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  Now everyone was sitting out on the porch having an after dinner cup of coffee. They were sitting on a swing, Rebecca was leaning back into Wyatt, and he had his arm around her. He’d rather have Rebecca than the cup of coffee. She was laughing at something Rob had said and Wyatt leaned down to kiss the top of her head. Rebecca smiled back at him.

  “So Rebecca,” began Mary, “what’s your schedule here? Are you returning to Las Vegas next week or what?”

  “I’m not sure. I only have a week’s vacation, so something’s got to give.”

  “Wyatt?”

  He shook his head. “…We haven’t discussed anything past this week. In fact, we’re taking it a day at a time…” His shy grin and then Rebecca’s gave a clue that there was more to what he’d said than the words spoken. But that’s what lovers do…

  Rebecca yawned and Wyatt helped her up. “We need to take off. Becca’s got that story to finish tomorrow and needs her rest.” He walked over to hug Mary and shake Rob’s hand. “Thanks so much for dinner. We’ll have you over before Becca leaves.”

  They exchanged hugs and goodbyes. Wyatt took Rebecca’s hand and led her down to his truck. When he got her settled, he walked around to the driver’s side, got in and took off for home.

  Mary and Rob stood waving goodbye. “I’ll be surprised if they’re not married in less than a year.”

  Rob blinked. “…Think Wyatt’s ready for that?”

  “Maybe,” she said softly, “…maybe…”

  * * *

  It hit him hard the next day – The relationship with Rebecca had become as warm as a coat around him. Since they bickered occasionally about anything, it had sneaked up on him gradually that he was already used to having her in his bed… He was used to having her underwear hanging in the shower… That he was happy to have all her pots and cosmetics scattered on the counter in the bathroom… That he loved seeing her smiling face gazing back at him…

  That’s why it should have hit him harder what an idiot he was that afternoon…

  Thursday and Friday had been sweet days – Wyatt had some cows to move over to another pasture, while Rebecca busted her ass to get the story done and faxed to her editor by Friday afternoon. Dave had wanted to run her piece in the Sunday opinion page again, like her last story about Allenville. She’d gotten it done and they had celebrated by popping a nice bottle of wine, sharing a few glasses and then retiring to their bedroom to make love. Wyatt and Rebecca preferred doing that to practically any other activity he could come up with.

  That night they had taken it nice and slow, sweet and simple. She was passionate and delicious. He was attentive and demanding… It had been a night that stretched into very early morning and Wyatt had reverberated about it all the next day. He was simply euphoric…

  The rodeo was happening tonight – Wyatt and Clint would be team roping again, so he was getting his clothes ready to put in the duffle bag. He suddenly wondered where Becca was and looked outside. She was happily digging into a flowerbed, weeding and planting some new flowers she’d found in the garden shed.

  The specter of Missy raised its head… That was Missy’s job – She’d loved planting all the flowers around the house and had made the ranch house so beautiful with color and aroma. Before he’d thought it through, he headed outside. Rebecca had seen how neglected the flowerbeds were and took it upon herself to begin straightening them out. She’d been working diligently for an hour when Wyatt came out.

  Rebecca was still floating about their romantic adventure last night and didn’t catch on right away to the strange look on Wyatt’s face. He walked up to the flowerbed where she was working.

  “What are you doing?”

  “…Planting,” she said happily.

  “You shouldn’t be doing that…’

  “Why not?”

  “It’s not your job.”

  Perplexed, she shaded her eyes to look up at him. She couldn’t make out his expression with the sun’s glare behind him.

  “Whose job is it? These beds are a mess.”

  “It was… Missy’s… You should have asked me.”

  Rebecca froze… Slowly, she put down her garden trowel and got to her feet. After all the work they’d done and love they’d shared this week, it apparently still came down to Missy… Without expression, Rebecca stared back at him and took off her garden hat. Then she removed the gloves, put them in the hat and returned everything to the shed, where she’d found them.

