Her Cowboy Reunion
Nina gave her a funny look. “Jesus, you’ve been riding a desk too long. You really need to chill.”
Savannah supposed she might be letting paranoia mess with her head and then, worse, overreacting. “What is it?”
“That cowboy from earlier... I think the bartender called him Mike? He was asking her about you.”
Savannah’s heart nearly exploded. “Asking about what?”
“He wanted to know if she’d seen you before. Said he thought you looked familiar.”
Savannah leaned on the jukebox for support. This was bad. So, so bad.
“Obviously it was just a line,” Nina said, glancing over the song selection. “Oh, and he’s hot and I hate you.”
“Duly noted.” Somehow, Savannah managed to stay calm. “Why don’t you go after him?”
“I tried. He wasn’t interested.” She shrugged. “Anyway, I didn’t want to say anything in front of Ron. But if I were you, I’d totally ditch his ass and go for the cowboy.”
They both laughed, and Savannah relaxed. Maybe Nina was right and it was just a line. The possibility that he could actually be attracted to her sent a little shiver down her spine.
But wait...he wouldn’t need to use a line with the bartender. Savannah circled back to worrying. Still, how could he remember a girl he’d never really known or had ever seen more than a dozen times from afar? Fourteen years ago?
Nina pointed to something on the jukebox. Savannah squinted to see what it was then realized Nina was covering up the fact that they’d lingered too long and for no apparent reason. No one was paying them any attention, but she’d get the third degree from Ron.
“I’d better scoot,” Nina whispered. Then in a louder voice as she backed away she said, “Thanks for letting me cut in with my song.”
“No problem.” Savannah shot a quick look in Ron’s direction before returning to the song list. He was still answering texts.
She’d chosen several songs, but she couldn’t for the life of her recall what they were. What she really wanted to do was check out the back room, but she knew she’d better wait until Mike left.
It was a tough call. Should she get it over with, see if he remembered her? Or try to avoid him? She wondered how often he came into town. All she really had to do was stay away from the two bars. Maybe the diner and steak house, too. And probably the Food Mart and variety store just to be safe. Definitely the hardware store but that one was easy.
Oh, hell. The town wasn’t all that big. Twenty-three hundred people in the whole county, most of them spread out on ranches and farms.
Should she or shouldn’t she?
Since she couldn’t decide, she figured the smart thing would be to leave. Ron had had one foot out the door from the minute they’d arrived. If she pleaded a headache and went to her room, he just might decide to hit Kalispell.
And she’d be left in peace to write up today’s notes. If she were to run into Mike again, at least she’d be more prepared.
Taking a step backward, she was struck with the temptation to steal a quick look at the pool players. All she had to do was turn her head to the right...just for a second...
She moved back another step and felt something directly behind her.
A deep rumbling laugh caressed her ears.
“We’ve gotta stop doing this.” It was Mike’s voice. His laugh. His hand touching her lower back.
Savannah whirled around.
He stood a couple feet away, holding his almost-empty mug aloft. Enough beer remained to have made a collision unpleasantly wet.
“Sorry, sorry, I didn’t look. Again.” She glanced helplessly at Nina, who arched a brow at her, clearly trying not to laugh.
“Excuse me,” another voice said from behind her. “Could I squeeze by to get to the jukebox?”
Savannah turned, and as she moved out of the way, smiled an apology at the woman trying to hold on to a fistful of quarters. When she switched her gaze to Mike, the intensity with which he was studying her jolted her back to the problem.
If she wanted to test the waters, now was the time.
But Nina was right there, not more than ten feet away now. And Ron...he could be charging toward them for all she knew.
Savannah turned her head and saw that he was still preoccupied with his phone. She inched around so that she wasn’t directly facing Nina.
“I’m usually not this oblivious,” she said, keeping her voice low and steady, even as her courage faltered. “I would really appreciate it if you’d let me pay for a refill.”
“I didn’t spill a drop,” he said with an easy smile. “But if you have the time, I’d like to buy you a drink.”
“Oh. No.” Her mouth went dry. “All I meant... I’d just—” She cleared her throat. “I’m with someone.” She glanced briefly toward Ron. “But I’d like to pay for your beer. You know, as an apology. That’s what I meant...”
