The Cowboy and the Angel | ✓

Chapter Nineteen

"What are you doin', sweetie?" Jason asked as he walked in on Dixie and Annalyn at the mercantile.

"Nothin'." Dixie giggled, shielding something behind her back.

"Hmm are you sure about that?" He asked, bending to kiss her. A second into the kiss, he slipped the object out of her hands and skedaddled around back.

A small shove from Mr. Hugo sent Jason stumbling back to the counter.

"I'll take that, thank you." Annalyn laughed as she retrieved the small package and handed it back to Dixie.

Jason turned to Dixie with the most innocent face he could muster. "Can I see it? Pretty please?"

"Puppy eyes don't work on me, sir." Dixie shook her head, holding the package firmly. "You've been such a bad boy that I'm not sure if I'll even give it to you now."

"Bad boy?" Jason looked around his shoulders as if she was talking to someone behind him. "Surely you're not talkin' about lil' old angel me."

Mr. Hugo chuckled. "The only angels I see in this room is those two girls there, son."

"Are you sure you don't see one right in front of you?" Jason questioned, tapping a finger against his chest.

"Nope." Mr. Hugo shook his head, a gleam alight in his eyes. "All I see is a heathen standin' there."

"Heathen!? Don't you mean handsome young man?"

"Oh, please!" Annalyn punched her brother's shoulder. "You might wanna quit while you're ahead."

"I think I will." Jason tipped his hat before running to the back room of the mercantile.

"My boys are packin' your stuff onto your mule!" Mr. Hugo called after him.

"Yes sir!" Jason acknowledged as he returned with a bouquet of wildflowers. He presented them to Dixie with a bow. "For you, my lovely."

"Thank you! They're so pretty and smell great." Dixie sniffed them appreciatively. She placed the small paper package into Jason's large hands. "Open this only when you make it to Dry Gulch."

"Yes, ma'am," Jason murmured as his kissed her hand. "You have my word."

Dixie looked up into his eyes, her gaze holding not only seriousness, but also affection. "I better."

Annalyn grimaced as she gave Dixie a hug. "Sorry to interrupt, but I've gotta run."

Before Annalyn could even get to the door, it burst open and in flounced Rosabelle. She nearly knocked Annalyn over as she paraded right up to Jason and threw her arms around his neck.

Moments before she could kiss Jason, he extracted himself out of her grip and backed up, a look of pure disgust on his face.

Dixie squeezed herself between her man and the jerk of a girl who just put her hands on him. She sent Rosabelle a look so withering it caused her to back up a step. "Excuse me, who do you think you are to come marchin' in here and do that to Jason?"

Rosabelle looked down her lashes at Dixie. "I don't have to say who I am, and furthermore, you have no say so over how I tell Archie goodbye before he leaves."

Dixie felt as if her blood was boiling. She took a breath, trying to calm herself but it was to no avail. Her grip tightened on the bouquet, and she grit her teeth. "First of all, I do have a say so. I'm his fiancee. Second of all, I'm not above showin' you where you can stick that attitude. I don't want to see you touch him or call him Archie ever again. Do I make myself clear?"

Rosabelle ignored Dixie's question. Her eyes narrowed and she crossed her arms across her chest. She gave Dixie a glare, but aimed her words at Jason. "I only heard that you were leaving, not that you were engaged."

Jason gently moved Dixie to the side. He towered over Rosabelle, the look on his face anything but pleasant. "Well guess what, I am. And I'm not gonna have this conversation with you again. I'm done with you."

Annalyn, Dixie, and Mr. Hugo watched in silence as Jason grabbed Rosabelle by the arm and walked her to the door.

"Have a nice day," Jason said as he opened the door and pushed her out. He dusted his hands off on his pants and returned to Dixie's side.

"I believe y'all took care of that," Mr. Hugo said with a whistle. "I don't believe I've ever seen Dixie so upset."

"I reckon so." Jason looked over at Dixie, who's face was still flushed with anger. "I can't say I've ever seen her like that either, Mr. Hugo, but she sure made bein' mad beautiful."

Dixie looked at the ground shyly. "I haven't see you throw a lady out the door, either."

"She ain't a lady," Jason corrected.

Annalyn nodded in agreement. She looked through the glass of the display windows to see Rosabelle hanging onto some other guy. "She's just discustin'. Handsy-On-Mansy."

"What did you call her?" Dixie asked with a laugh. "Handy what?"

"I called her Handsy-On-Mansy." Annalyn answered with a smile and an unapologetic shrug. "It fits her 'cause she won't keep her hands off your man."

"She better if she knows what's good for her," Dixie practically growled out. She replaced her frown with a smile, and flashed it at Annalyn. "That's a good name for her."

"I think so too," Mr. Hugo agreed. He sighed and rubbed his balding head, muttering as he walked to the back, "Don't see why we need some of those type of girls anyhow."

Annalyn gave Dixie and Jason a hug. "I'll go on and head home now. Jason, you ride safe now. I'll be praying for you."

Jason smiled his appreciate. "I will. Don't forget to remind Leroy."

"I won't!" Annalyn answered before closing the door behind herself.

Dixie turned to Jason, brows arched and hands on her hips. "Remind Leroy?"

He laughed, giving her a dashing wink. "It's a secret."

***

"I ain't gonna say it," Dixie refused, doing her best to keep the tears from spilling over. "I can't."

"Say what, my love?" Jason answered, his breath tickling her face the closer he leaned down from the saddle.

Dixie bit her lip, a few stubborn tears trickling down her face. "That dreaded word."

"Goodbye?" He asked against her lips. After a long moment, he drew back with a shaky breath and straightened up in the saddle. "This ain't a goodbye kiss, it's a promise. A promise that I will come back to you, and you will get my last name."

Dixie nodded, the tears coursing down her face. "I'm countin' on it."

"Don't cry, Angel. I'll be back soon. It's just a quick trip. I love you."

"I know. I love you more, Cowboy," she said, but she couldn't shake a feeling of deep sorrow. Her heart was trying to say something, but she couldn't understand it. As Raven cantered out of sight, she looked up to the beautiful blue sky. Lord, I don't know why I'm feelin' this, or what he will come against when he reaches Dry Gulch, but You do. Go before him, and lead and guide him with every steps that he takes and every mile that he makes. In Your holy name, Amen.