  She’d crossed the line again. The scoreboard once again went up a notch in Missy’s favor and she was through…

  Wyatt walked back into the house and yelled over his shoulder, “We need to take off for the rodeo. Are you just about ready to go?”

  Rebecca released a shaky breath. She wanted neither a fight nor a trip to the rodeo. She went into the kitchen to wash her hands.

  He came up from behind to wrap his arms around her waist and kissed her on the cheek. Apparently, he didn’t realize that he’d just stabbed her in the heart again.

  “Ready?”

  “No. I have a few things to do and I’ll give Mary a call to pick me up. She said anytime…” He frowned, not understanding. “Really, it’s okay. Go on without me. You don’t want to miss the opening ceremony where all the riders come in together.”

  “You’re right,” he said glancing at the wall clock. “I’ve got to scoot. See you later?”

  She nodded dumbly and willed herself not to cry. For once, he didn’t read her face and she ran for the bathroom the second the screen door slammed. Rebecca burst into tears and sat on the toilet weeping…

  It was always going to be this way with him.

  Missy’s needs would always come before hers.

  …Dampness on her blouse spread.

  Rebecca finally dried her eyes and washed her face. She went in to pack her small case, put on her light denim jacket and brushed her long hair back into a ponytail. She found paper and pen on his desk and wrote for a few minutes. Tucking the paper and an envelope into her purse, she went out to the stable and asked one of the hands to saddle a horse for her. She chose the one she’d been riding this week – a beautiful brown thoroughbred that she’d come to love.

  The man tied her case to the saddle and Rebecca rode off for Mary’s house. It was only a few miles away and she wanted to think on the way over. Arriving at the Carsons’, she tied up the horse to the hitching post in front. Mary saw her and came right out.

  “Rebecca, it’s wonderful to see you. How are things at the ranch?”

  “Not so fine, Mary. Could Rob give me a ride to the bus station in Mesquite?”

  Mary blinked, a puzzled look at her face. “Rebecca, what’s wrong?”

  “Plenty and I have to leave. Could he please give me a ride?”

  “Oh, no. What’s wrong, Rebecca? Have you been crying?” She walked down to take Rebecca’s hand and help her up to the porch.

  Rebecca swallowed hard and fished out the paper and envelope from her purse. She quickly folded and tucked the paper into the envelope, handing it to Mary.

  “Could you see that Wyatt gets this note? It’ll explain everything. How about that ride?”

  “Of course, but why don’t you sit down and talk things out with Wyatt. Don’t just run away.”

  “I’ve spoken plenty to him, Mary.”

  “What is it, dear?”

  She shrugged. “Missy still lives there. There’s three of us in this relationship and I’m getting bumped out.”

  “Oh.”

  “He won’t let me move the furniture one little bit, much less change any of it because that’s the way Missy left it. The dishes are cracked and horrible, but I can’t change those either because they were hers.”

  “Oh, dear.”

  “My clothes are scrunched on his side of the closet, even though hers are gone, apparently the space is still occupied by her imaginary clothes.”

  “…Ah.”

  “And don’t get me started about that pink
scarf. I’ve asked him to do something else with it, besides carry it everywhere he rides. He won’t hear of it.”

  “Anything else?”

  “Yes, I worked in her flowerbeds this afternoon and he actually told me to stop because it was Missy’s job.”

  With tears falling, she looked up into Mary’s distraught face.

  “I’m so sorry, Rebecca. You do deserve better.”

  “Thank you. Could I get that ride now?”

  “Yes, I’ll get Rob, but isn’t Wyatt at the rodeo tonight?”

  “… Uh-huh...”

  “Won’t he miss you there?”

  “Not until after his event. He’s busy beforehand with Clint and I usually just sit with some friends.”

  “I’m not wild about this sneaking away stuff. I prefer talking things out – I believe it clears the air.”