His smile faded. “I understand,” he said, nodding slowly. “Can I ask you a quick question?”
This was it.
Savannah was an idiot. She wasn’t prepared, and there was nothing she could do but listen. “Okay.”
“Have we met before?”
Her chest actually hurt, though she didn’t think it was anything serious. Yeah, why would she get off that easily? “No,” she said, and even managed a smile. “I don’t see how.”
“You’re not from around here?”
“Nope.”
“Billings?”
She shook her head. “Denver.”
“It’s not a line. You really do look familiar.”
She shrugged. “I get that a lot.”
Mike frowned. “I can’t see why,” he said, his whiskey-brown gaze roaming over her face and lingering briefly on her mouth. “I’m Mike, by the way.”
“Savannah.” She’d gone by Elizabeth back then, if he’d known her name at all. Her middle name should throw him. “Well, I’d better get back to the table. I promise not to bulldoze over you again.”
“No worries. I’m tough,” he said with a dazzling smile. It disappeared in the next instant. “I know where I’ve seen you—you were that kid—” He cut himself short and, with a slight frown, searched her eyes.
Panic roiled in her stomach. She heard a whimper and, with a start, realized it had come from her. Unable to move, she stayed frozen in her tracks as she silently pleaded with him to not give her away.
“No,” he said after the longest ten seconds on record. “I was thinking of someone I met at the Denver stockyards a while back.” He moved to let someone pass. “Ever been there?”
She just shook her head.
“Sorry, my mistake.” With a quick smile, he shrugged and walked away.
Chapter Four
Savannah had slept in longer than she’d intended, so by the time she hit the continental breakfast in the lobby, the only thing left on the silver trays was a blueberry muffin and some kind of fruit Danish bearing the indent of someone’s finger.
Good thing she wasn’t all that hungry. She could smell the coffee, though. Before she made it to the cart with the silver urn, a woman came out from a room behind the desk.
“Looking for coffee?” she asked, and Savannah nodded. “I was just coming to check if I needed to make a fresh pot.”
“I’ll let you know in a second.”
“I’ll go on and get some started. It seems you got shortchanged,” the woman said, nodding at the table.
“I’m late.” Savannah grabbed a cup. “My fault, not yours.” She flipped the lever and watched the dark sludgy brew stream into the cup.
“Oh, for heaven’s sake, I promise it’ll just take a minute.” The older woman’s updo was a ’60s-style beehive like the one Savannah had seen in pictures of her late grandmother. Glancing at the bowl of apples, the woman hustled back around the desk then paused at the door. “I have some oranges, if you’re interested.”
“Thanks, but I think I’ll go see what they have at the bakery.”
“Well, I feel just terrible. You paid for a room same as everyone else. We should feed you breakfast.”
Savannah smiled. “Actually, I’m going over there for a latte. So, please, don’t worry about it.”
The woman darted a look at the glass door. “You know, your fiancé left about ten minutes ago. Maybe he went to get something to surprise you.”
Savannah frowned. She’d only spoken with Patty at the desk, and yet this woman knew Ron was her fiancé. Oh, great.
“We haven’t met. I’m Maxine.” She pointed to her name tag. “It’s Patty’s day off. She told me you had a handsome fiancé, and my word she didn’t do him justice at all. You’re very lucky,” she whispered, nodding sagely.
Savannah dug up a smile. “Yep, he’s a peach, all right.” She scanned what she could see of the parking lot. “Any chance you saw which way he went?”
“Hmm, well, he got in his car...”
Of course...he still had her key. “Okay, thanks, Maxine.”
“I’ll have fresh-made before you get back, hon.”
Savannah kept walking but waved an acknowledgment. As soon as she was outside, she remembered she needed money and glanced around as she patted the pockets of her jeans. Luckily, she found a crumpled five-dollar bill and some change.
Crossing the parking lot at a clip, Savannah headed toward the bakery. Two shops down was the steak house that had reopened in the last year. Halfway there, she felt the chill seeping in through the lightweight sweatshirt she’d thrown on just to grab coffee in the lobby. It was in no way adequate for a chilly fall morning.
They had quite a full schedule today. Nina had obtained a list of people who were turning portions of their ranches or bunkhouses into guest quarters, mostly in line with a B & B rather than a dude ranch. Savannah figured they could form a co-op in order to offer the same kind of activities that actual dude ranches provided. But she’d know more after she’d visited with them.
