Page 92 of The Cowboy's Country Charm

“You know I have no interest in doing that. I need to find my own way, Daddy.”

His eyebrows rose. “If I do this for you, I’d consider it the act of a loving daughter if you would come back to Cheyenne and help me.”

“Then I’d have to leave here.” And leave Rusty.

“Couldn’t Ariel run things for Marcia? Because I’ll need people around me who will have my back. Politics is a cutthroat enterprise. Ineedyou, Kristy. Just like you need me now.”

Her heart was screaming no. Her brain was saying it was for Rusty. How would she tell Rusty that she was leaving? Or Ariel? How could she leave after successfully managing the largest event of her career? She was on the cusp of getting a piece of the business.

“I can’t Daddy. I just…”

“It’s the cowboy, isn’t it.”

“It’s my careerandthe cowboy.” To be honest.

“I have to be able offer Dean something. And if he knew you’d be coming to work for me, it would offer him hope.”

“Never am I going back with Dean, regardless.”

“And after what you told me, I wouldn’t want you to. But he doesn’t need to know that. And if your cowboy is as into you as you seem to be into him, won’t he follow you to Cheyenne?”

“I wouldn’t ask him to. His family is here. This is where he grew up. Where he wants to work.”

“And Cheyenne is where you grew up. As you said, it’s within driving distance. And I’ll make a deal. Do it for two years. That’s all I ask, because by then we’ll be through another election cycle. May be a good test for your relationship.”

She didn’t want to test out their relationship. “I have to think about it.” This wasn’t something she could decide in the moment.

“Dean will file before he leaves here. That’s just a few hours from now.”

Her stomach was topsy-turvy, and her temples were pulsing. “I can’t believe you’re putting me in this situation.”

“I’m not. Rusty is. I want what is best for you, kitten. And moving back to Cheyenne, working in my office, is best for both of us. And becoming a policeman is what is best for Rusty. Think about it. But not too long.”

“And if I say no? If I don’t agree to come back to Cheyenne?” Because she really didn’t want that. She wanted to stay and see where the business and Rusty would take her.

He shrugged. “I won’t be able to offer Dean anything to change his mind. I’ll talk to him and he still might, but…”

“But you don’t think he will.”

“Doubtful. It’s not just his face that is hurting. It’s his pride. From what you say, Dean went down without a fight. In front of a whole lot of people. If he thought you were coming back to Cheyenne and he had a chance…”

“But he doesn’t have a chance.” How many times did she have to say it?

“He’ll think he does, and I’m betting that’s all it will take to change his mind.”

How had this happened? How had her bid for independence become a trap? “I’ll have to think about it. I’ll have to talk to Ariel.”

“Better get going then. Time’s a wastin’.”

***

“You aren’t serious?” Ariel stood in the middle of the event’s concrete floor, in the midst of the rental agency removing the table and chairs and disassembling the stage. It was noisy and chaotic and fit Kristy’s mood. “We just pulled off a fantastic event in front of the whole town, in front of the whole friggin’ state, and you want to bail, as if we failed.”

“I don’t want to. I don’t want to at all. But I don’t know what else to do. Rusty’s going to lose his whole future, all his plans.”

“And so are you.” Ariel brushed a wisp of hair from her face. Dressed in a colorful flowing midi dress, she looked ready for a new-age retreat.

“I’ll have a different career.” One she would hate.

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