Page 36 of The Cowboy’s Secret Lover

Faith’s car was at the service center. If she wanted to go back to Milly’s, she’d walk. Would she do it in the rain?

Streetlights circled the perimeter of the property. Umbrella over her head, Faith passed through a pool of light.

Cupping his hands, he yelled. “Faith! Wait!”

She didn’t slow. Had she not heard him? Or was she trying to avoid speaking to him? Either way, he wasn’t about to give up—not a second time.

He began to run. His boots splashed through puddles. “Faith! Wait!”

Nothing.

Faith turned onto the street where her aunt lived. Kurt rounded the corner just a moment behind. From where he stood, Kurt could see that she had a phone pressed to her ear. His pulse began to race. Was she accepting the job in San Diego? Had a moment of hesitation caused him to lose a lifetime of happiness?

“Faith,” he called.

She stopped and turned around

“I need to talk to you.”

She spoke into her phone. “Hold on a second, will you?” She muted the call and looked at Kurt. “Is everything okay?”

“Yes,” he said, finally knowing what had been missing in his life. “Or it can be. I can’t let you leave for San Diego, not without telling you…” He stopped and swallowed. “I love you, Faith McGregor. I loved you when we were in high school, and truth to tell, I never stopped. You are the best thing that happened to me.” Drawing in a breath, he continued, “I’m not going to make the same mistake twice. I’m not going to let you leave town without knowing how I feel.”

Faith reactivated the call before lifting the phone to her ear. “Something just came up. I need to call you tomorrow.” She ended the call.

“Was that Doctor Ortega?” Kurt asked.

“It was,” she said.

They faced each other on the rainy street. Kurt’s clothes were soaked through. Water dripped from the brim of his hat. He wiped a wet hand over his soggy brow. “Is that all you have to say?”

Faith reached for his hand and pulled him closer. “Come here, cowboy,” she said. “And kiss me.”

* * *

The last night of the bull riding competition at the Bear Creek Rodeo

Faith satin the front row of the stands at the Bear Creek arena. The smell of hay filled the air and bits of sawdust floated under the bright lights. She’d brought Aunt Milly for the final night of the bull riding competition and the older woman told Faith stories from when she was a girl and the rodeo came into town.

“It was the most exciting time of the year,” Milly said. “Almost like Christmas, but with more parties and fewer fights.”

Faith had to laugh.

“Hey there, ladies.” Dr. Adams approached their seats. He leaned on the railing. “How’s Erin?”

To control the post-surgery pain, Erin was sedated. “Her vitals were all good when I left the hospital a few hours ago. She’s healing nicely.”

“She has you to thank,” said Dr. Adams. “You’re a heck of a practitioner.”

True, it was Faith’s job to help sick people get better. Yet her cheeks warmed with the praise.

Dr. Adams continued, “I also heard that you’ve been offered a job in San Diego.”

Faith nodded. “I have.”

“You gonna take it?”

“I’m not sure.” After Kurt confessed his love to Faith, he’d returned to the hospital. She didn’t blame him for wanting to be near his daughter. Since then, she hadn’t spoken to Kurt about what their future might hold.