The brisk walk helped wake her up, but she was more than ready for a hazelnut latte by the time she opened the door to The Cake Whisperer. What she wasn’t ready for was a crowd. It seemed half the population of Blackfoot Falls had squeezed into the small bakery. The benches on the right were taken, as were the only two chairs. Standing a little too close together were dusty cowboys, a couple young moms, several older ladies...
...and Mike.
Wearing a Stetson, the brim pulled low, he stood off to the side, his head bowed toward an older woman as he listened to whatever she was telling him.
What on earth was he doing in town this early? Shouldn’t he be feeding horses or milking cows or something?
Savannah seriously thought about slipping back out. And she didn’t much care if he noticed.
“Oh, don’t be shy, honey.” A tiny white-haired lady caught Savannah’s arm with a surprising grip. “Not everyone’s in line. They’re just gossiping. You just step right on up here,” she said, tugging on Savannah.
“Thanks, but I think I’ll come back later.”
The door opened behind her, and three women crammed into the shop. They kept chatting, apparently unaware that they were literally breathing down the back of her neck.
“Is there a special on today?” Savannah muttered.
The white-haired lady chuckled. “Kylie,” she said, nodding at the woman reaching into the display case. “She’s the owner. She bought a fancy coffee machine, and now she’s got a bunch of us hooked on caramel lattes. Ever heard of them?”
“Um, actually, yes.” Between the scent of the coffee and the fresh-baked aroma of cinnamon and sugar, her stomach wasn’t all that pleased about leaving and let her know it. She risked a glance at Mike.
He was looking right at her.
Savannah sighed. On top of really not wanting to engage with him, she probably looked like crap, since she hadn’t intended to go beyond the motel lobby.
It wasn’t too late to make a getaway.
“Excuse me,” she said, pulling back her arm. “I really don’t have time to wait.”
The woman blinked. “Aren’t you visiting?”
“Yes,” she said, glancing over her shoulder so she wouldn’t run someone over. That hadn’t gone so well last night.
“Well, honey, you shouldn’t be in such a hurry. I’m Eunice. What’s your name?”
“Savannah, but I’m not on vacation. And honestly, I don’t mean to be rude...” she said, inching backward.
The door opened again just as a young girl slipped past her to leave. One customer down as two more entered.
A big, burly cowboy nodded at her. His younger sidekick just stared, his cheeks turning a little pink when someone jostled her and she pressed against him.
“Okay, everyone, this is ridiculous.” The owner had straightened and was surveying the crowd while another woman operated the espresso machine, not once looking up. “Anyone who’s already gotten their order, please step outside and give everyone else room.”
“It’s chilly out there,” came a voice from the front.
“You need to expand, Kylie,” someone else said.
“I’m working on it.” She handed over a white box and some change. “In the meantime, I don’t want to get fined for having too many customers in here.”
“Who’s gonna do that? Grace?”
“Yes, Grace or one of her deputies. There are fire laws about occupancy, and I’m over the limit. So, please...”
Savannah would be happy to comply if they’d let her through. “Excuse me,” she said to the two men, motioning with her hand for them to give her a clear path.
“Okay, everyone.” Mike’s voice rose above the murmurs. Except he wasn’t standing off to the side anymore. He’d moved closer to her. “Kylie’s right. This isn’t safe. And it’s not fair to people who haven’t been waited on yet. So, come on...it’s not going to kill anyone to step outside.”
After a chorus of grumbling, people started to move toward the door. Savannah made it onto the sidewalk. But she’d barely had time for a sigh of relief when Mike appeared next to her.
“Hey, it shouldn’t be a long wait,” he said. “Some folks just want a doughnut.”
“What are you doing here?” she asked. “Don’t you have hogs to slop? Feed to pitch? Cows to milk?”
He choked out a laugh. “I think you have me confused with someone else.”
“Well, aren’t those the kind of things people do on ranches?”
“Some, I suppose. Assuming they have milk cows and hogs.”
“Oh. Right,” she said, backing away and feeling like a complete dope. “Well, nice seeing you again.”
“Hey, look, I just wanted to say that if I made you uncomfortable last night, I’m sorry.”
