Page 43 of Her Cowboy Christmas
TEN
Cole
It takesme a long time to calm down after what that asshole said to my girl.I didn’t catch his name, which is probably a good thing, or I’d be looking him up right now, planning a way to hunt him down and beat the shit out of him for the things he said to Blair.
I know he must have gone to school with her, and my heart breaks for Blair.She must have heard that bullshit from her bullies on a daily basis.I don’t know how she did it.I would have snapped after a day, but she survived.She got through it and came out on the other side as a brilliant, loyal, kind, and beautiful woman.
I look over at Blair as we break down the booth.Her boss, Roger, and his wife are there, helping us load the tables and games into his truck.
“We can leave the igloo at the bank.I’ll come back later for that,” Roger says.
I nod as I tie down the arbor and tables in the back of his truck.“Do you need help unloading all this?”
“No, the kids will help us tomorrow.You two head home.Thanks for all of your hard work, Blair.”
Blair forces a smile.“Of course.Merry Christmas.”
“Merry Christmas!”
With that, they climb into the truck and drive off.
I grab the igloo and move it behind the bank, where it will be out of the wind and snow.
“Ready to go home?”I ask Blair.
She nods wordlessly.She’s been so quiet since her run-in with that clown earlier.I know Larsen tried to talk to her, to pull her out of her funk, but it didn’t seem to help.
I help her into my truck and hurry to climb into the driver’s seat.I blast the heat, aiming the vents toward Blair so she can warm up first.
“Hey,” I say as she stares out the windshield.“Forget what that guy said.He’s a dumb prick.He doesn’t know you.He never knew you.”
She nods slightly, but I can tell she doesn’t believe me.
“Blair, I mean it.He’s wrong.You’re amazing.So smart, so accomplished.You’re perfect.”
“No, I’m not,” she snaps.“I’m not perfect!”
“Blair—”
“I don’t know why you think I’m so perfect.My life is boring.My family doesn’t care about me!I have one friend!I can barely read, and no one wants me, and?—”
“I do!”I interrupt her.“I want you.I want you more than I’ve ever wanted anyone.You can’t see yourself clearly because you have all those assholes’ voices in your head.But if you could see yourself the way I see you, the way that your boss, Larsen, and other people in town see you, you’d realize how great you are.”
Blair takes a few deep breaths, scanning my face, looking for any sign of deceit.
“I mean it.You’re letting what a bunch of dumb kids said years ago dictate how you see yourself.You’re letting people who never took the time to get to know you have way too much control over your life.”
“My parents.”
“Are idiots.I’m sorry, but they are.And if I ever have the displeasure of meeting anyone in your family, I’ll tell them that.”
Blair starts to cry.
I don’t hesitate to reach for her, dragging her into my lap.“It’s okay, Princess.I’ve got you.”
She cries harder, and I rub my hands up and down her back, trying to soothe her.
“It’s okay.I get it.I had Mary and Christopher and the ranch, but before that, I was so angry.My parents didn’t want me.They gave me away.I barely had friends.People looked at me like I was an outsider or like I was trouble.”
