The Cowboy's Bride (4 page)

“
There is no way I can drive, Tess, and
from the looks of it, you can’t either.”

“
Yeah, definitely not,” she said,
giggling. “I’ll just call a cab,” she hiccupped as her hand went in
her purse and searched for her cell. She pulled it out and dialed
‘happy cab’. They confirmed that they would send one out to her
right away. Ten minutes later, they still didn’t show.

Jake looked across the street. The alcohol
was starting to soak in to his pores. His bloodstream had to be
caked with beer. “Tess, I’m going to go over there. Come with
me?”

Tessa’s eyes widened when she saw the sign
for the Benton Hotel. It wasn’t luxurious by any means, but it had
a bed. Tessa took a deep breath and made her decision. “Yeah, no…
it will be safer than us driving.”

Jake nodded and took her hand. They ran
across the street, nearly falling over themselves then went in and
paid for a room.

Twenty minutes later, they were both
undressed and making out under the covers of the queen-sized bed.
It was the first time that they had kissed. It was Tessa’s first
time touching Jake’s body without clothing, and it was Heaven.

“
Honey, as much as I want this, and
believe me, I do. I can’t do this to you…to us. I want this to be
special. I want to remember each sigh from you, each touch of your
skin. Let’s take it easy now, and tomorrow, when we wake up, I’ll
show you how very much I want you.”

Tessa reached up and kissed him once more on
the lips, then tore them away on a sigh. “Okay, Jake. Sweet
dreams.”

“
Definitely.”

Jake’s memory of the night they finally got
together was brought to a halt as a car door shut. He looked up and
saw Tessa.

“Don’t get up,” Tessa said quietly. She put
her hand out in front of her to halt him in place. “I just wanted
to let you know that I got my dress and that I love it. Mom’s in
the car, so I’ve got to get going.”

“Stay here with me. I can take you home
later.”

“You have work to do, and I’m not going to
get in the way. Besides, you look exhausted. I’ve never seen you
just sitting down on that stoop. What’s wrong?”

“I was just thinking about when we got
together.”

Tessa blushed. “I thought about that the
other night. I can remember everything, but a few things…”

“I remember everything. It’s hard to forget
the best night of your life.”

Tessa flinched. “You’re not mad because I
don’t remember, are you?”

Jake was slow with his smile. “No, Tess, I’m
not mad.”

Tessa let a breath out that she didn’t
realize she was holding. “Okay. Good, because that wasn’t the best
night of my life.”

“Really?”

“Nope,” she said, shaking her head. “The
best night of my life was when you showed me how to ride.”

Jake laughed. “Damn’t, Tess, you aren’t
supposed to remember that!”

Tessa was ten years old and she liked to tag
along with Jake, constantly driving him crazy while he had to do
chores. It was that summer, before they both turned eleven, that
she came up and surprised him. He was with his horse, taking a
break out by the pond on the East side of his property. She was
wearing a dress, frilly little thing with yellow and white
polka-dots. Jake was in the pond, naked as the day he was born,
when she showed up and asked him to show her how to ride a
horse.

Needless to say, Jake completely forgot that
he was in the buff and got out of the pond to show the pest how.
Well, they were both in for a shock. There he was in his birthday
suit. It was the first time he was self conscious around a girl,
and it had been the first time Tessa had seen man—or rather—little
boy parts.

It didn’t take Tess long to figure out what
she was staring at, but to his horror, she asked if it hurt!
Sticking out like that, did it hurt! Jake looked down, and it was
his first ever hard-on. It wasn’t the first time that happened
where Tessa was concerned.

“You are a brat,” Jake said, laughing. “I
think you scarred me for life that day.”

Tessa grinned. “I scarred you! I thought for
sure that thing was going to stay that way.”

Jake stood up and wrapped his arms around
Tessa, “Feel that?”

Tessa moaned softly. “You say I’m a
brat.”

“You are…but it is always this way when
you’re around.”

“That’s what I like about you, Cowboy.
You’re always ready for round 2!”

Jake’s head fell back in laughter. He kissed
Tessa’s nose, just as Mary Jane yelled from the car, “Okay, lover
boy, unhand my daughter so we can get back.”

