That Kind of Cowboy

Chapter Two: Lucas

I have never been tongue tied one day in my life. Especially over a girl. When I saw those aquamarine eyes, I got lost. I did not get the chance to ask her name. My mouth went dry, and my mouth would not speak my thoughts.

The last time I was this nervous around a girl was middle school. I have never been afraid to talk to a woman before. She had some kind of spell over me. I could not take my eyes off her.

From my seat at the table I had the perfect view the mystery woman. When she bent over to write, I could see her figure. She is tall, comes just above my shoulders. She is not thin; she has curves in all the right places.

Fool! What was I thinking? I cannot get my mind off her, those eyes. Eyes that are showing a deep pain inside her covered up with a smile. I wonder what she has been through? What does her smile look like? Does she show her teeth? Does she have dimples in her smile? Does she have a real smile?

Dang it! There I went again thinking about a mystery girl, with auburn hair, pulled back. Her quiet voice was so low I had to read her lips. Those plump pink lips, tempting to be kissed.

Snap out of it, Lucas. You just met the woman. You do not know her. Hell, you do not even know her name.

I have gone crazy. I have gone bonkers, getting my thoughts all tangled up in a woman I have known for a total of ten minutes. I am late for supper, and I am tired from working all day.

Pulling up at mom’s, I shut the truck off. Taking time to get my thoughts in check before entering the house. I do not need my mind to wonder in front of my family. I really do not want to talk about a girl I just met.

*BANG*

Jumping in my seat, grabbing my heart. Did I scream? I turned to the window, seeing Nate, my younger brother, standing at the door. Hands around his eyes, leaning into the window.

“What a girly scream you have big brother. What are you doing in there?” Nate asked, trying not to laugh at me.

“Thinking.” I replied, opening my door. pushing the door harder than necessary to move Nate out of my way.

“What were you thinking about?” Nate asked, closing in on me, as I picked up my pace. Trying to get away from him. It is not going to work when we are going to the same place.

“Why do you ask so many questions?” I asked him, stepping into the house, and heading straight to the dining room.

“You were thinking about a girl, wasn’t you?” Nate teased, as we took our seats at the table. Nathan is the goof ball of the family. He takes after mom in look, with their sandy brown hair and green eyes.

“What girl?” Ryan asked from his seat across from me. Rayn and Jackson look like both of our parents combined. Light brown hair, with hazel eyes.

“I did not say anything about a girl.” I told them, filling my plate with mom’s famous meatloaf.

“Why were you late for supper?” Mom asked, passing mashed potatoes to my brother, Jackson.

“I was helping Andrea out.” I told her, trying to keep from fidgeting in my seat. Mom can always tell when I am lying, better to stick to most of the truth.

“What did you help her with.” Nate asked in a mocking tone.

“What is this? Twenty questions?” I asked, picking up my glass for a drink.

“Why are you beating around the bush. It is one simple question.” My brother Grayson asked from beside me. Grayson and I could pass for twins. We look just like; people got us mixed up all the time.

“I was watching kids for a little while.”

“Whose kids? Andrea’s children are grown.” mom asked me. Her sandy brown hair is turning sliver. I swear there is more every time I see her.

“A woman who moved into town.”

“What is her name?” My youngest brother, Adian questioned.

“I did not get her name.” I answered with a muffled voice, hoping no one would understand. Getting irritated with their questions.

“What was that, big brother? We did not hear you.” Nate sang out. Dang him and his childish behavior. Always pushing people’s buttons.

“I did not get her name.” I spoke loud enough for the whole table to hear. Done with this conversation, I bet they keep questioning it. I would have won that bet.

“How do you not know her name?” Grayson asked seriously.

“I did not ask, but I do know her kids’ names. Emma, Noah, and Sofia.” Trying to move the attention away from their mother.

“How old are they?” Gramps asked from the head of the table.

“Emma is thirteen, Noah is eleven, and little Sofia is nine. The younger two talked nonstop, talking over one another. Emma, on the other hand, was quiet. She looked sad.” Stopping myself before I could say something to give way to my thoughts.

“She could be. She is starting a new school, where she does not know anybody. It is all new for her.” Mom said thoughtfully.

“Was their dad there?” Nate asked.

“I did not see anyone with them.”

“Is she married?” Nate asked.

“How am I supposed to know that?” I glared at my nosy brother.

“Did she have a ring on that special finger?” Nate teased again, trying to dig deeper. Still trying to get a reaction out of me.

“I didn’t see a ring.” I told him, still glaring.

“So, you were checking her out!” Nate exclaimed.

“Nathan, stop teasing your brother.” mom scolded.

“Sorry, mom.” Nate apologized, lowering his head. You could tell by looking at his face that he is not sorry. I bet he will have jokes about me for days.

“You can at least tell us if she’s pretty.” Rayn threw in, to help fuel the fire. Why are brothers so nosy, can they not leave it be?

“Well, is she?” Jackson added.

“Yes, and I will not answer any more questions. Let me eat my supper in peace.” I told them, balling up my napkin into a ball. Taking aim, I threw it across the table, hitting Nate right in the face.

