Finding Her Cowboy

Broken Rock Ranch - Book 1
© H.C. Bentley 2024

“Greer.”
From the passenger seat, Nash heard her give a little groan as she attempted to snuggle further back into sleep.
“Greer.” His voice a little louder, more firm now, seemed to get through when she shifted again.
“What?” The word was husky. Sitting up, Greer stretched a little. “Time for another rest stop?”
“In a way.” Gesturing toward the windshield, Nash smiled. “I just didn’t want you to miss the view as we get into New Orleans.”
“Into…” Her voice trailing off, Greer simply stared at the scene in front of her. “We’re really in New Orleans?”
“On the outskirts, but yes.”
“You didn't say anything about stopping here.”
“Well, when you said you’d never been, I figured it was as good a place as any to stop for the night.” With a raised eyebrow, Nash shot Greer a quick, sarcastic look. “Unless, of course, you’d rather stay at some corporate  hotel off the highway.”
“No.” Sitting up straighter, Greer shook her head. “No, this is perfect.” Reaching over as she continued to take in the scenery, she laid a hand on his arm. “Thank you.”
“While we were at our last stop, I booked us a couple of rooms. What do you say we check in, drop our things in our rooms, and take a walk before deciding on a place for dinner?”
“I say, you’ve thought of everything.”
“And I’d say your stomach agrees.” Nash laughed at the loud rumble of hunger from Greer’s belly. “Good thing we’re only a few minutes from the hotel.”
Nash navigated the city traffic easily and was soon pulling up to a quaint little hotel. He held the door for Greer and followed her to the reception desk. Giving his name, he waited as the young woman whose name tag identified her as Kimberly tapped at her keyboard.
“There, um, seems to be a slight problem, Mr. Pierce.” Her face apologetic, Kimberly looked from her computer to Nash. “One of your rooms was apparently double booked. And that guest has already checked in.”
“Okay.” Slightly puzzled, Nash leaned an elbow on the counter. “Can’t we just have that reservation applied to another room?”
“Well.” Kimberly hesitated. “No, sir. We’re at capacity. We only have the one room left for you.”
“I see.” Looking over at Greer, he watched her give a slight shrug. Turning back to Kimberly he said, “As long as it’s a double, I think it’ll be okay.”
“About that.” Nash could almost see poor Kimberly wince. “It’s a single queen.” When Nash simply closed his eyes, Kimberly rushed on. “I checked for cancellations, to see if we can move you, but I can look again.”
“No, it’s okay.”
“I’m so sorry, sir. I understand if you need to make accommodations elsewhere.”
“It’s okay,” he repeated, making himself smile. “We’ll make it work.” Handing over his credit card, he watched Greer do everything but look at him as he waited. Within minutes, key cards in hand, they walked back out to the moving truck in silence. Nash pulled the truck around closer to the entrance Kimberly had advised him to use. After parking it out of the way of other guests, he grabbed his bag and Greer’s before he led them to their room. As soon as they were in the door, Nash took one look around and immediately knew it was going to be a long night. The room’s furniture ran to a pair of chairs flanking a small table, a desk, and a single queen size bed.
A long sigh escaped as he ran his hand over his face.
“I’m sorry about this, Greer.”
“It’s fine.” She turned to him, a strained smile on her face. “It’s not your fault. I know you tried. Let’s just try to enjoy our evening and we’ll deal with this,” she said with a wave of her hand around the room, “later.”
After dropping their bags and freshening up, Nash and Greer joined the throng of tourists walking the streets of the French Quarter. Nash could feel Greer start to relax and enjoy the city around her, evidenced by wanting to stop at what seemed like every shop along the way.
“Greer,” he began as they left yet another store. “I’ve lost count of how many stores we’ve stopped at so far and you haven’t bought a single thing.”
“You say that like it’s a bad thing.” She gave him a sidelong look as they made their way back onto the sidewalk.