“No, no,” she said. “It’s totally fine. You mistook me for someone else. We’ve all done that at one time or another...”
His brows drew together. Something in his expression began to chip away at her confidence. She’d hoped he hadn’t recognized her for certain, but maybe she hadn’t fooled him.
Was he expecting her to come clean? Confess that she was, in fact, Elizabeth Savannah Riley? She was Savannah James now. She’d legally changed her last name to her mom and stepfather’s when she was sixteen.
She shouldn’t worry he’d say anything untoward though. He’d certainly been discreet last night. “I’m sorry, I’m just... I have a lot to do today.” She looked behind her then took another step back.
“Right. Sightseeing.”
She smiled and nodded.
“You should go have a look at the creek. It’s risen in the last couple of years, with the heavy winters.”
Her stomach lurched. Did he mean her creek? The one where she’d spent half her childhood? He hadn’t been specific. More evidence he knew exactly who she was?
“I’ll see you soon, I’m sure,” she said, then turned, refraining from darting across the street so it wouldn’t seem as if she was running from him. Even though he couldn’t think anything else.
Why on earth had she put herself in this situation? Everything could blow up in her face, and it would be her own fault. Why had she thought it would be quick and simple to slip in and out of town and put the old haunting memories to bed for good, without anyone being the wiser?
Now she had to depend on Mike not outing her. He’d already proved himself, but her ditching him like a bad date might turn that around, and then where would she be?
This was the perfect time to figure out how deep a hole she’d dug for herself. Do some damage control. She wouldn’t dare acknowledge Mike when she was with Ron or Nina. They’d want an explanation that could cost her dearly. Worse, it could cost the company this job and damage its reputation.
Savannah turned around and headed back to the bakery, hoping he was still there. A gray truck was coming toward her. As it got closer, she saw Mike behind the wheel. He slowed down and lowered the passenger-side window.
“Can I offer you a lift?” he asked, despite the fact they were now headed in opposite directions.
“No thanks,” she said, but she found herself hopping in anyway. Guess she needed a bit more calm.
He rubbed his jaw and laughed.
“I know. Ignore me,” she said, and managed a slight smile. “We need to talk.”
He drove a short way then pulled over to the curb. “Okay. Shoot. I assume this has something to do with your fiancé?”
Her face got hot, and it was hard to look at Mike without blurting out every last thing. Of course he knew about Ron. He’d known it last night. “That’s not the only thing,” she said, then worked up the nerve to meet his eyes. “I don’t want anyone to know who I am. I’m frankly shocked you recognized me. It was so long ago.”
“I’ll admit, you’ve changed. I wasn’t sure at first.”
“You were very kind last night. I didn’t even realize how kind until this morning. I appreciate it. And honestly, I’d like to explain why I’m here, but it’s kind of complicated.”
“Hey, it’s nobody’s business why you’re here, including mine,” he said, shrugging. “Don’t worry, I won’t say anything.”
He wouldn’t. She knew it. Even though curiosity was alive in his gaze. It was so tempting to spill it all. To let him know that Ron wasn’t her fiancé, far from it. Mike had to remember exactly what had chased her and her mom out of town. She’d had so few interactions with the people in Blackfoot Falls—a rare lunch at the diner, some trips to the market and then getting to attend school, which had seemed like a miracle but had ended up a public disaster. Mike had always been nice, though.
It would feel good to explain why she was here, that it was for her job. That she’d overcome her unfortunate past and made something of herself.
“Savannah?”
What was she thinking? She couldn’t admit any of that. Not yet. After she gave the presentation, then maybe. In the meantime, she needed to keep her head down, stay focused on the job. And not be sitting in his truck for everyone to see. Jeez. Talk about stirring the pot. She glanced around and noticed her rental heading their way, with Ron driving it.
She ducked down, bumping her forehead on the dashboard. “Drive. Please. Anywhere but the motel parking lot.”
Mike didn’t say a word, just put the truck in gear and zoomed out of there. He turned the corner, made another turn, drove some more then turned again. If he kept that up, it wouldn’t just be butterflies she was feeling.
Finally, he said, “I think we’re in the clear.”
