Boots and Buckles (4 page)

“Yeah, I guess I’m embarrassed. I’ll get over it. Thanks for helping me up. You didn’t have to, not after I slapped your face.”

He grinned, rubbing his chin with his free hand. “I deserved it.”

She turned to walk away, but he still held her hand.

“Let me have a second chance with you, Mona.” He pulled her back to him. “Go out with me tomorrow night.”

“Sorry, I’m working the night shift here at the Ugly Stick all week.” She didn’t let him know that she could have a three-hour gap between the time her shop closed and when she was due at the saloon.

“Then let me take you to lunch,” he persisted.

“I have a day job and I work through lunch.”

“Coffee?” He squeezed her hand. “I promise, I won’t try to kiss you…unless you want me to.”

Mona sighed. “You don’t give up, do you?”

“Not when I want something really bad. And I want to see you again.”

She glanced at the cowboys sitting around the tables she was supposed to be serving. Audrey had picked up her slack, but she’d need to give one of the other girls a break soon. “Okay. Coffee. Ten in the morning at PJ’s Diner.”

He tugged her hand, pulling her snug up against him. “Until then.” Instead of trying to kiss her again, he cupped her cheek and brushed his thumb across her lip. Then he let go and walked away.

For a long moment, Mona stood in the middle of the floor, more touched by his simple gesture than any kiss she’d ever received.

From what she could tell, Sam Whitefeather was a nice guy. The kind of guy she should go for. Not the Daltons and Grants of the world who had no more respect for her than a buckle bunny following the rodeo cowboys from town to town.

Audrey and Bunny converged on her as soon as she made it back to the bar. “Was that him?” Bunny asked. “Was that Grant Raleigh you dissed?”

Mona dragged in a deep breath. “Yes.”

“I loved that you didn’t take his hand and took his partner’s instead.”

Mona frowned. “What do you mean?”

“I asked around. The guy you danced with is Sam Whitefeather, Grant Raleigh’s team roping partner. Way to show Grant what you think of him.”

Mona leaned against the bar and closed her eyes. Was fate playing a really bad trick on her? Hadn’t she been hurt enough by Grant and Dalton already?

Bunny laid a hand on her arm. “Mona? Are you okay?”

“I’m peachy.” She pushed away from the counter, grabbed an empty tray and turned toward the sea of cowboys, blinking away sudden tears washing over her eyes.

“I thought you said you were over Dalton and Grant.” Bunny slipped an arm around her waist.

“I am.” She was certain she was over Dalton, but seeing Grant had triggered all her heartache in one solid lump weighing heavily in her gut.

“Then why not a have a little fun with Grant’s new partner?” Bunny made it all sound so easy.

“I’m having coffee with him tomorrow morning.”

Bunny clapped her hands. “That’s great.”

“I agreed before I knew he was Grant’s new partner. Now, I don’t know.”

“Go. What will it hurt? It’s only coffee, not a lifetime commitment.”

Her friend was right. Coffee wouldn’t change her life forever.

Sam looked around the bar for Grant. When he didn’t find him, he figured the man had gone on without him. Rather than sit at his table alone, Sam returned to their trailer only to find it empty. Too keyed up to lie down and sleep, he drove around Temptation and found himself back at the Ugly Stick Saloon around closing time. Cowboys piled into their trucks, some too drunk to drive, designated drivers picking up the slack. The local sheriff’s department was on hand, offering rides to those who didn’t have designated drivers, to make sure everyone got home safely.

Nice. Sam liked that the townsfolk cared enough to ensure the safety of their own as well as their visitors. It was the kind of town he could see himself living in. Grant had talked about giving up the rodeo and settling down on a ranch and raising cattle and horses. He’d offered to go into a partnership with Sam, if he was interested.

Sam was good with that proposal. He had money set aside for his sister’s college tuition and enough to put a good down payment on property.

Was this the town he wanted to settle in?

An image of Mona dancing on the bar, smiling and laughing, flashed through his mind. The fire in her eyes as she’d slapped his face for kissing him had only made him want to kiss her more.

Speaking of Grant, where was the man? Had he found a woman to go home with? Maybe the tall blonde drink of water he’d danced with?

Sam grinned.
About time.
The man had been celibate since he and Sam had become partners. He deserved to find someone who made him happy.

Which was why Sam hung out at the Ugly Stick at closing time. He told himself it was to make sure Mona left without being accosted by some of the rowdier drunks. Truth was, he wanted to see her again.

She exited through the back door and strode to a red, vintage Camaro sports car and fumbled for her keys.

Sam watched from his truck, feeling a bit like a stalker. He almost turned his truck around and left, but something made him wait.

A big man in a dark cowboy hat lurched out of the shadows and made for where Mona stood beside her car, digging through her purse.

Warning bells went off in Sam’s head and he opened his door to get out of his truck.

The man was on her before Sam could get to her, wrapping his arm around her neck.

Mona dropped her purse, grabbed the man’s arm and tucked her body, throwing the hulk of a human over her shoulder.

He landed on his back, hard. Still holding his arm, Mona bent his thumb all the way back and stared down at her attacker. “Wanna go for round two, George?”

“No, ma’am.”

“Then get your ass home to your wife and don’t ever attack another woman. Ever. Or I’ll come after you, cut off your balls and feed them to the coyotes.”

“Yes, ma’am,” George moaned from the ground. “You gonna let go of my thumb afore ya break it?”

“I’m thinking about it.” Finally she let go of the man and nudged him with her cowboy boot. “Go on, get out of here before I sic the sheriff on you.”

The man rolled to his feet and ambled off. He climbed into a pickup and gunned the engine, kicking up gravel as he left the parking lot and hit the highway home.

