Taking Chances by B.J. Daniels

Author:B.J. Daniels
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: romance, short stories, short story, montana, bj daniels
Publisher: B.J. Daniels

Best Friends

By B.J. Daniels

Copyright 2011 B.J. Daniels

Smashwords Edition

I’m saddling my horse, cussing both my bad luck and Cooper McCleod, when he rides up.

“You’d better dress for bad weather, it’s going to storm,” says a man who I’ve heard makes some women in this part of the county swoon.

I am certainly not one of those women. “Storm?” I ask, not even bothering to hide my skepticism. I glance up at the cloudless blue sky overhead, then at the person whom I’ve almost always considered my best friend.

Cooper McCleod is six-feet-two inches worth of walking trouble, all the way from his worn cowboy boots up to his white Stetson.

Ask any female resident of Pine Creek, Montana. Or better yet, just ask me.

“You’re still mad, huh?” he says sheepishly, then flashes me that irresistible grin of his. It’s all cowboy charm and dimples.

But today not even those big baby blues of his are going to weaken my resolve. I keep right on saddling my horse, not giving him the time of day.

“You going to give me a chance to explain?” he asks. When I don’t answer, he says, “I’m sorry about the other night, Jenna. I acted like a jerk.”

Well, at least we agree on one thing. He sounds so sincere, I begin to weaken a little. I finish cinching my saddle and steal a look at him. It’s hopeless. He even looks sincere.

“Forgive me?” he asks. “Please?”

“Maybe.” I’m a sucker for sincerity—and for Cooper McCleod. I tell myself it’s because he needs me. He has always had a lot of girlfriends, but he’s only got one best friend—me.

“I knew you couldn’t stay mad at me,” he says as he smiles at me.

And I know what he’s going to say next, so I beat him to it. “You’re the best buddy a guy could ever have,” I say, mimicking his silver-tongued tone.

I expect him to laugh. Instead, he just studies me for a moment and says, “It’s true, you know.”

I do know. And that’s one reason I want to keep it that way. But it worries me the way Cooper acted the other night, the way he’s acting right now—serious. It’s not like him.

I figure he’s in some sort of trouble. No doubt it’s trouble with a woman, that’s the only kind Cooper seems to know.

And ever since we were kids, he’s come to me for help. That is, until lately.

“We’d better get going so we can move those strays down before the storm hits,” he says, glancing at the mountains ahead of us.

I look again at the clear blue sky, shake my head and ride after him toward the high country without a word.

Being neighboring ranchers, we’ve always helped each other with cattle drives, calving and branding. Since we share some of the same range, we usually round up strays together too.

We ride in silence through the dense, cool shade of the pines. Eventually the trees open into beautiful sun-drenched meadows.

I think of all the days Cooper and I have ridden this country.

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