The Pretty Lady and the Cowboy (Songs from the Heart) by Dana Lee Read Free Book Online

previous night I’d been overcome with guilt, but when I my alarm clock jolted me awake the next morning, I was determined as well. Ally needed some tough love from me. Maybe I had made a bad choice last night when I farmed out my concern to her friend. On the other hand, Jess had a point. Ally was old enough to take responsibility for her own actions.
    I pulled a clean tee-shirt from the stack in my closet, along with a pair of Vibrams, a hair tie, and an almost clean pair of jeans. As long as the jeans had no revealing rips I wasn’t going to be fussy. I showered quickly and ran a comb through my hair. I needed some fresh air, so I walked to town and then got some orange juice and oatmeal to go from the coffee shop next door. I took it back with me to my office and put my feet up as I ate.
    My thoughts drifted to Levi. He had been right here yesterday, smiling, tipping his hat, even kissing my hand. I told myself to get over it. Giving way to fantasies at the concert was one thing. Remembering the reality of yesterday’s nonstop series of embarrassing moments was quite another. I had to admit, though, that maybe it was time for me to give in and at least let Jess introduce me to her friend. And I promise you I was going to insist that Jess be there in person to perform the introduction.
    The last serious relationship I’d been in had fizzled after less than a month. I don’t know exactly what happened. Our passion had ignited the first night Patrick and I met, and within a couple of weeks I thought I was in love with him. But when I finally got the courage to say the words, I heard Patrick tell me that he was feeling crowded, that he thought we should start dating other people. It took me a while to realize that I was more annoyed than hurt, more embarrassed than upset. And had I really been in love? Or had I just been longing for someone—anyone—to say those three little words to me?
    Since then, I’d poured my energy into the store. It was the love of my life. I told myself that was okay for now. I was only twenty-five. I had all the time in the world to find someone.
    But I didn’t have much more time this morning before the weekend customers would start to arrive. I opened the cash register, straightened the shoes on the rack, and checked the inventory of the most popular energy gels and drinks. I was grateful when I saw Jess arrive. On-time as usual, she looked tired, but determined.
    “Any word from Ally?” she asked.
    “She’s probably still sleeping it off. Lucky her! I’ll have a few choice words to say to her later.”
    “At least I hope you’ve stopped blaming yourself.” She flipped on the store radio and punched in the call numbers of the local country station. For once, I didn’t protest.
    “My main goal is to help Ally. I’ll do a better job of that if I don’t assign guilt to one or the other of us.” Now if I could just get myself to believe that.
    “Amen,” Jess said.
    # # # # #
    When the first customer walked through the door at just a few seconds after 10:30, I was more than a little mystified by her appearance. She was dressed in some kind of kimono-like garment with hat to match; the top of the hat was decorated with an animated scene in which three characters seemed to chase each other ’round and ’round. The little girl holding her hand—a granddaughter, maybe?—was wearing a green leafy Peter-Pan-like costume.
    A few minutes later, a young couple, both wearing fuzzy, kit-fox-shaped ears and long furry tails, strolled in holding hands. They were followed by a guy in a top hat, goggles, and a full-length leather coat.
    “Jess, I’m going to have to get to bed earlier tonight,” I said, when we met back in the stock room. “I’ve spent the morning so far waiting on imaginary characters.”
    “You need to keep up with local news,” she said. “There’s a comic con at a local hotel.”
    “That explains