1109 Cowboy Way

I just leave the feed and supply store and rush back to my truck, completely frustrated. I get in and wipe the sweat off my brow.

I start the truck, wondering what the heck just happened and if I have just messed up epically.

6

Grayson

She is regretting her decision. I could see it on her face almost as soon as she offered me the job. She was about to take the offer back until she noticed the men behind us. She got a startled look on her face. I tried to move my body, to shield her from their watchful eye, but I wasn’t quick enough. She turned her head and all but ran from the store.

I go to the door and watch as she gets into her truck and pulls out of the lot as if someone is chasing her.

I look down at the list, and since Rosie’s helping the other people in line and I can't talk to her now, I go grab the things that Hadley needs. I stall and wait until she’s cleared out the front before approaching Rosie again. I drop the rope, nails, and other items on the counter. “Soooo….” I say, not sure where to start.

Rosie starts ringing me up. “I had the guys put Hadley’s feed in your truck.”

I nod. “Thanks, Rosie. And thanks for helping me get the job. I don’t think she would have hired me—“

Rosie sets a bag down in front of me. “Don’t make me regret it, Grayson. I know she needs your help on that ranch. She can’t continue like she is, but I’m telling you, don’t hurt her. She can’t handle another blow… she’s barely holding it together.”

“Her scars…”

Rosie doesn’t let me finish. She’s gritting her teeth and mutters to me, “What about them?”

I shake my head, realizing that Rosie has the wrong idea and I need to set her straight. I don’t let anyone else talk bad about Hadley, and I’m sure as hell not going to do it myself. “She’s self-conscious about them is all I mean. She’s shut herself off because of a few marks on her face. She’s still beautiful.”

Rosie tilts her head and is looking at me like she’s trying to figure out some hard math problem or something. She must come to the answer she wants because she nods her head. “You’re right, Grayson. She’s still beautiful. But I don’t think it's just her visible scars that has her guard up. If I had to guess, I’d say she’s dealing with a lot of scars you can’t see. Those are the ones that have her hiding from the world.”

I blow out a breath, and it’s like a light went off. I know she’s right. There’s no way that Hadley could go through what she went through and not be wounded by it all. As I’m thinking on that, Rosie decides to drop more knowledge on me. “What are your intentions toward Hadley? I probably should have asked you that before I pushed you on her because I'm telling you right now, Grayson Doss, if you hurt her…”

I hold my hands up. Rosie’s a small little thing, but I know she’s not one to mess with. “I’m not going to hurt her. I promise, Rosie.”

She points her finger at me. “You better not. If you do, you’ll have me to deal with.”

I nod and grab the bag on the counter. “Thanks again, Rosie. I’m glad Hadley’s got a friend in you.”

She nods, and I wave to her as I walk out of the feed store.

It only takes a few minutes to get from Rosie’s to the Hickory Homestead. When I pull in, I’m already making mental notes of things that will need to be worked on. I pull up next to the barn, and Hadley joins me just a few minutes later. “Where do you keep the feed?” I ask her. I know I could find it easily on my own, but I want to hear her voice again.

“In the barn. First door on your right,” she says.

I nod and start unloading. She grabs a bag, and I hesitate for just a second, thinking I’m going to tell her I can get it on my own, but I stop before anything comes out. I already know she’s not going to take kindly to me telling her what to do, so we work unloading the truck, side by side. She surprises me by her strength. I would think a woman of her size would struggle carrying the fifty-pound bags, but she puts them on her shoulder easily. It just goes to show how hard she’s had to work since she moved here.

When that’s done, she pulls out a list from the front pocket of her coveralls. “I have this list that I’d made when I bought the place. I know it probably needs to be organized in order of importance, and some of those are just wish list things, but it will give you an idea of what I’d like done around here.”

She hands me the piece of paper and is looking everywhere but at me. If I thought she was nervous and guarded at the feed store, she’s definitely even more on edge now. I scan the list and am surprised to see almost everything I noted mentally is on her list. “Got it.”

She motions to me. “Follow me.”

I follow behind her, and no matter how hard I try to stay focused, my eyes travel down the length of her body. I’ve only seen her in the worn coveralls, but instead of turning me off, all they do is make me wonder what the denim material is covering underneath. She carries herself almost regally, even with the ball cap and boots she’s wearing. She gets to a small building and pushes open the front door. “This is the bunkhouse. I know it’s not much, but it has a bathroom with a tub and shower, running water of course, electricity, and heat and air.”

“It will be fine,” I tell her. To be honest, I won’t know what to do here by myself. I’m used to sharing a bunkhouse with a bunch of other cowboys, so this will be a nice change of pace.

She clears her throat, still not looking at me. “You’ll have to come up to the house for breakfast, lunch and supper. I’ll have it ready at six, noon, and six.”

“That will be great, thank you.”

She starts to laugh and stops herself abruptly. “Don’t thank me yet. You haven’t tasted my cooking.”