Page 13 of Saddles and Snowstorms (Sagebrush Cowboys #4)

Rowan

S now in Texas was the last thing I expected when I woke up that morning.

However, there it was, dancing on the breeze outside my window.

It seemed like such an odd thing until I remembered I wasn’t in Austin anymore.

Sagebrush was a full five hundred miles north of my old life and that probably meant at least a few changes in the weather.

Still, I had almost no experience with the stuff, so I figured I better keep things close to home for the day.

It turned out, I wasn’t the only person in Sagebrush thrown off by the white stuff collecting on the grass.

Several businesses in town shut down for the day and all my large animal clients called to reschedule.

Before noon I found myself sitting in my own waiting room, thumbing through back issues of dog training magazines out of sheer boredom.

It was about the time I was working my way through the fifth magazine I’d picked up that the bell over the door rang as someone stepped inside.

A blast of freezing cold air announced their presence before I looked up.

I was met with brown eyes, long dark hair, and a cowboy hat dusted with snow.

It was Dakota, Logan’s boyfriend I’d met the other night down at Dolly’s.

“Hey there, Doc,” he said, tipping his hat.

“Hey Dakota,” I replied, looking side to side for some sort of critter on his heels. “Somethin’ wrong? Is your horse acting up? ”

“Nah, Sogwili is fine,” he nodded. “Logan and I were having lunch over at the diner and saw your lights on. Nobody is out in this weather, so we figured you could come have lunch with us.”

“Oh…” I paused for a moment, taken aback by the sudden invitation.

“You don’t have to?—”

“No! It’s not that,” I smiled. “It’s just… weird to have friends I guess.” I shook my head. “That sounds sad. I just mean it’s nice to finally know some people around here.”

“Is that a yes, then?”

“Absolutely.” I hopped up from my seat, grabbing my phone off the counter. “Just let me close up real quick.” I walked over to the light switch and flipped them off. “All done.”

Dakota laughed. “Grab a coat. It’s cold as hell out there.”

I grabbed my old denim jacket from the hook by the door, feeling a bit sheepish as Dakota eyed it with obvious skepticism.

“That ain’t gonna cut it, Doc,” he said, his low voice carrying a hint of amusement. “This ain’t Austin weather.”

“It’s all I’ve got,” I admitted, shrugging into it, anyway. “Haven’t exactly had time to go shopping for winter gear.”

Dakota shook his head and unwrapped the thick woolen scarf from around his neck, then handed it to me. “Here. At least keep your neck warm.”

The scarf was still warm from his body as I wrapped it around my neck.

It smelled like him—leather, hay, and something earthy I couldn’t quite place.

I had to remind myself he was happily taken.

But that move alone, had he been single, would’ve gotten me in his bed in a heartbeat.

I wasn’t sure if that made me easy or desperate. Probably both.

“Thanks,” I said, feeling my cheeks warm despite the cold air seeping through the door’s weather stripping.

Outside, the snow was falling harder now, transforming Sagebrush into something out of a Christmas card.

Our boots crunched through the thin layer of white covering the sidewalk as we made our way toward the diner.

Dakota walked close beside me, his broad shoulders occasionally brushing against mine as we navigated the slippery path.

Despite the chill, I could feel the warmth radiating from him.

I found myself wishing I had someone of my own to walk beside during cold days like this .

“You’re really not used to this, are you?” Dakota chuckled as I nearly lost my footing on a patch of ice.

His hand shot out, strong fingers gripping my elbow to steady me.

“That obvious, huh?” I laughed, my breath forming little clouds in the frigid air. “In Austin, a cold day means wearing a long-sleeve shirt under your T-shirt.”

“You’ll learn,” he said, his voice low and rich like honey. “First winter’s always the hardest. By next year, you’ll be a pro.”

Next year. The thought that I’d still be here, that I was putting down roots in this tiny town, felt strangely comforting.

The diner was a welcome refuge from the cold, the bell jingling cheerfully as Dakota held the door open for me. The warmth hit me like a wall, along with the smell of coffee and fried food. Logan was seated in a booth by the window. Beside him was Lucas and Beau as well.

“You made it,” Dakota called as we stepped up to the table. “We weren’t sure if you wanted to brave the snow.”

“I drove,” Lucas said, waving his hand dismissively. “I grew up in a place that actually has winter. This… whatever it is, is hardly even a flurry.”

The wind, right on cue, picked up outside, whistling as it howled past the building. Suddenly the snow picked up and everything went white. I couldn’t even see the veterinary office anymore.