“No, not bad. Just… curious.” He shrugged. “I figured you’d want a keepsake of your first visit to New Orleans.”
“I do, but I just haven’t seen the right one yet.”
“Okay.” Clearly puzzled, Nash absently draped his arm around her shoulders. “And what is the right one?”
“I’ll know it when I see it.”
“Uh-huh.” He did his best to hold back a laugh. “That tells me that there could be many more shops in my immediate future.” Deciding he needed to distract her, Nash ran his free hand over his stomach. “If there’s going to be more shopping, I’m going to need to eat first. Hungry?”
“Starving, actually.”
“Nice to know we’re in sync there.” He reached up to give her ponytail a quick, affectionate tug so her head tipped back and her gaze met his. “There’s a place not far from here that I like to stop at when I’m in town. It’s pretty laid back and the food is great. You game?”
“Lead the way.”
Soon, they settled into a booth in a cozy little restaurant run by a stocky woman who introduced herself as Mama Lou.
“Well, well, well.” The southern drawl was deep as the woman gave Nash a long once-over. “If it ain’t my favorite cowboy.”
“Bet you say that to all the guys.” Grinning, Nash stood to give her a kiss on the cheek.
“Just the handsome ones.” She gave him a saucy wink. “What brings you back around these parts?”
“Came back to see you, of course.” As Mama Lou laughed, the brassy sound of it carrying throughout the room, Nash took his seat again and gestured across the table. “And I’m helping Greer move her things to Texas.”
“Greer, is it?” Mama Lou gave Greer a measuring look and nodded. “Pretty thing, ain’t ya?” Hands fisted on her ample hips, she looked back over to Nash. “Well, if I had to be replaced, at least it was by a pretty little thing.”
“Couldn’t wait for you forever, Mama Lou.”
“Oh, hush your mouth.” On a hoot, she swatted at his shoulder. “Now, I’m gonna go fix you up something real good. You okay with spicy food?” She asked Greer. Nash watched as Greer tilted her hand back and forth in a so-so gesture.
“Depends on the day, honestly.” Greer gave an apologetic smile. “I think, this time around, I should keep it low heat.”
“This man here, he likes the spicy.” This time her wink was conspiratory. “Makes his clothes come off.” The statement was followed by a wiggle of her eyebrows and another brassy laugh.
“Mama Lou.” Shaking his head, Nash laughed. “You’re gonna give Greer the wrong idea.”
“Or maybe the right one.” Another eyebrow wiggle as she shot her thumb towards Nash and asked Greer, “He’s a fine looking man, ain’t he though?”
Nash watched as Greer played along, her lips pursed and her eyes narrowed as she pretended to study him. Those same eyes twinkled with humor as she answered the older woman’s question.
“I’d say he has potential.”
This time, Mama Lou swatted Greer’s shoulder as she laughed and headed toward the kitchen without another word. Greer sat in silence for a second, obviously confused.
“Um, Nash?”
“Yeah?”
“She didn’t take our orders.”
“Nope.” Relaxing against the back of the booth, Nash sipped his drink. “I’ve been coming here for a few years now. I always try to stop if I’m anywhere close by.” He shrugged. “I guess I became somewhat of a regular. Anyway, as much as she flirts, she’s become like an honorary aunt, I guess you could say. And, in the way of family, I take what she fixes. She hasn’t steered me wrong yet.” Leaning forward again, Nash set his glass aside and, without thinking, began to toy with Greer’s fingers. They were long and slender, tipped in rounded nails coated in clear polish.
“Nash,” Greer began before clearing her throat. “I just want to say thank you.”
“For what?” He linked his fingers with hers as he met her gaze.
“For everything. Your help in moving. This little side trip, knowing I’d never been here before.” She took a deep breath. “And for, well, everything you’ve done since I landed on your doorstep.”
“I’ll say you’re welcome for the stop in New Orleans. But as for everything else, no thanks are necessary.”
“But--”
“No.” He gave her hand a slight squeeze. “You and I are a team now. Did you really think I’d let you handle everything on your own once you told me you were pregnant?”
