Free Trusting the Cowboy by Carolyne Aarsen

He knew she and Jodie had been in Bozeman the past few days, so he was surprised to see her at all.
    Trouble was, he glanced over the same time she did. He knew he didn’t imagine the faint stir of connection between them. Or the fact that she didn’t look away right away, either.
    “So how is the haying going?”
    Vic glanced up from his coffee just as Lee Bannister joined him.
    Tall, with dark hair and deep-set, intent brown eyes, a square jaw and a demeanor that commanded respect, Lee tended to stand out in a crowd. But Vic knew him to be a humble, caring man who had learned some hard life lessons.
    “Coming along. The usual dog and pony show. Breakdowns and rain. But we should be okay. I’m cutting again tomorrow.” Vic stirred his coffee and set the used spoon in a bowl. “But should be a good crop.”
    “You put up hay on the McCauley place, don’t you?” Lee asked as he poured some coffee for himself. “I heard you’ve been leasing it. How will that work now that Keith’s dead and the girls own the ranch? You able to make a deal with them?”
    “It’s all up in the air right now,” he admitted, taking a sip of his coffee, wishing he could get a break from his own spinning thoughts.
    “That’s got to make your plans complicated. I know you had figured on that place for Dean.”
    “I did.” Vic shrugged. “I guess I’ll just have to take the pastor’s words to heart.”
    This morning the pastor had preached on the need to trust and let go of the desire to control one’s own life. Vic knew, especially the past few weeks, that he struggled with precisely that. It was hard to let go when his own brother depended on him to help.
    “Don’t we all,” Lee said with a light sigh. “I know I’ve had to learn to let go of my own plans.”
    Vic nodded, acknowledging the wisdom he was sure Lee had gleaned from his time in prison for a crime he didn’t commit. Yet the man wasn’t bitter. In fact he seemed downright happy.
    Probably had something to do with the pretty redhead who joined them. Abby Bannister granted Vic a quick greeting then gently tugged on Lee’s arm.
    “Sorry to interrupt, but I just got a call,” she said. “That photo shoot I had planned for later this afternoon got bumped up and I have to leave right away.”
    “Of course. Let’s go.” Lee set his mug down and gave Vic a warm smile, clapping his hand on his shoulder. “I sure hope things turn out for you and Dean. He’s had a rough go.”
    “He has,” Vic agreed. “Take care.”
    As Lee left, Vic suddenly lost his desire for coffee and certainly didn’t feel like chitchat. His conversation with Lee was yet another reminder of the things he had hoped to forget. At least for the morning.
    But just as he was about to leave, his mother called out to him, hurrying to his side. “Vic. There you are. I’ve been looking for you.” She rested her hand on the table as she caught her breath.
    “You okay?” Vic asked, suddenly concerned.
    “Just had to rush to catch you.” She gave him a quick smile, her frizzy graying hair catching the light coming in from the large floor-to-ceiling windows from one wall of the room. Her glasses sat askew on her nose. Her shirt was bunched up over the belt she wore and her ruffled skirt, a throwback to the 80s, hung crooked.
    His dear mother always said she didn’t care how she looked and it showed.
    “We’ve got company coming over for lunch,” she said, moving her hand to indicate the woman who now joined them.
    Vic’s heart did a double flip as he took in Lauren’s restrained elegance. Fitted brown dress, white belt, shoes and purse, and a fancy necklace that sparkled in the overhead lights. She wore her hair loose, but it was smooth and silky, and as she tipped her head toward him it slipped away from her face.
    His mother’s words finally registered. “Company?”
    His mother gestured to Lauren. “Yes. I was talking to Keith’s girl and said she should come over for lunch. She