One Brave Cowboy (16 page)

“You want my name?”

“I'm old-fashioned. I want your name.”

“You'll get it, then. My wedding gift to you, my secret name.” He put his hand on the back of her head and drew her to him for a kiss. “But trust me. It don't get any better than Cougar.”

 

One week later, Cougar's outfit was still parked in Celia's yard. He still had his bed, and she still had hers. But that would all change soon. Maybe they were both a little old-fashioned, and that had its advantages. Anticipation was delicious. The big day would mark the beginning of beautiful nights spent in
their
bed and glorious sunrises viewed from their yard. Cougar was busy making his mark in both places—clear-cut, unambiguous and straight from a true heart. Maybe his head got a little screwed up sometimes, but he was working on some retraining. He and Mark were both on the red road.

He'd mounted Flyboy bareback and was working him on a hackamore when he saw Celia's little car top the rise on the highway. He dismounted quickly. He wanted to surprise Mark.

“What's the good word today, partner?” he asked as the two he awaited approached him.

“Flyboy.”

The horse peered over the top fence rail, ears standing at attention.

Cougar chuckled. “If that horse could say a word, it would be Mark. How was your visit to the doctor?”

“Good.” Mark's hand slid away from his mother's as he headed for the corral. “Flyboy!”

Cougar slipped his arm around Celia. “Any more good words?”

“Cougar.” She offered her lips up to him for a kiss that ended in a smile. “And
brainpower
. Mark's brain has the power to turn itself around. The therapist says he wasn't refusing to talk or pretending not to hear. His brain cut him off for some reason. Limited his interaction with a world that kept poking and prodding at him.”

“He wants to take it slow. A step at a time, a few words at a time. I know how that goes.” He walked her over to his pickup and opened the passenger side door. “I have something for you.”

“A Purple Heart?”

“I couldn't even tell you where that is right now. Let's see if I guess right.” He took a straw cowboy hat from a bag, put it on her, adjusted the brim and grinned. “Perfect.”

She took a look at herself in the pickup's big side mirror. “You really think it's me?”

“I think it's a hat.” He admired her reflection. “It looks great on you, and it'll protect you a little bit. Wear it for me.”

“Thank you.” She kissed him again.

“I got one for Mark, too.”

“He'll love it.” She turned to lean back against the pickup door and folded her arms around herself. “I called Greg's lawyer and told him that I'm going to consult with another attorney. I told him that Mark's suddenly showing improvement, and all of a sudden there's a rush to accept the insurance company's offer. I'm pretty sure Mark's interests are not at the top of the list of concerns.”

“You're a wise woman.”

“Any money that comes out of this has to be put aside for Mark. Once Greg gets that through his head…”

“Yeah.” He leaned back beside her and folded his arms. Two of a kind. “I know I won't miss him.”

“I haven't heard anything from him this week. He said he was going to push for primary custody, and I'll be prepared for that battle.”

“That's the one you can't take chances with.”

“Well, I've been there, so I know the drill. Another court, another lawyer. As I said, I'm getting prepared.”

“Look at that.” Cougar nodded toward the corral, where Mark was nose to mustang nose between fence
rails. “You'd think they were talking something over. According to
the book
…”

Celia flashed him a warning glance. “If you're sitting on a jealous streak, I might have to reconsider your proposal.”

“Jealous of Logan Wolf Track? Not me.” He tipped his head back and smiled. “Okay, maybe a little envious of the book. Somebody writes a book, you gotta respect him for that.”

“Respect is one of those good words.”

“I'll give you plenty to respect me for. I've got a good head on my shoulders. You know, basically.” He tugged at his hat brim. “I know, I know. I've got heart. You know, back in the day—I learned this from Dr. Choi, and I think it was the Civil War— PTSD was called
soldier's heart
. So that means I've got a soft heart. Not a good thing. See, we call it a warrior's heart.
Strong.
” He gestured with a fist. “I guess that's why I'd rather believe it's all in my head.”

“There's nothing soft about your heart. Nothing soft about caring for people, putting others first.”

“When I don't think too much, I get right in there and do what's necessary. Other times…” He looked into the eyes he was learning to trust beyond any he'd known. “Sometimes I'm scared, Celia. So scared I can hardly move. Trouble is, when the fear comes after the fact and the deed's already done…” He shook his head.

“That tells me a heart like yours is stronger than most. It holds on to who you really are, no matter what's going on around you.” She slid his unbuttoned shirt aside and touched his chest. “You amaze me, Cougar. You've helped me understand my son.”

“I wanted to hurt his father. Really, really bad.”

“But you didn't.” She glanced down at her hand. “You know what? Greg has never struck me physically. But emotionally… Well, he's never cared about me, either. Or Mark. It's all about Greg. It took me a while to realize how awful that is. It wasn't my fault. It wasn't me. It was
him.
”

“You asked me about the program I was in, the one where we used horses…” He gave a self-deprecating chuckle. “The one where the horses were the ones giving the humans a leg-up. What are you thinking?” She questioned him with a look, and he touched her chin. “See, I'm getting to know you. I can tell you're thinking up some kind of a plan.”

“Says the man who made plans to turn my deck into an entertainment center. You've been talking to Hank Night Horse, haven't you.”

“Oh, now it's Night Horse.” He winked at her. “Who has my greatest respect. Actually, it was Sally. She wants me to take her to the VA hospital and show her around.”

“Are you going to? Can Mark and I…” She turned toward the corral, and he followed her lead. Mark was inside the pen. With nothing but charisma he'd
lured the mustang close to the fence, which he was about to use as a ladder. “Uh-oh.”

“Can't keep a good man down,” Cougar said as he pushed away from the pickup. “I'll take care of it.”

Cougar eased his way into the corral through the gate and sidled up to Mark, who was determined to mount the horse. “Wait for me, partner. The three of us, we'll do this together.” He rubbed Flyboy's shoulder with his left hand while he lifted Mark in his right arm. “If he says no, we back off. Okay?”

“Okay,” Mark said. “Flyboy says okay.”

“Put your arms over his back. Let him feel your belly against him.” Mark followed instructions. The horse was relaxed. Cougar noticed Celia standing behind the gate. “Come join us,” he told her quietly.

“I can ride now,” Mark said.

Cougar lifted him onto the horse's back. He looked up and saw the face of a shooting star. He felt a warm hand slip into his, and he turned to find his woman, his wise and warm-hearted woman.

And the look in her eyes said,
It doesn't get any better than Cougar.