Episode 10: New Cowboy in Town

Author's note: Sorry it's late and sorta short. Got derailed by a power outage yesterday and lost some of it. Trying to recreate it wasn't gelling so I stopped before I made a complete mess. If it comes back to me by tomorrow, I may go ahead and post a follow up.

Where did a woman run to when the only place that had ever brought her comfort had been invaded by the enemy? Vicky Steely wondered. She sat in her parked car in front of the post office and contemplated her options.

She couldn’t go back to Jenna’s. She knew enough about her daughter to know that she’d already worn out her welcome there. Jenna was far too private a person to stand company for too long. Even if the company happened to have given birth to her.

And Jack, well, her son’s active social life didn’t lend much to the idea of staying with him. Knowing her son was popular with the ladies and witnessing it first hand? Yeah, no.

And Amrys—well, her  youngest daughter’s apartment was the size of a shoebox.

What Vicky needed was a drink. And nearing five o’clock, she could even justify it. Problem being that her annoying soon-to-be ex-husband had a tendency to go to the only decent bar in town to check up on his kids. As if the three of them might burn it down or something. Steely J’s was actually doing better than it ever had before, according to Jenna. Those three not only wouldn’t burn it down, they’d ensure it still lived to consume the next generation of Steelys.

No, she couldn’t go to Steely J’s and she really didn’t need to go down the path of drinking, anyway.

“Where to go?” she muttered and glanced in her rear view mirror.

The brightly colored bakery sign down the street caught her eye. “Glazed and Confectioned” it read. A chocolate donut and cup of coffee might sooth the restless ache in her. It wouldn’t help her thighs at all. But heck, who did she have to look good for anymore? She reasoned.

Cranking the car, she backed out of the post office lot and drove across the street. At this late in the day most everyone else in town had had their fill of pastries so the lot was nearly empty. Only one other vehicle sat in front of the bakery and it probably belonged to whoever was working. Hopefully, she grimaced, not Laurel. Though she was the most talented baker Vicky had ever met, the girl spread gossip like wildfire.

The little bell over the door tinkled merrily as Vicky pushed it open and stepped inside. Inhaling the overwhelming fragrance of sugar, she stepped to the counter and perused the remaining pastries. Not finding the first chocolate glazed donut, Vicky was about to turn around and leave when it caught her eye.

“Éclair,” she breathed, reaching her fingers to touch the glass display case in front of the delicious pastry.

“Seductive, isn’t it?”

Startled, Vicky jumped and pressed a hand to her chest.

The handsome cowboy chuckled and stood from his table. “Sorry. Didn’t mean to scare you.”

Short cropped hair with a faint hat line and a weathered face full of laugh lines. Not to mention all that long lean body. Whoever coined the phrase ‘tall drink of water’ must’ve been talking about this man.

“Dax Fletcher,” he introduced himself with a gentlemanly nod.

Vicky feared she might be too breathless to speak. It had been a while since anyone other than her husband had caught her eye. And as far as her eye being caught goes, the man had a hook a mile wide.

“Oh, good, Vicky! You’ve met our newest resident!” Laurel bustled from the back.

“Pleased to meet you, Vicky…” his greeting trailed off in question.

“St…Steely. Vicky Steely.”

“Not Steely like the bar on the edge of town, is it?” he pulled his wallet from his back pocket and ordered two éclairs and a coffee.

Laurel beamed as she rang him up. “Oh Vicky’s husband’s family has owned that bar for over a century. You should go there while you’re in town. The food is amazing.”

“My soon-to-be ex, husband,” Vicky inserted, narrowing her eyes at the loudmouthed Laurel.

The cheeky girl merely winked and placed Dax’s order on the counter.

Dax nodded toward the food. “For you, if you’ll join me.”

It was only at that point that she glanced that the table he’d been seated at and noticed that it was already occupied by an éclair and a coffee. Feeling her cheeks heat, Vicky pointedly ignored Laurel’s beaming grin and nodded her ascent. “Thank you. I’d love to join you.”

Vicky Steely, her inner voice scolded, what on earth are you doing?

Inwardly smiling, she though, I’m having fun for once.