Because of a Cowboy

Out of the The Friendzone

Whisper,

I'm so glad things are going well there! If you're coming home for a visit, we can move the gender reveal back a few weeks. I can wait. I honestly want to be surprised, but everyone else doesn't, so, whatever, I guess.

Toby asked me out for the hundredth time. I figured I'd give it a try since I'm not super interested in the baby's father. I don't know what he's planning for us tonight, since he said it was a surprise.

I'll see you when you get here! Can't wait!

Love,

Willa (and your nice/nephew)

I folded the letter, sealed it, and quickly ran it to the mailbox. The mail truck was pulling up right as I headed back inside. Just in time.

Once inside, I went back upstairs to my room, threw my boots on my swollen feet, and walked out to the barn. It was the best place to calm my nerves. The horse barn was long and narrow, with the big clydesdales in the front and the rest of the horses in the back.

I went to the supply closet and headed towards our section of rescues, waltzing over to brush Monet first, only to find his stall empty. Vegas stuck his fuzzy brown face over the door of the neighboring stall.

"Hey buddy!" I said, knowing he couldn't hear me. He blinked his cloudy eyes as he nuzzled his face into my chest. I pulled a carrot out of my coat pocket and handed it over. "I've got to go let your brother in. I'll be right back."

I set the supply bucket down and went out the back door to the pasture. Monet was standing near the fence, munching on a bucket of hay. It was a trap set by Toby, who was cautiously attempting to put a ring of four leaf clovers around his neck.

"Come on...good boy...good horsey," Toby said, his voice shaking as he inched closer to Monet.

Monet barley even lifted his spotted head to look at Toby, who let out a horrified gasp and jumped backwards. I couldn't hold in my laughter. Toby looked on in sheer embarrassment.

"Willa, no! You can't be here!" he said.

"First of all," I said, going up to the fence so I could pet Monet, who was eager to see me, "what are you doing all the way out here when our date isn't for two hours?"

"I...I..."

I looked down at the big clover necklace in his hands. There was a sign attached to it, but it was facing backwards.

"What are you trying to do? You're terrified of horses!" Monet nuzzled his head into my shoulder. "Which I'll never get. Especially of this big softie right here."

"That's why I wanted to do this." He gestured to the necklace. "I wanted to put this on him and walk him down to the front of the house, since he's your favorite."

I smiled. "Well hey. I didn't see the note. I'll go get Winnie to give you a hand. Come get me when you're ready."

"Okay. Just don't come back out here and spy on me!"

I giggled and walked away. Once I was back inside, I tore Winnie away from her vanity, half of her face covered with makeup from filming one of her tutorials, and asked her super nicely to go help Toby out in the pasture.

I relaxed for a bit, then put on some leggings and a sweater. I was starting to not fit in everything I used to. The doorbell rang and I went downstairs with my coat on. It was Winnie.

"He told me to ring the doorbell for him. He said he's too scared to move," she said. "I'll be upstairs finishing my video because someone interrupted my first take."

Winne went past me and I stepped out onto the front porch. Toby was standing there with Monet. He was shaking in place, gripping the lead attached to Monet's harness for dear life.

Monet looked up at me and shook his head in an attempt to shake off the little leprechaun hat that was placed on him. I rushed over. The clover necklace made him look so adorable. The sign on it read: Make me the luckiest guy this St. Patrick's Day.

"You h-have no id-idea how long I-I've been w-waiting for this," a still-shaky Toby said.

"First of all, give me that," I said, taking the lead in one arm and hugging Toby with the other. "This is really sweet, Toby."

"This isn't even the best part. Just follow me."

Toby took me on a long walk down a trail I usually rode on horseback. There was a clearing in the woods that had a pond. It was my favorite spot to go relax before Wrylie put her tiny house right on it. It was still nice when she wasn't home, though.

The pond came into view. On the shoreline was the cutest (and probably most romantic) thing I've ever seen. A blanket was laid out with a picnic basket. Surrounding it were mason jars filled with candles.

"I thought we could stay here and watch the stars, like when we were kids," he said, chuckling. "I know that smile. You love it, don't you?"

"I'll let you have this one. Let's eat."

"After you."

I tied up Monet's lead and sat down on a pillow. Toby wrapped an extra blanket around my shoulders. I never thought I could have feelings for him, but now it really felt like some were starting to grow.