Christmas Cowboy by Braylee B. Parkinson

Author:Braylee B. Parkinson
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Braylee B Parkinson

10

Laney tossed and turned for several hours before finally giving up on sleep. She was showered and dressed by 6:00 that morning and by 6:30, she’d worked out a plan to get answers. Uncle Sam was in the kitchen having his morning coffee when she made her way downstairs.

“Hey. You were out pretty late last night,” he said, giving her a wink.

“Yeah. The party was fun,” Laney responded, keeping her voice even and cool.

“Riley’s a nice guy, huh?”

“Yep.”

Uncle Sam arched his eyebrows. “Laney, you alright this morning? You seem a little…”

“Can I borrow the truck?”

“Of course. Where are you going?”

“Just making a quick run. By the way, can you give me directions to Riley’s place?”

“Of course I can,” Uncle Sam said, grabbing a notepad and pen. “It’s really easy. Take Canyon Road down past the post office and you’re going to turn down the first driveway. It’s a little way back, but eventually, you’ll come across a little bungalow and that’s it.”

Laney smiled. “Thanks. I’ll be back soon.”

She slipped on her jacket and headed for the truck. Please let me be wrong about this. Please let me be wrong.

But just as she was screwing up her nerve to drive to Riley’s place, his truck turned into the driveway. Maybe it’s a sign that I shouldn’t be so paranoid. Deidre is probably just a friend.

Riley parked and rolled down the window. “Just the lady I was hoping to see.”

“Good morning,” Laney said, not sure what to say.

“How about we head downtown?”

“For what?”

“Well, you’re here with Betty and Sam and Christmas is just a few days away…I figure you haven’t done your Christmas shopping because you’re all humbug about the season, but it's therapeutic to buy gifts for others.”

“Is that so? How?”

“You have to get out of your own head and think about other people,” Riley explained.

“Are you insinuating that I’m selfish?” Laney asked, folding her arms across her chest.

“No. I think you’ve been through some bad stuff. It’s normal to focus on yourself when things don’t work out, but it becomes a problem if we can’t let go and move on.”

“So, you’re a rancher who moonlights as a psychologist?” Laney teased, giving Riley a wink.

“That’s right, and my diagnosis is that Laney needs to do some Christmas shopping, and this treatment must start immediately.”

“It’s super early. What’s going to be open?”

“Honey, this is Friendly. I’ve set it up so that we can head into the stores before they open and get our shopping done.”

“What? I can’t imagine there are crowds in Friendly.”

“Right, but some of us have to work and, to be honest, I’m kind of a big deal around here.”

Laney laughed and forgot about her covert mission to see if anyone else was at Riley’s house.

“Okay, but I need a few minutes to get ready.”

“You’re looking beautiful already, but okay.”

Laney headed back to the house with a pep in her step, pushing the late-night phone call out of her mind.

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