Cowboy's Trust Chapter 1-a Cowboys of Cottontail Junction Clean, Small Town Romance
This is the first chapter of Cowboy's Trust a Cowboys of Cottontail Junction Clean, Small Town Romance
Rex walked to the front of his coffee shop, the Black Bean, flipped the sign on the door from “Closed” to “Open,” and unlocked the door. The sign wasn’t really necessary. Everyone in the town of Cottontail Junction knew exactly when he opened and closed, but for him, it was a ritual. There was something soothing about flipping the sign around, signaling he was ready to start the day making coffee for the townspeople. Though he always made sure to open his shop about ten minutes earlier than posted, so he didn’t have a short line with the early morning regulars waiting for him. He didn’t like to make anyone wait, even when they were early and he was on time.
He went back behind the counter, where a pot of coffee had just finished brewing. None of that fancy latte stuff for the ranchers who came in at five o’clock in the morning for coffee and gossip, although none of them would ever admit to gossiping. He lined four cups up on the counter, ready to pour the minute they walked in the door. Like clockwork, at one minute to five, the four gentlemen walked in. You’d almost think they rode together, but no, their timing was just impeccable.
“Good morning, gentlemen,” Rex said, grabbing the coffee pot and filling the cups as they walked up and each gave him a nod. The men each took a cup and went to the back to their table. Always the same table, even though they had their choice of any table in the place this early. But Rex understood it was their routine, just like he enjoyed his routines.
He didn’t need to open so early because, except for the four ranchers who came in every morning, he didn’t get much business until it got closer to six o’clock, but he didn’t mind. When he was discharged from the military and decided to return to Cottontail Junction, he had opened the coffee shop at six. Rex was an early riser and often came into the shop early to set up for the day. One day, someone knocked on the door, seeing him in there, and asked if he could come in for a cup of coffee. Before Rex knew it, the lone rancher brought his friends, and they started coming early, just assuming Rex would be there and let them in. After a couple of months of that, Rex just changed the hours. He was there anyway, so it didn’t really matter. Truth be told, he liked the silent company, knowing they were in the corner while he was baking in the back before he had to be in the front to wait on customers. He had a couple of part-time high school students who worked in the afternoons, but he handled the mornings and daytime hours himself. He liked staying busy.
And busy he was. When he had first returned to Cottontail Junction and announced his plans to open a coffee shop that also served pastries and other sweet treats, he had been met with a lot of negativity. Not to his face, because the majority of people in Cottontail Junction were nice, if nothing else, but more than one person had mentioned that they didn’t think froufrou coffees would ever sell in a ranching town. Rex understood where they were coming from, and there was a time he would’ve felt the same exact way. Heck, there was a time when, if you would’ve said he would enjoy his life baking and making coffee for people, he would’ve laughed you out of town.
He hadn’t returned to Cottontail Junction to open a coffee shop because he had some great business plan. He had just known when he had been discharged from the military that going back home wasn’t an option. There were too many memories. He also knew he didn’t want to live in the city. Rex had spent his early years in a bigger city and had never felt comfortable there. When his parents died, he went to live with his maternal grandma in Cottontail Junction. His grandpa had passed years before. Rex grew to love Cottontail Junction and knew from an early age that small-town living suited him. He had met Gwynn for the first time in grade school and they lost touch when he moved. Until one night in high school he went to a Jasper football game and ran into her. Sparks flew and they had been together ever since. He hadn’t even known much about coffee back then, except that he liked to drink it. It had always been Gwynn’s dream to open a coffee shop in her hometown of Jasper, and that was important to him. When he opened the Black Bean, he felt the exciting plans they had made together, even though he was doing it by himself.
Around seven-thirty, business slowed down a little, and he was restocking the baked goods when he heard someone walk up to the counter.
“Hey, Colette,” he said to the blonde woman standing in front of him. Colette Gallagher, formerly Costa, along with her sisters, Miriam and Heidi, were regulars.
“Hey, Rex. I thought I’d come in and get some coffee before heading home. Decaf of course and yes. I can’t wait until this baby is ready to come out. If we get the snow that we’re supposed to get the next couple of days, or I go into labor, I’m going to have to live without my latte for a bit so I thought I better get one while I could.”
