Free Count This Cowboy In by Misty Malone Page B

of you, but I do.  For right now can we both agree to try to be tolerant of each other?"
    Sam looked at him, a bit surprised.  She smiled at him and held her hand out toward him as she said, "Deal."
    He laughed as he shook her hand.  "Thank you.  I really don't want to see you get hurt, Sam."
    " I know.  It just seems to me that you're worrying too much over nothing.  I've done this my whole life."  He just smiled as he went through the house taking down the curtains. 
    She took the armload of them into the kitchen and through to the laundry room.  She put them in a basket and before she could open the washer Consuela was behind her, asking, "Miss Sam, everything okay with you and Mr. Trevor?"
    She turned to her new friend and smiled.  "Yes, it is, Consuela.  Why?"
    Consuela turned to look behind her before leaning closer to Sam to say quietly, "I think he's sweet on you, Miss Sam, so he will worry about you.  He will not want you to get hurt."
    Sam turned to look at Consuela.  "What do you mean?"
    After again checking to be sure no one was around, she answered, "Because I believe Mr. Trevor is very much like his father."  She paused and added, "And very much like my Felipe."
    " Your husband?"
    " Yes.  He was a wonderful man.  He passed away two years ago."
    Sam took her hand and squeezed it.  "I'm sorry, Consuela."
    " Don't be sad.  He is in a better place now.  He was very sick.  But he was a very good man.  Just like Mr. Trevor and just like Mr. Trevor's father.  That type of man is hard to find today, but very special."
    " In what way?"
    " They find one woman they love and one woman only.  Then they care very, very much for their woman.  They look out for her, protect her, guide her.  They would give their life for her.  They do many, many special things for her, but they will not tolerate any harmful or dangerous action on her part."  She looked over and saw the understanding in Sam's eyes and knew she was right in her beliefs about Trevor.  He had found his one woman and was already trying to protect her.
    Sam was deep in thought several moments.  Finally she said, "But he's being ridiculous.  There's nothing dangerous about standing on a chair to reach things."
    She smiled in a very friendly, yet understanding way.  "No, Miss Sam, he is not being ridiculous.  He is protecting the woman he cares a lot for.  It is possible that you could fall off the chair or the chair could tip and fall.  He doesn't want to picture that happening, so it's easier to make sure it's not possible for it to happen.  Do you understand?"
    " Yeah, I guess so."
    " But what you don't realize yet is that these men, as careful as they are that you will not get hurt, they are just as careful to be sure you are happy."
    " What do you mean?"
    " Sometimes my English is not real good and I am not able to make things real clear.  I will try and explain again.  They are very, very diligent to be sure their woman will not get hurt; yes?"
    " Yes, I follow you there."
    " They are just as diligent to be sure their woman is happy, all the time."  She stopped suddenly, turning red.  "Well, most of the time."
    Sam looked at Consuela, trying to understand what she was trying to tell her.  Consuela went on, "Except if you do something they say do not do, is dangerous."  Sam immediately understood what she was saying now and turned red, as well.  The older woman smiled and said, "You have found out what happens in that instance; yes?"
    " Yes, yesterday," Sam quietly admitted.  "But you mean you ––"
    Once again looking around before answering, she said, "Miss Sam, my Felipe would spank my bottom when I did not listen to him when he tried to keep me safe.  And Mr. Trevor's papa, Hank, would spank Trevor's mama, Mary, for same reason.  If Mr. Trevor spanked you yesterday, then I am right.  He is very sweet on you."  She smiled ear to ear as she said, "You are very lucky woman, Miss Sam.  Mr. Trevor is a good