Page 39 of Boston (Coral Canyon: Cowboys #12)

CHAPTER

TWENTY-FIVE

B oston groaned as he sat up from Cash’s comfortable couch. “I guess I better get back,” he said, scrubbing his hands through his hair and down his face.

“You could just stay here,” Cash said, and Boston looked over to him.

“What do you mean?”

“I mean, this place has three bedrooms,” Cash said. He did not look tired in the least, and Boston had no idea how he stayed up so late.

Of course, Boston had gotten up far earlier than Cash, and maybe he was a little stressed taking his cousin to lunch with Cora, and seeing Bailey in the lobby, and then texting his mother for a haircut and finding out that she couldn’t do it that day.

She’d had a lot of flower orders to get out before the Fourth and then they’d be closed all weekend.

Boston had plans to go tomorrow morning, as Cash had finally texted his daddy and had set up a patriotic Independence Day breakfast with everyone in his family.

Boston figured he’d spend the day with his parents and half-siblings too, and then he’d come back here to get ready for the concert in the park and the fireworks, which he and Cora were attending together.

His nerves vibrated at him, because he’d have to introduce her to everyone then, and Boston could admit he’d enjoyed being a little bit further away from his family and keeping Cora all to himself.

She’d talked to her mom and sister about their relationship, and no one seemed too worried about it.

Kat, Jeremy, and Cora had all approved his time off for the past couple of days, something he was really grateful for now that he’d learned he’d be working six days a week throughout July.

Ernie had texted him the schedule and told him to come by to go over it, though it was a holiday. Boston planned to go tomorrow before he headed across town for his haircut.

“You could just move in here, Boston,” Cash said. “I got the whole place to myself, and it’s not that far from Silver Sage.”

No, it wasn’t. And Cash had booked this vacation rental right on the corner where the Northern highway met the Eastern one, about ten minutes past Uncle Tex’s house, and only another twenty to Silver Sage.

Boston thought through all he needed to do tomorrow morning and everything he had going on now. Not only that, but he really enjoyed being close to Cora.

“You know what?” he said. “I think I might.”

“Yeah?” Cash asked, and he definitely looked interested.

Something whispered through Boston’s soul, telling him to choose Cash over Cora in this one thing. Boston grinned at him. “Yeah, why not? It’s twenty minutes away, and it will give me good practice for looking for my own place and keeping my job at Silver Sage until it’s profitable.”

“Oh, are you still looking for somewhere?” Cash asked.

“I mean a little bit,” Boston said. “I make good money at Silver Sage, especially when they overbook me.”

Cash nodded. “If I’m going to come back to Coral Canyon, I probably should buy something too.” He heaved a great sigh as he got to his feet. “I wish I knew what I was doing.”

Boston wanted to tell him to take it one step at a time or that he would figure it out, but he could hear both of those things in his father’s voice, and they would have annoyed him. So he kept his mouth shut.

“I’ll come over on Saturday,” he said. “Bring some clothes and stuff.”

“Sounds good,” Cash said. “You can stay all month. I have the place until the thirty-first.”

Boston stood too. “All right, but tonight I have to get back. I got too much going on in the morning. All day tomorrow, really.”

A dark look crossed Cash’s face. “Yep, tomorrow’s gonna be a busy one.” He walked Boston all the way out to the driveway, and closed his door behind him when he got in the truck.

Boston backed out and waved to his best friend, and on the way back to the lodge, he prayed that Cash would have a clear mind and clarity of thought, so that he would know what to do with his life once the calendar turned to July thirty-first.

The following morning, Boston found himself running late, something he hated more than anything. He’d spent too long in Ernie’s office going over the schedule, and he needed to get going to have time for his mother to cut his hair.

When he exited the office, he found Cora leaning against the wall across from the door.

“What are you doing?” he asked, automatically switching from devoted employee to flirty boyfriend.

“Waiting for you,” she said. “I wondered if you had a minute.” She waved to Ernie, who said, “I got him up to speed on everything for the month. He’ll be all right.”

A bit of irritation ran through Boston, because Ernie had spoken for him as if he didn’t get to have an opinion on his insane work schedule.