When she poked her head up, she saw he’d pulled into a vacant lot behind the motel. “Okay. This is good,” she said, checking the side mirror. They were at the edge of town; the only thing past the motel was a gas station. “I’m sorry about that. About everything. But thank you.”
Before he had a chance to speak, she opened the door and jumped out.
“Wait.”
She considered ignoring him. But she didn’t want to make things worse and not just because he could cause problems. It wasn’t fair to him.
After another cautious look around, she got back in but left the door ajar. “There is an explanation,” she said, keeping her voice level. “I promise. Trust me, if you can. For a bit.”
“I meant it, Savannah, it’s none of my business.”
“I know,” she said. “I’d actually like to tell you as soon as I’m at liberty to do so.”
Now he looked twice as curious. “Look, I hope this isn’t out of line, but I’m glad I got to see you. You were such a shy kid, I couldn’t help wondering what had happened to you.” His smile filled the cab with its warmth. “You’ve come a long way. You should be very proud of yourself.”
His words brought a lump to her throat. She hadn’t realized just how much she needed to hear that. Barely able to swallow, she said, “Thank you, Mike. I don’t... I should go.”
She jumped out before he could say anything else. Or she ended up oversharing. The emotion he’d tapped into ran deep, so deep she wondered what else was buried down there.
But now wasn’t the time to start digging for insight. She saw an entrance next to a loading dock and figured it was for employees. The brisk walk and morning chill felt good as she skirted the building to get to the front entrance. Dying for some coffee and time to get back her sense of control, she forgot to check the lot for Ron. Though what did it matter if he was around or not? It didn’t help that she was still confused about why she cared what Mike Burnett thought. So he’d been nice. Mike had always been nice.
She entered the lobby. Ron wasn’t there, but a fresh pot of coffee was. And luckily, Maxine was nowhere in sight. Savannah calmly got a Styrofoam cup and poured a quick one then hurried into the elevator before someone stopped her.
Leaning against the elevator wall, she wanted to weep. This trip wasn’t turning out to be the serene and healing experience she’d imagined. After wallowing for a few seconds, she realized she hadn’t pressed the button. She straightened, hit her floor and took a fortifying sip of caffeine.
She was made of tougher stuff than this. After what Mike had told her, how could she dare think this wasn’t the road to closure? And if she encountered a few bumps along the way, she’d just put the blame on Ron. That made her feel a tiny bit better.
Chapter Five
The wind was blowing again and despite the sun shining directly overhead, the cool afternoon air kept things pleasant for Mike and Chip. Not a bad day for moving the rest of the herd to Logan Flats, where they’d have a few more weeks of grazing before winter.
Mike wished he knew when Savannah planned on leaving town. After seeing her at the bakery yesterday, he’d decided it would be best not to run into her again, what with her getting all jittery around him. Though he couldn’t help wondering why she’d want to come back to Blackfoot Falls.
It couldn’t be nostalgia. And he knew for a fact it had nothing to do with the cabin and land she and her mom had left behind. The bank had owned the property for years. The shabby two-bedroom cabin had never been worth much, but the seventy acres it sat on butted up to Burnett land. At one point he and his dad had considered buying the whole thing. Now, for some reason, Mike was glad they hadn’t.
“Dammit.” Chip must’ve jumped five feet. “Why the hell did you let him go? I almost injected myself.”
Watching the calf plow past Chip, Mike swore under his breath. The little guy headed straight to his mother. They’d have to catch him again. Cool nights and warm days had produced four sick calves. They all needed antibiotics and to be put in a pen to heal. “Sorry.”
“Where’s your head at? You’ve been acting weird all week.”
More like two days, but he didn’t correct the kid. Mike shaded his eyes and checked to see if Bill and his brother had made it to the mouth of Sunrise Canyon yet. He’d hired the pair to help gather the rest of the cattle that hadn’t been relocated yet. Another day and they’d be done rounding up the heifers. He radioed Bill to ask for their head count.
Just over three hundred.
They were almost finished.
“Helluva job, guys. Meet me back at the house by six. I have cash for you.” He clicked off. “Thanks for recommending them. They’re good workers.”
“Yeah, they’re pretty quick for a couple of old dudes.”
“Shut up,” Mike said, laughing. “They’re in their forties.”
“Yeah, I know.” Chip grinned. “What are they...about seven years older than you?”