“You know I started ordering the syrups to sell, and I have your favorite in stock. I’ll send you home with one. My treat. Consider it a baby present, or push present, isn’t that what they call it?” he said as he rang her up, not even having to ask what it was she wanted. He prided himself on remembering everyone’s drink. It was something small, but it made people feel good, and in turn, it made him feel good. After handing back her credit card, he moved down the counter to fire up the espresso machine. “How’s Brock?” he asked about her husband.
“Good. He’s about to take someone onto his veterinary practice he’s gotten so busy.”
“That’s good. I love to see Cottontail Junction grow.”
“Speaking of growing, did you know Miriam hired a new sous chef?”
“She did?” he said nonchalantly. He knew exactly who Colette was talking about. Rex had seen her at the recent wedding. Marley was her name, he had found out after subtly asking around, though now that Colette was mentioning her, he wondered if maybe he hadn’t been as subtle as he had thought. In a small town, there often wasn’t much in the way of secrets. “Business must be really picking up for Miriam.”
“It is. Everyone thought she was crazy for opening a French restaurant in such a small town, me included, but we’re eating our words now. She has people coming from all over who have heard about how good her food is.”
“Make sure to tell her I think that’s great. I know this town was built on ranching, but the more we can grow small businesses, the better for everyone.”
“I will, even though you can probably tell her yourself later. I was on the phone with her on my way here, and she asked me to give you a takeout order for her, and she would be down to get it. I think she was jealous that I was getting a latte.”
“Not a problem. Did she want her usual?” he asked.
“That and she also said to order a large hot chocolate.”
“Who’s that for?” It might sound like an odd question to some, but Rex knew pretty much everyone’s order in town, and the only people who got hot chocolates were kids and teens who hung out at the coffee shop after school doing their homework.
Colette shrugged. “Not sure. One of her employees, I assume.”
Rex poured the steamed milk into Colette’s latte and snapped on the lid before handing it to her. “Can I entice you with one of my pistachio brownies?”
“I shouldn’t, but what the heck. Sure,” she said and reached into her purse for her wallet, and Rex waved her away.
“It’s on the house. I changed the recipe a little, so I would love your opinion.” He handed her the bag, and she smiled.
“I will be a taste tester for you anytime. Have a great day, Rex.”
“You too, Colette.”
He went to work making Miriam’s latte and the hot chocolate. He doubled up the cups to keep them hotter longer since the bistro was just outside of town, and he didn’t want them to get cold. He put them in a drink carrier and then grabbed two of his pistachio brownies and added them to the order. He would ask Miriam the same question he had asked Colette. Rex did appreciate feedback on his recipes, and he was always tweaking them to make them better.
Rex set the order off to the side, hoping Miriam didn’t take too long because he didn’t want the drinks to get cold. When the door opened, he saw the woman who he had found so attractive last weekend. Her long brown hair was pulled up into a braided ponytail. She was probably his age, but she had an innocent look about her. Except for her eyes. Her eyes looked sad, and he found himself wondering why.
“I’m here to pick up an order,” she said.
“Are you here for Miriam?”
She nodded, almost as if she didn’t trust herself to speak. He turned to the counter behind him to grab the carrier and then set it in front of her.
“I think you got the order wrong. It was just a coffee and hot chocolate.”
“You must be the hot chocolate drinker. I was trying to figure out who that was.” She looked a little startled at his comment. “I like to think I know what everyone in town orders. This was a new one.”
Marley nodded in understanding.
“I’ve never been a fan of fancy coffee. I’m more of regular coffee with a splash of cream. I know I probably shouldn’t tell you that,” she said and gave a slight smile, which didn’t quite reach her eyes.
“I’ll tell you a secret. I’m not a huge fan of fancy coffee either. Plain black is just fine with me. Though sometimes if I’m feeling a little crazy I’ll add a spoonful of sugar.”
Her smile widened, and her eyes crinkled in the corner. It transformed her face for just a second and seemed like a cloud was lifting, but then dropped back down just as fast.
“And the pastries are on the house. I just need you and Miriam to let me know how you like them. You’re not allergic to nuts, are you? They’re pistachio brownies.”
“Not allergic. Thank you.” She paid and took the treats, then headed back out the door.
Rex watched her leave, and he felt something. Something he hadn’t felt in a long time. Something he didn’t want to feel and didn’t plan to feel. He was just going to have to shove those feelings way down where they belonged. He had the coffee shop and a new life in Cottontail Junction; he didn’t need anything to mess that up. His heart would never survive.
