Lonely Cowboy

He couldn’t take his eyes off her, short brown hair fanning out around her as she twirled. When she faced back toward the bar counter he was leaning against she was all smiles, it took everything he had not to chuckle. That smile is contagious. She wore an old worn out band tee, it was ripped in several places he couldn’t tell if it was on purpose or by accident. 

He watched the way her hips swayed side to side making the plaid button down shirt wrapped around her waist billow. The loose ends or whatever strings on her daisy dukes fluttered as she tapped heel to toe, twice with one foot and then twice again with the other. Her cowboy boots stomped in rhythm with the crowd, lined up in rows. Her whole outfit screamed rocker fangirl, and even though she looked damn fine shaking her ass. He reminded himself that ‘rocker fangirl’ meant crazy. She pulled out her phone, which reminded him that he was waiting for someone. Turning away from the beautiful, but probably crazy woman, he tilted his head back peering under the brim of his ball cap at the clock, both hands pointing straight to the floor. His blind date was 30 minutes late.

He let loose a long sigh, he should have known better than to humor Colby’s match making attempts. ‘This ones different’ , ‘you two will definitely hit it off’ , ’I’ve got a good feeling about this girl.’ Echoes of Colby’s pleas rattled in his brain. He lifted his half empty beer bottle up to his lips. The bottle was no longer ice cold, making his drink taste stale, and sad. At least it didn’t take two hours into this date to realize it wasn’t going to work out. He still had most of the night left to find something to do. 

His phone buzzed, the screen lighting up to reveal a text from an unknown number, he unlocked his phone to read it.

“Hi Garret its Alicia, i hope it’s ok I got ur # from Colby. I had an emergency and will have to take a raincheck. IOU a beer” Three little dots waved before a second text came in. “or 2 lol”

Barrett slipped his phone into his pocket, not wasting another minute on blind date number four, who couldn’t even get his name right. He couldn’t understand why Colby kept throwing women at him. Like having a girlfriend was the fix-all for every problem. 

Feeling lonely, get a girlfriend.

Fighting with your mom, get a girlfriend.

Don’t have a drinking buddy for Saturday night bonfires, get a girlfriend.

God he was such a pain in the ass, Barrett didn’t need a girlfriend. He needed to work more hours, to get more money, to take care of his family. Or maybe even spare some money for his old man's bike, so they could go for a ride again like he used to. He thought about all the parts he would need to order, first a new wiring harness, some brake pads. He was lost in the snowballing thoughts when he felt a gentle tap on his left shoulder. His eyes flicked to his side before the rest of his body had time to catch up to see who could possibly want his attention. The same beautiful-crazy girl from the dance floor was aiming that contagious smile up at him.

“I couldn’t help but notice you staring my way on the dance floor, are you looking for some line dancing lessons?" Her hands were tucked away in her short pockets.

“Sorry, I was just enjoying the view.” He suddenly felt like he was being watched. “And looks like I wasn’t the only one.” He waved to a couple of guys down the bar, their eyes like daggers. Spectating the hot line-dancer giving the lonely cowboy the time of day. She didn’t turn away.

“So what’s your name handsome?” She took a step closer to him, sliding a pointy manicured finger down the front of his chest, making him shiver.

His cheeks warmed. “Barrett,” He muttered.

“Barrett, that’s a cute name. Does that stand for anything?” She hopped up and onto the empty barstool next to him, resting her chin on her open palm extending from the counter.

“Not that I’m aware of, no.” He chuckled “I’m sorry, how rude of me. I didn’t catch your name?”

“It’s Stevie, nice to meet you.” She reached out her free hand, he accepted maybe too eagerly. Stevie gripped his hand. She seemed more well mannered than he initially thought. “Are you waiting for your girlfriend? Or boyfriend?” He snorted into his drink, almost spitting it all over them. He didn’t know her smile could get any bigger, as she winked at him.

“No, no, no.” He cleared his throat, trying to keep from choking. “No girlfriend or boyfriend.” The neon lights beamed onto her, making her face glow bright pink. Or was she maybe blushing?

“Of course I wouldn’t judge you if you did swing that way. So you’re here all alone, with nobody to keep you company?” She clicked her tongue at him. “Don’t worry cowboy, I'll keep you company.” She waved over the bartender from the other end of the room.

“Awe thanks hun, I was startin’ to get a little lonely.” He polished off his lukewarm beer, smiling at her as best he could with his famously blue eyes.

