The Cowboy

The Cowboy1

I looked across the crowded diner, from my booth seat next to the window where I was sitting, over to the counter and there he was. Just as he had been there every day for the past two months, he was there again this morning. I could not take my eyes off of him as I slowly stirred my coffee, waited for my order to arrive and stared at him dreamily. He was flirting with the waitress. I could tell by the way his eyes sparkled and he held a gentle laugh. I couldn't help but wish I was that waitress at that moment but she hardly paid any attention to him at all. She just threw him a smile and walked away. Was she crazy? This was the hottest man that I had ever seen and I would have given anything to just talk to him for a second.2

I, myself, had been coming to this diner every morning for breakfast for over two years, ever since I had moved into this small town nestled in the mountains. Nothing very exciting ever happened here for me until two months ago when this man walked in through the front doors of the diner. He was tall, sleek and fully clad in cowboy's clothing. All the way from the bottom of his boots, past his tight fitting jeans and up to the tip of his wide brimmed cowboy hat that nestled on top of his head to hide his dark wavy hair. The cowboy hat shadowed his face just enough to make him look mysterious but you could still see his dark eyes and the rugged look on his handsome face. He looked like he had just stepped out of an ad from a magazine and right into our diner. There was a real life cowboy in our small part of the world! Everyone in the diner that day stopped to stare at this stranger as he entered, but he soon became a regular.3

Now he was sitting at his usual seat at the counter with his cowboy hat placed on the seat next to him. He was wearing his usual tight fighting blue jeans and a blue cowboy shirt that was just as tight fitting as his jeans. You could see every curve of his strong shoulder and upper arm muscles clearly. Every time he smiled my heart leapt in my chest. He had a perfect smile that lit up his tanned face and set a sparkle in his dark brown eyes. I could hardly take my eyes off of him.4

Slowly I sipped on my coffee and when I got half way through the cup this stranger suddenly stood up to leave. He pulled some money out of his wallet and threw it on the counter. He picked up his hat and placed it back on his head situating it just right before turning to leave. I was disappointed that I had gotten here late this morning. I knew that I should not have hit the snooze button on my alarm the two extra times that I did. Now I was going to have to eat my breakfast with nothing to occupy my mind. I watched as he started to walk down the aisle way that lead to the front doors. Suddenly, when he got half way there, he stopped, turned and looked directly at me. My heart stopped as I looked away quickly not wanting him to know that I had been watching him.5

When next I looked I saw that he was making his way across the restaurant heading in my direction. This time I could not take my eyes off of him as I watched him stride even closer to where I sat, weaving between the tables and the busy waitresses that were bringing out food or taking back orders. My heart began to pound and race in my chest as he approached. I could hear the sound of my own heart beat above the voices of all the people in the diner, the clatter of the silverware hitting plates and dishes being cleared from the tables. Oh my God, he was coming over to my table. I felt a panic rise in my chest as this realization hit. What was I going to say? What was I going to do? I knew I would make a fool out of myself, but I just held a smile on my face as he finally made his way to my table and I could see every bit of him close up. He held a soft look on his face, as he looked me over inquisitively.6

I just stared up at him from my seat for what seemed to be an eternity before either one of us spoke. Suddenly all the noise of the diner disappeared and it was as if just the two of us were the only people left in the universe.7

"Howdy Ma'am," the cowboy addressed me with a slight tip of his hat, his deep southern accent breaking the silence. "Mind if I take a seat?" He gestured toward the empty seat across from me.8

"Sure," I replied, feeling stupid for not offering but I didn't want to be presumptuous. I watched as he slid into the booth, removed his hat from his head and placed it on the seat next to him. His wavy dark hair looked as smooth as silk. My first thought was how much I would like to run my hands through it so when he turned his attention to me I looked away and felt the heat rise in my cheeks.9

"I'm sorry, I'm not usually this bold," he spoke. He obviously related the reason for my blushing to his arrival. 10

"That's OK," I spoke, recovering from my embarrassment. I instantly picked up my coffee cup to take a sip. I acted as nonchalantly as possible, as if a stranger came to my table to sit everyday.      11

"This is a pretty quiet town y'all have here. You aren't new here are ya'?" The cowboy asked, looking about the restaurant as if he were sizing it up.12

"No, I've lived here for over two years now. I've been coming to this diner ever since I moved here," I answered, continuing to sip on the rest of my coffee and wondering why my order was taking so long to arrive. 13

" Such a gorgeous gal as yourself, I can't believe I overlooked ya' 'til now." I turned away blushing again at his compliment and the thought that I had noticed him from the first day he entered the diner. I wasn't going to let him know that though. I felt as giddy as a school girl. " I'm sorry, you're uncomfortable, I can tell. Excuse me for disturbin' ya' ma'am, I'll go ahead and be headin' out. Where are my manners? I ain't got no business botherin' ya' anyway" he spoke in his country drawl reaching for his hat.14

