliding off the stool.
Atlas stood up with him. “I’ll grab us something to eat. You’re going to need something to soak up all that alcohol. We’ll be right back.”
Reese worked on the last few sips of her beer while thinking about what Atlas said. Had she been so full of guilt and forgotten to appreciate the time she had with her parents when they were living?
Music played around her, and she realized people were congregating on the dance floor. A familiar Shania Twain song came through the speakers, and she danced in her seat and bobbed her head to the country song that one of her favorite female artists belted out. The music tuned out all the random thoughts she didn’t want popping into her head.
A man with a wide cowboy hat and an easy grin walked up to her. “Care for a dance, young lady?”
She hesitated, looking to see if Atlas or Brik were anywhere in sight. What the hell? It wasn’t like she needed their permission. She was out to have fun, and that was what she planned on doing.
“Sure,” she said before draining the rest of her beer. “I have to warn you, I’m not the best dancer.”
“Then just follow my lead,” he said. He held his hand out for her, and she allowed him to pull her onto the dance floor.
It wasn’t too crowded with people, but there were enough around her to worry she might stumble into a few of them if she wasn’t careful.
Reese relaxed more when they moved together. She wasn’t sure if it was the beer, the lights, or just giddiness, but she felt free as he swayed her around the wooden floor. Letting him lead her took away the stress of thinking too hard.
When they made a last turn at the end of the song, she spotted Brik back at their table. He narrowed his eyes at them. The annoyance was back on his face as he stared in their direction.
After the song ended, the cowboy asked for her name. He seemed nice enough and had even shaken her out of the foul mood she had been in.
Brik was right beside her before she could even utter a syllable. “That’s not something you need to know. Get lost.” He grabbed her hand and pulled her through the group of couples who started dancing to the next song. He didn’t let go of her until they were back at their table, where Atlas was already sitting.
Atlas spread the food out on the table when they walked up to him.
“That was rude,” she said to Brik when he finally released her. “That guy was just being nice.”
Brik laughed, a bitter tone tainting it. “I didn’t know you were here to flirt with every nice cowboy in town. You want me to see if another wants to take you around for a turn?”
“Excuse me? What the hell is that supposed to mean?”
“Calm down, Brik.” Atlas said. “She was just having a little fun. No harm in that.”
“Maybe a little too much fun,” Brik muttered under his breath.
“If you’ve got a problem with me, just say it, Brik.”
He shook his head. “Forget it.” He huffed, walked off, and disappeared into growing the crowd.
The man was so damn frustrating. One minute he was bearable, and the next minute he was being a jerk. His moods changed so often he was giving her whiplash.
“Don’t pay him any mind,” Atlas said, handing her a corn dog. “When he’s upset, he gets stubborn and picks fights. Been that way for as long as I’ve known him, and I doubt he’ll change anytime soon.”
