Once was lost but saved by a cowboy

Down on your luck

Miranda's pov

I get my two year old daughter Sierra dressed and in her carrier across my chest. Please oh please! Let this be my chance! I desperately need a job. I'm behind four months on rent and we'll lose the apartment if I don't find something soon. I walk to the bar with the help wanted sign on it. "Hi, I'd like to try for the job." I say. He waves me back.

Jason's pov

A woman walks in to the bar with a baby in a carrier. Why the heck did she bring her baby to the bar?! She's got some real issues. Just then a bar fight breaks out across the room so I turn my attention to that. "Hey boys take it outside!" The bartender shouts. He kicks them both out. "We'll get back to you." I hear. Then the woman walks back out. "Thank you so much. You don't know how bad I need this." She says, shaking his hand.

Miranda's pov

I quickly get Sierra out of that bar. I rock her and sing to her. "Rock me mama like a wagon wheel, rock me mama anywhere you feel. Oh mama rock me-" "Darius Rucker. I love that guy." I jump hearing someone's voice. Sierra stares at me with big scared eyes. "It's okay, sweety." I soothe. I turn around. A man in a cowboy hat and boots stands behind me, smoking a cigarette. I hold Sierra tightly. I despise cigarettes, especially with my little Sierra. "Um, can I help you?" I ask, shakily hopefully he's not some kidnapper. He stares at the cigarette, turning it over and over in his hand. Then he flicks it away. "Nope, you can't help me, but I can help you." I stare at him confused. "What do you mean? I don't know what you're talking about!" and I don't want to wait around to find out. "I have to go." I say, quickly walking away, holding Sierra tightly. She's crying now. "It's alright honey." I soothe, my voice shaking. "Hey wait!" He calls. But I just keep running.

Jason's pov

Dang. I wonder how long has she been barely getting by! She runs away and it starts raining. I pull out my umbrella and walk after her.

Miranda's pov

I stop running and Sierra wraps her small arms around me, shivering from the cold. I fumble to pull my keys out of my pocket. They slip through my shaking freezing fingers and fall down a gutter. Hot tears fall down my face. "God Dammit!" I yell, walking back to a bench. I drape a jacket over her so she stays dry. "It's okay sweetheart, don't cry. You're safe." Suddenly the rain is off me, confusing me. I look up and gasp in surprise seeing the man from earlier. He's holding an umbrella over me. "Who are you? Why are you following me?" I cry, wiping my eyes. He sits beside me on the bench, still holding the umbrella over me and Sierra. But now he's getting wet. "I really don't have any reason. I see you're struggling and I wanted to help you. The name's Jason by the way. And you are?" "Oh my name's Miranda and this is my daughter Sierra." "I see you're locked out. I know how to pick a lock if you don't mind." I smile and nod. "Thanks. I'm sorry I ran away before I just had bad encounters on these city streets." "Understandable." He picks the lock to my front door. "I'll see ya around." He says, waving. "Wait, don't you wanna dry off?" I ask, shifting Sierra. "I guess I could spare a few more minutes." I go lay Sierra down and get changed into dry clothes. I bring out some of my husband's clothes. He puts them on. "Wow perfect fit. Whose clothes are these?" I fight back the tears. "They were my husband's. But he's gone." I whimper, tears filling my eyes. "What happened?" He asks. "You remember those encounters I was telling you about?" I ask. He nods.

Jason's pov

"He was killed by a man with a switchblade knife, for twenty nine dollars and a gold watch my husband lost his life, I lost him, and my baby girl lost her daddy!" She breaks into sobs. The room is empty except a garbage can and baby swing so she sits on the floor crying. I walk over and wrap my arms around her in a hug. "I'm so sorry that happened to you darlin'." "We were finally gonna be a family.... But now... I'm barely even getting by... I'm about to lose the apartment... Pretty soon I'll be classified as an unfit mother and they'll take my baby girl away! I can't let them take her! She's all I got left!" Oh man, she's got it bad. "You won't lose your little girl." She looks up from her lap. "What? How?" "Because I won't let that happen. This is the start of a new chapter in your life." "What on earth are you talking about?" "Come on, get Sierra you're staying at my house." I tell her, helping her up. "Why? You dong even know me!" "I don't have to know you to know you need help." "Thank you." She whimpers, hugging me.

*one week later*

Miranda's pov

Sierra pulled the picture of me, her, and James (the husband) out of my jacket pocket. "Dada." She says. I sigh and nod, picking her up. "Yeah that's dada." I say, hugging her. "Mama." She says, hugging my neck. The door opens and Jason got back from his interview. "Dada!" Sierra says, getting out of my arms. My face gets hot when she called Jason dada. He picks her up, not at all looking mad or annoyed. "Hey princess, you hungry?" She nods. "We're gonna go to a bonfire my friend Luke is throwing." He says to us both. I smile. He's really good with kids. She goes to get ready. "You're really good with kids." I say. He smiles. "Used to have a couple of 'em too." "What happened?" "They're all grown up now. Keely my oldest signed up for the military and Kendyl is a doctor back home in Macon." "Wow, it must be hard not seeing them everyday." "Well I see Kendyl whenever since she's only a few states away but Keely... That's a different story.... She's all the way in Iraq. I'm just worried one day she'll not come home." Wow that just about breaks my heart. "It should be fine. She's expected home in about a week." He says, forcing a smile. But I can tell he's upset thinking about it. "She'll come home. I know she will." I say, resting a hand on his arm. He covers my hand with his. We lock eyes, my hands shaking with nerves. "I... Um..." He starts. "You... We..." I mumble, suddenly my stupid mind decided to play talk like an idiot. He moves his hand to my cheek and is about to kiss me when Sierra shouts "I'm ready!" We quickly pull apart as my goofy two year old walks out dressed in a gold shirt with baggy pants. I laugh and pick her up. "Let's go get you changed." He nods. "I'll uh go get the truck fired up." I wonder what would've happened if Sierra didn't walk in just then.