The Cowboy's Healing Ways

His grandmother’s eyes filled with tears. “She needs help and a place to stay.”

“I can get her a room in Grove and then we’ll see if we can get her some assistance. You’re right—no one knows better than I do about second chances. The other thing I know is how dangerous the drug trade can be. People get angry. They get revenge.”

The front door clicked, ending their conversation.

“Go after her, Jesse.” His grandmother put a hand on his back, moving him forward.

“I have to get my shoes.”

“Well, you’d better hurry. She’s sick with nowhere to go. If something happens to her...” His grandmother’s face paled and she shook her head a little. “I’m sorry.”

“Don’t worry about it.” He slid his feet into his boots and grabbed his jacket. “I won’t let anything happen to her. I’m also not letting anything happen to you.”

He hurried out the door, putting his coat on as he went. Laura White stood at the end of the drive, a tall woman with auburn hair blowing in the light breeze. She shivered and hugged herself tightly, turning to look at him with a wan smile on her pale face.

Okay, he wouldn’t get the Samaritan of the Year award. But what in the world was he supposed to do with her? He walked to the end of the drive, thinking through options and not coming up with much. He guessed he could take her to his parents.

As he approached, Laura’s chin came up a notch, a little pride coming to the surface. He remembered being a kid, digging deep to find that pride to get past his own humiliation. He knew what it took for a person to find that strength.

“I can walk. I’m just not sure where I’m going or how I’ll get my car. I can’t afford to pay for repairs.” She turned, coughing into her shoulder before facing him again. The cold weather made her nose red and her gray eyes sparkle. “I don’t have insurance.”

“I’m sure Gran is going to pay for the repairs. She did pull out in front of you.”

“She didn’t see me. The rain was unbelievable.”

“She really wants you to stay here.”

Laura shook her head. “I can’t.”

“Then I’ll drive you to Grove. We’ll get you a hotel room and find some way to help you get back on your feet.”

She looked past him, her eyes damp with unshed tears. “You really don’t have to do this. I can get a ride.”

“No, you’re not okay. You’re sick. It looks like we’re going to get more rain and you have nowhere to go.” Jesse adjusted the hat he’d put on before walking outside. “I’m going to be honest. I’m not crazy about my grandmother bringing in strangers. But I’m also not about to let you walk off without help.”

She shivered. Jesse shrugged out of his jacket. He draped it across her shoulders and she huddled into it.

“Let’s get in my truck before the rain hits.” He put a hand on her arm and steered her in the right direction.

When they reached the passenger side of his truck she turned away from him, coughing again. The cough racked her thin body and when the spell ended she leaned against his truck, breathing deeply to catch her breath.

“You okay?”

“I’m good.” She turned, smiling, her face pale and her eyes huge but rimmed with dark circles.

“Right.” He opened the door and she climbed in. “When we get to town we’ll stop at the store for some cough syrup and maybe herbal tea.”

“You don’t have to.” She clicked the seat belt in place. “Look, you can stop pretending you’re my appointed keeper. I don’t need one. I’m good on my own. I’ve been on my own for a long time.”

“I’m not pretending anything. I’m just trying to help you.” He started the truck and shifted into Reverse, glancing into the rearview mirror as he backed down the driveway. “I’m trying to make sure you’re going to be okay.”

“I’m trying to let you off the hook.” She closed her eyes and his big coat enveloped her. “I’m so tired.”

“I know you are. On both counts.” He drove through Dawson and headed toward Grove. “You don’t have to let me off the hook.”

He glanced her way and then turned his attention back to the road. “Do you have job experience?”

“Yes.”

“And?” He drove out of Dawson, wondering if she was being purposely vague.

“I worked in an office and then as a manager for a cleaning crew. I was going to school to be a nurse.”

“Hmm.” He didn’t know what else to say. It seemed like a lot to throw away.

“Now I’m a felon and no one will hire me. I can’t even rent an apartment.”

“There has to be somewhere you can go.”

She sighed. “In a perfect world there would be justice and I would get a do-over.”

“There are those things—sometimes they’re just hard to find.”

She nodded but didn’t respond. He found himself wanting to know a whole lot more about her than she seemed willing to tell. The curiosity grew when she reached into the side pocket of her purse and pulled out a tiny framed photo. She held it tightly and closed her eyes.

Everyone had a story, his grandmother liked to remind him. They all had things they wished they could do over. He would have been more careful with other people’s feelings.

When they reached Grove, he pulled up to the grocery store. “Let’s run in here and we’ll get what you’ll need for a few days.”

She didn’t answer. He leaned to touch her shoulder. She opened her eyes wide and moved back a little.

“I didn’t mean to scare you. I’m going in. You stay here and rest.” He reached into the back seat of the truck and grabbed a blanket. “I’ll trade. Blanket for the jacket.”

She took off his canvas jacket and handed it to him. He draped the blanket over her. She smiled a weak smile.

“Back in a few.”

She nodded and he got out of the truck. As he crossed the parking lot he remembered that he’d left his keys in the ignition. He looked back and saw her in the passenger side, leaning against the door. Sleeping.

His truck would either be there when he came out, or it wouldn’t. He sighed and walked through the automatic doors of the store, shooting one last glance in the direction of his truck.

The things he let his grandmother get him into. He’d never learn.

* * *

Laura woke up in an empty truck parked in front of a grocery store. She remembered Jesse telling her he would be back soon. She glanced at her watch and pulled the phone out of her pocket.

She dialed the number she had memorized. This phone call was all she could have for the time being. It wasn’t enough, but it was better than nothing.