The Cougar and the Cowboy

“Let’s go in the house for a bit and talk about what you’d like to gain from these two weeks in Montana.” Looking at Dani, he said, “You’re welcome to come in too. That way you won’t have to make two trips.”

“Thanks for the offer but I have things to do at home and some errands in town. What time do you want me to pick him up? If you still have my phone number, you can text me when he’s ready.”

“Yes I have it. Speaking of phone numbers…never mind. I was going to ask if you had mine but obviously you do since we spoke this morning.”

She nodded and walked back to her truck. Before she got in, she told Luke, “You’re too old to tell you to be a good boy, so I’ll just remind you to do what your parents would want. Okay?” With that she drove off.

‘Why didn’t you ask if it was okay to give Mitch her number, Jace? Admit it…you really don’t want him to call her.’

He grabbed two bottles of water from the refrigerator and they sat at the kitchen table.

“Your grandpa Cal tells me you’ve wanted to be a rodeo man since you could talk and walk, Luke.”

“Yes, sir, I have. I never wanted to be a rancher.”

“Why do you think that’s true? What intrigues you about the rodeo? I’m sure you’ve been to the rodeos in Houston, right?”

Luke nodded. “Yes sir, I have and I wanted to be in the ring instead of the bleachers.”

Jace smiled. “First, let’s get something out of the way. I appreciate that your parents have taught you respect for your elders but let’s forget the ‘sir’ for the next two weeks and you just call me Jace, like my friends do, okay? Because we are friends already and I have no doubt we’ll be better friends by the time you go home, Luke.”

“Okay, sir…I mean, Jace.”

They spent much of the morning discussing the positives of rodeo life. Luke sounded so much like him when he was young; he hated to squash all his dreams on the first day by talking trash about the rodeos. He showed him his many pictures and the trophies he’d won. There were newspaper clippings and even articles in national magazines about his skills. Luke’s eyes got bigger and his grin got wider. He was impressed. That’s what Jace was trying to achieve because if he started on the pinnacle of his success it would be easier to work his way down to the bottom.

“It was a great life for a single guy, Luke, for quite a few years. But I wouldn’t be truthful if I didn’t tell you the other side of the story, too. I can only speak for myself but I know what I tell you is true of many men and women involved with the rodeo. It seems like the applause and adulation from the stands will last forever, but it doesn’t. When the crowds go home, you still have to take care of your animals and your tack, regardless of how tired and banged up you are. Then you have to load it all up and drive to the next site. Some days, you stop long enough to collect your winnings and some days, there are no winnings.”

They continued talking until Jace thought that was enough for one day. They went to the barn and Luke showed him his roping skills with a makeshift wooden calf Jace had pulled out of the back of the barn. Jace had to admit the kid was darned good for a thirteen year old.

***

“Did Jace already leave?” Mitch asked Maggie.

“Yep. Said he was going to talk to a kid about not joining the rodeo. Why?”

“I asked him for Danielle’s phone number but he didn’t give it to me yet.”

“I think I have it,” Maggie told him. “The first day she came in here looking for Jace, she gave it to me. I threw it in the drawer. Wait a minute.”

A few minutes later, she retrieved the slip of paper and handed it to him. “Here ya go, Mitch. Good luck. I hope she says she’ll go out with you. That is what you wanted it for, right?”

He took the paper and ignored her remark.

CHAPTER 23

CAMILLE DECIDED TO work from a nearby coffee house for a change of scenery. She took her laptop and was working diligently on responding to the ‘hellos’ on the site with the younger men. She scrolled through the profile pictures, responded to some and dismissed others. She was suddenly surprised to see one of the same faces she’d seen on the senior site. What was up with this guy named Antonio? Did he join every site? She already had his email address so she contacted him. He remembered her and they resumed their online friendship where they’d left it. She was certain his ultimate goal was to meet for a one night stand but she was willing to see how far the conversations would go before it reached that point.

When she agreed to do the six month series, she promised herself she would be truthful with her readers…up to a point. She would fictionalize any sexual encounters as she had no desire to be with a different man every few weeks or, heaven forbid, to actually fall for someone. That would be a bit of a mess. ‘Yes, I really am falling in love with you but wait…my name isn’t Emily, I don’t live in Montana and everything about me is a lie.’

She kept a hard copy log of every man she spoke with or emailed or met. She needed those notes to put into each month’s submission. So far, she had met several of them in person. She made sure they met during the day for lunch or coffee in a safe place with lots of people present. She realized she had inadvertently left her log at home so she scribbled notes on a pad of paper she had in her purse. She would decipher them when she got home.

The first man was at least twenty years older than he claimed to be. The second one had some strange beliefs, at least in her opinion. The subject of owning a gun was discussed. He was mortified that she would even entertain that idea. She assured him she didn’t own one and had no plans to purchase one but she understood why many women did. He strongly disapproved of harming anything…ants, flies, mosquitoes…rodents. Growing weary of his continued belaboring the point, she asked, “So if a mouse ran across your kitchen counter, you wouldn’t set a trap? Or if a mosquito was biting you, you wouldn’t kill it?” He shook his head, “Absolutely not.”

Yesterday, she met the third man. He was dressed in a suit and seemed very business-like. They had nearly finished their lunch when he suddenly told her he had to leave because his mother was calling him. He promptly stood up and walked out.

She should be able to write a good column for next month, for sure. Did she attract wackos or what? Where were all the men who were simply looking for a date or maybe a relationship? One thing she could definitely tell her readers…do not believe much of anything you read in a man’s profile.

She checked her watch and realized she’d told Collier she needed him to fix the desk she was using. The leg was loose and it wobbled, annoyingly, when she was trying to work. He knew the code for the keypad so he could let himself in if she didn’t make it home in time.