"No, I'm not uncomfortable at all," I declared," please don't leave."I was actually happy that he was there. This was the best thing that had ever happened to me in all my twenty-eight years. I was actually pretty plain and my life was boring. That was why I had moved to this small town to begin with. I figured I would fit right into the quiet secluded world since my parents had both passed away in an accident and I had no relatives left. I was not comfortable with the hustle and bustle of the busy city life.15

"Now, only if you're sure," this stranger smiled and winked at me as he turned his attention back to only me. It sent my heart racing even faster as he settled back in his seat.16

"So what brings you here?" I decided to strike up a conversation to assure him that I was not uncomfortable.17

" Why, you of course, Darlin'," was his reply. I nearly dropped my cup and couldn't help but blush again.18

"What? No, really, what brings you here?" I asked the question again, astonished. He looked at me as if he were mesmerized by my sheer presence.19

" Now ya' done went and hurt my feelings Darlin'. Do I look like somebody who'd lie to ya'. Sweetheart, I've been waitin' to meet you my whole life. There ain't nobody back home as pretty as the likes of you." I thought maybe he was joking but his face remained serious and his dark eyes sparkled with affection. I couldn't believe this was happening. It seemed like a dream or a page out of a romance novel. It definitely did not feel as if it could possibly be real. Not only was this cowboy handsome but he was a charmer as well.20

"But you don't even know me," I said, still holding onto my now empty cup.21

"Sure I do, I've been dreamin' of ya' my whole life. I knew the second I just laid my eyes on ya' that you were the woman in my dreams. I knew there was a reason I just up and left my ranch and headed north with no real purpose in mind." His face never lost its look of seriousness and his eyes now held a glow of seduction. He surprised me even more when he reached across the table to take my hand in his. I put my coffee cup down and let him take my smaller hand into his much stronger one. His hand was rough and calloused, that of a hard working man, but he caressed my hand in his with the gentleness of a lamb.  22

I felt myself get drawn into his gaze. It was like I was lost in a trance and lost all sense of reality. I saw my own reflection in the pools of his dark brown eyes. What could this handsome cowboy possibly see in me? I couldn't help but question myself. My hair was dish water blond in color and I wasn't fond of hair dyes and my eyes were kind of gray, not an appealing color at all. The only thing I had going for me was my slender figure, I thought.23

We just sat staring at each other as if time had suspended itself and the world continued to spin on its axis just for us. Finally he sat back silently. We didn't need any words between us at that moment to speak of how we were feeling. My heart raced even more anxiously as I could still feel the warmth on my hand where his had been. With nervous energy building up all I could do was trace the rim of my coffee cup with my finger. I was speechless and didn't know what to say. Every time his eyes caught mine I had to look away. I felt an excitement rise in me like I had never felt before. Then a heat of passion rushed over me as I thought of his soft lips brushing against mine.24

"How 'bout dinner tonight?" He asked suddenly, leaning back in the booth.25

"Hmm..." I was still lost in my trance.26

"Dinner tonight," he repeated." We can go up to my cabin and I will cook ya' the best steak dinner this side of the country." His face beamed with pride and the thought sounded enchanting. Just the two of us sitting in front of the fireplace with the sounds of the woods all around his cabin coming through the open windows. I could smell the fresh evening mountain air over the smell of the frying bacon in the diner.27

"That sounds nice," I answered, dreamily, still lost in a daze.28

"How 'bout some more coffee? I reckon we can discuss it over another cup of coffee can't we?" He suggested, but I was still lost in my fantasy.29

"Hmmm..." was the only thing that formed on my lips. My imagination was running away with itself quicker than I could keep up.30

"Would you like another cup of coffee?" I heard a new louder voice and jumped at the sound. I looked up and the waitress was standing beside the table.31

"Oh, yes please " I answered, handing her my cup. I looked over across the table to the booth across from me and realized it was empty. There was no one sitting there. Instantly my attention was drawn back to the counter where I had seen the cowboy sitting, that seat was empty as well. The whole counter was empty, as was the rest of the diner. In fact, the diner suddenly disappeared completely right before my eyes and I found myself sitting in a hospital cafeteria.32

"Honestly, do you really think a cowboy is going to come striding in here and whisk you from this Psych. ward? Where's he going to tie up his horse?" The waitress that had been standing over me, whom was actually a nurse in a starched white uniform, laughed softly before she turned and walked away.33

"Yeah, well it is nice to dream isn't it?" I sighed, getting up from my seat and leaving the cafeteria. As soon as I pushed through the heavy wood doors and walked out into the bright sterile corridor my attention was drawn to the end of the hall. There stood the most handsome doctor with dark wavy hair and dark brown eyes. He instantly looked up from the chart he was looking at and started to stride down the hall towards me. I could only stare at the rugged look on his face. Oh my God, he was coming over to me.      34