  “I’ve talked myself blue, Mary. You know me a bit by now… I don’t hold back. If I did, Wyatt and I would still be holding hands and singing camp songs, instead of sleeping together.”

  “All right, dear, I get the message. You don’t need to paint me a picture.”

  “Just wanted us on the same page…”

  An hour later, Rebecca was clutching a few tissues and her purse while riding a Greyhound bus back to Las Vegas.

  Back at the Carsons, Rob was wringing his hands.

  “Mary, why’d you make me deliver Rebecca to that bus station? Wyatt’s going to be madder than a wet hen when he finds her gone and I did it…”

  “Now, Rob. She’s our friend too.”

  “…Well, I hear his truck…I’m hiding out in the barn groomin’ horses if anyone needs me.” He hurried away.

  Wyatt was up to the front door in three long strides.

  “Mary? You here?”

  It had finally registered that he’d screwed up – again. A wave of insight had suddenly washed over him as he stood looking out into the grandstand at the rodeo. Oh, no.... He closed his eyes remembering the look on her face when he’d talked about the flowerbeds… Not again…

  And then he started to look for her. Wyatt’s breathing was shaky when he couldn’t find Rebecca at the rodeo or get her on the phone – She must have turned it off. He bailed on his event and drove back home to find her. That’s when he discovered one of the horses was gone – The one she liked best for riding.

  Mary came out of the kitchen to meet him.

  “… Wyatt. Nice to see you again.”

  “Where’s Rebecca? I know you know where she is.”

  “Calm down, dear. Here’s something she left for you.” She handed him the envelope.

  “She left something for me? That means she’s left me.”

  He couldn’t breathe – Trying not to panic, he gingerly held onto Rebecca’s envelope as if it were a snake, coiled to strike him…

  “Wyatt. I know this is none of my business, but would you like a little friendly advice?”

  He nodded.

  “Rebecca isn’t Missy.”

  “Yes, Mary, I know that.” There was a hitch in his voice as he ran his hand through messy hair, eyes wide.

  “No, you don’t, Wyatt.”

  “What are you talking about? Missy’s gone.”

  “… Gone, but still here.”

  “What? I don’t understand.”

  “Rebecca said she can’t compete with Missy and is letting you choose. Either Missy goes or she does. The flowerbeds tonight, I gather, were the last straw for her.”

  “Those damn flowerbeds,” he muttered to himself. “But I can’t forget Missy, Mary.”

  “No, but you can finally come to terms with the fact that she’d dead, Wyatt.”

  When he just stared at her with a blank expression, she went on.

  “Her presence is everywhere and Rebecca says there’s no room for her.”

  “…Um.”

  “Missy was kind and sweet -- a real lady. But Rebecca is a whole difficult kettle of fish – opinionated, challenging and a different kind of sweet, as I’m sure you know. And she’d not going to settle for second best.”

  “Is that what she thinks I’m offering her?”

  “… Actions speak louder than words.”

  “Meaning?”

  “Read her note, dear.”

  She watched the emotions flit over his face like butterflies, as he read her note. Confusion cleared and understanding finally showed on his face.

  Dearest Wyatt,

  I know you’re probably pinging off the walls right now, but you need to sit down and take a deep breath. You should know by now that I don’t do anything without some thought beforehand. Since you can’t argue with me this way, this is the route I’ve chosen to get through to you. You have a real stubborn streak, but then, so do I… Perhaps this just wasn’t meant to be.

  Put yourself in my place. What if I had once dated Tim, for instance, and remembrances of our time together were still visible in my apartment. We’d broken up badly, but I still carried a torch for him. If you couldn’t hang your clothes in a certain place because Tim had hung his there, or dig in a flowerbed because it had been his, how would you feel? If I wouldn’t move any furniture from its present position because that’s how Tim liked the arrangement, what would you think?

  I’m sure you’re getting the idea by now… And it’s not news to you. I’ve expressed these thoughts to you on several occasions – You’ve just chosen not to pick up.

