Her Unlikely Cowboy

“Ain’t that the truth,” Mr. Crump said, scratching his jaw. “Why, they packed up their motor home and left town almost before we could wave goodbye. You’d think they couldn’t wait to get rid of us.”

Mr. Mackintosh’s entire face fell with his frown. “Yeah, kind of felt like we weren’t wanted anymore,” he said, then winked again. “They really wanted to get out of town before you changed your mind.”

“That bad?” she asked, enjoying herself, despite the ominous teasing.

Both men grinned and followed her to the door, watching as she stuck in the key. Opening the door felt as if she was opening the best gift at Christmas, even as the musty scent of age wafted out in greeting.

“Well, gentlemen, let’s see what I’ve got, shall we?” She couldn’t help but feel happy walking in. Comical expressions of doom and gloom lit her new friends’ faces—half teasing, she knew, and yet the place had certainly seen better times.

Entering, she had to step lively to get out of their way as they crowded in behind her.

Someone flicked the lights on—not really a good thing, since it illuminated the lost and forlorn look of the empty flower shop. Glass cases that had to be some of the first ever made lined one wall. A single forgotten vase of flowers sat wilted behind the glass. The floors were old planks, rough and worn so that they had a shine to them like pebbles under a constant stream of water. Their footsteps rang out in the cavernous room.

The back room wasn’t any better. The tables all looked as though they were made from leftover wood, with plywood tops that had no charm at all. Turning back to the front room she studied the small front counter, more of a podium, with barely enough room for a purchase tablet much less a computer—even a small laptop. That would have to be remedied. Bad, to say the least, and yet...light streamed in from the large, old plate-glass window and made a sunny spot in the center of the room. It was to that sunny spot that Suzie walked and stood as she readjusted her eyes.

“It ain’t much to look at.”

“Mr. Mackintosh, you’re right, it has its bad points.”

“Call me Drewbaker. Ever’body does.”

“And the same here. Call me Chili, little lady.”

She smiled. “Drewbaker and Chili, then. It does have its bad points. But, for the money I paid, I got a steal of a deal. That’s a huge plus. And look up. Isn’t that tin ceiling amazing? What charm.”

Both of them cranked their necks back and frowned.

“You’ve got better eyes than me,” Drewbaker said. “Ain’t no charm in here.”

Chili agreed with his silence and the skeptical expression on his craggy face.

“Now, it’s not that bad,” Tucker said from the doorway. “Good morning, Suzie. Fellas.”

Suzie’s pulse bucked into rodeo mode upon seeing him—it was very disturbing.

“Good morning,” she said. Then, not waiting for any more encouraging declarations, she walked over to the glass cases and tried the sliding doors. “These work great. That’s a plus. They would be the most expensive pieces for me to purchase, so as long as they keep the flowers cool, everything else is workable. You’ll be amazed what a little paint will do.”

“That’s right,” Tucker said, coming over to test the doors himself. “You have a great attitude.”

“Well, I have two choices. See only the bad or start thinking positive. I want to think positive. Paint will work wonders. And scrubbing and rearranging.

“And flowers,” she added. “Flowers everywhere will change the whole atmosphere.”

And scent. What was that odor?

Candles. Candles and flowers would change the scent.

Yes, she had a plan.

She dropped her fists to her hips and did a full turn, taking in the room, trying not to think about Tucker watching her.

She came to a halt at the comical expressions of dismay on Chili’s and Drewbaker’s faces.

“This place is a dump. To tell you the truth, we haven’t been in here in years.” Drewbaker scratched his head. “My wife always said I’d pick a neighbor’s rose and give it to her before I’d pay for one, and I reckon she was right.”

Suzie chuckled. “Sadly, you aren’t alone.”

“I bought a few in my day,” Chili said, with a sheepish grin. “But it’s been a while. I might have to buy some once you get this joint up and going. Matter of fact, you put me down as your first customer. You just let me know when you start making deliveries.”

Tucker shot him a glance.

“You’re serious?” Drewbaker asked.

“I am. A man’s got to make a move sometime.”

Drewbaker’s laugh nearly busted out the windows. “Well, I’ll be getting me some entertainment from this. What do you think, Tucker?”

“Might be interesting,” Tucker agreed, his eyes dancing with laughter.

Suzie couldn’t help but be curious, but she’d learned not to ask personal questions about flowers unless it was absolutely necessary. Privacy was part of her business. So she’d wait. “I’ll certainly let you know the date,” she said.

“Okay, Romeo,” Drewbaker grunted. “You and me both have hungry cows waitin’ on us. We bes’ get a move on.”

The two said their goodbyes and were gone, leaving Suzie and Tucker alone. The room seemed suddenly much smaller than it had before.

“How long have you been a florist?” he asked. “You seem to really enjoy it.”

“I do. I started working in a shop for a friend not long after Abe was born. Opening my own place is a dream I’ve had for a long time.”

He smiled and the room grew even smaller. “You’ll make people smile with each arrangement.”

It startled her realizing how easy she found talking to Tucker. She’d just opened up to him about her dreams.... “I need to check out the upstairs,” she said, heading out the door and onto the street, needing to break the moment.

Tucker followed her, of course, opting not to stand alone inside her shop while she came out onto the sidewalk. The man was like a bright, shiny penny, with his badge and buckle both glinting in the sun. And those eyes—and that warm smile spreading across his ruggedly good-looking face had Suzie’s insides fluttering to life with renewed awareness.

Instantly ruining a great morning.

* * *

Tucker hadn’t slept much after leaving the ranch last night. He’d gone home to his place, which was on a small piece of land just on the outskirts of Dew Drop. After moving back, he’d decided to move in closer to town. When he’d become sheriff, he found he was often barraged by calls at all times of the day and night—it was better to be closer to his office. Getting to the office quickly in an emergency situation was important to him. He’d live on the land he loved again, one day, but for now, while he’d taken the oath to serve and protect, he’d live close by. Plus, he’d felt the need to be alone at times. Especially in the beginning when nightmares kept him awake—he pushed the thought away and focused on Suzie. Helping her was the only thing that could give him some redemption from the past.

She seemed different this morning. She was upbeat and striving. He liked that. Liked it a lot that she was fighting, and that would be good for her. The woman he’d seen in the pictures didn’t seem so far away right now.

“I’m sure that old shop will look like a different place when you’re done. I’m pretty sure the apartment isn’t livable, though. It’ll be a good place to store your things until you find what you want.”

“I guess we’ll just go up and look,” she said, starting up the steps.

Tucker followed her. The steps creaked beneath their feet but seemed sturdy. Suzie rested her hand on the banister as she went.