Page 42 of Red Hot Rancher

“You mean I’m not dressed for it?”

Was he insecure about his appearance? “I think you could show up on the doorstep anywhere and get welcomed in. No, it’s loud. I’m not up for loud.”

“We could request a song with mooing in the background.”

She chuckled. “Sheep are even quieter. I’ve been spoiled.”

And she had been. Earlier, Justin had sent her a picture of the yard covered in a blanket of snow. Pristine. Sparkling. Undisturbed. She was missing it to be here.

She shook the thought off. There’d be more snowfalls. “How ’bout a burger?”

“If I’m never up for a burger, you know something’s wrong.” He relaxed in his seat. “Surprise me.”

The city wasn’t quiet, but traffic was minimal as she wove through the streets, looking for a good place to eat, one that wasn’t only about families but also not a noisy bar. She had some ideas, but she wanted something close to the hotel.

Caleb watched the city go by. Had he really never traveled? His mom had dragged him all over the county, but when she’d moved to another city, she’d left him behind.

A weight settled around Brigit’s heart. She was nothing like his mother. She’d never shove a kid in a corner so she could party. But at the same time, she was planning to leave him behind as soon as she found something “better.”

Her optimism for her job interview faded even more. This was a good thing. It was what she’d been working toward her whole life. She loved animals and ranching, but it wasn’t a feasible career. She didn’t have the capital to start her own business and it wasn’t in her to swim against the tide of ingrained opinions and habits.

In the city, she didn’t take things so personally.

But then, no one knew her enough for their slights to be personal.

She pulled into the next bar and grill that came up. A flashing cowboy boot on the sign clinched the deal.

“You didn’t have to pick a place you thought I’d be comfortable in,” Caleb said quietly.

She’d picked a place she’d be comfortable in. After she parked, she pointed to the letters underneath the sign. “I didn’t want a bar that’d be too loud to talk in, but if it’s gonna be loud it might as well be live music.”

“You know the band?”

“Nope.”

She clung to him on the slippery walk to the entrance. He opened the door and the chaos of voices and strumming guitars greeted them. A hostess in tight jeans and cowboy boots that had never seen green grass led them to a booth.

Caleb slid into the booth next to her, his arm slung around her back. They pored over the menu, hollering into each other’s ears. This was exactly the noisy environment she’d wanted to avoid.

She decided on what to eat but kept staring at the menu. How was she going to live in the city now that she could picture Caleb here too? It had been easy to move here for college, not knowing a soul, and, more importantly, not having a history with anyone in it. But now?

Then there was Oliver. Until now, she’d ignored the irony of gravitating toward a guy from the hometown she’d been resolved to get away from. He hadn’t gone to school in Minneapolis but had moved here for the job he’d eventually lost, which had prompted the move to Moore. And she’d glued herself to his side, all while ignoring the insulting way he treated her.

If she could, she’d go back and ignore the tidbit of information Mom had casually dropped. Remember Oliver? He was a year ahead of you? I guess he sells insurance in Minneapolis now. And she would definitely take back the casual stop into Oliver’s workplace for an auto insurance quote.

Oliver was over. She might have to live in this city again if she got the job, but that didn’t mean she’d return to her former lonely self, seeking a relationship in an attempt to feel complete.

Caleb leaned close. “Figure out what you want?”

She nodded and closed her menu, wishing she could do the same with her tumultuous thoughts. This bar was no different than any at home. Only she could relax better here. No one was looking at them and speculating about their future, how well they worked together, if she was too much woman for him, or whether or not she was good enough for him. If the residents of Moore knew she’d walked away from Caleb once already, being seen with him would send waves of gossip through town.

She could hear Maisy’s nasal pitch stage-whispering to Priya even now. He’d be much better off with someone like you. There’s no way he could carry her over any threshold.

What was it she’d said one time? At least if you two ever sleep together, your clothes are big enough for him to borrow.

Her musings were interrupted as they ordered. No sharing a burger or feeling guilty. No leaving hungry and salivating over the delicious smells emanating from the place. She was done with that. If she had to reconcile herself with a new bigger size, so be it.

In fact, she already had. Constant stomach pains were gone. Strength poured through her muscles when she worked the animals and fixed fence. And she slept better. She’d need a new wardrobe, but…fuck it.

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