{Chapter 11}

He had to win her over to him. He was falling too hard and too fast.

Wade soaped a saddle and thought over his predicament, ignoring the barn cat purring around his feet. How did one go about winning a woman’s heart anyway? He’d need to ask a woman, someone like…

Katie.

Katie would know how to go about winning Aubrey over. She knew everything about couples and such.

At least that’s what Wade hoped.

**********

“Well, Wade. There are several ways to go about getting a woman to love you… or at least like you. You’ve gotta be gentle and patient with her” Katie told Wade that very day while Wade was pitching hay to the horses.

“How’s that?”

“Well, do little things for her, like take her for a ride or a walk. It’s the innocent little thoughtful gestures that mean the most to a woman” Katie fiddled with a harness.

“Thoughtful?” Wade ran the back of his hand over his sweaty forehead and faced Katie.

“Yes, Wade. Meaning put some thought into it. Ever heard of the expression?” Katie teased.

“Women are strange creatures, and I’m not sure how to go about thinking about one” Wade told her, stabbing the pitchfork into the hay.

Katie huffed. “Seriously, Wade? It’s simple. Make her heart flutter, do something sweet for her. She told me about the flowers you left for her. Keep doing little things like that and she’ll do the rest.”

Wade smiled. This wasn’t going to be so hard.

**********

“Miss Aubrey, come with me” Jay tugged on Aubrey’s hand.

“Why? Is something wrong?” Aubrey asked, allowing him to pull her toward the door of the shack.

She had a red bandana tying her hair back out of her face and a dusty apron on from where she had been washing walls. She had divided cleaning the little shack from top to bottom into sections. She was beginning to regret that idea.

“They got the cows where we can see ’em,” Jay said.

“Wade’s told you that they’re called cattle, Jay,” Aubrey corrected.

“Cattle, then. See ’em?” Jay pointed to where the big herd of cattle moved slowly through a gate into the neighboring, greener pasture.

The cowboys rode on their horses, yelling at them and trying to pick up their pace. Aubrey searched for Wade, and saw him riding toward where a little cow had drifted away from the herd and drove her back to the rest of the herd.

“I see Mr. Wade” Jay grinned.

“I see him, too” Aubrey smiled.

Something about seeing her cowboy husband working with the cattle made her heart swell with pride. He was covered from head to toe with dust, and Abe was soaked with lather. She could see his shirt drenched with sweat as it clung to his body. He spotted them and waved. Aubrey waved back and she could see his dimpled smile from where she stood. No, she was just imagining it because he wore a bandana over his face.

She couldn’t ignore the flutter in her heart when she saw him. Such a strange feeling she couldn’t place.

Later that day, Aubrey sat down to finally write Brooke. She had put off writing the letter because of the time it would take, but she found herself with time on her hands, so she decided to put it to good use. She explained to Brooke about the wedding, and the events leading up to it. She described the ranch, and the line shack. Finally, she told her about Wade.

He’s so heart-achingly sweet to me. He’s always smiling at me when he catches my eye. Brooke, I just don’t know what to do with him! He’s always doing everything for me. He works tirelessly on a barn he’s building for his horses, yet he found time to pick flowers for me this morning. He’s wonderful with Jay, taking the time to show him how to use a rope when he has the chance. He’s not at all as I thought he would be. I thought he would be demanding, and declare his husbandly rights, but he hasn’t. I’ve never met a man like him! It’s such a strange feeling I have in me right now.

I suppose I’ll stop boring you for now. Tell Ida I said hello. Tell my family I said hello if you see them. I can’t bring myself to write a letter to them yet.

Forever your friend,

Aubrey Dylan.

It felt strange to put a different name on the end of hers, but she decided that it wasn’t a bad strange. Aubrey Dylan was a good, sound name, and it was Wade’s name.

“What’cha doin?” Jay asked sweetly as he sat down on the floor beside her.

“I’m writing a letter” Aubrey smiled.

“Who’re you writing a letter to?”

“A friend back in Tennessee” Aubrey answered him, smiling and folding up the letter.

Jay nodded and seemed satisfied. Evening was turning into night, and she imagined he was getting sleepy.

“Are you tired, little man?” Aubrey asked, smoothing his hair.

