Cowboys Cry Too - A Tyler Owens Story

Chapter 2

Oklahoma
Two Weeks Later

Stepping back onto the soil of her roots is more overwhelming than expected. The last time she was here, she was a cowgirl with boots, flannels and a man to love. Now, she is a shell of that woman, her persona being jewels, summer dresses, and designer bags.

This place is no longer her home, at least, it doesn't have that feeling of reminiscing and nostalgia she has longed for.

She wonders if Kansas would feel any different, but nonetheless, Oklahoma was the place she found safety in because the man she loved was there.

There's supercells coming in, expected severe weather in the upcoming days. With multiple storms erratic, it seems the chasing season is among them, days away.

Her eyes search the airport, it becoming difficult for her to find the man she is searching for. Damn, her 4'11 self. Finding even a 6'0 foot man is challenging. Or maybe it's challenging because she wants to avoid him.

She moves through the crowd, getting elbowed and shoved as people hurry, trying to catch flights boarding and reuniting with families. If only her reunion would be as welcoming.

She sees him in the distance, a buttoned flannel, jeans, and the damn cowboy hat. It's like he knows how much his appearance affects her. He's looking down, busy typing away on his phone, his tongue poking the side of his cheek. Fucking hell, she shouldn't have come here.

She walks up to him, slightly grateful he is too occupied to see her heading his way. It gives her a few more moments to calm her nerves.

She struggles with her suitcases, yes suitcases. She packed some equipment, can you blame her? When she finally makes it through the crowd and towards him, he is still on his phone. Clearing her throat does the trick.

"Sorry ma'am, I'm looking fo-" he cuts himself off, his gaze moving from his screen to her, looking her up and down. "Jackie?"

She scoffs. Just because her clothes have changed doesn't mean her full appearance has.

"What? Too ugly for you to recognize me?" Great start to these three weeks.

"You've never been ugly. Just, didn't expect ya' in well... All that." He explains, his eyes landing on the suitcases by her. "Let me help."

"I got it, thanks."

She watches his expression turn into hurt. What did he expect? That everything would be normal after everything? Wrong.

"I'm trying to be a gentleman." Tyler says, again trying to grab the suitcases from her, but she crossed her arms and stands in front of them. "If you think you can stop me from grabbing them you're madly mistaken, you're what? Five foot. Jackie, I'm just tryna' help."

"What, like the gentleman you were when you broke it off on our anniversary? Or how you helped me pack my shit and leave? You're no gentleman. Just a fucking cruel cowboy." She squints at him, pointing a threatening finger towards his chest. "And I'm 4'11 asshole. Don't think that won't make me beat your ass." She storms off, leaving her suitcases there.

She hears a light chuckle leave Tyler. Same old Tyler, same old man she fell for.

"Are you grabbing my shit or what? We have tornadoes to chase, right?" She turns to watch Tyler shake his head but follow suit, grabbing her luggage and following after her.

She can almost imagine his biceps flexing as he carries her bags and damn does her imagination run wild. Stop it. He hurt you. You're just here to clear your name.