  So – where does this leave us?

  I’m not sure, my darling. I know that we love each other, but that may not be enough to bridge this deep divide. I’m going back to town – The flowerbed episode was one too many for me and I’ve had enough. It’s your ranch and your life I’ve tried to fit into… Without success, I might add. You won’t live in Vegas and I won’t live any longer on the ranch with you and Missy.

  You know where I live, but…

  So help me, Wyatt, if you show up on my doorstep and charm me into not being so angry, then you’d better be willing to make some real changes. If I leave you again – it’ll be for good and that’s a promise.

  If you don’t want me to leave, then make me want to stay.

  I love you, Rebecca

  Wyatt folded the note and placed it back in the envelope.

  “That’s how she feels?”

  “…So she says.”

  “I feel so stupid about the flowerbeds…”

  “She said she tried to talk to you several times about all of it but you wouldn’t listen. Time’s come to choose between the past and the future, Wyatt. What’s it going to be?”

  He looked down at his clothes. He hadn’t even changed out of his flashy rodeo clothes, but had beat it over to the Carsons’ when he couldn’t get ahold of Rebecca.

  “… When did the bus leave Mesquite?”

  Mary glanced at a clock. “…Probably half hour ago.”

  “I can beat her to the bus station in Las Vegas if I push it a bit.” And he ran for his truck.

  “Good decision, Wyatt!” she called after him.

  Mary watched as he sped off trying to catch his future before she could get away. Good for him… It’s about time.

  She looked up at the dark night sky and saw a shooting star. “Yep, Missy. You agree too, don’t you?” Mary smiled and walked back to the barn to tell Rob it was safe to come out now.

  * * *

  CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

  The bus had rumbled along for nearly two hours now and Las Vegas was lighting up the horizon. Scattered points of lights spread across a dotted line that was getting bigger and bigger. Rebecca was past the tissue stage and was deep into being pissed. Now she remembered why she hadn’t been involved with anyone for a long time, before Wyatt. Love was a bloody minefield…

  It was wonderful in the beginning, losing its luster in the middle and downright maddening towards the end.

  Was it the end for them?

  She certainly was mad enough at him and didn’t plan to leave that stage for a while. Reb
ecca had no idea what Wyatt would do when he got her letter, but it shouldn’t have come as a big surprise to him that she’d leave. Hadn’t she told him she would? Yep, she had spoken those very words…

  When the bus finally chugged to a stop at the bus station, she heard murmurings from other passengers. Everyone was rushing to the window, pointing and chattering. Something was certainly attracting their attention. She got up to glance out the window and couldn’t believe her eyes!

  There was Wyatt standing in the bus yard wearing full rodeo regalia… A light purple shirt emphasizing his broad shoulders caught her eye first, followed by the bright white and yellow chaps with long fringe worn over his jeans. He always wore those spectacular blue and white boots for his event and the indomitable tan cowboy hat sat low on his head. He was a gorgeous sight for sure and had everyone in the bus depot, as well as on the bus, smiling and laughing. They were all wondering who he was waiting for…

  Rebecca frowned, her pissy mood intensifying… But that was her Wyatt, all right. He didn’t mind making a mind-blowing entrance and garnering attention once in a while. She gathered all her belongings and took some time brushing her hair. She’d decided to be the last person off the bus and make him wait… It was the least she could do before she’d have to face him.

  A little girl in front of her watched as Rebecca brushed her long hair. She held out the brush.

  “Want me to brush yours?”

  The little girl’s head bobbed up and down. She scooted off her seat before her mother could stop her and scrambled up by Rebecca, turning around.

  The mother smiled when Rebecca began brushing and smoothing the little girl’s hair. After a few minutes, she’d had enough, scooted down and went back to her mother.

  “Thanks, miss. That was nice of you.” Rebecca gave them both a big smile as they got up to leave the bus.