Beauty In Sunset

Tanner Leeds walked through the front door of the little pharmacy nestled in between a bridal shop and a flower shop. He looked fuming mad, even to innocent little Joslyn Rymes. She’d seen him in here many times before, but what she really remembers is being that cute, little girl next door to him all those years ago. Seeing him in here now brought back some painful memories.  The tall, slender rancher met her eyes and immediately scowled. “If it isn’t little Jessie. What are you doing back here, Joslyn? I told you I never wanted to see you again.” Tanner growled at her, a gleam in his eyes much like that of a cobra who’d been disturbed. “I work here, Mr. Leeds. I’m the new pharmacist. Since Mr Wesley retired last week. Fresh out of my on the job training up in Phoenix.” Joslyn stopped her gaze at his chest, trying to hide the pain in her eyes.  Tanner was 30, much too old for sweet little Jessie. That pissed him off. She was the only woman who ever wanted anything more than his money. She wanted him for who he really was. Not who he’d become since she ran away from him that Fourth of July her junior year in high school. He’d been 26 and she’d been 18. She was held back in Kindergarten when she’d switched from the care of her drug-addicted mother to her sweet grandmother, who just happened to live right next door to Tanner. He’d been 12. She immediately took a liking to him, following him around; cute little pigtails, a gap between her 2 front teeth, and little sundresses. He protected her through her school years, and when she’d ran from him, it stung his pride.  Here she stood, his sweet little Jessie, afraid and ashamed to look up at him. He let out a hard sigh, “I’m here for cold medicine. I really don’t need to be getting sick. It’s almost time for calving in the spring. Just another 3 weeks.” It was early February.  “I’ll get that for you, Mr Leeds.” Joslyn slinked into the back, heart around her ankles. She wished she could curl up in a hole somewhere, away from gorgeous Tanner Leeds and away from the rest of the world. She came back with a pill bottle full of large, red pills that looked a lot like prescription Dayquil. Tanner paid for his prescription and walked out the door without looking back at his childhood love.  Tanner was upset that he had spoken to Joslyn that way. She had no idea what he felt for her, but he couldn’t let her know that. He’d left her in tears at a fourth of July BBQ years ago. He told her…. He hated her. That he could never get involved with a child. Only because his friends had come with him. Now, after he’s matured, he regretted it. Now what was he gonna do? He missed Jessie so much… But he’d never be able to make it up to her now...