He wanted to get back up to Ramsfire Ridge and the cabin, though he’d fixed the roof to the best of his ability.

He wanted to check on it, and he wanted to watch the eagles, and he simply liked getting away.

That wouldn’t be possible this month, and Boston understood Cora’s disappointment at not being able to take him to Little Brown Bear Stream as well.

“I had no idea it was so busy in the summer,” he said. “I mean, I was told, but…I didn’t realize.”

“I was told too,” Cora said. “Looks different when it’s staring you in the face, doesn’t it?”

“Definitely,” he said.

“I just want to talk to you about something real quick.” She pushed away from the wall and moved down the hall toward her office, which sat deeper in the administration building, further away from the other employees and any errant guests who might make their way into this part of the lodge.

“All right,” Boston said. Cora knew he was getting his hair cut that morning and wouldn’t be back until later this afternoon to pick her up for the fireworks.

She entered her office first and said, “Close the door, would you?”

He did, a slip of nerves moving through him at the same time. “What did I do wrong?”

Cora grinned at him and retraced her steps to him, and enveloped him in a hug. “You didn’t do anything wrong.”

He settled his hands on her hips. “You sure? Because it really feels like I’m in the principal’s office right now.”

She giggled and grinned up at him. “I mean, I suppose I would have liked it if you would have kissed me the moment you saw me.”

“Right in front of Ernie?” Boston chuckled, not really one to be super touchy feely in public.

Cora smiled. “Does that mean you’re not going to hold my hand tonight at your family party?”

“I don’t know what it means,” Boston said. “It’s not like I have a checklist of things I’m going to do and not do.” He grinned at her. “You’re the one who thrives on lists.”

She smiled. “You’re right, but I would like you to hold my hand tonight in front of your family.”

“I’m going to introduce you around,” he said. “I imagine that’ll happen.”

She came to him again and Boston did what she wanted, leaning down and touching his lips to hers. “Is this what you needed before?” he asked. “Because I gotta get going. My momma’s waiting for me, and she hates it when I’m late.”

“I think it’s more like you hate running late,” Cora teased, but she stepped out of his arms anyway. “I did want to talk to you, and let you know that Jeremy and I are really going to try to hire someone next week to alleviate the guide schedule.”

Boston pressed his lips together. “That would be great,” he said. “I mean, I don’t mind the overtime, but some of what I have going on is a lot, the wedding, the anniversary party, all the hikes.”

“You’re so good at everything, especially when there are kids and animals involved.”

“I know,” Boston said. “I’m not upset about it.”

“I’m going to put the listing up today,” Cora said, as she settled in front of her computer. “But I’ve never hired here, and I don’t know how long it will take.”

“Well, a new hire usually shadows someone for a few weeks,” he said. “Especially if you’re talking about the overnight excursions or family hiking or anything with horses.”

“Which is everything we do here,” Cora said dryly.

A sudden idea formed in Boston’s mind. “What about Cash?”

Cora’s eyes flew to his. “What about Cash?”

“Well, I mean, I’d need to talk to him,” Boston said. “I’m going to go stay with him this month in his vacation rental.”

Cora leaned away from her computer. “You are?”

“Yes,” Boston said. “I think he needs me there, and it’s only twenty minutes away.” He raised his eyebrows and sank into the chair across from her desk, though he really should have left ten minutes ago.

He told himself he could text his mother, and she could keep whatever breakfast warm that she’d made, and everything would be fine.

“Cash is good with people,” he said. “And animals, obviously. And it might take him a little bit to get up to speed on the history and whatnot of the place you know, the narrative for the hikes and tours, but I think he could do it easy.”

Cora nodded.

“I mean, he hasn’t been gone as long as you and even you picked it up pretty quick,” he said, noting the way her expression turned cold. “I mean, not that you do tours or anything, but I?—”

Cora’s expression turned into something made of lightning and thunder, and that made Boston stop talking. He swallowed, because he had definitely entered the principal’s office now.

“What does that mean?” Cora asked, and oh yes, her voice was made of frost and glaciers.

“What does what mean?” he asked.

“Even I picked it up,” she said. “What does that mean?”

