Second Chance Cowboy

Chapter 8

            Pete wheeled Lanie up to the ticket counter and waited with her in line.  Her carry on was an overnight bag, which he’d slung over his shoulder, and her purse, which she carried in her lap.  He kept up conversation with her while they waited, politely declining each time she hinted that he had done enough and could leave her. 

         When their turn came, the airline rep motioned them to another window with a lower counter for handicapped access.  Lanie blushed the most becoming crimson and he wondered what she would do if she knew his overnight staples had been secreted in her overnight bag right along with her things.  Their underwear, toothbrushes, deodorant, etc shared the same space.  He smiled at the airline rep when she asked if there was anything else she could do for them.

            "No, Thank You." Lanie said.

            "Yes, Please." Pete said simultaneously.  He reached inside his jacket and retrieved his itinerary print out from his shirt pocket.  He handed it over to the rep who carefully scanned it with her eyes, smiled very friendly like and began to get him checked in and issue his boarding pass.

            Lanie sat and stared.  Pete was going to Seattle? And what was up with that airline rep anyway?  She was flirting!  She was hitting on Pete!  Not like she had any claim, but still!  On second thought, Lanie corrected herself, she couldn't really blame the woman for trying. 

            Pete was a knockout in his cowboy get-up.  His 6' 4" height reached nearly 7' when he wore his Stetson and his cowboy boots.  In his nice fitting wranglers and plaid shirt tucked behind a big rodeo buckle, he was a picture perfect cowboy.  And when you added the corduroy jacket he wore with lamb fleece lining and collar and the leather covered buttons, he really did look like a Marlboro model. 

          She smiled politely at the airline rep.  Pete was with HER! She couldn't believe she was feeling possessive or jealous over Pete, but there it was.  Somehow she had fallen for the big gentle cowboy.  Maybe she was in love after all? No, but she was definitely in LIKE.  Mmm. She really really REALLY liked that cowboy!

            Pete wheeled Lanie down the appropriate corridors, through the appropriate checkpoints and to the appropriate gate.  He sat next to her and chatted with her about everything and nothing while they waited to board.  They boarded first, since she was handicapped.  Again, Pete admired her crimson blush.  He would bet dollars to donuts she was blushing beneath her clothes too, a real head to toe blush.  He liked imagining that and was startled when there was a hand on his arm.

            "Sir?"

            "Oh, I'm sorry." 

            Lanie was standing next to the chair and the airline rep was trying to take the empty wheelchair.  Lanie, Pete saw, was amused and holding back her laughter.  It was his turn to blush, but he was glad he only blushed at the back of his neck.  His coat collar was up and he knew no one could see. 

            He stepped past the gentleman and took Lanie's elbow.  There was no way he could carry her.  There was just no room.  He was holding another ace up his sleeve though.  He had sprung for first class tickets, an upgrade for Lanie and one for himself. 

            He'd only flown first class twice before, and both times it was at the expense of the client.  But he couldn't see Lanie being smashed in coach with all her injuries.   He hadn't done anything at all in the last year, so he had plenty of money saved up.  It was a splurge that he might regret...

            Lanie looked at her ticket and the seat labels and didn't understand.  It simply didn't match.  The flight attendant saw her puzzled look.