“Honestly?” Greer’s voice dropped to a whisper. “I didn’t know what to expect.” She cleared her throat again. “It’s not like we knew each other all that well when we... you know.”
“Had one of the best nights of our lives?”
“I… huh?”
“Greer, I know we didn’t plan that night. Or anything that came as a result of it.” Pausing to collect his thoughts, he turned her hand over and ran his thumb along her palm. “I can be sorry that it has upended your life-and I am-but I can also be glad it brought you back into mine.” When she didn’t say anything, just looked at him in confusion, he pushed a breath through his lips before he continued.
“When I woke up the next morning and you were gone, I thought for a minute I’d only imagined you in my bed. That the entire night had been a dream brought on by too much alcohol. But I could still smell your perfume on the sheets. I can’t believe I’m telling you this.” He ran his free hand over his hair. “I came really close to trying to track you down. Through social media, through Dalton and Jayde. Whatever it took. But then I realized it made me sound like a stalker and I thought that if you left without waking me, there was a reason and I should just let you go.” He let one shoulder rise and fall. “So I did. And I did my best not to think about you or the time we spent together. I was doing pretty good until--”
“I showed up on your doorstep,” she murmured.
“Yeah.” He gave her a lopsided smile. “But I’m glad you did.”
“Let that girl go so she can get some meat on them skinny bones.” Mama Lou, standing at the end of the table with a plate in each hand, grinned down at them. “You could do with some more meat on yours too, cowboy.”
“So you say, every time I come in here.” Nash sat back as Greer did the same, allowing Mama Lou to set down their plates. “This looks great, Lou.”
“Tastes even better.” She wagged a finger between them. “You two love birds eat up, now. Ya hear? Clean them plates and I’ll send you back to the hotel with dessert.” Another wink. “To share, of course.”

They did clean their plates and, as promised, Mama Lou sent them out into the night with thick slices of pie in to-go boxes for later. She’d made Nash promise to come back soon and to bring the pretty little thing back with him. A statement she’d softened with a quick peck on the cheek for both Greer and Nash before she headed back into the restaurant.
“Is she always so…” Greer hesitated as she searched for the word.
“Brazen?”
“I guess that’s as good of a word as any.” The laugh that had bubbled up died as Nash laced his fingers with hers and began to lead her down the sidewalk. Her pulse kicked up a few notches at the sensation of his wide palm pressed against her slender one. 
“Then yes, she has. Mama Lou’s had a big personality for as long as I’ve known her.”
Greer smiled as Nash gave their joined hands a little swing.
“I liked her.”
“The feeling is mutual, I assure you.” Nash jerked his chin at a little shop up ahead. “Haven’t been in there yet. Wanna stop?”
“Um.” She looked down at the to-go box in her hand.
“It’ll be fine. As long as we don't pull out forks and eat it in the middle of their store, they won’t care.”
With a smile and a nod, she let Nash lead her into the shop. She browsed, her walk slow so she could take in all the colors and textures packed into one little area. And then, she found herself in front of a small jewelry counter.
“I can pull anything you’d like to see.” Sounding as if she were straight from the bayou, the older woman behind the counter smiled at Greer.
“Oh, no. I’m just looking, but thank you.”
“Just let me know if you change your mind.” She moved off, leaving Greer to study one of the items in the case.
“See something you like?” Nash asked.
“In a way.” She turned her head, surprised at how close their faces were. Greer watched his gaze flicker to her mouth and back up to her eyes. All she could do was gulp. “That bracelet just reminds me of one my dad gave me a long time ago.”
“The charm bracelet?” She could feel his body heat as he leaned in to get a closer look.
“Yeah. He’d bring me charms from different places to put on it. My mother always said it wasn’t something a girl my age needed, but he did it anyway.”
“Where is it now?” Nash asked quietly. “The bracelet?”
