Dove
The mystery Cowboy gently placed me down on the bench at the bus stop. I believed we were both grateful it was its own little hut because it gave us a chance to not get more wet than we already were.
I watched the bus until it disappeared and continued staring on hoping for some sort of miracle.
"I'm sure it will come back," he gave me a small smile as he sat down next to me. The gap between his two front teeth was even more magnificent up close. It was extraordinary. I had never seen someone who made one look good.
I pressed my lips together and looked down to my lap. My ankle was throbbing and I felt close to tears once again, but he would think I was a cry baby and I really wasn't. I- I had just had a rough few days. "It's the last one for the next three hours."
His smile slowly disappeared and I could imagine he looked at me with concern under those sunglasses. "Do you have someone to call to pick you up?"
I shook my head, "No." We both kept silent for a while before I gave him a shaky smile. "I guess I'll just head to the office. I'll take a nap there until the next bus arrives."
When I tried to stand even though I knew I could barely walk, he was quick to hold his arms out stopping me without touching me. His hands were huge and rough. Just like how I expected them to be. There was nothing about him that did not scream 'all man'.
"No, how about I call you a cab to take you home? You look exhausted."
"No it's alright. I wouldn't have the money to pay you back anytime soon," I let out a nervous chuckle, "it's really no problem. It's my fault for not leaving earlier."
"I insist."
"No I've bothered you enough tonight," I begged.
"Fine," he leaned back in his seat, "where do you live? If it's close to where I'm going I'll drop you off. You wouldn't even be able to make it inside with your foot."
My eyes enlarged and for a second I wondered if this was a kidnapping situation! How was it that he was there coincidentally enough? No one waited around 3am to suddenly pop up and help a boy who had slipped down the stairs and now he was offering to take me home! This was a classic beginning to a murder mystery!
"I'm not trying to kill you," his laugh was contagious as it seemed to even beat the sound of the rain. It came deep within his belly and had a raspy air to it that made you stop and stare for a second. His dimples were just the cherry on top. "If it makes you feel any better you can take a picture of my license plate and send it to a family member if you're uncomfortable."
I stared at him for a long time before I told him the general area of where I stayed. I knew I would point out directions to him if came be and with the rain there was a fat chance he would remember where it was.
"I'll be passing through it's no problem," he clapped and jumped to his feet. Before I could voice my concerns about getting into a car with a handsome stranger I was in his arms once again. He led me to a huge truck and despite the low streetlight you could tell it was fancy. "Come on, take a picture."
I looked at him with a small scowl as I struggled to take my phone out of my Jean pockets. Snapped a picture of his license plate then sent it to Zahi with the message 'in case I go missing. Look for a hot Cowboy.'
He opened the passenger door and gently placed me down. I placed my backpack at my feet and instantly felt bad for making his seat wet. The leather looked expensive.
The car smelt like cigarettes partially but also had the new car smell which told me he hasn't had it for long for it to smell like him yet.
The dashboard was a touchscreen and I did not ever recall being in a truck this expensive looking. I quickly looked away when he climbed in and threw his Cowboy hat to the back before he pressed a button to start the engine. It literally roared to life and he was quick to pull out of the parking.
He pressed around the screen for a few seconds before hot air flooded through the air conditioning and the seats warmed up below me. I let out a groan in appreciation. Even if he was going to kill me I truly believed it was the kindest gesture I had received since I had arrived in America.
"You work at B&B?" He asked after the second traffic light. A low hum of what sounded like country music played through the speakers. Loud enough to not fill the air with awkward tension but quiet enough to not make it seem like he didn't want to talk.
"Why?"
"So I can stalk you some more," he chuckled then quickly shut up when he saw I wasn't laughing. "I'm just joking, you got to take things lightly."
"Not when it comes to my life thank you very much," I blinked. "But yes. I work at B&B."
"That a cool company," he smiled, "I got on a pair of jeans myself."
"You wouldn't be a Cowboy if you didn't," I shrugged knowing the company motto by heart so much that it slipped out without me thinking.
His deep belly laugh filled the car once again, "well you gotta be employee of the month if you already marketing it without thinking."
I gave him a shy grin as I shook my head, "I'm a nobody. I just really need the job."