Page 45 of What the Cowboy Wants
“I’m here, Mom.”Moving quickly to her side, he picked up her hand.
“Before those doctors come again, will you do whatever it is you do?Heal me?”
“I don’t know, Mom.I’d rather we wait for the doctors.Besides, there is only so much I can do…”
“I know you, son.We don’t have much time before that sister with the small eyes is back,” she whispered.
“Good to know you haven’t lost your sense of humor,” he smiled as put his hands on her.“Close your eyes.Take a deep breath in…” Talking softly to his mother, he moved his hands over her, doing what he could to make her more comfortable.
“What’s going on here?”a sharp voice behind him said just as he finished.
“Meet one of my sons,” his mother smiled innocently.
“Well, at least your color has improved,” the nurse frowned before she left again.
“How do you feel?”
“Better.Sit down for a minute.”She patted the bed beside her.
As he sat down, she took his hand.“Coop, I don’t have your and Willow’s and heaven help him, Luke’s, ability, but I can see when one of my sons is having a hard time because of his own stubbornness.You love Rose, don’t you?”
“Mom…”
“It’s a yes or no question, Coop.”
He chuckled.“You should’ve been a lawyer.”
“That was the plan before Hayden came along,” she smiled.“Come on, talk to me.”
“It’s complicated.”
“No, it’s not.Love is very simple, sweetheart.We tend to make it difficult.You rely on your gut, your feelings, to do what you do.What does it tell you?”
“That she can do so much better than a cowboy who talks to animals.”
“Do you love her?”
Sighing, he rubbed his face.“Yeah, Mom.I do.I’ve only figured it out this morning.”
“I could have told you that months ago.”She grinned.“What are you going to do about it?”
“She’s a city girl, used to being among people, she may not like living on a ranch.Besides, living with someone like me?Is it fair to ask that of anyone?”
“So, you’re looking for reasons not to be with her?Sweetie, if she loves you, which by the way, I’m sure she does, nothing else is a problem.”
“I don’t know, Mom…”
“It’s very simple, son.Do you want to wake up next to her for the rest of your life, or do you want to spend your futurewishingshe was next to you?Life is so very short as I discovered when your dad passed away.You never know when it’s your last day, your last concert, your last kiss.Don’t waste time you two can be together because you’re afraid.”
There was a knock on the door and Hayden entered the room.“Mom, how are you feeling?”
Cooper got up.“She’s interfering in my life again, I think she’s going to be okay.”
Sighing with relief, Hayden stepped closer and kissed their mom.“I’m taking Laura and Luke home and I’ll be back to take over from you early tomorrow morning, if that’s okay, Coop?”
“You don’t have to do that…” their mom said.
“Of course we’re here for you,” Cooper said.“Don’t worry, I’ll be here.”