Jake smiled at Tessa then threw her mother a
wounded look. “Alright, Mrs. Jons. Just make sure she calls me
tonight.”

“She’ll be at her own home tonight, Jake.
But I’ll remind her all the same.”

Jake turned back to Tessa, a look of concern
etched his face. “You’re going home? Do you think that’s a good
idea?”

“I’ll be fine,” Tessa said quietly. “I’m
tired of being a burden.”

“What if you faint again?”

“I’ll be fine,” she said a bit harder this
time. “I’ll call you. Don’t worry. I just want to be alone before
tomorrow.”

“Before your chemo? You want to be
alone?”

“Yes.”

“Why are you shutting me out, Tessa?”

“I…Jake, I don’t want to fight. I just want
to have a normal night before tomorrow. I want to sleep.”

“I’ll let you sleep, Tessa.”

Tessa winked as she started walking back to
the car, “Sure you will, cowboy, but nobody said I’d be able
to.”

“I love you.”

“I love you, too. Now, get back to
work.”

Jake put his hand to his temple and mocked a
salute. A few minutes later they were gone.

Round up was a bitch when you had a lot on
your mind. Jake could barely stand it. Normally, it was something
that he actually enjoyed doing. Getting the chuck wagon all set,
getting supplies that they’d need while gone, and rounding up the
guys for a weekend. It wasn’t a barrel of fun, but Jake liked it.
But this year, all he could think about was if Tessa was okay. Was
Tessa going to be fine with the chemo? Was she going to be really
sick? Would she make it?

Jake closed his eyes and the tears started
flowing. They weren’t married yet, they had barely had the chance
to even be a couple. Alone time has been nil since her diagnosis.
But he couldn’t imagine not seeing her again. Jake stood up, loaded
the stuff he needed and worked himself to the bones. He looked at
his cell. No calls.

He called Tess. No answer.

He called again. Nothing.

His nerves were wrapped tight. He ran to his
truck, told his foreman and ranch hands that he wouldn’t be there
and then he flew down the road, gravel spinning his tires, in order
to get to Tessa’s little house in town.

***

Tessa was winding down after a long day and
decided to take a sleeping pill. She couldn’t get her mind off the
following day, so she took the easy way out. Climbing in to her
bed, she shut off her night light and grabbed a romance novel.
Hopefully the pill would do its job and she would soon be
asleep.

***

Jake pulled in to Tessa’s driveway on
adrenaline alone. He wiped his hand down his face and noticed the
darkness of her house. He couldn’t see a light. Worry creased his
brow as he walked up to the door and knocked.

After five minutes of knocking, Jake was
worried. He pulled out his cell phone and called her again.

Nothing.

He knocked again.

Nobody answered.

Jake called Mary Jane and asked her if Tess
was there. She told him that she dropped her off immediately after
leaving his place that afternoon. Jake closed his eyes and
prayed.

Walking around the house, he knocked on
windows, still feeling the fool for not knowing which one was her
bedroom. It didn’t take long for the police to show. One of Tessa’s
neighbors thought he was trying to break in.

“Sir, what are you doing walking around this
property?” Officer Smith asked, his flashlight shining directly
into Jake’s face.

“I’m worried. She didn’t call. She was
supposed to call.”

“Now, Jake, is it?” the officer asked, Jake
nodded. “How do you know her?”

“I’m her fiancé.”

“How long has it been since you’ve spoken
with her?”

“Six hours.”

The officer actually laughed. “Hell, boy,
I’ve gone days without talking to my wife. When you haven’t spoken
to her after twenty-four hours, give us a call. You better get
home.”

“Something is wrong.”

“Nothing is wrong, boy. You’re just in love,
as I can very well tell, but that’s not a reason to be knocking at
her door in the evening. She’s probably asleep.”

“She has cancer.”

Officer Smith looked at Jake in pity. “I’m
really sorry, son, but I can’t just be knocking at her door.
Besides, what I’d like to know is why you don’t have a key?”

Jake felt like a horse’s ass. “We just got
engaged a week ago. We are getting married this Saturday. With her
cancer and everything else, we just haven’t gotten around to
it.”