“It’s fine,” he added with a chuckle. “We’ll get home without an issue.”

Beau shifted in his seat, his blue eyes catching mine as I slid into the booth across from him. “Don’t let him fool ya,” he drawled, a hint of amusement playing at the corners of his mouth. “Found him this mornin’ standing at the window like a kid on Christmas, all excited about the snow.”

Lucas rolled his eyes but couldn’t hide the slight flush that crept up his neck. “I was merely... appreciating the aesthetic.”

We all took our seats in the booth, mine on the far end.

As soon as Dakota sat down, Logan snuggled up beside him.

I felt a twinge of jealousy streak through my system.

Not for Dakota in particular, but just because they seemed so happy.

Lucas and Beau were adorable as well. It made me feel like quite the fifth wheel.

“You order yet?” I asked, reaching for a menu.

“Just coffee,” Logan replied, lifting his mug. “Waitin’ on you.”

A comfortable silence fell as I scanned the laminated menu.

Beau kept stealing glances at Lucas, who was absently running his finger around the rim of his coffee mug.

Something had changed between them since I’d last seen them together—a new intimacy in the way they occupied each other’s space.

I wanted to ask, but I didn’t know them well enough for that.

“So, Doc,” Dakota said, his dark eyes landing on me. “How’s that fancy clinic of yours holdin’ up in this weather?”

“Fine, I guess,” I replied, setting down the menu. “Heater’s working overtime. Nobody’s bringing their animals in though. Can’t say I blame them. Probably a good thing I closed up early.”

“First snow’ll do that,” Logan nodded, his fingers interlaced with Dakota’s on the tabletop. “Everyone acts like it’s the end of the world.”

“Where I’m from, this would shut down the whole city,” I admitted. “I’m surprised the diner’s even open.”

Beau chuckled, a deep rumble that seemed to vibrate across the table. “Dolly’d keep this place open through the apocalypse. Says her daddy never closed for nothin’, so neither will she.”

As if summoned, the waitress appeared beside our table, coffee pot in hand. She topped off everyone’s mugs before turning to me.

“What’ll it be, sugar?” she asked, pen poised over her pad.

I ordered a burger and fries, suddenly aware of how hungry I was. The others placed their orders too, and soon we were left alone again, steam rising from our coffee mugs like little ghosts in the warm diner while the storm raged outside.

“So,” I said, wrapping my hands around my mug, “how long have you two been together?” I nodded toward Dakota and Logan.

Dakota’s eyes flicked to Logan’s, a small smile playing on his lips. “A little over a year now.”

“Met when I came home from getting fired in New York,” Logan added, leaning into Dakota’s solid frame. “Dad had hired him on to help at the ranch while I was gone. Then he helped me stop the place from going under and well...” He trailed off, a blush creeping up his neck.

“And you two?” I looked at Beau and Lucas.

Beau shifted in his seat, those striking blue eyes dropping to the table. “We uh?— ”

“It’s complicated,” Lucas interrupted, his East Coast accent standing out sharply against Beau’s drawl.

He shot Beau a look I couldn’t quite interpret.

“We didn’t meet under the best of circumstances.

Mostly my fault. It’s a long story. But we figured it out and now we’re engaged since this summer. ”

I smiled, nodding. “Well, I guess overcoming differences is important. Better to do it early on before you wake up one day and realize everything you had was a sham.”

Everyone went quiet. It was too late by the time I realized how transparent I’d been.

“What about you, Doc?” Dakota asked, mercifully changing the subject. “Left anyone behind in Austin?”

I shook my head. “No. He got rid of me before I moved. He’s the reason I moved to begin with.”

Lucas leaned forward, a pitying look on his face. “Was it bad?”

“Yeah,” I sighed, crossing my arms over my chest. “He got me fired, I decided to move here, then I exposed him as a liar before I left. Last I knew, he was unemployed with no prospects.”

Lucas nodded. “Good for you. Sounds like he deserved it.”

“He did,” I echoed, surprised at the bitterness still lingering in my voice. “Sorry, didn’t mean to bring down the mood.”

Dakota gave me a knowing look, the kind that suggested he’d weathered his own storms. “No need to apologize. We’ve all got our stories.”

Dolly returned with our food, momentarily saving me from further explanation. The burger in front of me was massive, topped with bacon and cheese, the fries golden and steaming. Comfort food at its finest.

“So,” Logan said between bites of his club sandwich, “how’s the clinic business? Getting settled in okay?”

