Single-Dad Cowboy by Vicki Lewis Thompson
Chapter Six
The Saturday after school let out, the Apple Grove Elementary faculty celebrated with their traditional bash at the Choosy Moose. Ben Malone, who owned the place, provided free food and an open bar to show his appreciation to the town’s educators. Next weekend the high school faculty would get their special night.
Nell was eager to go. Even though she’d lived in Apple Grove since the start of school, she hadn’t made it to the town’s most famous establishment, not even for lunch. She’d had the sniffles when the group had held their Christmas party there in December.
She carpooled with Harland, his wife Alice and Valerie. As they all piled out of Harland’s car, she got her first good look at her principal’s outfit—yoked shirt, jeans, boots and a Stetson. “Nice duds, Harland.”
“This is my Choosy Moose get-up. Alice insists on it when we go out dancing.”
“You’re looking sassy, too, girlfriend.” Valerie smiled as she joined Nell on the sidewalk.
“I followed your advice — a skirt that swirls when I dance and a top that will get me some partners.” She looped her small purse over her shoulder. “You clean up pretty good, yourself.” For teaching, Valerie usually pulled her strawberry-blond hair back with a clip, but tonight she’d left it down. Her top and skirt fit the guidelines she’d given Nell.
“Thanks. I don’t have your assets, but I’ve learned to make the most of what I have.”
Alice glanced over her shoulder as she and Harland headed toward the Moose at the far end of the block. “You girls. I wouldn’t be your age again for anything in the world.”
“Evidently you played your cards right when you were our age,” Val said. “You snagged a great guy.”
“I was lucky.”
“Me, too.” Harland gave Alice a fond glance.
Nell lowered her voice. “They’re so cute.”
“No kidding. Hey, I keep forgetting to ask. Have you set up the riding lessons yet?”
“Monday and Thursday afternoons at three, starting next week. That’s when Zeke has time off.” Talking about it gave her the shivers. She hadn’t seen him since the field trip.
“It’ll be such a bonding experience for you and those girls.” Val said it with a grin. She got a kick out of Claire’s matchmaking efforts.
Nell swallowed a laugh. “I’m sure it will.”
“Seriously, I’m a little jealous of the opportunity. I’ll have the girls in September and something like this would give me a head start in getting to know them. Do you think Zeke would be willing to add me to the group?”
“I don’t know. I’ve never done this, but with limited time…”
“Another student would mean less individual attention for everyone. I know how that goes. Never mind.”
“Would you like to learn?” She couldn’t tell if the lessons were a draw or if Val wanted to observe the dynamic when Claire was in matchmaking mode.
“I’d love to learn, but—”
“Then I’ll ask. It might work out. Riley’s just going to watch and Claire won’t be taking lessons. She’ll likely be her dad’s assistant. And her Gramma Henri is letting us use Prince along with that older horse I told you about.”
“Henri Fox is loaning out her barrel racer? Now I’m really jealous. That horse is primo.”
“You’ve seen the Babes perform?”
“Every chance I get. They’re poetry in motion. I love teaching, but if I could wave a magic wand and turn into a championship barrel racer, I’d be sorely tempted to switch careers.”
“Really?”
“It ain’t gonna happen. I’m not athletically gifted, which is one reason I’ve put off riding lessons. I’m afraid I’ll be lousy at it, which would hurt my soul. I picture myself racing bareback across a grassy meadow.”
“You, too?” Nell stared at her. “That was my childhood fantasy.”
“I was all about horses when I was a kid. When I landed this job in Apple Grove, I promised myself I’d start riding lessons on my first summer break. I chickened out, convinced the reality wouldn’t live up to my childhood dreams.”
“It probably won’t, but wouldn’t it be great if it did?”
“Yeah, it would. Okay, please ask Zeke next chance you get. I don’t want to rob the girls of their time on a horse, but—”
“I’ll ask if it’ll stretch the resources too thin. Maybe he could bring another horse into the program. They have a bunch of them out there.”
Val chuckled. “That’s called a herd, sweetie.”
“Yeah, yeah, I need lessons in how to talk cowboy.”
“But you can dance country, right?” As they neared the entrance, a lively version of a Rascal Flatts song spilled out the open door.
“I know the basics. I could probably use lessons in that, too. Do you come here a lot?”
“I used to when the person you replaced was here. She liked it. But this year I just went to the Christmas party. It’s more fun with a buddy.”
“I’d go with you.”
“You would? You said you weren’t into the bar scene.”
“I can tell from the way people talk about the Moose that it isn’t anything like what I was used to in San Francisco, where you just stand around drinking and scoping out who’s there. If Harland, Alice and you like it, I will, too. I could brush up on my country dancing.”
“And meet cute cowboys.”
“Sure, why not?” Although she was stuck on a certain one. Dancing might be fun but she wouldn’t be looking to meet cowboys. None of them would measure up to Zeke Lassiter.
Would he be here tonight? Probably not, if he didn’t intend to date. On the other hand, she wasn’t trolling for a date, either, and she was here. Clearly the emphasis was on having fun and eating good food, not hooking up with someone.
Stepping into the Choosy Moose made her sigh with pleasure. The aroma of tasty food and a spirited rendition of Tim McGraw’s Something Like That lifted her heart. The large plush moose head mounted over the antique bar was a hoot. He sported a dark green Apple Grove High graduation cap with its gold tassel dangling on the left. A CONGRATULATIONS, GRADUATES banner in green and gold hung above him.
Dancers spun around the floor in a kaleidoscope of color as a low hum of cheerful conversation slid under the chords of the music. Yeah, she could have a good time here.
One of the cowboys on the floor executed a tricky maneuver with his partner and they grinned at each other, obviously enjoying the moment. She blinked, looked again. Zeke.
