Page 40 of Take Me Please, Cowboy
Her heart fell.She was on such a roller coaster of emotion, so many staggering ups and downs.“Why?How can I be that wrong for you?”
“It’s the distance—”
“Distance can be overcome.”
“And then it’s our backgrounds.We come from different places.You’ve never said it, but I have a feeling you come from money—”
“You can’t hold that against me!”
“I don’t, but when I try to picture you in my world, I don’t see it working.”
Her eyes stung and she took a deep breath, trying to stay focused.“And you can’t see yourself in my world?”
“Not the way things are.”
She processed this for a bit.“Is there ever a time you could see it working?”
He sighed, sounding terribly exhausted, and more than a little frustrated.“I’d like to say yes, but that would just be leading you on.”
Ansley nodded and swallowed, determined to keep calm.Rye would run if she began weeping.“I appreciate your honesty.”
“I feel like an ass.”
“Don’t.Real friends are honest with each other.”She paused, gathering herself.“I should go check on Uncle Clyde.Get to Pendleton safely.”
“I will.Good night.”
“Good night, Rye.”
Ansley hung up and dropped her phone into the coat pocket before lifting her face to the moon and the smattering of stars.She didn’t want to regret meeting Rye at the hospital during the rodeo weekend, but oh, things would be so much simpler now if she hadn’t.She’d be able to focus on her work, and making friends here, and taking care of her uncle.Instead, she was pining for a man who didn’t see a future with her, a man who said he cared but wasn’t going to let her in.
Oh, Ansley, queen of impossible dreams.
Chapter Seven
Ansley painted everyfree moment, staying up late in the loft on Thursday, but the cold snap made it too cold to paint in the barn.She dragged everything down from the loft and turned an unused bedroom, the one that used to be her aunt Sandy’s sewing room, into a studio.The room faced the north and didn’t have the good light of the loft, but it was a lot warmer, and her paint dried faster, and she was able to keep a closer eye on her uncle and respond more quickly to his needs.
But as she worked through the weekend, her thoughts frequently, constantly, turned to Rye and the Pendleton Rodeo.How was he doing?Had it been a good Saturday?Would he be competing Sunday?
Saturday night she finally reached out, texting him to ask how he’d done.Are you competing tomorrow?
He took just a few minutes to text back.Yes.It’s not my best weekend, but not by worst, either.
Good, she answered.I know how you like to cover your gas money.
You’re ruthless, he texted.
No more ruthless than you, she replied.
Touche.
She hearted his message and then chewed her lip, uncertain what to say now.When they were together in person it had felt right.When she’d been with him, she’d felt complete.No one had ever made her feel that way, and she couldn’t imagine wanting to be with anyone else now that she’d met Rye.He was by no means perfect.He wasn’t the gentlest of men.He wasn’t the funniest or the most laid-back, and yet he was right for her… he just fit.Her and her heart.He was familiar in the best sort of way, as if something deep inside of her recognized him, recognizing who he was and his importance in the world.As well as his importance in her world.
She hesitated then quickly texted,I miss you.
He replied,It will get easier with time.You’ll meet someone else.
Ansley ground her teeth together.But I don’t want to meet someone else.I don’t actually want to meet anyone.I didn’t want to meet you.I wasn’t looking for a boyfriend or relationship but then I did meet you and… it changed everything.