The officer nodded, but didn’t do anything.
“Listen, you call me tomorrow if she can’t be found, okay? She
probably just needs a break. But I need you to go home.”

Jake nodded. “Alright. Thanks,” he said,
feeling sick over not getting to talk to Tessa and worry over if
everything was alright.

Chapter 5

T
essa was livid.
After a good eight hours of sleep courtesy of her sleeping pill
wonder drug, she woke up to Gladys Underhill and her gossipy mouth.
Apparently Jake had been there along with a squad car!

She told him that she needed sleep and he
didn’t listen. It was just enough to send her over the edge. She
had woken up happy, and ready to go. Now she was just pissed. He
didn’t respect her at all. She told him she needed a break and
what’s he do? He makes a fool out of her by knocking on her door
all hours of the night, and then the police were there. It seemed
everyone in the damn county would know of her cancer and their
whirlwind relationship.

When she got to the hospital that morning
Jake was already there with her parents. When she walked down the
hall and he saw her his eyes clouded over and she saw his fists at
his side.
What the hell is his problem? Caveman didn’t get his
way?

“Jesus, Tess, I was so worried about you.
Thank God you’re all right,” Jake said, as his hands streaked down
her arms.

“Get off of me!” Tessa said heatedly. It was
barely above a whisper, but Jake got the message loud and
clear.

“What?”

“Don’t you,
what
, me! I told you I
needed sleep. In case you’re small brain couldn’t wrap around the
real problem here. I have cancer, Jake! I’m doing chemo today, and
I really didn’t need your selfish ass to be at my home at all hours
causing a ruckus!”

Jake flinched. “Tessa, I called you several
times, I…I was worried that you may have fainted.”

“And I didn’t want to talk to you. So, I
didn’t answer.”

“What?”

“I didn’t want to talk to you, Jake. I
needed a break. You are suffocating me. I…you know what? The
wedding is cancelled.”

Jake’s eyes widened and his hands fell to
his side. “You don’t mean that, Tess.”

“Yes I do. I mean it. I want you gone. Now!
Get out of this hospital; stop acting like you can boss me around.
Get out!”

Jake swallowed and his eyes clouded over.
“Tessa, I’m sorry. I was…you said you would call. I worried.
Please.”

Tessa laughed. “You came over for sex last
night.”

“Tessa, I swear to you, I didn’t. I couldn’t
go to bed last night without talking to you. I wanted to see how
you were doing, that’s all.”

“So you come to my house late and disturb
the neighbors?”

“No, that’s not what happened. I knocked on
your door. You didn’t answer. I called you; you didn’t answer your
phone. Then I walked around. I didn’t know which room was yours, so
I knocked on all the windows. One of your neighbors saw me and
reported it to the police. She thought I was a creeper.”

“I can see why. Jake, I want you to
leave.”

“Tessa, please don’t do this. I love you so
much, I just wanted to make sure you were okay, that was all.”

“No, Jake. I told you that I needed to be
alone. And I had a wonderful sleep, then I woke up to the town
gossip talking about the man that I love acting like an idiot. I
should have known better. I’m done. This is too much. You are too
much for me right now. I have to concentrate on beating this, not
having to worry about you on top of it.”

“Damn’t, Tessa, I want to be there for you.
That’s what husbands do.”

“You are not my husband, Jake. I didn’t want
a caveman, I wanted a partner. You are not a partner! Please,” she
said defeated. “Just get out.”

Jake ran his hand down his face and turned.
Tessa’s parents were right behind him, listening the entire time.
Jake walked over to the waiting room and slumped down in one of the
chairs. His body was exhausted. Tessa’s parents wrapped her in
their embrace and they walked in to her doctor’s main office and
shut the door, closing Jake out once more.

Four hours later, Jake still sat slumped
over in the waiting room. Mary Jane came out twice to check on him.
The look on her face spoke volumes. She felt sorry for Jake. And he
couldn’t blame her, he felt sorry for himself.

“How’s she doing?”

“The doctor said that she’s doing a good
job. She’s sicker than hell though. She didn’t want us watching so
she made us leave.”

“She’s all by herself?”

“Yeah.”

“Why is she doing this? She doesn’t have to
be alone.”