Tamed by Her Cowboy by Shanna Handel

Author:Shanna Handel [Handel, Shanna]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Shanna Handel Romance
Published: 2020-05-15T05:00:00+00:00

8

Buck Jones

She sings like an angel. The hairs on the back of my neck rise as her voice flows through me. Waking me.

No matter what lies I tell myself, I’m never getting over this girl.

A strand of golden hair hangs over her face as she leans over the piano keys. I reach out, tucking it behind her ear. She looks up, surprised, then smiles, her gaze holding mine as she sings the chorus to her favorite song. It’s an old one. One her mother taught her.

The Long Days Light. The familiar words wash over me. I’ve not heard them since she stopped singing.

The days may be long.

The workload heavy.

But we know as we gather beneath the setting sun—

We are one.

One people here to make the burdens lighter.

The long days light.

It’s a song her grandmother wrote about our Saturday evening gatherings.

We have a big hall on the property. It’s a rustic building, just a big indoor area with pine wood floors, a commercial kitchen, and a couple of bathrooms. Attached to it is an enormous covered porch—one that can fit almost the whole town. It overlooks the rolling hills of the ranch.

It’s a special place, where the entire town gathers to share food. Play music. Sing songs. Dance. Or just hang out and chat. Some of the older women knit, or quilt, forming circles of rocking chairs the younger men pull out for them. The little boys run through the grass below, intense games of soccer or races forming amongst themselves, their parents leaning over the railing, chatting with one another as they overlook their children. The little girls tend to gather beneath trees, braiding friendship bracelets from colorful strands of cotton. Except for Ava when she was small—she was always competing with the boys.

The young singles tend to congregate indoors, flirting with one another as they fulfill their responsibilities, setting out the potluck dishes everyone brings. They serve drinks, clean up. Flirt some more.

When the weather gets cold, we move the festivities indoors. Light a fire in the big stone fireplace. Pull out sets of checkers for the kids. Make hot cocoa and cider for everyone.

When Ava and I were dating, we were the ones that kept the kids entertained. She’d sing silly songs with them, teach them hand-clapping games. I was the one keeping an eye out on the rowdier ones. Giving them stern looks. Telling them to behave. Then I’d give up and take them outside to burn some energy off, their breath puffing in the icy air as they laughed and chased one another. Hopefully wearing them out before sending them home with their tired parents.

Today is Tuesday.

Our relationship seems vastly different than it was just this time yesterday, when she arrived at the gates. Could it be that by Saturday, if the blizzard holds off and we are able to hold our weekly gathering, that things would go back to the way they were before she left? Us two, working together?

The hope builds within me until it’s so strong, I have to tear my gaze from her lovely face as she sings.

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