“Why did you throw it at me?” Nate exclaimed.

“You started all this.” I reminded him.

“Someone is moody.” Nate huffed, lowering himself in his seat. I turned my attention back to my food. Tuning everyone out while I finish my supper.

************

“What is on your mind?” Mom asked, leaning back against the counter. Dish towel in hand.

“Why do you think that?” I asked, rinsing off the last of the dishes.

“The only time you boys offer to help clean up is when y’all need to talk. Get to talking boy, we don’t have all night.”

“You are right, I do need to talk.”

“Is it about a girl?” mom asked thoughtfully.

“It is, I have not been able to get her out of my mind. I just met her; I do not even know her name. But when I saw her and our eyes met, I felt something. I have a feeling that this could be something. I do not know what it means, I am being pulled in two directions. I cannot know this by knowing her for ten minutes.” Taking a deep breath after rushing the words out before I could stop them.

“There is nothing wrong. All you can do is follow your heart and remember that sometimes you just know. Time means nothing when you know what your heart wants.”

“Is that all you can give me?” There must be more, I need to know how to go about this.

“That is all you are getting from me. The rest you will have to listen to your heart to find out.

************

The rest of the night was quiet. The crickets in the background were the only noise. Sitting out on the back porch swing, with a beer in hand. One of my favorite thinking spots. Breathing in the fresh night air, stars shining bright in the sky.

I like to come out here and think about the day. To figure out how I could have changed something. How the ranch is doing. That is how my nightly thoughts go but not tonight. Nope my mind is straying away from family and work. Wouldn’t you know where my mind went?

To a tall red head with hypnotizing eyes. The ones that get my thoughts all knotted up. The ones that get my heart pounding. The ones that are pulling me towards her. Every time I shut my eyes; I see her. What is she doing to me?

Seeing her with those kids today got me thinking overtime. Got my thoughts going to a family and wanting that even more. A family of my own. I am Thirty-eight, I am not getting any younger. I feel it in my bones every morning. It is time to settle down and focus on my future.

I want to have a love like my parents and grandparents. A best friend, someone who would stand beside me. Someone who would listen to me and talk things out. Someone who wants the same things as me. Someone who will stick around through the tough times.

I need to get off my butt and start making things happen. I cannot sit around and wait for someone to fall out of the sky. What about the mystery girl? She ended up in this town for a reason. Could it be that she came here for me to save her? I do not know what she needs to be saved from, but the depths of her eyes tell a different story.

I could feel something between us. I cannot put my finger on it, but I know there is something there. The way I felt the sparks around us. Does she feel the same?

That is ridiculous, I just met the woman. There is no way she is my soul mate. I do not know if I could be a stepdad. I do not think I could just step into that role. Would I even make a good dad?

Of course, I would make a great dad. I have the best role models a kid could ask for. Dad and Grandpa, they taught me how to be a man, and how a father should be. I could do it; I could be the one they look up to.

Damn it, there I go again. I need to take mom's advice and listen to my heart. Taking deep breaths and clearing my head. Resting my head on the back of the swing.

Maybe if I close my eyes, I could picture the woman I would marry. Closing my eyes, taking a deep breath. I focused on the image in my head, I have done this many times before. But this time I did not picture the woman I usually did. It was the woman from the store. My mystery girl.

I need a sign, something to point me down the right path. I need to figure this out. I have never felt this way about any woman before. Not ones I have just met. Does my path point to the woman who is capturing my heart and does not even know that she is doing it.

Finishing my beer, I got up heading into the kitchen. Tossing the can into the trash. I went through the big, lonely house turning the lights off. I headed to the back bedroom. Passing my giant king-sized bed as I made my way to my bathroom. A hot shower and sleep sounds like a promising idea. Mornings come early out here. Someone around here must take care of things.

************

It is after one in the morning, and I am still wide awake. I am going to be moody come sunlight. There is a pulling in my heart, but I do not know why it is? I cannot stop thinking about that family. The children and their momma have a strong hold on my heart.

Every time I shut my eyes, to get the sleep I need. I could only see her, my mystery girl. Sometimes I see her, sometimes I see all four of them. What is the meaning behind this? What is my heart trying to tell me?

Huffing out a breath as I turned on my side. The clock reading the bright red numbers. One fifty in the morning and I am still thinking about that stranger and her family.

Yanking the covers up, over my head. Closing my eyes tightly, trying to force the sleepiness to take over. That night my dreams were filled with that little family, who had taken a spot of their own, in my mind.

************

*BUZZ, BUZZ, BUZZ*

Leaning over to my nightstand, trying to find my phone. To turn off the alarm. I have a ponding in my head, and I felt like I have not slept in days.

I hate being the oldest, more responsible brother. I wish I could call in and take the day off. But it is my job to see over the ranch and do my part. I can already see the day planned out, fixing a fence, tending the animals, and going to see a mystery girl, just to name a few. I hope she gets the job. I would see her every day.

Better get up out of bed to get the day started. I stretched before sitting up on the side of my bed. I can already tell that I will be grumpy today. My back ached and so did my head. I did not think one beer could mess me up, but a girl could.