Page 23 of What the Cowboy Wants (The Westons of Montana #3)

F riday evening Cooper opened the door of his fridge. Isabella wasn’t cooking tonight. Apparently, everyone on the ranch was going to the festival in town.

He wasn’t going. Scarlett was doing better, but Lady was still unsure of her new surroundings, and you never know, another stray animal might just come looking for help.

Yeah, right. He should at least be honest with himself.

He was still trying to come to terms with the fact that he was in love with Rose.

It probably happened the moment he’d opened the door of her car way back in May.

Since then, she’d occupied his heart, his thoughts, his dreams, damn it, every breath he took.

She felt something for him, she’d told him, but was it enough? She’d seen him with Scarlett; she’d experienced his healing and she hadn’t freaked out. Well, okay, she had, but not much. But was she ready for a lifetime of living with someone like him?

The fridge was bare. He couldn’t remember the last time he went shopping. Fed up, he slammed the door shut. There would be something to eat at the festival, maybe he should go. Just to eat. And maybe he’d be lucky enough to catch a glimpse of Rose. She’d be there, Willow had told him.

Grabbing the keys to his truck, he walked toward the door. Both Prince and Charlie barked. Even Lady let out a startled yelp.

Frowning, he crouched down and stroke them. “What’s wrong? You know I’ll be back.”

Searching their eyes for answers, he waited. Prince got up and ran toward Cooper’s room, Charlie and Lady on his heels. Ebony was looking down her nose at him.

“What?” he asked, getting fed up with the lot of them. With a sigh, he followed the dogs.

They weren’t in his room. “Where are you?”

He found them inside the shower. The moment they saw him, they barked again. Even Lady was very insistent: he needed a shower.

For the first time, he looked down at himself. He was filthy, they’d all been out on the horses since he’d joined them this morning.

Chuckling, he pulled his shirt over his head. “You’re right, I need to shower before I can go anywhere.”

With a soft whine, Prince pressed his face against Cooper’s leg. “I hurt her,” he said, stroking Prince’s head.

Big, brown eyes looked up at him. Fix it , he said.

Sighing, Cooper bent down and kissed Prince’s face. “I don’t know if she’ll give me another chance, but I’ll try.”

Prince and Charlie barked excitedly, Lady yelped.

“Okay, I’ll try. Now, scoot!”

His phone bleeped. It was Becket.

“Women have already left. Can we pick you up?”

For another moment his finger hovered over his phone before he replied.

“Thanks.”

He didn’t have any great plan, but once he saw her, he would know what to do.

*

By the time they arrived at the fairground, there were already many people around, but Willow, resourceful as always, managed to find them one of the long tables arranged in rows in front of a huge stage.

They had just sat down when the other Weston women joined them. Rose’s heart stopped for a second. Was Cooper with them? Her eyes quickly searched around, but he was nowhere to be seen. Thank, goodness. She wasn’t quite ready to see him.

Laura hugged her mother-in-law. “Hi, Mom, it’s nice to see you. Hayden and Becket were so late, Ellie and I decided to come without them so that we don’t miss anything. They just called to say they’re on their way, though.”

Ellie also hugged everyone before she sat down. Luke saw a friend and with a wave, he ran toward the group of kids playing nearby.

“He’s growing up so quickly,” Arlene sighed. “Only the other day, our boys were playing on the fairgrounds. Time flies by so quickly.”

Rose hadn’t been quite sure what to expect but this was nice.

It was already much cooler than earlier; she was glad she’d brought her warm jacket.

It was a beautiful evening. It The sun hadn’t set yet and hugging herself, she looked up at Copper Mountain.

Ever present, it was the one thing during those first few weeks after she’d arrived in town that was a constant, always there.

Somehow it made her feel grounded. The air was filled with children’s laugher, everyone was having a great time.

“So, Rose,” Willow grinned. “What does the city girl say about our festival?”

Rose smiled. It was an easy one to answer.

“I’ll always be grateful for whatever instinct propelled me toward this town.

People still care about one another. I don’t know what I would’ve done without you.

Okay, yes, the gossiping is a lot to get used to, but I like to think it’s because people care. ”

Ellie laughed. “Well, that’s one way of looking at it.”

While Laura pointed out other people her mother might know, Rose inhaled deeply. She could relax now she wasn’t going to see Cooper.

Willow got up. “Rose, I’m going to find something to eat, care to join me?”

“Wait for me,” Ellie said got up.

Laura also got up. “Arlene? Are you coming?”

“You go ahead, I enjoy watching the people. Just bring me something to eat, please?”

As they left, Willow looked back at her mother with a slight frown. “Does my mom look okay to you?” she asked Laura.

“She had a bit of a cold last week, but she said she was fine. Does she go for regular check-ups to a doctor?” Laura asked.

Willow rolled her eyes. “My mother? No, I don’t think she’s ever been ill that I can remember, but I don’t like her color. You all back me up when I mention the word doctor , okay?”

Ellie patted Willow’s arm. “Of course we will. She always seems so strong and healthy.” With her bag over her shoulder, Rose followed her friends but soon they were far ahead of her.

She stopped by every, single stall. There were the most amazing jewelry pieces, made by locals, gorgeous pottery and artwork that simply took her breath away.

