Page 10 of Blue Moon Cowboy
“I’ll speak to the manager here in the morning. I doubt anyone with any authority will be around tonight anyway,” Lainey said, looking from Reuben to Wayne. “I can’t thank you both enough for your help. Would you at least let me buy you breakfast in the morning?”
Reuben started to refuse, but Wayne waved a dismissive hand at him. “We’d love to have breakfast with you, Lainey. You just tap on our doors when you’re ready to go in.”
“She can send me a text message,” Reuben said, taking his phone from his pocket and waggling it.
Wayne gaped at him. “You got her number?”
Lainey grinned as she folded the blanket that had kept the evening chill from freezing her as she’d waited for Wayne to drive her van over and park it. “Reuben asked nicely.” Shehanded the blanket to Reuben, nodded to both men, then hurried around the trucks to her van.
Once she was inside, she put the things in her tote away, made sure all her doors were locked, put up the folding shade she used to cover her windshield and side windows, then went to bed, offering prayers of gratitude for two angels dressed as hardworking truckers.
Feeling completely safe, cocooned between the trucks, Lainey surrendered to her exhaustion and slept until half past five the next morning. She knew she wouldn’t go back to sleep, so she got up and dressed, stowed her bed and tidied the van, then dug two of her books out of a box she kept in the storage cabinet beneath her little dining table.
At six, she sent Reuben a text, then hoped she didn’t awaken him.
With nothing else to occupy her time, she took out her laptop and went through her emails, responding to several. She double-checked the start time for the rodeo, added the address to her phone’s map app, then made a reservation at a campground on the Oregon coast that had a bunch of great reviews. She’d spend tonight somewhere close to the rodeo venue, then leave early in the morning for Oregon.
At seven, she received a text from Reuben letting her know he and Wayne would be happy to join her for breakfast and suggested they escort her to the restaurant.
Lainey tucked the books into her tote bag along with one of her cameras, then made sure she had her phone and wallet before she stepped out of the van to find Reuben and Wayne waiting for her.
“Good morning,” she said, smiling brightly at the two men.
“Now, that’s the way to start your day, with a pretty woman making the morning even brighter,” Wayne said, elbowing Reuben.
Reuben scowled at him. “I’ll have you know my Rachel brightens up my days even when I’m not home.”
Wayne rolled his eyes. “Oh, to be so stricken by love!” The trucker pressed the back of his hand to his forehead, feigning a near swoon, making both Lainey and Reuben laugh.
Lainey wrapped her arm around Wayne’s. “Thank you both, again, for helping me last night. I don’t normally let a creep like that guy get to me, but I wasn’t overly confident I could get away in my bunny slippers.”
“Those rabbits weren’t made for running, darlin’.” Wayne grinned at her. “I’m just glad you could see through Reuben’s crusty exterior to the marshmallow that resides inside.”
“Hey! I’d resent that if it wasn’t true,” Reuben said, pulling open the door and holding it as they went inside.
It didn’t take long to be seated in the restaurant and place their orders. As soon as they’d finished their meals, Lainey took the books out of her tote bag and set them on the table.
“I brought these two because I thought they’d be the books you’d most like,” she said, holding out a copy ofProtect and Serveto Wayne. The previous evening, Reuben had mentioned Wayne had spent five years in the military before he decided to become a civilian truck driver.For Reuben, she’d selectedA Life of Colorbecause he’d told her his wife taught art classes at their local community college.
“Are you sure, Lainey?” Reuben hesitantly took the book from her, but his expression appeared eager.
“Absolutely certain. I don’t know what would have happened without you two last night. I’m truly so grateful.”
“This is amazing, Lainey,” Wayne said, thumbing through the images of the book. He looked across the table at her with respect in his gaze. “Would you autograph them for us?”
“Of course!” She autographed the books, then returned them to the two men who had become friends.
She insisted on buying their meals, which made them both look embarrassed, but they finally agreed. After they spoke to the manager to make sure the young man from the previous evening had filed a report, they prepared to leave. Lainey took photos of Wayne and Reuben in front of their trucks, promising to send them copies.
“You have our numbers, Lainey. If you ever find yourself in a situation like the one you were in last night, don’t ever be afraid to ask for help. And call us anytime you need a hand or just want to shoot the breeze,” Reuben said, holding the book she’d given him close to his chest like it was something he treasured.
“I will. Thank you both, again,” she said, giving the two truckers warm hugs before she hurried out to her van and left.
It didn’t take her long to reach the town where the rodeo was being held and find the venue. With a few hours to kill before the rodeo started, Lainey wandered through several shops, browsing to see what was there. She found a brochure about a museum and went there, checking out the displays and talking to one of the volunteers who answered all her questions about the area.
Excitement pulled at her, so she left the museum and returned to the rodeo venue an hour and a half ahead of the start time. She could kill time in her van, but decided to walk around with her camera to see if anything sparked her interest. Dressed in her boots, jeans, and a long-sleeved cream blouse with cobalt and coral flowers, she hoped she’d blend into the crowd.
Lainey stepped out of the van and wandered around the perimeter of the grounds, making note of contestants stretching or riding their horses to warm them up. The crew from the stock company moved horses from pens to an area behind the chutes so they would be ready to be ridden.
