Page 64 of Cowboy's Last Stand
“You’re too pretty,” the brunette said.“It’s a real problem for us regular girls.”
Natalie rolled her eyes at this claim.“Regular girls.Right.”
“So what happened with that guy?”the blonde asked.“Did he get lucky?”
Natalie made a zipper motion across her lips and twisted as if locking the info away.“What happens at the Night Owl stays at the Night Owl.”
More laughter followed her as she winked and left the table.Those girls didn’t want to hear that Natalie and Jason were involved.They’d prefer believing that Natalie had rejected him.It was better to stay mum and keep the mystery.
She enjoyed this job as much as the other.The atmosphere was as lively and vibrant as the library was quiet and subdued.Both suited her, and she found a lot of similarities between them.She made recommendations for drinks or books.She interacted with customers.She organized materials and restocked supplies.
At the end of the night, she said goodbye to Buster and gathered her bag.She felt a twinge of unease before she headed out, remembering the note from this afternoon.She probably should have told Jason or Wade about it.She should have bought that stupid security camera too.She checked her phone and found a text from her dad:
Missed hearing from you last weekend.Hope everything is OK.Love you.
Natalie cursed under her breath.She’d forgotten to call her dad last weekend, and she hadn’t visited her grandmother.She usually did both on Sunday.It was too late to call now.She made a mental note to remedy the situation tomorrow and kept her phone in hand as she entered the parking lot.
A squad car was stationed at the fast-food restaurant across the street.Wade, or another deputy, sat behind the wheel.She was surprised by the sight because it was bad for business.Buster didn’t want law officers spooking his customers.The deputies in Last Chance had other responsibilities, as well.They couldn’t park outside every bar in town.They did sobriety checkpoints on occasion.More often, they looked the other way.
Natalie didn’t wave to the deputy.She didn’t know who was in the squad car or why it was there, but she appreciated the police presence.There was no note attached to her windshield.Her engine started up easily.Two minutes later, she was home.She parked in the driveway and got out, closing her door gently.
Jason was stretched out on the glider, fast asleep.He’d tried to wait up for her, judging by his half-reclining position.He usually slept in his sleeping bag on the porch, near the balustrade.For extra padding, he had a narrow foam mat.It appeared slightly more comfortable than a bed of nails.She’d given him a pillow and a wool blanket a few days ago.He had the blanket wrapped around his shoulders.
She remembered studying him last weekend when he’d drifted off in the same spot.He’d looked boyish then.He didn’t now.His face appeared troubled, with deep grooves on either side of his mouth.He mumbled something, his hands twitching with agitation.
She was afraid to wake him.
No matter how restless his slumber, she wanted to creep by without bothering him.She gripped her bag to prevent it from jangling as she ascended the steps.The old wood creaked under her weight.
“Don’t come back for me,” Jason said.
She froze midstep.
“Goddamn it, go for cover.That’s an order, Corporal.”
Corporal.That had been Mike’s title.Along with thousands of other Marines.
“I can make it on my own—” His head thrashed from side to side, as if he was tumbling through a nightmare of violent motion.His hands curled into tight fists, and his jaw clenched.He appeared to be in intense pain.
She couldn’t bear to watch his distress any longer.“Jason,” she said softly.
He continued to thrash around, fighting some unseen force.
“Jason,” she said louder.She didn’t get too close.“Jason!”
His eyes snapped open.He seemed confused or unable to recognize her.His expression indicated that he was still seeing the landscape of his nightmare.Somewhere in Afghanistan, she assumed.
“It’s OK,” she said.“It’s me.”
“Natalie?”
“Yes.”
He closed his eyes again, breathing heavily.
“You were having a nightmare.”
His mouth twisted with displeasure.“Right.”
