Freedom Ranch

Chapter 14

Dakota felt the blood rush in her veins at the same tempo of the music blaring outside. A woman could be faintly heard crying her sorrows of love in a thick accent. She kept herself from rolling her eyes. 

"You look like you just stuck a whole lemon in your mouth."

She turned to see Colt's face was twisted in amusement from his own comment. 

"I'm particular about my music," said Dakota with a shrug.

"Oh, so you don't like country? That doesn't seem to fit," said Colt as he tilted his head inquisitively.

"I like country music. I just don't want to hear singers constantly cry about their love lives. It's so depressing."

She opened the door as the woman's voice died with the long drawn out violin in the background. 

"I'm suppose to be opening that for you," groaned Colt.

"What?"

She kept her hand on the heavy truck door as she looked back at Colt in confusion. He was already out and running around to her side.

"Let me get the door from now on. You are going to make me look bad."

Dakota rolled her eyes and let out an exasperated breath as she mumbled, "Please.".

"I'm serious. For the rest of the night, I will be getting every door for you."

"That's really not necessary. I can handle a door, Colt."

"I'm not questioning if you can handle a door. I'm telling you to let me be a gentleman."

"You can do that with other girls. But, it's not necessary for me."

"What makes you think I shouldn't open the door for you? It's common courtesy. Especially for a lady."

Dakota opened her mouth but no words came out. The subject was too deep for her to get into. Colt's eyes frosted over as he watched her struggle for words.

"It doesn't matter. It's not up for discussion. I'm doing it. Whether you like it or not."

She slipped off the bench, muttering her thanks to Colt as he shut the door behind her. Just as he promised, he opened the large wooden door to the bar. She walked inside and immediately hugged the wall, not familiar with the place. She scanned it a few times gathering how many people were there, where to sit, where the exits were, where..... Colt's warm hand that wrapped around hers pulled her from her thoughts. He gently tugged and motioned for her to follow him towards the back corner.

"I told you I would find you a dark secluded corner where you could have no fun," said Colt over the blaring upbeat country song now playing.

She didn't realize her hand was still wrapped in his until she sat down at the table. She let go of his hand and continued to scan the busy bar, taking in every detail.

"You've been here before?" she asked as the music continued to drone above them.

"Plenty of times," he said with a smile.

Of course, she should have known. A blonde bartender had been watching them since they came in and her eyes were only for Colt. He gave her a sideways glance before sending her a charming smile, making her almost drop the glass in her hands. 

"Want anything to drink?" asked Colt.

Dakota shook her head.

"Well, then I'm hitting the dance floor," he said as he turned to the crowd.

Dakota grabbed the back of his shirt and tugged until he turned back around to face her.

"Shouldn't we be looking for someone?" she hissed.

"How do you think I get anyone to talk?"

She raised an eyebrow and answered slowly, "By asking questions?".

"That would be too obvious. You have to be smooth before you start questioning people. Remember, I was the cop," chuckled Colt.

Before she could say another word, Colt slipped over to the dance floor and immediately had a brunette's full attention. Dakota wanted to look down at her hands, pull out her phone to keep herself busy, or really anything so she wouldn't have to see their interaction. Between having to stay alert because her ex could walk in at any moment and all the commotion going on around her, that was impossible. She kept her eyes scanning the bar, occasionally looking back at Colt dancing as smooth as he talked. After a few minutes, the girl was grinding on him like no one was watching. Dakota groaned, wanting nothing more than to be home. She would take a whole couch to herself and a TV in front of her over this nonsense any day. 

"Hi," said a husky voice beside her.

She turned to see man she didn't recognize standing by the table. She was tempted to look around to see who he was talking to because it surely wasn't her. He was easy on the eyes with his well trimmed ashy brown beard and piercing blue eyes. 

"Hi," said Dakota, thankful her voice didn't squeak.

"You keep gazing at that dance floor like you want to be there. Do you want to dance?"

"Oh, I'm not much of a dancer," said Dakota sheepishly.

"Jason, who's your friend?" asked a man behind him.

Dakota looked over Jason's shoulder to see Mr. Logan's son, Brett Logan, with two beers in his hand. She held in a groan as she watched his eyes grow into saucers when he recognized her.

"Well, isn't it Dakota Taylor!"

