Page 5 of What the Cowboy Wants
“Okay, fine,” she muttered.Fed up with the whole situation and her ridiculous reaction to the cowboy, she got her bag from the car.Somewhere inside should be a band-aid she could put on the hurt place on her head.Searching through her bag, she moved in the direction the cowboy had disappeared.Finally, her fingers touched the packet she was looking for.Thanks, Mom.It was one of the things her mom had taught her to always have with her.You never know, she used to say.
Swallowing the lump in her throat, she put the band-aid on her temple.It should be fine until she got home.Her parents had always been there for her, Rose had been the one who’d been so busy she couldn’t make time to visit them or talk to them properly over the phone.
Joyous barking had her look up.Cooper’s two dogs were running toward her.For the first time, she noticed one of them had only three legs, although it didn’t seem to bother him much.Growing up, they had pets, but they were always following her dad around, she never really got to know them.The past few months with Molly, though, had taught her dogs somehow understood emotions.Bending down, she slowly put out her hand and stroked each head.
Both dogs licked her hand before they turned around ran in the direction Cooper and Molly went.Sighing, she followed them.She needed a lift back to her place; she didn’t want to bother Willow, so she’d have to accept Cooper’s offer.
As she came around the corner, she saw Cooper had entered a fenced area and was stroking and talking to a horse.
Without taking her eyes off the scene, she slowly moved forward.Cooper’s two dogs, a pitch-black, one-eyed cat, and Molly had joined Cooper.Look at that.All in deep conversation by the looks of it.Grimacing, she groaned.Oh, my goodness, the bump against my head has me seeing things.
Cooper turned around and the pets followed him out of the enclosed field.Rose sighed.Cooper Weston might irritate her no end, but oh, my goodness, was he soft on the eyes.From his longish, dark, curly hair, his clear blue eyes, broad shoulders, to the faded pair of jeans fitting him perfectly, he was knee-buckling, heart-stoppingly gorgeous.
As Cooper opened the gate and let the animals out before he closed it, the horse trotted toward him.With a smile Cooper touched the horse’s face.For long seconds man and horse looked at each other.Strange energy vibrations reached Rose, swirled around her.A shiver ran down her spine.
With a soft sound, the horse turned its head and looked at Rose.In that instant, the strangest thing happened.A lightness filled Rose’s being, somehow dimming the pain and humiliation she’d been carrying with her for the last four months.
Without conscious thought, Rose moved toward the fence.In awe, she looked at the beautiful animal.She’d had horse-riding lessons when she was still at school, but since she’d been working, there had never been time to ride again.She should be afraid of the strange animal, but something was urging her closer.As the horse ambled near to the fence, Rose put out her hand as Cooper had done.
For another minute the horse looked at her before it dropped its head in her hand.“Oh, you’re gorgeous,” she whispered, again experiencing the lightness of minutes earlier.
Quickly, she turned away.What was she doing?The knock on her head was probably harder than she’d thought.
“You’ve felt the connection with Scarlett?”Cooper’s voice was soft.
She looked away.“What connection?”
“Like you, she’s been hurt and humiliated.I’m always amazed by the interaction between animal and human,” he continued.“A neighbor, whose son was autistic, brought him to the horses a few times.Horses don’t see a child with autism, they see a child.Both horses and autistic children think in pictures, not words or verbal language and both are hyper specific.Both human and horse are attracted to that which is most familiar.I’ve seen firsthand how the unconditional acceptance of a horse can heal a small part of a human soul.”
Strangely moved but not liking the feeling, she glared at Cooper.“Are you comparing me to a horse?You know nothing about me!”Taking a deep breath, she tried to control herself.“Look, I’m really fine, you don’t have to worry about me.I’ll walk back to Willow’s…”
“Come with me.”Gently, a hand touched her elbow.“My truck is parked right here.If ever you feel the need, Scarlett will be staying with us.You’re welcome any time to visit her.Like you, she’d like someone to talk to.I think the two of you will be good for one another.”
Rose didn’t answer him.Talking to animals?Seriously?It was weird.She pressed her fingers against her temple where a faint pain still lingered.
The dogs ran toward the vehicle, but the cat was now sitting right in front of Rose, and if she wasn’t mistaken, it was actually glaring at her.
“Relax, Ebony,” Cooper chuckled.“She’s just jealous,” he told Rose.
Stunned she stared at Cooper.“But why?”
“Because you’re beautiful and interesting, and I like looking at you.”Bending down, he scooped up the cat and walked toward his truck.“Come on.”
Still flabbergasted by theyou’re beautiful and interesting and I like looking at you, it took Rose a few seconds to register Cooper’s “come on.”Where to?
“I’ve put something on the wound, I’m okay,” she said.“You can just take me home.”
Cooper wasn’t listening to her, though, and opened the door of his truck.
For a moment she felt like stomping her feet, but, swallowing her irritation, she followed him to the vehicle.
She had no one to blame except herself for every single mess she was in, including this one.As she got into his truck, she rubbed her arms.
Whether it had been her imagination or whether it had been something real, whether she liked it or not, she wasn’t sure, but Cooper was right, there had been a moment between her and the horse.
Chapter Two
By the timethey reached Cooper’s house, Ebony had at least stopped glaring at Rose.Cooper swallowed his smile.Ebony always knew how he felt toward other people, and what he felt when the redhead was near him, was a first.No wonder the cat was jealous.She’d also sensed, though, that he wasn’t going to act on it, hence her more relaxed state.
