The Cowboy Guarantee

CHAPTER 21: Annie

When we woke up the next morning, he had made me breakfast and as we ate together at the amazing cottage (at least that's what it looks like to me, or a more 'upscale' tiny house sort of), he had made himself, he mentioned how he doesn't want to leave me alone, or my grandmother from now on.

"You're seriously wanting to do that?" I smiled.

"Of course. Annie, I love you. I never thought there would ever come a time where I would say that to somebody. I know it sounds cliche but it's the truth. I would do anything to protect you and Maureen." He assures me with a smile and seriousness in his eyes while holding my hand with his and gently caressing the top of my hand with his thumb.

When we finished, we had gone back to Nana's house and once we stepped inside, we both were surprised as we noticed her and this guy who I have never seen before were talking and laughing with each other.

"Uncle Barron?" I heard Todd say.

Wait a second, that's his Uncle? But why is he here at my Nana's?

"Hey nephew!" He stands up off the couch and him and Todd give each other a big hug and pat on the back.

"What are you doing here?" Todd asks him.

"What do you mean? I told you I was going to be here in a few days." His Uncle replies.

"Yeah but, I meant, why are you here at her house?" He asks.

"Oh, well, Maureen and I go way back." He winks and smiles at her.

"I called him yesterday and after telling me he already was coming into town and explained briefly in what was happening with you, I offered him to stay here." Maureen chimed in.

"Hold up!" Uncle Barron says with his hand up and walks up to me and smiles. "Is this the girl?" He asks.

"Yeah. This is Annie. Annie, this is my Uncle Barron." Todd introduces him.

"It's nice to meet you." I smile and shake his hand.

"You as well." He says.

"So, is anybody hungry?" Maureen asks after we all share a brief moment of silence.

"Yes. Well hey, why don't Todd and I here cook us all a nice steak dinner and sit down and talk?" Barron suggests.

"Sounds good." Maureen smiles at him in reply and I can tell by the look in both hers and his eyes when they look at one another that it got me to thinking that maybe they were once together in a relationship.

I don't know and maybe I will ask her later about it but for right now, I was going to help her make some sides to go with the steaks while both Todd and Uncle Barron both went out in the back and started grilling.

I watched occasionally throughout helping making the sides and I liked watching the two of them talk to each other. They laughed and seemed to be really close-just like Todd had told me they were.

After dinner was ready and we all sat down and started to eat and talk, we seemed to be having a good time and Todd's uncle was sharing some embarrassing stories about when Todd was little as my Nana was doing the same about me.

Then once dinner was done, that was it. The fun time was over and it was time to start going over a plan in how to handle all of this.

The more we started talking about both mine and Todd's situation, the more I realized how much of a cluster fuck this all really was turning out to be.

It was until I began talking more about Danny though and seemed to have mentioned something to make Uncle Barron stop and set down his drink. He leaned forward a little more over the table towards me.

"What's Danny's last name?" He asks.

"Russo." I tell him. "why?"

"Shit." He mumbles under his breath.

He sits back and I notice both him and Maureen look at one another then he shakes his head before looking at me again.

"I know him." He tells me.

Next chapter will be posted soon! :)