I nodded, grateful for the change of subject. “Slowly but surely. Large animals are keeping me busy. Seems like every ranch around here has at least one problem child in their stables.”

“Including Sogwili,” Dakota muttered, a fond exasperation in his voice. “That mare’s got more attitude than sense sometimes.”

I laughed. “What’s she done now?”

“Decided yesterday that the new water trough was actually a monster in disguise. Wouldn’t go near it.

Stood there snorting and stamping like she was facing down a grizzly,” Dakota said, shaking his head with a mixture of frustration and affection.

“Took me an hour to coax her close enough just to take a drink.”

“Horses,” I said with a knowing smile. “They’ll face down a charging bull without blinking but lose their minds over a plastic bag.”

“Or a puddle,” Logan added, nudging Dakota playfully. “Remember when she refused to cross that little stream last spring?”

Dakota’s usually stoic expression softened. “Had to carry her saddle across myself while she took the long way around.”

Beau chuckled, his blue eyes crinkling at the corners. “My Willow is the same way. Brave as anything until she sees her own shadow.”

The conversation flowed easily after that, stories of animal antics and ranch mishaps passing between us like warm bread. I found myself relaxing, the tension I’d been carrying since arriving in Sagebrush finally easing from my shoulders.

Outside, the snow continued to fall, transforming the world into a soft, white blur. The wind had picked up, sending flurries dancing past the windows in hypnotic swirls. It was oddly beautiful, this strange weather in a place I was still learning to call home.

“Looks like it’s really coming down now,” Lucas observed, peering out the window. “Might be a good idea to head back before the roads get any worse.”

Beau’s hand found Lucas’s on the table, his thumb absently stroking over the city boy’s knuckles. “You sure you can get us home in this, darlin’?”

The endearment slipped out so naturally, and the slight flush that crept up Beau’s neck afterward was almost endearing. Lucas just smiled, turning his hand to intertwine their fingers.

“We’ll be fine, cowboy,” he assured Beau, but there was something tender in the way he said it, like he was touched by the concern. “My truck has all-wheel drive.”

Beau didn’t look convinced, his blue eyes darting to the window where the snow was now swirling in earnest. “All-wheel drive ain’t worth much if you can’t see the road, city boy.”

Dakota nodded, his dark hair shifting against his shoulders. “Beau’s right. This is turnin’ into a proper whiteout. Might be safer to wait it out a bit. ”

I glanced at my watch, surprised to find we’d been talking for nearly two hours.

The diner had emptied out around us, just a couple of die-hard regulars nursing coffees at the counter.

Even Dolly was looking anxious, peering out at the weather with a frown creasing her weathered face.

Just then, my phone buzzed on the table. Someone was calling me.

“Hello?” I said the moment I picked it up.

“Don’t hang up,” I heard a gruff voice say on the other end of the line. I recognized it immediately.

“What can I do for you Mr. Callahan?” It was a cold greeting, but I wasn’t quite finished being mad at him for yelling at me. The moment I said his name, everyone at the table looked up.

“Got an emergency. That damn calf got out again and got tangled in a fence, tearing up his leg. I’d stitch it myself, but it’s a bit beyond my skill set.”

I looked outside at the storm raging, turning the whole world white. I could barely see the road. “It’s hell out there,” I replied with a sigh. “But I think I can make it out to your place. Gonna take me a while though.”

“I’m sorry, Doc,” he said, the wind howling behind him. He must’ve been in the barn or something. “I know it’s bad.”

“It’s fine. That’s the life of a vet. I’m on my way.”

“Thanks.”

As soon as I hung up the phone, Logan looked over at me. “You really goin’ out in this? It’s real bad out there.”

I pushed myself up from the table, dropping a twenty in the center for the bill. “Yeah. No choice. Calf tore up his leg and from the sounds of it, if I don’t stitch him up, he won’t survive the night.”

“Do you want us to come with you?” Beau offered, glancing at Lucas who nodded in agreement. “We don’t mind.”

“I’ll be alright.” I gave them a half smile, one that betrayed my false sense of confidence. “But I’ll text you to let you know I made it, how about that?”

“If you run into any trouble,” Lucas added, “just let us know. We’ve got equipment that can get out to Brooks’ place without a problem. Snow ain’t gonna stop one of our bigger tractors or the horses.”

“I’ll let you know. ”

With a wave I headed for the door, Dakota’s scarf still wrapped tightly around my neck. With a deep breath, I headed out into the storm, the wind and snow biting at my skin the moment I stepped out.