Dakota nodded in response as she watched the wheels start to turn behind Brett's eyes. 

"You do look mighty fine tonight. I never see you out. Are you finally in the dating game?"

"I wouldn't say that."

Brett took the chair next to her and handed the beer to Jason without looking at him. His eyes were focused on Dakota which made her sit up straighter as her body stiffened in response.

"Jason, I've been trying to get this girl to go out with me since we were teenagers. She would come visit her daddy and I thought she was the prettiest thing in town. But, she apparently doesn't think anyone is good enough for her."

"I just never was much into dating," said Dakota cooly.

"That's not what I hear. I hear you have an ex husband in town."

Dakota's jaw tightened as she kept a straight face. "I'm sure you also have heard it's not true. You should know I'm not the marrying type."

"I don't know. This man seemed convinced and desperate to find you. I could empathize with him you know. He was here earlier asking about you."

She felt her heart pound against her chest as her palms grew sweaty. She continued to hold in her emotions and ask in a serious tone, "Well, I hope no one told my apparent stalker where I was. I wouldn't want to shoot the man for having delusions."

Brett laughed as he cracked open his beer. 

"No. I was tempted but I wanted to hear your side of the story. We should talk more often. You've been gone for so long so I'm sure there are some stories we could share."

Dakota swallowed. Her worry whiplashed from Colin to what really made her terrified at night. Her time in the military. Before she could go head first in that rabbit hole, a gentle hand rested on her shoulder. She flinched and almost threw herself up until a familiar voice rumbled above her.

"Nice to see you again Mr. Logan. Hello," said Colt beside her, nodding to the two men. 

"The name is Brett. Mr. Logan is my father," he grumbled.

"My apologies. We didn't really have a chance to talk last time we met," said Colt with a smile.

"I didn't expect you to be here," said Brett.

"I go where Dakota goes. It's part of our business deal."

Colt turned to look down at Dakota. He held on to his smile as he whispered, "Are you ready to go? I think I've done enough dancing for one night."

"Yes, we can go. Have a good night gentleman," she said with a nod as she stood up.

"See you later, Dakota. Maybe without your body guard," said Brett with a snicker.

Dakota followed Colt out of the bar. She outstretched her hand to open the truck door but was quickly stopped by Colt.

"Let your body guard get that for you."

"Fine," she laughed as he held open the door for her.

She slid in the cab and fumbled with her pearl snap on her wrist as she waited for him. She watched him jump in the driver's seat and give her a sideways glance that was unreadable.

"Why are you looking at me like that?" she asked.

"You were getting more attention than me tonight."

"Oh, please."

"You don't believe me?" he asked as he started the engine.

"It was just Brett."

"And that other guy taking off your clothes with his eyes."

Dakota shot him a dirty look. His eyes were on the road but he was grinning as if he knew what response she would have.

"At least I'm not like that girl grinding every single body part on a man she doesn't even know."

Colt boomed with laughter, "Oh, you saw that huh?".

"And, all the other girls drooling over you. That was the first thing I noticed about you that night in the other bar."

She glanced at Colt when he didn't respond. He still had a small smile playing on his lips.

"I'm afraid to ask what you are thinking," she mumbled as he pulled into the pub on the other side of town.

"You should be," he replied with a grin.

She wondered what in the world he was talking about. Before she could ask any questions, he was already out of the truck and opening the door for her. The pub was not only smaller but much quieter than the other place. The green neon sign flickered above them with a grinning leprechaun gazing out to the empty road. 

"You've been here too?" she asked.

"A few times. You haven't?"

Dakota shook her head. 

"Well, I thought this may be another place he might be." 

She forgot all about their mission to find Collin. She had been so wrapped up in her conversations with Colt that she had forgotten to tell him what Brett told her. Before she could, a woman in a short dress came out of the bar with a cigarette in her hand. She almost dropped it when she saw Colt. 

"Oh, hey stranger. It's been awhile since I've seen you," she purred as she pushed back her raven black hair and jutted out her breasts that looked ready to pop out from the tight fabric. 

Dakota rolled her eyes. It seemed to be her signature move while she was around Colt and his fan group. 

"I'll be inside," she muttered, not wanting to interrupt his reunion. 

She didn't bother waiting for his response. She moved past the girl who was now dragging her heels closer to Colt and walked inside.