Marissa let her words fade and dropped her gaze, shaking her head.
Trace’s soft chuckle made her look up again and she had to grin. “Tell me you weren’t one of those kids who were in trouble all the time in school.”
“I had a few moments I guess,” Trace admitted. “Dad didn’t tolerate it though, and no matter what I had to apologize to the teacher. I guess I just wanted to remember that I was a kid when I was in class. At home, dad worked long hours, and when I was home, I had to help look after Daisy.”
Marissa squirmed in her chair not wanting to delve into that subject again, but she had seen students like that before. At school, they simply wanted to be a normal kid because at home they had the responsibilities of an adult.
“You love your sister don’t you?” she finally asked.
“Yeah,” Trace admitted. “She’s kinda’ special.” He stopped as his phone rang in his pocket and he looked up apologetically. “That’s Daisy now,” he said. “I need to take this.”
Marissa gazed into his light blue eyes and nodded, somehow knowing that Trace was trying not to be rude.
“Go ahead,” she said suddenly feeling like her special evening was coming to an end.
Trace stood as he put his phone to his ear and headed for the exit. “What’s up,” he said his long legs carrying him around the crowds, “I’m with a friend.”
Marissa smiled as his last words reached her ears. Did he consider her a friend? When she’d come to Wyoming to visit Michelle, she had assumed she would spend most of her days either with Kadence or at the print-shop with her sister. It was nice that she could have a friend of her own out here.
At first, she had been offended by the cowboy’s assumptions, but now that she was getting to know him a little better, she thought she could accept his ‘ride to the rescue’ attitude.
Finishing off the rest of her meal, she looked up at the people around her. Several families sat at tables laughing and joking, while their children squabbled or tried to outdo each other with the coloring pages they had been given.
In other booths couple sat enjoying a nice dinner as they chatted about their day. One couple, a beautiful redhead with bright green eyes and a lean blonde cowboy sat with their daughter, and she could see the couple holding hands under the table.
The sight was bittersweet as she watched the little girl excitedly receive a huge ice cream sundae. Marissa wondered if she would ever have what that couple had. It wasn’t that she didn’t believe she could make it on her own, but the idea of having someone there for her on her bad days. Someone who would step in and help whenever she needed it that had a great deal of appeal.
“Sorry about that,” Trace said slipping back into the seat across from her. “A minor emergency at the center. If it isn’t a problem, do you mind stopping by there on the way back to the ranch? I can take you home first if you want. I just need to deliver some formula.”
Trace’s eyes were so imploring that Marissa couldn’t say no so she smiled and nodded. “That will be fine,” she agreed, wondering exactly what she had just gotten herself into.
Chapter 10
Trace insisted on a dessert for the two of them as the meal came to an end and smiled when he saw how much Marissa enjoyed the treat.
“I’m paying you ahead of time for being so patient and helping me out with Daisy,” he said as they finished the meal and paid the check. “I really can take you back to the Broken J first if you need me to,” he finished.
“No, there’s no reason for you to make two trips,” Marissa said allowing him to open the door to the truck for her. She had loved the molten lava cake smothered in vanilla ice cream and sweet and spicy pralines, but she was almost too full to climb up into her seat.
“Where is this place your sister has, anyway?” she asked as he started the engine and pulled out onto the main drag.
“On the other side of Tipton,” Trace said. “I’ll just stop by the all-night pharmacy and pick up what she needs then head over there. I promise it won’t take too long.”
Marissa didn’t reply. She wasn’t really worried about the time only that this run had made all of her doubts and worries spring to life once more.
She didn’t want to think about her little problem tonight. She wanted to be out and enjoy a night with a handsome cowboy.
Twenty minutes later, they were stopped under the bright red and white sign of the all-night shop, and Trace was telling her he’d be right back.
Marissa gazed around her at the small Wyoming town. It was one of those places that although growing, maintained its connection to the past with old brick buildings and false-fronted stores. The main street was lined with parked cars, and on either end of the shopping area, she could see hitching posts for horses.
In the distance, Marissa could hear the sound of a train whistle the source of the town’s creation in the first place. It wasn’t until the train had set up a depot in Tipton that ranches in the surrounding area could begin shipping their livestock without the long four or five-day drive to Casper.
Leaning back against her headrest Marissa thought of the days when the town was new and cowboys like Trace were a dime a dozen. In her mind, it was a simpler time, a time when people stuck together and supported each other.
She knew now how stupid she had been thinking that Ray was
