Page 2 of Take Me Please, Cowboy
“I live there.The rodeo’s celebrating a big anniversary.Eighty-fifth, I think.”
“With some nice prize money, too.”Rye looked back at his engine.“Can you recommend a good garage in town?Just in case.”
Jackson hesitated.“The Calhouns have a garage.Right at the edge of downtown.Tell them I sent you.”
“I will.”Interesting that the garage owners had the same surname as he did.It wasn’t often Rye ran into any Calhouns.He shifted the bar holding the hood up and then slammed the hood closed.“Thanks for stopping.”
“Want me to wait and make sure your truck starts?”
“No, but thanks.You have your girl waiting.”It was all Rye could do not to look at the blonde in the truck.“Don’t want to keep you.”
“Once you’re settled in town, come by FlintWorks for a beer.It’s on me.”
“The brewery at the old depot?”
“That’s it.”Jackson gave a brief nod and returned to his truck.
Rye watched him walk away before glancing at the girl in the passenger seat.She was looking back at him, a long, assessing look that made him hot and his body harden.
Even though she was someone else’s, he still wanted her.So odd, since he couldn’t remember the last time he desired anyone or anything.
He deliberately turned away and climbed into his truck cab, and once Jackson’s black truck passed him, merging onto the highway, Rye started his own truck and followed, careful to keep to the speed limit to prevent his truck from overheating.
*
Ansley Campbell heldher long blonde hair in one hand as Jackson passed the blue and white truck and silver horse trailer, the rugged cowboy in the driver’s seat.
The sun’s long slanting rays had been like a spotlight shining on Jackson and the cowboy with the broken-down truck.The cowboy had looked at her more than once.Normally, she wasn’t interested in being checked out, but the cowboy didn’t seem like the flirty type.If anything, he looked alone, tough, and a little weary, but that was also probably her imagination.He was probably just ticked off he was having car problems.No one liked being on the side of the road on what had been one of the hottest days of the month, especially when pulling a horse trailer.
“He’s okay?”she asked Jackson, as Jackson picked up speed, traffic moving fast, everyone wanting to get somewhere.
“He says he is.”Jackson glanced up into the rearview mirror as if checking for the blue and white truck.“Luckily, Marietta isn’t far.”
“He’s going to Marietta?”she said, before putting two and two together.“He’s going for the rodeo?”
Jackson nodded.He looked at her, amused.“Want an introduction?”
“No.I’m not interested in dating.Anyone.”
He laughed softly.“Simmer down.Everyone knows you’re devoted to your uncle and your art.”
“I am serious about my art.”And my independence, she silently added.
She’d only recently come to Montana from Texas, happy to escape her big family of overbearing men.The last thing she wanted was to tangle with another.It was good to be on her own… or almost on her own as she was living with her uncle, taking care of him, but Uncle Clyde was easy compared to her five brothers.“I do appreciate you driving me to Bozeman.I don’t know how I would have got that canvas to the Sterbas’ law office otherwise.It’s one of the biggest pieces I’ve ever done.”
“It was beautiful, and I still think you should have charged a lot more.”
“I’ll be able to charge more as I get my name out.This sale was just really good for my ego.My first commercial sale.”
“In that case, I’m happy if you’re happy.”
“I’m really happy.”She smiled, more than happy.
Finally, she had time to focus on her art.Finally, there was traction in her career.If she kept working hard, she’d have her own gallery in the next year or two.Marietta would be the perfect place for an art gallery.There was money in Marietta, wealthy ranchers, tourists, as well as all the affluency from the East and West Coasts who came to Montana for their own piece of land with a mountain view.
Jackson signaled, taking the exit to Marietta and Paradise Valley.He’d picked her up from the ranch this afternoon as Uncle Clyde didn’t want her driving his truck and the painting didn’t fit in her small car.
“How is your uncle?”Jackson asked.“Still challenging?”
