Page 4 of Her Missing Cowboy
“They found him, James. All this time looking for the love of my life and he is only hours away from here. I am going to get my man.”
The shocked look on James’ face would have been comical if Cassie was in a different mood. She knew her brother was going to try and talk her out of going. It was the protector in him. However, James was playing with fate if he thought he could change her mind.
“Now, hold on a minute. You can’t just run off into the night all wild without a plan. I know the Marines taught you better than that.”
Oddly enough, that one phrase was enough to calm her down. It appealed to the rational part of Cassie. Where was she going? What route would she take? What would she do when she got there? Where was she going to stay? All these questions needed answers before she ventured away from her home.
“You’re right,” she said after plopping down on the sofa next to her brother.
“First off, I can’t let you go anywhere without knowing the complete story. Let me pour you some whiskey and we can talk.”
“Whiskey? I do not drink and drive. What is wrong with you?”
“You won’t be driving tonight. You’re tired from working all day. That man will still be there in the morning. I need you to get at least a few hours of shut eye before hitting the road. Can you do that for me?”
Sighing, Cassie took the proffered drink and sipped. James was right and she knew it. She needed to rest before a long drive. She needed to have her wits about herself to prevent any accidents. That was the last thing she wanted to do to her brother. They already lost their parents that way. She couldn’t worry her brother like that.
“Okay, James. I will get a few hours of sleep before heading out. But I swear if you make me miss him, there will be hell to pay.”
“Whatever, little sis. Now, tell me where the man has been hiding and what is your plan?”
“He’s in a small town called Ironhaven, here in South Dakota. According to my source, he is working on a ranch called the Silver Creek. Apparently, it was started by a former Navy man to cater to former soldiers.”
“I thought you said he was a civilian contractor.”
“Yeah, he was. Maybe they made an exception since he was working closely with the military. I mean, he did get injured like any soldier would have.”
“How long do you plan on being gone? We’re still in harvest season here on the orchard. I can’t run this place by myself.”
“I hate to put you in this position, big brother, but I have to go. I’m just not sure how long it will take. It could be a couple of days or a few months. However long it takes, this is something I must do. There is no way around it.”
“Sis, I would never keep you from finding your true love. You know that. I just don’t want our business to go belly up in the process. Don’t worry about it. I will figure something out.”
“Maybe you can hire a couple of helpers on a temporary basis. That guy, Jacob, was just out here asking for work the other day. He’s a nice guy and a hard worker according to his references. “
“I’ll check him out. In the meantime, let’s get you ready for your trip.”
For the next hour, James and Cassie sat together making a plan of action for her. She mapped out her original route and a secondary, if anything went wrong. He made sure to make reservations for her at a decent local hotel. Not one of those where the door opened into the outside.
When he thought she wasn’t looking, her brother slipped an air tag in her go-bag. Cassie was sure he would put one on her truck, too, before she left in the morning. She wasn’t bothered by his overbearing actions. She was used to him being cautious. Besides, somebody needed to know where she was in case something happened to her. Yes, she was a Marine, but she was smart enough to know she wasn’t invincible. Cassie could hold her own, but the roads of South Dakota could be very dangerous for a black woman traveling alone.
Cassie’s idea of getting some shut eye was reclining on the couch and napping. When she was unable to sleep any more, she got up, brushed her teeth and fluffed out her hair. After kissing her brother on the cheek, she left him a note and hit the road to find her destiny.
Four
Joaquin
Joaquin lay in his bed contemplating his life. Every day was the same. Sure, the tasks changed sometimes, but in essence he was just going through the motions. It was like he was in the remake of that old school movie, Groundhog Day. There was no thrill, no love and nothing to look forward to. The life of a cowboy was not for the weak. Not that he was weak. Just the opposite. He was just unhappy.
The man craved the love of a good woman. Not just any woman either. She needed to be a kindhearted, former Marine with beautiful brown eyes and the ability to make him sit up and beg. Since he was convinced that life was an impossibility for him, he rose from his bunk and got ready to rope some cattle.
“Hey Tanner, I need you out on the west pasture today. We’re vaccinating the calves this morning,” Buck, the lead ranch hand, ordered.
Not one for a lot of talk, Joaquin nodded at the man to acknowledge he understood his assignment. He mounted Jersey, his brown and white Appaloosa, and rode off with the rest of the cowboys.
The day was long, and the temperature was hot. The work was hard, and his body was feeling it. By lunch time, his head was pounding and all he wanted to do was sleep. So instead of spending his downtime eating, he decided to take a nap under a tree, with his feet kicked up. Before he could get comfortable, he was summoned by Buck.
“Tanner, I can’t have you passing out from hunger. Miss Bee has cooked a hearty lunch for us. If you don’t eat, she will take it as a personal insult. Do you want to upset Miss Bee?”
