Loving Cowboys

Chapter 4: Wow Moment Times Three

Chapter 4: Wow Moment Times Three“Like what?” Deena said. “What is there to worry about?”

“Doing your chores, of course,” Cody said.

Elvira laughed. “Why, I hadn’t thought of that one, Cody. And Lord knows there are a lot of things needing doing around the homestead.”

“You mean even Cody will have chores?” Gage said.

“Chores and work,” Cody said.

Elvira turned left onto the property.

“Hey, look,” Gage said, and pointed.

“That’s my food truck,” Elvira said, then stopped so they could look at the silver truck.

“Can I help you cook?” Deena said.

“I’m sure you can, once I teach you how to cook the right way. If I remember right, your momma wasn’t too great at cooking.”

“She was too clumsy and would spill stuff everywhere,” Gage said.

Elvira continued driving and they passed some scrub brush and trees before the old west town came into view. There was a long street of connected one-story and two-story wood buildings on both sides. There was also a freestanding small white chapel, a barn, and a blacksmith’s shop. Besides them was a sheriff’s office and other buildings. The one thing they had in common was their disrepair, boarded-up windows, and the weeds growing between the boards of the wooden boardwalk in front of the buildings.

“I don’t like this place,” Deena said.

“Are you kidding?” Gage said. “It’s cool. Auntie Elvira, stop the car so we can get out and look at everything.”

She stopped in front of the white chapel. Everyone exited the vehicle and looked around.

Cody stood next to the kids and Elvira. “It’s amazing even in this state.”

“You can see what attracted us to the place then?” Elvira said.

“Oh, yeah.”

Rusty trotted toward the group, and behind him were cowboys Jace and Macon atop their horses, wearing their full regalia. Jace’s horse was light tan and Macon’s was brown, and both had full manes and tails.

“Wow,” Deena said.

“Wow,” Gage said.

“Wo…oww,” Cody said as the men rode up.

* * * *

Cody was sure his “wow” was different than the kids’ “wows.” In front of him was the handsomest man he’d ever laid eyes on—cowboy Jace in all his glory. Jace had on his cowboy hat, boots, spurs, and chaps. Even as a kid, he’d thought Cowboy Jace was the handsomest man ever to exist. The cowboy’s sandy blond hair had turned snow white but that made him even more attractive, or so Cody thought.

Oh, God, he’s gonna do it, Cody thought. It’s been years since Jace had done it, but he’s fixing to do the old stare-down he’d done the two times he’d visited.

* * * *

Jace looked Cody in the eyes, but got a surprise he hadn’t been expecting. The boy had grown into a handsome man. Not as pretty as the father had been, but sexier somehow. He had neatly cut blond hair, and a solid chest as well as big arms. His legs had not been ignored either, and were firm. And Jace had no trouble staring into Cody’s bright, clear, blue eyes. Besides, this was their first meeting in around twenty years, and Jace was determined to win the stare-down.

Cody finally smiled, then laughed. “I give, Cowboy Jace. You’ll win every time.”

“Win what?” Deena said.

“The stare-down,” Gage said. “Didn’t you see the way they were staring hard at one another, trying to break each other. Cowboy Jace is cool as anything, even Cody didn’t stand a chance against him.”

“No way could I,” Cody said.

“Can we get a ride on your horses?” Deena said.

“Sure thing, lil lady,” Macon said. “Cody, can you give the kids a hand up?”

“Sure,” Cody said, then lifted Gage onto Macon’s horse and Deena onto Jace’s.

“We’ll meet you all at the cottage,” Elvira said. “Come on, Cody, you can help me unload the car.”

* * * *

When they were in Elvira’s car, Cody spoke. “Wow, the cowboys look amazing—both of them. Still fit and everything.”

“They’ve worked hard and that’s the best thing to keep a person in shape.”

“You must work hard, too, since you’re looking good as well.”

She chuckled. “You’re every bit the charmer your daddy was, I can see. Everyone here’s a good worker, but not much of a visionary, I’m afraid. That’s why we haven’t been able to make a go of the place.”

She drove, and turned onto a side road past an open gate. A short ways down, they stopped in front of a raised cottage that had a white fence around the back, and a pretty, well-kept front yard.

“Very nice,” Cody said.

“This was the original owner’s cottage, the men’s’ trailer is in another area, and the old workers’ housing is by the lake.”