Boston hadn’t specifically looked at her shoes when he’d come out of Ernie’s office, but he wouldn’t be surprised to find them bedazzled with red, white and blue, and made of more straps than anything else.

“Doesn’t mean anything,” he said.

Cora got to her feet, and Boston scrambled to his too. “You’ve got to go,” she said. She marched over to the door and opened it, standing back out of the way. She had completely closed off, and Boston’s heart pounded at him, screaming at him not to leave the situation like this.

“Honestly, Cora,” he said, moving closer. “It didn’t mean anything. It was a compliment, if anything, that you’ve picked up on everything we have going on—everything you have going on here at the lodge.”

He cleared his throat. “Because you’re so smart and capable.” He put one hand on her hip, and she didn’t slap him away, which he counted as a win.

“I was just saying that Cash would probably pick things up like that,” he said.

“He’s in good shape. Oh, and like I said, he’s good with people.

just like you.” He ducked his head closer, swiping off his cowboy hat with one hand so that he could run the tip of his nose down the side of her face. “Are you really mad at me?”

He did not like anything that had just happened, and relief flowed through him when Cora softened, “No,” she said. “I’m not mad.”

“Good,” he said. “What are you gonna do today?”

“Sit by the pool, get a drink, have a big pizza feast with everyone here at the lodge.”

He grinned at her. “That sounds nice.”

She gave one curt nod and did move to the side, which forced Boston to drop his hand and step back. “I really didn’t mean anything by it, Cora.”

“I know you didn’t,” she said. “Have fun with your family today.”

“I’ll be back at four-thirty,” he said. “Get all showered and patriotic up.” He grinned at her, his eyes sliding down to her feet.

He’d been right. She wore a white pair of sandals that had three red dots and then a blue star along every strap.

They glittered like gems, and he wondered if she’d bought the shoes like that, or if she’d prettied them up herself.

“You’ll be ready to go at five-thirty?” he asked

“Yes.”

Boston didn’t know what else to say, so he nodded and stepped out into the hallway. “All right, see you then.”

He walked as surely as he could all the way to his truck, and with the AC blowing, he texted his mom. I’m leaving. I know I’m twenty minutes late already.

It’s fine, Momma said. I know you have a lot going on over there. Your daddy just got the slip and slide set up in the backyard. Uncle Luke, Uncle Gabe and Uncle Blaze are bringing their kids after lunch, so you might want a swimming suit.

Boston heaved a sigh, left his truck running, and ran up to the second floor to get his swim trunks. He called Cash once he was back in the truck. “Are you coming over to my place this afternoon? I guess my Momma and Daddy are having a barbecue and a slip and slide.”

“I just got the memo,” Cash said. “And I left ten minutes ago to get to my parents’ place.”

“I’m just leaving the lodge,” Boston said. “You want me to stop by your house and get your swim trunks?”

“Yeah, that’d be great,” Cash said. “I think they’re in the blue bag.”

“I’ll find them,” Boston said. “See you there.”

“Yep.” Cash spoke in a clipped tone, and Boston said, “Good luck, Cash. It’s gonna go great,” before they truly said goodbye and the call ended.

It took Boston a half-hour to calm down, as he did hate running late, and he had to stop at Cash’s, which only added more time and more anxiety to his plate. By the time he hit the Apple Highway and headed south, he could finally turn his thoughts to Cora.

“I really didn’t mean anything by it, Lord,” he said . “Please, bless her to have a soft heart and accept my apology.”

He pulled into his parents’ a while later, and before he got out, he picked up his phone to text her again. I really am sorry. I can’t wait to see you tonight. Do you need me to pick anything up in town and bring it back to you?

She didn’t answer right away, and Boston looked up and out the windshield, only to find that his parents and Lars and Emilia had gathered against the railing and were waiting for him.

Boston chuckled as he got out and jogged toward everyone.

The four of them opened their arms and engulfed him in the middle of their circle, and Boston definitely felt like no matter what happened in his life, he would always be able to return to this home and get this kind of welcome reception.

He hoped Cash had gotten the same thing, and all he could do was pray that he hadn’t messed up too badly with Cora.