Sam leaned against the side of the Ugly Stick Saloon and chuckled.

Mona spun, ready to take on her next attacker.

Stepping out of the shadows, he let her see it was him.

Instead of relief, her forehead dipped into a frown. “What are you laughing about?”

“I’m impressed.” He bent to help her collect the items that had fallen from her purse when she’d dropped it. “I thought I was sticking around to rescue you should someone try to attack you as you left work. Looked more like George needed the rescuing.”

“He’s a dumbass too full of whiskey to be thinking, much less driving.”

“Then why did you let him go?”

“Deputy Cramer is just down the road. He’ll pull him over and give him a free night’s sleep in the Temptation jailhouse. Why are you here? I thought you left a long time ago.”

“I wasn’t tired enough to sleep. And some pretty little brunette with a body that doesn’t quit and an attitude bigger than her boots kept me awake.”

“You’ll get over it.” She clicked the unlock button, her door lock popped up and she yanked open the door.

“I’m not so sure.”

“Trust me. In the next town, you’ll meet another girl just like me. Difference is, maybe she’ll let you sleep with her. I’m not in the market for a one-night stand.”

“Your sign is out and I read the fine print.
Don’t kiss her and don’t expect sex.
”

“Good, I wasn’t sure you’d gotten the message.” She leaned down to get into her car.

A woman stepped out of the back of the saloon and locked the door behind her. When she turned around, she frowned and walked toward Mona. “Mona, are you okay? This man isn’t bothering you, is he?”

“I’m fine. And no, he’s not bothering me. He was just leaving.”

Sam tipped his hat at the woman and held out his hand. “Sam Whitefeather, I’m here for the rodeo.”

“Audrey Anderson. I own the Ugly Stick.”

“Nice place.”

“Thanks.” Audrey turned to Mona. “Want me to stay until you leave?” She shot a glance at Sam. “No offense.”

He nodded with a smile. “None taken. I’m glad you care enough to see to the safety of your employees.”

“I love my girls and wouldn’t want any one of them to come to harm.”

He raised his hands. “I’m not here to harm. I just wanted to invite Mona out for a bite to eat.”

“Oh, that’s nice. The truck stop is the only place open twenty-four hours a day. You can get a great country-fried steak there.” Audrey smiled at Mona. “I’m headed home. Jackson is keeping the sheets warm for me.”

“Lucky girl.” Mona hugged Audrey. “See you tomorrow.”

Audrey left and Mona started to get into her car.

Sam touched her arm. “Would you like to go with me to the truck stop for a late dinner?”

“No,” Mona said, her tone clipped.

“A cup of coffee?” Sam had the feeling if he let her go, he wouldn’t see her again.

“No again.” She straightened. “As a matter of fact, I’d like to cancel our coffee date for tomorrow.”

“Why?”

Mona chewed on her lip. “I’ll be busy.”

“Come on, you have to take a break sometime.”

“I will.”

“Just not with me.”

“Right.”

“Did I do something wrong?”

“Other than kissing me when I didn’t want you to and now stalking me?” She shrugged. “I can’t think of a thing. Suffice it to say, I don’t want to have coffee with you tomorrow.” With that final comment, she ducked into the car.

Sam stepped into the door to keep her from closing it. “At least tell me why.”

“Perhaps you could ask your partner.”

“Grant?” Sam frowned. “What does he have to do with you and me?”

“Nothing, everything. Oh, you rodeo cowboys are all alike—arrogant, full of yourselves and as useless as a bag of rocks. If I didn’t see another one of you for the rest of my life it would be too soon. Just leave me alone.” She shoved him backward, slammed the door and twisted the key in the ignition. The starter clicked, but the engine didn’t turn over.

Sam stood back, his arms crossed and waited for her to leave.

She turned the key again and nothing.

A smile slipped across his lips and he forced it back. It seemed fate was giving him a second chance with the lady, even if she wasn’t.

Sam turned and pretended he was leaving.

Her car door opened behind him.

He kept walking, straight to his truck. When he reached it, he unlocked it and took a moment to look back.

She had the hood up on her car and was peering into the engine. She fiddled with a wire, pulled the oil stick out and shoved it back in, then slipped back into the driver’s seat and turned the key again.

Click.

Sam got into his truck and waited for her to come to him.

Mona rested her forehead on the steering wheel, or maybe she was banging her head on the wheel, Sam wasn’t certain from the distance.

After a while she dug in her purse and pulled out what looked like a cell phone, punched some buttons and held it to her ear.

Sam checked his cell phone. No reception in this remote part of Texas. The Ugly Stick Saloon was several miles out of Temptation, likely the only cell tower was in the town itself, leaving the countryside without reception.

Mona threw her cell phone into her purse and got out of the car, slung the strap of her bag over her shoulder and started walking.

Right past Sam’s truck to the highway.

Sam started his engine and drove up beside her, sliding the window down. “Need a lift?”

“No.”

“It’s five miles to town.”

She lifted her chin. “A good stretch of the legs.”

“I hear there are coyotes in this area.”

Mona gave him a
get real
look. “They won’t attack humans.”

“What if George comes back?”

“I’ll take care of him like I did before.”

“Mona, get in the truck. I can’t leave you out here by yourself.”

“And I really don’t want anything to do with you or Grant or any other rope-throwin’, bronc ridin’, bullshittin’ cowboy.”

Sam stopped the truck and got out. “I don’t know what got your panties in a wad, but not all cowboys are the same.”

“No, but all
rodeo
cowboys are. You can’t trust them to keep their word.”

“Why not?”

“They have a girl in every town and probably one back home with a baby or two.” She stood in the beam of his headlights, the light glinting off the moisture pooling in her eyes. “I’m not up for another broken heart, Sam.”