Page 50 of Take Me Please, Cowboy
“You let her go because of…us?”
The pain and disappointment in his sister’s voice wounded him.“Think about it, Jo.Jasper needs better care.He’s having issues.I can’t help if I’m not in Eureka—”
“But I’m still there.I can help.”
“Dating costs money.Gas is expensive.I made you wait a year for college because we didn’t have the means to send you, so how do I justify suddenly blowing cash on romance?I couldn’t.It didn’t make sense.I made the right choice.”
“I’m sorry, Rye.”
He turned to face her, undone by the sympathy in her voice.She hadn’t created any of this and at twenty she shouldn’t have to feel any guilt.“I’m good,” he said, looking her in the eye.“I am.”
“But all you do is work.You should enjoy life a little bit.You should enjoy being single.You’re not bad-looking—”
“Thanks.”
“And sometimes you have a good personality.”
“How you flatter me.”
Josie blinked away the sheen of moisture in her eyes.“Let’s go to the artist reception tonight.”
“No.”
“Just for a while.”
“No.” Rye looked at his sister like she was crazy.Maybe she was.She was a Calhoun after all.“Didn’t you hear anything that I just said?”
“I heard you say Ansley was pretty much perfect, and I have never heard you describeanywoman as close to perfect.And then you gave me a bunch of lame reasons—well, actually, only two lame reasons, but they’re terrible.She doesn’t live that far away.It’s a drive.Big deal.You drive all the time.And yeah, gas is expensive but so is everything.”She looked up at Rye, expression pitying.“Stop being pathetic, Rye.I’m almost embarrassed for you.”
He pressed his lips into a hard line, unamused.“Be embarrassed.But there’s no way I’m going to invade Ansley’s event tonight.This party is a big deal for her.This exhibit is a big deal.She was really excited about it.”
“All the more reason for us to go.If the show is so important to her, you must stop by tonight to congratulate her.”
“We came to Bozeman for you to do the interview.You’ve done the interview.In the morning, we head home.”
“But since we have no plans for tonight, let’s pop in.”
Rye was done arguing.He continued walking toward his Silverado which was parked several blocks south of the gallery.From the corner of his eye, he saw Josie take a photo of the event poster in the window, but he said nothing, just wanting the whole subject to drop.
Of everyone in his family, Josie was most stubborn.He’d never met anyone more stubborn.Their mom used to tease her that it was because she was a Taurus, and Rye, who took no stock in horoscopes or astrology, did agree with his mom that Josie could be incredibly bullheaded, but she was also fearless and tireless when it came to achieving her dreams.She wanted to be a designer that helped people, that improved lives.She wanted to make a difference in the world.There was no way he’d stay upset with her, not when Josie had the biggest heart of anyone he knew.
Happily, after a few minutes, Josie seemed willing to let the whole Ansley-art-reception topic go, and they passed a local brewery that specialized in wood-fire pizzas.Josie, who’d been so nervous about her interview with the scholarship committee, hadn’t eaten more than a mouthful in days, begged to stop for pizza.They did and had a very nice early dinner of pizza and beer.
By the time they reached their hotel, Rye was ready to call it a night.Josie just laughed at him.“It’s not even six thirty,” she said.
“Which is why I just want to stretch out, watch the news, maybe a show or two, and then sleep.”
Josie shrugged as he closed the door separating the bedroom from the living area.“Suit yourself.Personally, I’m not tired at all.”
He should have recognized the challenge, but he didn’t.Instead, he assumed she’d pass the evening on her phone, or watching the television in the living room.Instead, when he emerged from the shower twenty minutes later, he saw she’d sent him a text.I’ve taken an Uber downtown.Thought I’d see if there was anything interesting happening on Main Street tonight.
Rye tossed his phone onto his bed and swore under his breath.He knew exactly where his beautiful, lively little sister had gone.He’d like to say he was shocked, but he wasn’t.This was exactly the sort of thing Josie did.
He dressed quickly, combed his hair, and drove back downtown.Sure enough, there she was standing in front of the gallery, smiling at him as he approached.
“You took a little longer than I expected,” she said, flashing a teasing grin.“But maybe it was a really long shower.”
He was not in the mood to do this.“Josie, this isn’t cool.I don’t appreciate being manipulated.We are most definitely not going in.Let’s go.”
