The Cowboy Code (16 page)

“I know, and I'm sorry about that.”

“But you didn't end up with him. How come?”

She sighed. “Joe has his life in Wyoming and I have my life here,” she said, voicing what she'd been reminding herself for a week.

“But you could be in a show anywhere, couldn't you?” he asked.

“Yes, but New York has Broadway. That's the pinnacle of success.”

“But you've already been on Broadway. You've reached the pinnacle.”

He was right. She had attained her goal.

Maybe her agent could come up with an offer—something different—after her current contract ended.

But in a way, she had already received another offer. Joe had asked her to run the talent show at Cowboy Quest. But that wasn't really a job.

But it's the only thing I've been thinking about.

 

Joe had stuffed himself into a rented tuxedo and bought a dozen red roses from a street vendor. He wanted this to be a special night, a perfect night for all of them. The plan was to meet Dan at the theater for opening night.

He was risking his heart again on the chance that he could win Maggie over. He hadn't told Dan the real reason that he was coming to New York; he'd just said that he wanted to see Maggie perform, to be there on her opening night.

But the boy wasn't stupid. He'd probably already noticed that Joe was acting like a lovesick bull.

He couldn't wait to see Maggie again. And when she came onstage, she was mesmerizing. Joe didn't know much about musicals, but he did know that she had talent, lots of it. He wondered if she had to do her breathing exercises to calm her nerves.
He smiled, remembering how nervous she'd been during her first riding lesson.

But she'd learned quickly. During the cattle drive, she'd ridden like an old pro.

Look how happy she is, performing up there.

He wondered if he'd made the right decision in coming here, in making plans for them both.

As he listened to Maggie sing, he noticed the magical look on her face. He couldn't believe how gracefully she danced, how her melodic voice touched the audience.

His fears returned and laid heavily on his heart. He was thinking of himself, wasn't he? But if they just worked together, they could come up with a workable compromise, couldn't they?

 

Maggie looked in her dressing room mirror and saw Joe standing in the doorway with Danny, looking as handsome as ever. As delicious as he looked in a tux, she liked him better in jeans. She stood and rushed into his arms.

“I've missed you so much,” she whispered into his ear.

“You were wonderful,” he told her, handing her a bouquet of red roses.

“What brings you here?”

“My life hasn't been the same since you two left. New York is an exciting city. I think I could like it here.”

Her heart was pounding fast in her chest. This was what she'd been wanting to hear. But the pieces just didn't fit.

She raised an eyebrow, suddenly skeptical. “Am I hearing you right?”

“I know nothing else but Wyoming, Maggie. Maybe my mother and father had the right idea—maybe I should experience more of the world.”

“You've really given this a lot of thought.”

“I have enough money to live on. I don't have to worry about that for a long time. And I plan on hanging out a lot with Dan, maybe doing some volunteer work for local organizations. Then I'll see you at the theater every night!”

“But Joe,” Danny said, “what about Cowboy Quest? And what about the horses? And the cattle?”

“My ranch is in good hands with my crew and with my aunt. And I'll go back for Cowboy Quest.”

“You don't belong here, Joe,” Danny said, confused. “You have a ranch.”

Tears stung Maggie's eyes. Danny was right. Even a thirteen-year-old boy knew that Joe would never be happy here.

But she could be happy in Wyoming—except Joe wasn't asking her to move to Wyoming.

“We'll talk more at dinner,” Joe said.

Maggie grabbed her purse. “Let's go. I know a great place for Chinese food.”

After walking to the restaurant and enjoying a great meal, Joe handed Maggie a folded pack of papers.

Puzzled, she opened the papers and scanned them. “I don't understand. This is the deed to the theater in Mountain Springs. But why? How?”

“It's yours if you want it. I was going to bribe you with it so you'd move to Wyoming for part of the year.”

“Wait a minute!” She laughed. “You don't really want to move here, do you? Not if you've gone to all this trouble to buy a theater to convince me to move out there!”

“I was hoping that we could compromise—maybe we could split our time. And I have enough money, Maggie. We all could travel, see the world.”

She grinned. “I think that's a definite possibility!”

“I know it's going to be hard for you to walk away from your career, Maggie, but take a chance on me.”

“You're going to have to take a chance on me, too. Every now and then, I might miss New York and might miss Broadway—or maybe I'll decide in the future that I wouldn't want to return full-time. Just remember that I'm not Ellen.”

“I realize that now.”

Suddenly, Joe went down on one knee. “I love
you, Maggie McIntyre. Will you marry me? Life is just no good without you.”

“Yee-haw!” Danny cheered. “Marry him, Aunt Maggie.”

“Yes!” she yelled, pulling Joe to his feet.

Their mouths came together to seal the deal, and the patrons of the restaurant burst into applause.

Maggie looked into the eyes of the man she'd always love. “You didn't need to bribe me. I love you too, Joe.”

Joe looked at Danny and Maggie and held up his glass in a toast. “To all of us.”

“To all of us,” Danny repeated, holding up a glass of milk.

“To my two cowboys,” Maggie said, her heart overflowing with joy.