Excited, she asked everyone for a business card.

When they heard what she did, everyone wanted her number as well.

As she was admiring a beautiful pair of turquoise earrings, a shiver ran down her spine, the same one she always got when Cooper was near. Quickly, she turned around, but he was nowhere to be seen. Argh, she was hallucinating, and the sun hadn’t even set yet.

“Well, well,” a familiar voice said behind her. “If it isn’t Miss Rose Dalton.”

Smiling, she put the earrings back and turned around. Nash Johnson was behind her. “Just Rose will do.”

“Well, just Rose, care to walk with me?” he asked holding out his arm.

Laughing, she put her hand in his arm. “Why thank you. My friends are somewhere ahead, looking for food but I was waylaid by all the lovely art.”

“Can I buy you a hot dog?” He grinned.

“I’m with my friends,” she said.

“I know. Doesn’t mean I can’t buy you a something to eat.”

“Okay, thanks.”

Nash was nice and charming and kept her laughing. He would make some woman a really great husband. A pity she’d lost her heart to someone else. Still talking and joking, he escorted her back to the table.

She was laughing at something he’d said when she turned toward the table to introduce Nash to her friends. And met Cooper’s eyes on her. Everything around her faded, all she was aware of was Cooper.

“…nice to meet all of you,” Nash’s voice finally penetrated her foggy brain.

“Thanks for the hot dog.” She smiled.

Nash lifted his hat. “Remember to save me a dance tomorrow night?”

“Of course.”

“What a nice young man,” Janice said as Nash walked away.

Only then Rose noticed Becket was sitting where she’d sat before, and the only open seat was between Annie and Cooper. Of course.

Pasting a smile on her face, she sat down. “Hello, everyone.”

“I was wondering what happened to you,” Willow grinned. “The one moment you were behind us and then you were gone.” She winked. “I now see why.”

“I couldn’t walk past all the amazing art and jewelry and not stop to admire it,” Rose said. “There is a pair of turquoise earrings with my name on it. That was when Nash showed up. He really is a nice guy, Janice,” she said.

“Turquoise is a symbol of friendship and unity, a stone lovers give one another,” Arlene said with a wink before she looked down the table. “So, what are all you eating?”

Fortunately, everyone started talking about their food and stopped looking at Rose and Cooper.

His knee was close to hers, his big body radiating warmth. Help .

*

By the time the first artists got on to the stage, the sun had already set.

Rose, apparently completely oblivious of him, had been talking nonstop to Annie, who was sitting on her other side.

Cooper didn’t mind. She was here, next to him, her wildflower scent filling his being with every breath he took.

He was glad he wasn’t slobbering all over the table. His first glimpse of her had left him just about salivating. In a pair of jeans hugging her curves in all the right places and a soft apricot-colored top dipping low at the back, she was so beautiful, he ached with the need to touch her.

As the first song began, everyone fell silent. Rose fidgeted with her jacket until he turned and held the jacket for her to put on.

“I’m fine,” she snapped but he ignored her efforts to grab the jacket. Clearly ticked off, she eventually slipped her arms through the sleeves.

He made a point of dropping his hands on her shoulders for a moment. Briefly, but her soft gasp heated his blood instantly. There was something here and she knew it, damn it.

As the words of a love song filled the air, Rose moved restlessly.

Every now and then, her shoulder would bump against his or her leg would touch his.

Finally, he’d had enough and picked up her hand.

For a moment it fluttered like small bird in his before she relaxed.

Lacing his fingers with hers, he placed their hands on his leg.

His heart sighed. There was no more denying his love for the redhead. On paper, she ticked just about every red flag he could think of—city girl, social media influencer, quick to anger…

Rubbing his thumb over her hand, he stole a glance at her.

Since she’d arrived in Marietta, though, she’d left that life behind.

Oh, she was still quick to react, he’d seen the flash of irritation in her green eyes often enough to know that, but he loved that she didn’t hide her feelings, loved that she loved his family, his dogs and cat, his horse.

He wasn’t sure how she felt about who he is and what he did.

She seemed to be okay while she’d helped him with the horses, but he wasn’t sure.

Bottom line was, he loved her but nothing had really changed. Getting married, promising her forever wouldn’t be fair to her. She should have an ordinary life with a steady guy who didn’t do weird things like talk to animals. Nash Johnson was perfect.

At some point, they’d have to talk about what they both knew was between them. Just then, Annie whispered something to Rose and they both got up.

“Excuse us,” Ellie said as they left the table.

Cooper used the opportunity to quickly slip away to the stalls. He knew exactly what he wanted. Within a few minutes he was back. As he walked back, he quickly looked toward Willow. Something was wrong.

Willow was clearly upset. When she caught his eyes, she motioned with her head the direction of their mother. His mom was sitting quietly but even from here, he could see something was wrong.

He was rushing to his mother before he took his next breath. “Mom?” he whispered as he touched her. Her mouth opened, but she couldn’t speak.

Vivian appeared behind his mother and crouched down beside her. She checked her pulse. “We should get her to a hospital,” she said calmly.

“What’s wrong?” Hayden and Becket were up.

“We don’t know, but we should get mom to the hospital as quickly as possible,” Cooper said as he bent and picked her up.