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“But, what?”
“I don’t date cowboys.”
“I’m sorry? What?”
“I don’t date cowboys.Anycowboys. I’ve been hurt enough by them.”
“Do you know how crazy that sounds?”
“I do, but if you knew what I’d been through with cowboys, you’d understand.”
“I’m a livestock agent too.”
“If you were only that. I knew the minute I met you, you were a cowboy.”
“I won’t apologize for that,” he snapped.
“I didn’t ask you to. I’m just telling you why I won’t see you after the case is over.”
“Well, I’m glad I know where I stand. I won’t be wasting my time.” He sighed. “I’ll get in touch when I have something on the case.” He touched the brim of his hat. “You have a good day…ma’am.” He strode from the barn, out the back, and Dylan wanted to call him back, but she knew she couldn’t. Hell.
****
Alex strode to his truck, muttering under his breath the entire way. He was a livestock agent, but yes, he was also a cowboy. He grew up on his parents’ ranch in Montana, and once he retired from MDOL, and his father passed, the ranch would belong to him, and he planned to raise horses.
“What the hell is wrong with a cowboy?” he murmured as he climbed into the cab of his truck. He fired it up, put it in gear, and pressed the gas, throwing gravel up behind it.
He let off the gas once he reached the main road, then turned to head to his place. He’d get started on looking over old cases and take his mind off Dylan Walters. He had work to do.
When he stopped beside the porch, he glanced around. Several horses munched on what was left of the grass inside the pasture. His first priority was his job, then his place. His job was what destroyed his marriage and he wasn’t sure he wanted to go down that road again. He never understood why it suddenly mattered to Sheila what his job was. At first, she seemed fine with it, then the more he went on cases, the madder she got. They argued constantly and when she gave him the ultimatum, it blew up.
“She knew what you did,” he said.
If he did get married again, the woman had to accept his job, and the dangers that went along with it. Did she even exist? Dylan flashed before his eyes, but she didn’t want anything to do with him. Because he was a cowboy.
“What the hell is wrong with a cowboy?” he asked again.
Shaking his head, he exited the truck, entered the house, hung his hat and coat up, then went to his office to get to work. Hopefully, it would keep his mind off Dylan and how she didn’t want anything to do with him.
Two hours later, he pushed the chair back, stood, and stretched, then placed his hands on his lower back and arched to get the kinks out. He heard bones crack and shook his head.
“It’s only going to get worse,” he murmured.
He walked to the kitchen to make a sandwich when the pet door flap opened, and Peaches ran inside. Her paws were covered in mud and muddy prints covered the floor.
“What were you into?”
The dog sat down and gazed up at him. She looked entirely too happy with herself.
He walked to the door in the laundry room to see muddy prints everywhere. He looked out the door and swore. It had snowed a good bit while he’d been working, and any time it did, he had to lock Peaches inside. She loved playing in the snow and mud. He entered the kitchen again to see her still sitting in the same spot, and wearing a goofy grin.
“You’re enjoying this, aren’t you? You know you have to have a bath now.”
Alex chuckled when Peaches ran from the kitchen. It was a good thing he had hardwood floors. A lot easier to clean up. With a sigh, he went after her. It looked like he was going to be spending some time getting soaked.
Later, he lay on the sofa watching a movie, with Peaches stretched out beside him. When she sat up and barked, Alex stood, walked to the kitchen, and peered out the door. His jaw dropped when he saw Dylan getting out of her truck.
“What the hell?” He opened the door, stepped onto the porch, and watched her open the back door, and then set a little girl on her feet. She looked at him and waved. He grinned and waved back.