“It disappeared during one of our many moves after he died.” She tried to make her shrug careless but wasn’t sure she pulled it off. Taking a deep breath, she changed the subject. “Do you think they’d let me use the restroom?”
“Can’t hurt to ask.”
“Good. I’ll be right back.” She passed over her to-go box and left him watching as she walked away.

When they opened the door and went into their hotel room just twenty minutes later, Greer’s anxiety over the sleeping arrangements came back full force. She knew Nash had done his best to get her a room of her own, but apparently the universe had its own plans.
Setting her purse on the desk, Greer watched as Nash pulled out a chair from the little table and sat to start pulling off his boots. Unsure of what to do next, she simply stood, rooted to her spot, and waited.
“You can have the first turn at the shower,” he offered as he set the first boot aside. When she didn’t answer right away, he glanced up and noticed he was being watched. “Greer? Everything okay?”
“Yeah, fine.” Her nerves getting the better of her, she twisted her fingers around each other.
“You don’t look fine.” His other boot landed with a soft thump as he stood. “In fact, I’d say you look on the verge of terrified.”
“Why would I be terrified?” She felt her gut clench a little as her voice rose a full octave.
“I’m asking myself the same question.” Nash tilted his head as he considered. When her eyes cut quickly to the bed and back again, he nodded. “I see the problem here.”
“It’s not exactly a problem, per se. It’s just…”
“Awkward as hell?”
“Yes.” Breathing out a sigh of relief, Greer gave a short laugh. “Awkward as hell sums it up nicely.”
“Well, if it’ll help,” he began, reaching up to tuck a strand of hair behind her ear, “I can sleep on the floor.”
“Don’t be ridiculous.” Waving away the idea, Greer tucked her hands into her back pockets as she looked up at Nash. “I’m being ridiculous enough for the both of us. We’re adults. Adults who have slept together before.” She took a deep breath as she patted her still-flat belly. “Obviously.”
“If you’re sure.”
“I’m sure.” She jerked her head in the direction of the bathroom. “Go ahead, grab your shower. I think I might soak in the tub for a little while before bed and you shouldn’t have to wait on me.”
“Alright.” He started to step away, then hesitated before he turned back to face her again. “Listen, Greer. I hope this isn’t out of line, but I have something for you.” Digging into his pocket, Nash pulled out a closed fist. Reaching for her hand, he flattened out her fingers and dropped something into her palm.
The tiny gems on the fleur de lis, still warm from his body, sparkled in the light. A tiny charm, it hooked delicately onto the bracelet she’d admired in the case earlier.
“Nash.” She breathed his name as she held the jewelry up for a better look. “It’s beautiful, but you shouldn’t have.”
“Why not? You needed a keepsake and since you didn’t buy a single thing in any of the six dozen shops we stopped in…”
“It was no more than two, thank you very much.” She tempered the words with a joyful little laugh. Her voice was quiet as she looked into his eyes. “But seriously, you didn’t have to do this.”
“When you talked about the one your father gave you, you nearly broke my heart.” Somehow, his work-roughened cowboy fingers were delicate with the bracelet as he lifted it from her hand. He continued talking as he fastened it around her wrist. “That bracelet meant a lot to you, even if you were trying not to show it. So I figured New Orleans was as good of a place as any to start a new one. Who knows, you may even want to go back and replace the charms he gave to you.” In an almost absent gesture, Nash kissed her wrist on the pulse point before releasing her hand and stroking her cheek with his thumb. “I’m going to take that shower now. I won’t be too long.”
She waited until she heard the bathroom door close behind him and the shower start running before she let out a shaky breath. Greer could still feel the pressure of his lips on her inner wrist, the rough skin of his thumb on her cheek. Moving to the bed, she stretched out, listening to the sound of the shower as she toyed with the charm on her new bracelet. A thoughtful gift from the father of her child. From a man who was everything she remembered him to be and more than she could have ever expected. 
From the cowboy that, if she wasn’t careful, she could fall head over heels for.