The bartender started making their way to them, Stevie pushed herself up onto the bar, her ass suspended in the air. He turned his body towards the bar, following Stevie's gaze to the fast approaching server.

“What can I get ya babe?” They planted both hands atop the lower bar, full attention on Stevie.

“Can I get two shots of Jameson for me and my new friend please?” The bartender was half way down the bar already, not waiting for either of them to respond. 

“Whiskey huh? I would have pegged you for a vodka drinker.” When the bartender approached them again he nodded. “Put these on my tab if you would. Also a round of beers if you wouldn’t mind?” He shook his empty beer, Stevie nodded yes. She waggled her eyebrows at him, still perched over the counter. It took more strength then he cared to admit to not look at her protruding rear end. He stared at the back bar, finding interest in an empty rum bottle.

“You can look at my ass if you want, I didn’t get all gussied up for you not to look.” Her hips swayed, brandishing it even further.

“That wouldn’t make me the gentleman I want you to think I am.” He shifted his eyes to take a quick peek. She was giving him permission, and he was not disappointed. “So Stevie, what are we drinking to?” He wrapped his thumb and forefinger around the shot glass.

“To no longer being lonely.” She giggled as they clanked the shots, tapped them to the table, and tossed them back. Her auburn hair floated as she shook her head, he imagined she was trying to shake the bitterness from the alcohol away. His eyes watered a little but he tried to stay still as he waited for the Jameson to finish sliding down his throat. She adjusted herself back into her seat and spun the stool around, swinging the backs of her elbows gently atop the bar. 

“So Barrett, what kind of work do you do?” She ogled him up and down, he couldn’t help but feel naked even in his Carhartt vest over a thin gray hoodie. He looked down at himself. Like he could find some hole or stain in his wrangler jeans he hoped she couldn’t see yet. Hide it before he could embarrass himself. He shook the feeling away.

“I’m a ranch hand, at the farm just a couple of miles from here actually.” 

Her eyebrows moved with such enthusiasm. “Alright, that explains the work clothes and cowboy boots, all you're missing is a cowboy hat.” She stretched her arm up to tap the top of his ball cap. 

He chuckled. “Excuse you, I’m quite comfortable. And actually these are my nice clothes. Thank you very much.” He pretended to be insulted.

“Sor-ree, jeez. Didn’t mean to insult your fine garb.” She pulled up her hands in defense, luckily she was still smiling.

“What about you, are you one of those social influencers?” He raised an eyebrow.

“You cheeky bastard.” She playfully punched him in the shoulder, he grabbed at his chest pretending to act hurt. “I work at an interior design firm a couple cities over, it’s not as interesting as ranch hand though.” 

“Ranch hand is basically a glorified errand boy, shoveling shit, and mucking pig troughs. Trust me it’s not that fun.”

He asked her about her favorite things. Where she learned how to line dance. How she liked to spend her time. She told him the silly parts of her life, and the sad parts. She asked him about his fondest memories. His favorite part of the day. His favorite books to read. He poured his thoughts out to her. She was so easy to talk to. He forgot all about their drinks as she spoke about the time her hair got caught in a house-plant at a client's home. She made a complete mess when she dragged it across the floor tripping over herself, and spilling dirt all over their brand new white rug. He remembered a time he tripped and fell into the pig trough sending the chicken feed all over the place. Though it was embarrassing, he loved the way she snorted watching him flail his arm in an attempt to reenact the endeavor.

 She was funny, playful, confident, and kind of a bad-ass. The bar had died down and the bartenders and the bouncers had started to clean up when a soft ballad started to play.

“Oh my god!” She squealed. “I love this song! Come on pig boy, come dance with me!” She was pulling his arm with all of her strength, it felt like she attempted to pull his arm out of its socket. But he complied, letting her drag him to the now empty dance floor. She started to wrap her arms around his neck, but he slid his hand up her arm to hold her left hand in his right, and placed his left hand very respectfully on the small of her back pulling her closer.

Her eyes twinkled, cheeks red as a tomato. She rested her head on his chest as they swayed back and forth to the music. 

“You know.” He whispered. “I actually got stood-up when you sauntered over to me.” Her head swung back.

“What? Who would stand up a gentleman like you?”

“It was a blind date a buddy of mine had set up for me. Like someone else I know, he seems to think I'm too lonely.” 

There she went again with her contagious smile. “You don’t look lonely to me anymore.”

If only Colby could see him now. Dancing with a girl he felt could really make his problems float away. At least for the night, or maybe even the rest of his life.

They danced in silence, and he wondered how he got to be so lucky.