Page 107 of Cowboy's Last Stand
“Oh?”
“They interviewed a forty-year-old surfer who said he felt twenty.Unfortunately, he looked sixty.”
Tyler laughed in his low, lazy way.The sound was music to Jason’s ears.He was older than Jason by five years and so far seemed immune to the aging effects of sun and saltwater.“Have you heard the latest from Montana?”
Jason played along.“No.”
“This poor old man was trying to play a round of golf in the snow.”
“What happened to him?”
“He froze his balls.”
They both laughed at the dumb joke.It felt good to rib each other the way they used to before his accident.The last time they’d talked, Tyler hadn’t joked at all.He’d been worried, Jason realized.After the traumatic brain injury and slow recovery, everyone had walked on eggshells around him.Jason hadn’t liked some of Tyler’s questions today, but he appreciated his directness.
“It’s good to hear your voice,” Jason said.
“Likewise.”
Jason promised to call again with an update later in the week.He hung up and paced the apartment, considering Tyler’s advice.
Buy flowers.Apologize.Tell the truth.
He should have done all of these things days ago.He hadn’t because her criticism of him had stung and because he was afraid of losing her.He knew how she’d react to the truth.Selfishly, he’d wanted to take her to bed before he told her, to have her and hold her at least once more before she threw him out.
Jason mulled over his options while he retiled the kitchen.In the early afternoon, he showered and put on fresh clothes.He donned his new Stetson and went to a local flower shop for a cheerful bouquet in fall colors.It was nearly Thanksgiving, he realized.He drove to the library and parked near her car.She would get off work in twenty minutes.While he waited, sweating despite the chill in the air, a squad car pulled into the parking lot.
Wade Hendricks.
He was the last person Jason wanted to see, other than Billy Hendricks.Wade might just be doing his job, ensuring public safety, but his presence rankled.Natalie had given Wade the cold shoulder after sleeping with him, and she’d just done the same thing to Jason.There was also the fact that Wade was a law enforcement officer who could check into Jason’s background and report back to Natalie.
Jason exited the vehicle, flowers in hand.He strode past the squad car without pausing to acknowledge the deputy.
Ready or not, he had to act now.
Chapter Twenty-Two
Natalie had beenworking in a fog all week.
She hadn’t slept well since the fight with Jason.Although she was used to late nights and early mornings, she couldn’t focus on menial tasks.She re-shelved books like an automaton, going through the motions.When she knocked over a display she’d spent an hour creating, she almost burst into tears.Gail helped her put things back in order.Natalie thanked her in a shaky voice, blinking rapidly.
“Let’s take a break,” Gail said.
The library was deserted, other than a few patrons using desktop computers.There were two other staff members at the front desk.Natalie followed Gail to the breakroom, where she made them both a cup of tea.Gail was a curvy brunette in her early 30s.She had kind eyes and a freckled nose.
“Do you want to talk about it?”Gail asked.
Natalie wrapped her hands around the warm mug.“I met someone.”
Gail brightened at this news.“Really?”
“He’s been working on the upstairs apartment,” Natalie explained.“Fixing it up so I can rent it out.”
“OK.”
She took an experimental sip of her tea.It was hot and fragrant.
“What’s he like?”