They got out of the car, and Cody helped with the kids’ luggage.

“Leave your things in there and I’ll drive you to the trailer after a while,” Elvira said. “Did I see you load a guitar case into the car earlier?”

“Yes, ma’am.”

“Not Nicky’s old wooden guitar?”

“The very one, ma’am.”

“They used to say he could charm the panties off any woman, serenading her with his guitar—pardon my French.”

“I’m sure he could’ve and probably did back in the day. He taught me how to strum a tune or two, but I didn’t quite have his luck.” Cody smiled, then grabbed the kids’ luggage and followed her up the front steps of the wraparound porch, where he spotted some inviting rocking chairs.

“Follow me with those bags,” Elvira said, “then I’ll get us some drinks and we can sit out here and wait for the others.”

The inside of the house was neat, clean, and tastefully decorated. There was a fireplace in the living room. Next to it was an open, modern kitchen. Down a hall to the right were three nondescript guest bedrooms about the same size, and a bathroom.

“The kids have their own bathroom here—my bed and bath are on the other side. But they’ll have to share the bathroom and learn how to keep it clean.”

Cody put down Gage’s luggage.

“At some point,” Elvira said, “they’ll put their own touch on their rooms. Macon and I are their only relatives on this side, besides Momma, so they’ll be here for the long run. Their daddy had one sister, but she’s been dealing with a husband on disability. She’ll keep an eye on the kids’ house but can’t handle two kids.”

After putting Deena’s luggage in the other room, they headed to the kitchen. Elvira gave Cody a tray with glasses and an ice bucket, while she carried a pitcher of lemonade, then they headed out to the porch. Once they’d poured themselves some lemonade, they sat in two side-by-side rockers.

“Are those bags you have in my car all your belongings in life?” Elvira said, then sipped her lemonade.

“That’s everything. Pops had been sick for about three years, and I didn’t work for most of that time so I could tend to him. Most people might disagree with my choices, but I did what I felt was right for him. He wouldn’t have wanted strangers caring for him.” He stretched out his legs and took off his flip-flops.

“I knew your daddy a long time—since I was a young teenager. The three of us here thought of Nicky Larke as family. You being his son makes you family, too. Cowboys don’t like anyone seeing them when they’re weak or their body’s broken. Space to themselves to heal is all they want.”

“Yes, ma’am, you’re certainly right on that point.”

“If you need someone to say it, that counts for something. I’ve got no problem saying you did your daddy right. The others think so, too, and we have no real secrets between us. At our age, what does it matter? We know each other too well to hide anything.”

“It was tough on Pops—the cancer, shaving his head—”

“Oh, Lord, he didn’t lose his beautiful long hair?” Elvira said, “He liked wearing his hair long so it was just below his shoulders.”

“The chemo would’ve taken it all, so I gave him a crewcut, then myself one. Heck, he looked good even without his long hair. Some folks have amazing faces that way.”

“Yes, they do.”

“Pops used to tell folks he had a pretty little sister.” Elvira smiled. “I haven’t told you the funniest part yet. When people asked to see your picture, he’d show them this.” After standing, he pulled out his wallet, then turned to a picture inside one of the clear plastic photo sleeves. He handed it to Elvira, who laughed. “He’d say that was a family portrait.”

“That man could be so crazy sometimes,” Elvira said as she looked at the picture.

The photo had them all in it, Jace, Macon, and Nicky dressed up in their cowboy gear with Elvira at their side.

“Pops would tell people those were his brothers in the picture and his little sister and no matter what kind of looks folks gave him he’d never offer any sort of explanation.”

Elvira laughed again, then accidentally flipped to the first picture, which was of Cody as a kid and Jace. Cody wore a cowboy hat and was looking up at Jace, full of admiration.

“We always wanted your daddy to join us up here, and I think he would’ve, if not for your momma.”

“Momma was more of a city girl. I’m surprised she stayed with us for as long as she did. I think Pops would’ve moved up here if he hadn’t gotten cancer.”

“Would you have come with him?”

“I don’t think I could’ve resisted the chance to see Cowboy Jace again. He made a real strong impression on me as a kid.”

“Cowboys often do leave strong impressions on kids.”

“And adults,” Cody said as Jace and Macon appear on horseback with the kids.

“Let the games begin,” Elvira said.