Wrangling Cupid's Cowboy

“He and my dad apprenticed together way back in the day.” Delta swiveled slightly to face him, causing her knee to brush against his. “Oh, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to bump you.” Her hand rested lightly on his leg for a brief second, but it was long enough to send his blood coursing quicker through his veins. “When Henry decided to retire, he called and asked if I was interested in taking over his customers. Before that, I was working for my dad. Coming here gave me a chance to have my own business. And Missoula is still close enough for me to visit my family on weekends and holidays.”

Garrett tried focusing on her face as a whole, but he kept wandering down to her mouth as she spoke. Her lips were full and naturally darkened, as if she’d just been kissed. Not that he needed to be thinking about kissing Delta or anyone else. His heart was permanently shuttered. Stick to the topic, Garrett. “How long have you been here?”

“A little over a year.” She sipped her whiskey with ease. “Where were you in Wyoming?”

“Wheatland.” Garrett rolled the glass slowly in the palms of his hands. Oddly enough, he found the liquor less intoxicating than Delta. “My wife and I moved there almost five years ago to be closer to her parents. I managed their cattle ranch up until a few weeks ago.”

A waitress set both of their meals in front of them. She was one more person he didn’t recognize. It used to be he knew everyone and their brother. When did he become a stranger in his own hometown? At least he’d made one new friend tonight.

“Silver Bells must be a big change from a cattle ranch.”

“It is.” Garrett took a bite of his burger and nodded. “It was time, though. I love my wife’s family, but we were living with them. I appreciated their help with the kids, but the place had a shroud of grief hanging over it. They talked about Rebecca all the time and her mother still set a place for her at the table.” Garrett didn’t even have to close his eyes to envision that empty seat across from him. It made every meal almost unbearable. “My kids are mad because I refuse to do that here, but I don’t want them growing up in a constant state of depression. That’s not to say I love Rebecca any less.” His voice began to rise. “She’ll always be my wife. No one will ever replace her.”

Delta reared back at the declaration as if he had physically shoved her. The force of his words had startled even him.

“I can’t imagine anyone would try.” She inched away from him and turned her attention to her sandwich.

“I’m sorry. You’re the first woman I’ve really sat down and spoken with outside of family. Apparently I left my manners back in Wyoming.”

“Let me make this easy for you.” Delta side-glanced him. “I’m just one of the guys where you’re concerned. I can assure you it will never be anything more. I’m assuming you’re okay with that.”

“Suits me just fine.” Then why did her matter-of-fact attitude on the subject sit on his chest like a bobcat on a briar bush? He certainly wasn’t interested in her.

“Good. Now that that’s out of the way...how old are your children?”

“Bryce is four and Kacey will be eight next month. Rebecca died just before her fifth birthday and she hasn’t wanted to celebrate since. I’m hoping this year will be different. And I need to stop running on about myself and my problems.” Garrett ordered a beer before returning his attention to Delta. “I’ve monopolized the entire conversation.”

Delta dabbed her mouth with a napkin. “We all need a friendly ear sometimes.”

“At least I’ve wandered into the friend zone and out of enemy range.”

“Friends, huh?”

Her bemused expression gave him pause. “It’s a start, at least.”

“I’ll give you that much.”

Over the rest of their meal Garrett continued to tell her about his kids. She’d listened intently as he spoke and had carried on their conversation as if he hadn’t made a repeated ass out of himself earlier. By the time their plates were empty, he realized he hadn’t asked much about her. Guilt over Rebecca forced him to tamp down the desire to make plans to have dinner with Delta again. Tonight was a one-time deal stemming from a chance encounter. That was it.

“Buy you another round?” The question was out of his mouth before he could stop it.

Delta rose from her stool, tugged a few bills from the pocket of her jeans and tossed them on the bar. “Thank you, but I need to get going. Jake’s waiting for me.”

Jake? “Oh, okay. At least allow me to pay for your dinner to make up for this afternoon.”

