Page 42 of What the Cowboy Wants
For the first time, he looked down at himself.He was filthy, they’d all been out on the horses since he’d joined them this morning.
Chuckling, he pulled his shirt over his head.“You’re right, I need to shower before I can go anywhere.”
With a soft whine, Prince pressed his face against Cooper’s leg.“I hurt her,” he said, stroking Prince’s head.
Big, brown eyes looked up at him.Fix it, he said.
Sighing, Cooper bent down and kissed Prince’s face.“I don’t know if she’ll give me another chance, but I’ll try.”
Prince and Charlie barked excitedly, Lady yelped.
“Okay, I’ll try.Now, scoot!”
His phone bleeped.It was Becket.
“Women have already left.Can we pick you up?”
For another moment his finger hovered over his phone before he replied.
“Thanks.”
He didn’t have any great plan, but once he saw her, he would know what to do.
*
By the timethey arrived at the fairground, there were already many people around, but Willow, resourceful as always, managed to find them one of the long tables arranged in rows in front of a huge stage.
They had just sat down when the other Weston women joined them.Rose’s heart stopped for a second.Was Cooper with them?Her eyes quickly searched around, but he was nowhere to be seen.Thank, goodness.She wasn’t quite ready to see him.
Laura hugged her mother-in-law.“Hi, Mom, it’s nice to see you.Hayden and Becket were so late, Ellie and I decided to come without them so that we don’t miss anything.They just called to say they’re on their way, though.”
Ellie also hugged everyone before she sat down.Luke saw a friend and with a wave, he ran toward the group of kids playing nearby.
“He’s growing up so quickly,” Arlene sighed.“Only the other day, our boys were playing on the fairgrounds.Time flies by so quickly.”
Rose hadn’t been quite sure what to expect but this was nice.It was already much cooler than earlier; she was glad she’d brought her warm jacket.It was a beautiful evening.It The sun hadn’t set yet and hugging herself, she looked up at Copper Mountain.Ever present, it was the one thing during those first few weeks after she’d arrived in town that was a constant, always there.Somehow it made her feel grounded.The air was filled with children’s laugher, everyone was having a great time.
“So, Rose,” Willow grinned.“What does the city girl say about our festival?”
Rose smiled.It was an easy one to answer.“I’ll always be grateful for whatever instinct propelled me toward this town.People still care about one another.I don’t know what I would’ve done without you.Okay, yes, the gossiping is a lot to get used to, but I like to think it’s because people care.”
Ellie laughed.“Well, that’s one way of looking at it.”
While Laura pointed out other people her mother might know, Rose inhaled deeply.She could relax now she wasn’t going to see Cooper.
Willow got up.“Rose, I’m going to find something to eat, care to join me?”
“Wait for me,” Ellie said got up.
Laura also got up.“Arlene?Are you coming?”
“You go ahead, I enjoy watching the people.Just bring me something to eat, please?”
As they left, Willow looked back at her mother with a slight frown.“Does my mom look okay to you?”she asked Laura.
“She had a bit of a cold last week, but she said she was fine.Does she go for regular check-ups to a doctor?”Laura asked.
Willow rolled her eyes.“My mother?No, I don’t think she’s ever been ill that I can remember, but I don’t like her color.You all back me up when I mention the worddoctor, okay?”
