Save A Horse, Ride A Cowboy

two

"There's not much to know about me. I'm just some southern chick who works hard for the money. All that excitement is in my sister." she mumbled, keeping her eyes low and focused on that one glass she keeps cleaning.

He cocked his head to the side and parted his lips. "I know there's something interesting about you but you won't tell me." Tyler was determined to figure out what it was. He just couldn't put his finger on it.

"Don't pay her no mind. She always does this when she meets someone new." Laura chimed in as she snuck a sip of Tyler's beer. She had already knew he was coming to town, she just played dumb.

Bella watched as her sister stole the spotlight as usual while she stood in the shadows. She hated so much but kept it to herself when asked about it. Sisters right? Always supposed to be there for one another. Not to Laura though, She's supposed to be the superstar sister. Tyler could sense the potential Bella had but didn't say anything to avoid saying something wrong. He reached for his drink and continued sipping. His jaw clenched but unnoticed by the two.

Bella checked her watched and realized how fast time flew. She began closing up shop and instructed customers out the door. She quickly closed tabs and stuffed cash into the drawers while Tyler sat on that stool sipping down his second beer and Laura still trying to get his attention. Their father was on his way in any minute, If he seen Tyler in the bar, He'd throw a huge fit. The clock spun down while Bella stressed herself to hurry, if she failed to close shop, it'd be on her and never Laura.

"Look, You have to go now. I suggest you swallow that beer and get going." Bella warned.

"Wait why?" he questioned.

"If my father sees you, he'll flip and assume the worse."

"I'm confused. What will he assume?"

Without a second thought, Bella quickly shoved Tyler into the back and locked the door behind him. A confused Tyler stood behind the door with his beer in one hand and his jacket in the other. Laura dashed out the door and hopped in her car, halling tail home. Bella looked around for any imperfections and quickly acted like she was busy.  The sound of a truck pulled up parking into the lot and the door opening to their father wearing a fresh new suit. His pinky rings shined in the light as he grabbed his vest and adjusted it. His boots clicking up to the bar doors and opening them revealing Bella nervously wiping down counters.

"Business doing alright?" he commented while searching the bar.

"Of course, daddy. You know it's always the regulars and a couple of locals. Sales have surprisingly skyrocketed this month though, We should invest in a bigger area." Bella nervously spoke.

He dragged his finger against the counter, "Get this cleaned up and we're not moving locations no matter how hard you try. We already have a business plan."

Tyler peeked his eyes over the door window to catch a glimpse of her father. He could sense the anxiety in Bella as she switched legs and kept her eyes on the floor. As much as he wanted to bust through the door, He stayed put. Nothing was said more between the two, Just silence and the ceiling fan swinging from the hinges. Her father nodded to himself and placed his hat back on.

"Guess that's all. Remember what I said about cleaning this place up before you leave."

Bella smiled and hugged her father before letting out a sigh of relief and watching him leave. She opened the door revealing Tyler standing there awkwardly, scratching the back of his neck.

"Your father really is something. I thought he was gon find me back there, but I was wrong." Tyler blurted out as he tossed his bottle into the garbage and took a seat into a nearby booth.

"You're lucky, but seriously you should be heading home." she acknowledged, grabbing the keys from the drawer and guiding Tyler out the door.

"When shall we meet again, darling?" he flirted, leaning up against the door frame and slightly flexing his muscles.

"In your dreams."

Bella locked the doors and tossed her things in the back of her car, leaving Tyler outside the bar by himself. He laughed to himself as he watched her drive off. The drive home was silent but it was welcoming him back to his roots and when he used to run in the mud hoping to find bugs. His mother waited for him with a warm meal and a smile on her face. She wasn't prepared for him to come home but boy was she glad he called to tell her. She pulled her best pearls and dress for her son, even though his father wasn't alive to see him, she still wanted to make him proud.

Tyler stepped through the door and was immediately brought into a hug by his mother. She allowed her tears into fall into his shirt as he held her tight and gently pressed his hands against her back. Oh how he missed his mother's pecan pie and her scent of perfume, it brought him back home and almost to tears. The two stayed closed before she took a breath and removed herself from him.

"Been wishing for you to come home and hear you are. You know your father would've loved to see you." she spoke as she pulled herself up a chair and began slicing up the pie and serving the meal.

"There's always time to visit him after. For right now, let's enjoy this dinner and pray over this." Tyler mentioned, His father's photo placed on the table where he'd usually sit.

the two grabbed hands and prayed over the food, his mother tightly gripping his hand to make sure the prayer was set while Tyler squeezed his eyes. They ended with an amen and began to chow down on the homemade pot roast and potatoes, she had cooking all night. Tyler melted with the taste of the savory gravy and soft potatoes, his hands held like it was the last meal on earth. His mother peeped her eyes open and let out a chuckle.

"You still haven't found anyone special yet?" she asked.

Tyler had plans to get married in the future but he hasn't found the right one. He had plans to settled down back home in a beautiful farm style home, with a couple of kids, and a wife who stood by his side. This had been a dream for him for years but it seemed most of the women he dated, only stayed for the money and never for what he's really valued for. Tyler wasn't some big shot dude; he liked cooking, tending to animals, seeing the joy on people's faces, and the smell of fresh books. Everyone assumed he stayed by the beach and hooked up with anyone he could. They were wrong.

"Nah, I stopped looking after the first couple failed me. Hopefully god will send me the angel I've always wanted."