The Cougar and the Cowboy

As he backed out of the drive and headed down the street, he glanced in his rear view mirror and saw another vehicle pull into Camille’s driveway. A man got out and entered the house but he was too far away to see who it was.

***

Jace returned to The Branding Iron as Will was leaving. “Larry sent me home for the day but I’ll be back in the morning.”

“Sounds good.”

Maggie met him as soon as he entered the door. “Don’t sit down, Jace. Get your tail end to Dani’s house.”

“Why? What happened? Is she okay?”

As she was pushing him out the door and back into his truck, she explained as best as she could what took place while he was gone. “Listen, Boss, you and I both know how you feel about that gal, ever since you went to Colorado with her. You tried the online dating mostly because you were forced to but your heart was never in it. Now take my advice and go tell her how much she means to you.”

‘Well, you are doing a bang-up job of screwing things up, Maggie.’

***

Jace drove to Dani’s house trying to think of the words he was going to say to convince her he had not been intimate with Camille. Nothing came to mind except the truth so he would give it a shot.

When he knocked on the door, Dean answered but didn’t look too happy to see him.

“I need to talk to Dani. Is she here?”

“She’s in the barn. Probably talking things over with her horse. She’s done that since she was a little girl. But if you want my advice…tread softly. I don’t take kindly to anyone hurting her.”

“I will, I promise.” He walked to the barn and found Dani. She didn’t hear him approaching but he heard her talking as she brushed her mare.

“How could I be so stupid to think maybe he cared about me? I can’t compete with an older woman who has all kinds of experience. And obviously, that’s what Jace wants.”

“Dani?” She whirled around and he ducked to miss being hit with the brush she’d been using.

“Whoa…wait a minute. I want to say a few things to you but I’d like to keep my head in place, if you don’t mind.”

“I don’t want to hear anything you have to say, Jace Matthews. Now get off my property. I’m a very good shot with a rifle and I haven’t had any target practice for a while, but you might do.”

“Okay, Annie Oakley, I’m going,” he said as he raised his hands. “But not until you hear what I have to say.”

“Talk,” was her answer to him.

He did his best to explain what she read in the magazine. “Dani, she made it up to make it more interesting for her readers. It wasn’t true. I did kiss her the night I took her home but that was as far as it went. I have been in love with you since we went to Colorado but I didn’t think you’d be interested in an old man like me.”

She narrowed her eyes and didn’t smile. “Old man? You think forty-two is an old man?”

“It seems like it when the woman you want is only thirty.”

He took a step closer but she backed up.

“I can’t compete with a sophisticated older woman who has class, looks and experience.”

“There is no competition. It took me a while to realize it, but you’re the only person I’ve been thinking about for months.”

Jace took another step toward her. This time she couldn’t back up as she was against the stall wall. He reached for her and pulled her close. She let her arms drop and put her head on his chest. He raised her chin so she was looking up at him. Then he kissed her like he’d wanted to do since they first met.

***

True to his word, Collier arrived on time for their short journey. Camille climbed in bringing bottles of water and a few snacks. They were both quiet on the way until he asked, “Who was the man I saw come to your house yesterday? I’m sorry to ask, but I have to know.”

“That was Will. He drove out with me and he’s staying at the house for a while.”