“Nah, I got it. Besides, I thought we just met tonight.” Delta winked. “I’ll see you tomorrow when we meet with Dr. Presley.” She began to walk away and then turned toward him. “Welcome home, Garrett. I hope you find the peace you’re looking for.”

* * *

BY THE TIME he arrived at Dylan’s to pick up Kacey and Bryce, he felt more certain moving back to Saddle Ridge had been the right decision for him and his family. He could hear his kids from the great room as he climbed the steps of the log cabin’s front porch. Peering in the window, he saw Kacey dancing around the room with his brother while Bryce and Emma—Dylan’s fiancée—clapped along with the music. It had been a long time since he’d heard his daughter laugh so freely. And it was better than any song playing on a honky-tonk jukebox.

Dylan caught his reflection in the window and waved him inside.

“Daddy we had pasketti!” Bryce ran over to him.

“Spaghetti,” Kacey corrected. “You’re old enough to say it right.”

Wise beyond her years, his daughter still hadn’t relinquished playing mother to her brother. She’d taken on the role herself the moment he and Rebecca told Kacey she was sick. In hindsight, they never should have told her. She’d barely had a chance to be a child.

“I see that.” Garrett knelt on the floor next to his son. He tried to give his daughter a hug, but she slipped under his arm and sat next to Emma on the couch. He didn’t want to pressure Kacey, but damned if it didn’t kill him to see her happy up until the moment he walked in the room. “Looks like you wore most of your pasketti, little man.”

Kacey huffed at him. “You’re not helping, Dad.”

“He refused to wear a bib.” Emma frowned. “Or a towel or a napkin. I wanted to get him changed and wash his shirt before you got back, but I didn’t have anything that would fit him.”

“It’s no big deal. He’s always been a messy eater. I keep hoping he’ll grow out of it soon.”

“How was dinner?” Dylan asked.

“Good. I ran into Delta at the Iron Horse. And don’t worry. I apologized and told her she can continue to do her job as she sees fit.”

“Thank God for that.”

“We wound up having dinner together although I’m afraid I did most of the talking. She seems pretty nice.”

“Dinner together, huh? You sly dog.” Dylan nudged his arm. “You went on a date with Delta.”

Garrett put a finger to his lips and glanced over at his daughter, who continued to ignore him. “Please,” he whispered. “Kacey’s mad at me enough. And I have absolutely zero interest in pursuing anything with Delta. It was just two people sharing a meal.”

“Okay, okay.” Dylan held up his hands in surrender.

“One question, though. When she left, she said Jake was waiting for her. Who’s Jake?”

“He wasn’t with her today?”

“No.” Garrett hadn’t spent much time with Delta in the stables, but as far as he knew, she was there alone. “Does he work for her?”

“Work for her? No.” His brother laughed. “They, um, live together. I’m sure you’ll meet him soon. When you see one, you usually see the other. Why the curiosity about Jake if there’s nothing between you and Delta?”

“Just wondering.” He hadn’t expected her to have a boyfriend after her comment about Valentine’s Day. Garrett lowered Bryce to the floor. “Run and get your stuff together. I need to get you home and into a bath, then it’s off to bed.” He tried to shake the flip-floppy sensation growing inside him. He was fine two seconds ago. It had to be from the chipotle whiskey. “Kacey, honey, time to go.” Garrett gave Emma a hug as she stood up from the couch. “Thank you for entertaining them tonight. I really appreciate it. I know you have your hands full with Holly.”

“Holly’s been a dream baby so far.” Emma held Garrett’s face between her palms and smiled up at him. “I know this move hasn’t been easy on you or the kids. They’re welcome here anytime. Don’t you ever think twice about it.”

Garrett took her hands in his and gave them a gentle squeeze. “My brother struck gold with you. He’s a lucky man.”

“Holly and I are the lucky ones. We inherited an amazing family.”

“Enough already,” Dylan called out from the kitchen table. “I swear you two are the ones who are related. I’ve never seen two more sentimental people in my entire life. Emma still has the baby hormone thing going on, but you, dear brother...” Dylan’s head tilted questioningly. “That must have been some dinner.”