Chapter Eighteen
I FEEL LIKE AN OLD pro this time out in the truck. We bounce over rocks and ruts like it’s nothing. I don’t even have to hold onto the oh-shit handle up by the window anymore. All I can think about is Candy. She kind of looks like me, and her name couldn’t be more adorable. I’m like a rancher now.
Ian stops the truck and stares out into the field we were in earlier. He doesn’t say anything, he just looks at the cows.
His sigh of frustration is the first sign that there might be something wrong. The second is when he bangs the steering wheel with the heel of his hand. “Dammit!”
“What’s wrong?” I ask.
“We’re missing one.”
“What?” I lean forward and look out the windshield. “A baby?”
“A pregnant cow. She might’ve gone off to have the calf somewhere, but I don’t see where she could be.” He opens his door a crack and looks at me. “I should’ve counted when we were out here before. Wait here. I’m going to see what I can find.”
“No way are you leaving me here!” I grab the handle of my door.
“It’s cold outside. If I need you, I’ll call.” He takes his phone out of his pocket. “Put your number in here.”
I do as he asks and then call myself with his phone, logging his number into my list of contacts.
“Okay, but call right away,” I say, hating the fact that he’s leaving and I’m staying. “I can bring towels and whatever you need.”
He winks at me as he takes his phone back. “Gotcha. Now stay out of trouble. I’ll be back soon.”
“If you’re not back in an hour I’m coming to find you.”
Ian looks up at the sky. “If I’m not back in a half hour, call my dad. I’ll text you the number.”
He leaves me there in the truck and when he’s around the corner out of sight my phone beeps. The text from Ian glows out from my screen.
Here’s my dad’s number. And remember. Stay in the truck, stay out of trouble.
I text him back. Ha. Like that’s going to happen.
He sends me back a smiley face, and I can’t stop grinning. I think we’re friends now. Why that makes me so deliriously happy, I can’t say. I have lots of friends, both men and women. I don’t really need any more, my funeral’s going to be standing room only as it is. But none of them have been able to make my blood boil one second and my panties get all twisted up the next. Not like Ian.
My mind wanders as I stare out at the white expanse before me. I’ve had a few boyfriends I might call serious. None that I’ve lived with, but two that I considered being with long-term. But for one reason or another, I always broke it off with them. It wasn’t a fight or a major upset that caused it. I guess I just got bored or restless. Andie says I need a man who can keep me guessing, keep me laughing, make me feel like I’ve met my match. She’s always said that one day I would meet him … my match, whatever that means.
I wonder if it could be Ian. That would be mighty inconvenient with him being here in the top left of the map and me being in the bottom right.
And if it could be him, is that what I’d want? He lives in the middle of cow patty central and I live in the city. He sleeps three hours a day and I need at least eight. He’s fashion challenged and I’m completely coordinated. I get the impression he’s not much into commitment now that he’s been burned, and I’m looking for that, especially now that I’ve seen Andie lying there in that bed with Sarah in her arms and Mack hanging over them.
I want that. I seriously, really truly do. For the first time in my life, I want to be part of something bigger than just my daily grind. I want a family I can call my own, people who will be waiting for me at home, who will celebrate with me and Google stuff with me and laugh at all the crazy things life has to offer with me.
I frown. The conclusion after examining all the evidence is that this relationship with Ian would be doomed from the start … if we were planning on getting serious. But that wouldn’t be the case if we were just going to have some fun, right? I mean, we could go out to that party, maybe on a couple actual dates, sleep together a few times … that wouldn’t ruin things. It would be fun. Then when my vacation is up, I’d leave.
Maybe we’ll email or text once in a while once I’m back home. And when I visit again, if he’s still single, we could have some more fun, pick up where we left off. Or maybe by then I’d have found my one true love and I’d be having babies. Ian could just be my friend then. A great memory of times gone by.
It’s like I’m convincing myself to be happy with this idea. I know for a fact I wouldn’t be okay with doing nothing, just ignoring him for the rest of my trip. Too much has happened between us for me to walk away like that. We just brought a baby cow back to life! But for us to someday be in a family together? No. Not realistic.
Sigh. Talk about a sad face.
It’s not like I really have a choice in the matter, though. Life is what it is and I just have to adapt.
I nod my head, officially making the decision. If Ian’s willing, we’re going to hang out, drink a little, dance a little, and get naked a little. And then I’ll go home and we’ll text a little. After that, I’ll focus on finding the guy who I can build a family with. My match.
A text comes over my phone, distracting me from my plan-making.
Don’t get out of the car. There’s a big cat nearby.
A cat? In my brain a picture of a giant Persian cat pops up. It looks exactly like my neighbor’s cat but bigger. Then I realize that Ian isn’t talking about an over-sized house cat and my heart seizes up.
I text back with a speed I’ve never possessed before. How big?
Cougar size. Don’t get out of the truck.
Ack!
My fingers fly over the keypad. But you’re out there!
I’ll be fine. Stay in the truck.
“Oh my god, oh my god, oh my god …” I stare at my phone. Ian’s out there with a f*cking mountain lion and I’m inside the truck with my gun. I’m safe, but is he?
Do you have a gun? I ask.
No. Stay inside the truck.
Now he’s just pissing me off. Stop telling me to stay in the truck. I heard you the first time.
My phone beeps with his next message: Stay in the truck.
I dig through my purse and find Millie. Weighing her in my hands, I stare out the window. My heart is racing and so is my mind. Ian’s out there without a weapon. A cow is missing. There’s a cougar out there too. And how does Ian know it’s out there? Did it eat the cow? Did he see footprints? Is he staring it down right this very second?
I put the gun on the seat and pick up my phone. How do you know it’s a cougar? I ask.
I wait precious seconds for an answer that doesn’t come.
Ian?
My hands start shaking.
Ian, that’s not funny. Answer me.
Nothing comes. No beep, no text, no nothing. I crawl over to his side of the car and look out his window, shaking all over. Snow is starting to fall, obscuring my view. The cows I could see before are now veiled. I can’t see very far down the road behind us anymore either.
Ian, so help me, if you don’t answer this text, I’m getting out of the truck.
I’m giving him ten seconds.
10…
9…
8…
7…
I’m not kidding, Ian. Don’t be a dick.
6…
5…
4…
I’m getting out!
3…
2…
Right now! I’m getting out!
1.
He’d better be fighting off a cougar right now, that’s all I have to say. I zip my coat up, put on my borrowed gloves, grab my gun, and throw open my door.
“Don’t worry, Ian!” I yell. “I’m coming!”