Page 8 of Forbidden Cowboy

Beau had always affectionately called his sister ‘Squish,’ a nickname born from the chubby cheeks she’d had when she used to run after us, and the way she’d puff them up in anger if we ignored her. I had adopted the nickname simply because I knew she loathed it, and pre-teen boys are assholes. She no longer had those chubby cheeks, but high, delicate cheekbones and a proud face.

It was also clear that even though I sensed some sadness within her, she no longer harbored the same feelings for me that had driven her out of town. When I had first seen her, first caught sight of those familiar hazel eyes, I knew that I still felt the same way. The same, ridiculous way I hadn’t told her at the right time.

Of course,I regretted what I said, how could I not? It wasn’t any excuse, but after everything that had happened the week of her graduation, I couldn’t let her get dragged into my mess. I had simply felt the panicked need to drive her and her feelings away from me however I could.

Now, she was back, without those feelings, and with the aloof behavior someone grants to a stranger.

Across the bed from me, she stretched, and I heard some joints popping. I winced.

“Mornin’, sleepyhead,” I said quietly.

Her eyes met mine, and she straightened quickly, like I shouldn’t have caught her in such a vulnerable position.

“Good morning,” she offered formally, before giving a confused look to the blanket, and then to me.

She didn’t say anything about it, though, and instead folded it to place next to her book on the bed table.

“I didn’t strictly come to visit, today,” I said, and she cocked her head to the side.

I sighed, and looked at my hands. I had been trying to think of any way to help her, and I had a couple of ideas—not that I truly thought she’d be convinced by any of them. I couldn’t bear to see her spend another day in these cold halls, eat another meal in the cafeteria, sleep another night in that uncomfortable cot without some intervention.

“I was hoping you could come into town with me today,” I said slowly.

Her face froze, and I thought I saw panic there. Her eyes flicked between her brother, and then to me, and finally, she tossed her gaze over to the window where the midmorning sun was shining in, and the look turned longing.

“Let me rephrase that,” I said. “You’re coming into town with me today.”

“I can’t leave Beau,” she said.

“You can, for a couple of hours,” I replied, “I’ve already cleared it with the nurses.”

I didn’t add that the nurses looked pleased with the prospect of her leaving them to their work for a few hours.

“What if something happens?” She asked quietly.

“I’ll bring you right back. There’s phone service everywhere now—I promise you’ll be reachable.”

“It’s a nice offer, Wyatt, but…” She shook her head, and I could see her making up her mind.

“Let’s go to lunch first, then,” I said, “across the road. If nothing happens at lunch, you’ll come with me into town.”

She bit her lip, and as beautiful as she looked, I wasn’t going to cave to her whims of wanting to stay here.

“I’m not taking no for an answer,” I added.

She finally sighed, and glanced up at me once more.

“Give me ten minutes to get… presentable.”

She gestured to the leggings and t-shirt she was wearing, along with the fluffy, sleep-mussed hair haloing her face. I wanted to tell her she looked beautiful, but bit back what would surely be an unwelcome compliment.

She walked out of the small attached bathroom less than ten minutes later, tugging at her clothes uncomfortably. She was wearing a pair of loose-fitting jeans and a too-big flannel over a green t-shirt that I recognized as one of Beau’s.

“I didn’t bring many of my own clothes,” she said. “So, I’ve been stealing my brother’s shirts.”

She pulled her hair up in a ponytail while saying this, and at the sight of her exposed nape, I had to look away. Had it really been so long since I’d gotten any tail that even that could set me off? Or was it just because it washer?

“What we’ll be doing isn’t going to require nice clothes,” I said, and at the eyebrow she raised, I balked. “Not that you don’t look great.”