Jay shook his head. “I’m gonna wait for Mr. Wade.”

“I’ll let you wait up until he gets home, but he’ll be working late on the barn again, you know” Aubrey said.

Jay nodded. “Okay.”

Aubrey smiled and brushed his longish blonde hair out of his eyes.

**********

Wade rode up to the front of the line shack he had come to recognize as home over the past few days and dismounted. He began stripping the leather off Abe and combing him out.

“You worked hard today, ol’ pal. Reckon you deserve a few more oats tonight, huh?” Wade smiled and whispered to his horse.

After strapping on Abe’s feedbag, Wade went into the house and Jay met him in the doorway.

“I saw a big frog today!” he exclaimed.

“You did? How big was he?” Wade squatted down to Jay’s level.

Jay made a circle with his little hands about the size of a dinner plate. Of course, he was exaggerating.

“That’s a big one, huh?” Wade smiled.

Jay nodded. “I named him Stewy.”

“That’s a mighty fine name for a frog, ya know” Wade’s smile broadened.

He looked up at Aubrey, who stood smiling behind Jay.

“Hi” He smiled up at her.

“Hey” She suddenly appeared self-conscious, smoothing her hair down with her hand and looking to the ground.

He resisted a chuckle and stood, looking down at Jay. “So I guess you’re tired after all your adventures today, huh?”

Jay shook his head and yawned, contradicting himself.

“Uh huh. Why don’t you get ready for bed, little guy?” Wade smiled.

Jay shrugged and turned to walk back inside. He nodded for Aubrey to join him on the porch.

“I need to talk to you.”

Aubrey stepped out onto the porch and closed the door. “Something wrong?”

“No, I just have to ask you something. I’m going to take a break from working on the barn tonight, so I was wondering if you’ve ever seen a Texas sky when there’s not a moon out.” Wade smiled.

Aubrey shook her head.

“Well, it’s about time you saw it, so I’m gonna take you out where you can see the stars for miles and miles” Wade told her.

Aubrey narrowed her eyes at him. “Miles?”

“And miles.”

A slow smile broke out across Aubrey’s face.

**********

Aubrey let Wade lead her through the pitch-black night with her heart pounding fast. Coyotes howled in the distance, and she gripped his hand harder. He held her hand reassuringly.

“They’re far away, Aubrey,” he said.

“I-I know” Aubrey said shakily.

The stars were magnificent. It seemed like she could hold her thumb up and cover hundreds of them.

They topped a rise and Aubrey gasped. Wade wasn’t’ kidding. You really could see the stars for miles.

“Look how pretty!” she squealed.

They had made sure that Jay was sound asleep before walking off so he wouldn’t miss them. Now it was as if no other human existed in the world except for her and Wade. The vast miles of nothing gave Aubrey a sense of freedom… and fear. A coyote howled again, and her grip tightened around Wade’s.

“Hey,” Wade pulled her closer. “They’re miles away. I’ve got a Peacemaker on my hip just incase, though. Would you feel better if you held it?”

Aubrey shook her head. “I’d shoot my toe off.”

Wade laughed and set his lantern on the ground. “I’ll get a fire going. It’s kind of chilly tonight.”

Wade gathered a few twigs and brush nearby and put them in a pile. He felt in his pockets, withdrew a match, and lit it on the heel of his boot. The brush pile lit up immediately.

“I’m gonna go find some bigger stuff, okay? You sit tight,” Wade said.

Aubrey felt her eyes widen and she looked around. He was leaving her here? Alone? To face the evil coyotes alone?

“The fire will scare any coyotes that come near away, okay?” Wade assured her. Aubrey nodded.

Wade walked into the darkness with the lantern, and left Aubrey alone by the fire. She sat down and hugged her knees. Rocking back and forth, she hummed to herself and looked up at the abundance of stars.

Lord, please don’t let me be scared. Wade said they were miles away. He would know, wouldn’t he? He’s spent years and years out here.

She waited, and then heard a rustle. A faint, moving rustle. It first sounded from her right, then her left, then both at the same time. She heard growling and nipping and she felt her heart race. Her adrenaline began pumping and she opened her mouth to scream.

Cliffhangar!! Boo-ya! :P

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