Wyoming Cowboy

He left us. He filed for divorce and just left. He told me that he didn't love me anymore and that he had a younger girlfriend. I'm only thirty-four years old. Sure I don't look like I did ten years ago but I've had three kids in that time. Yeah, maybe I've let myself go but do our vows mean nothing to him. I don't know what I'm going to do. It's going to be all over town tomorrow. Our divorce is going to be all the talk. I have my babies to think about. I haven't had a job since Dustin and I was dating. Once we got married he didn't want me working anymore. I have to find a job soon.

He was so gracious to let us stay until the divorce is final. What about his children? I had hidden in the closet so my kids wouldn't see me break down again. "Mom!" Mom where are you? I wipe my nose and eyes before my son Isaac found me sitting on the floor with my knees tucked under my chin. "Mama, Are you okay? You look sad." "I'm okay my sweet boy. Did you get your homework done?" "Yes, ma'am I did." "Did you help your sister?" "Yes mama I did. Just a few more weeks and it will be summer mama." "Yes, baby, you're right." "Do we have to move out of the house?" "Not just yet son but soon." I get the kids fed, bathed, and in bed before nine pm. By the time I get everything cleaned and put away, it's already eleven pm. Instead of going to bed, I fire up the computer and look for places to live and work. Do I want to see their pity faces once the news is all out there? Wait... I'm sure somebody saw them out together at some point right. I grab my phone off my nightstand and flip it open. I start a new text to my best. "Hey, chick got a question for you." Now I wait. I don't have to wait long. "Hey lady. What's up?" "Did you know Dustin was having an affair?" I hope that I am wrong and that she doesn't know anything about it. My phone starts to ring and I hear, "So he told you huh?" "You knew he was cheating on me and you didn't think to tell me?" "I'm sorry Stacey, I told him to tell you, or I would." "Oh, he certainly told me when he served me with divorce papers. How long have you known, I ask her." "Two or three months, she says." I feel numb when she confirms my fears. I simply hang up and turn off my phone. That's it, we are out of here. I open up a map and close my eyes, I take a deep breath in and point. I open my eyes to see that we will be packing up the house and moving to Dubois Wyoming in the next few weeks. He won't care where we are. He made that very clear when he had me served and left with his new girlfriend. How could he do this to our family? It just shattered any faith I had in men. We had been together for over a decade and had three children together and this is how he treats us. Fine, you know what? We will make it without him. I'm done crying now, now I'm pissed off. I'm bitter and pissed off. Who does that tramp think she is? No no Stacey, you can't put all the blame on her because it takes two. I turn off the computer and grab my things for a bath. As I let the water heat up my mind begins to wonder. How am I going to support myself and my kids? I will start looking for a job tomorrow. I need to look for a job that I can do while the kids are at school and daycare and be home with them at night. One where if the kids get sick I can leave and go pick them up from school. One that I actually have experience doing and that's working as a waitress. That's what I was doing when I met Dustin. He looked good walking into the cafe I used to work at. He was wearing a black hoodie and jeans with a ball cap on. He was so handsome I nearly melted when he talked to me. He was new to town and having been born and raised in Midway Utah I would defiantly know where was hiring. We shortly started dating and within a year we were married and soon came Isaac. It was a beautiful wedding. Our colors were blue and ivory. All our families came and supported us in our union. I climb in the tub and relax where are we going to live? I would be packing up everything and moving us almost six hours away. I need to do what's best for my kids and that's moving away. After relaxing and doing a lot of soul searching I had finally made up my mind. I crawl into bed just after midnight and curl up in a ball. Just let the anger fester and you will have the strength to move on. The next morning I wake to my two-year-old on the monitor saying, "mama, mama, eat food." I slowly make my way to his room and scoop him up. I walk over to his brother who shares a room with Liam and said, "Morning sunshine it's a brand new day." I watch as Isaac stretches and yawns trying to open his eyes. "Just five more minutes mom, please." "No can do buddy we got to get up and around before the bus gets here." I quickly change Liam and get him ready for the day. I leave him in the room with his brother and walk across the hall to my baby girl Penelope's room to wake her and help her get ready for school. After everyone is dressed and fed I head upstairs to change into a beautiful summer dress and sandals. "Mom, the bus is coming soon, Pen says." "I'm coming sis, I holler from my room." I rush down the stairs and scoop Liam out of his highchair. We race to the end of the driveway and sure enough, here comes the bus. I wave to the two older kids and walk with Liam back into the house. I decided that once I put him down for his nap I will start filling out applications and look for rentals. The morning goes by quickly as I clean up the mess from breakfast and do some laundry. I plan on telling Dustin at court next week that we are packing up and moving. This heartache is going to make me a stronger woman and mother. I hope it does at least. Once I put Liam down for his afternoon nap I set down at the computer and start looking for places to rent. It's like it was meant to be, on the first page was a nice looking house on a few acres. This could be the place. Three bedrooms, two bathrooms, a nice kitchen, and a fireplace and it seemed to be in my price range as well. I scroll down the page and find the number to contact the landlord. Ring, ring, ring... "Hello, this is Charles Stanton speaking." "Hi, yes my name is Stacey Rankin and I was calling about the house you have for rent, the three-bedroom." "Oh yes, Miss Rankin, it's pretty cut and clear. I want the first and last months for a deposit." "Okay could you hold it for me until say July, I ask?" "Are you serious right now, he asks?" "Yes, I'm completely serious. Look my husband served me with divorce papers the other night after telling me he was leaving me for a younger woman. I have three kids who are eight, five, and two. We live in a very small town and soon everyone will know my business and I really don't want that. We live in Utah right now but I want to move us somewhere else so we don't have to look at the faces of people who pity us." "Ma'am, can I think about it for a few days before I decide?" I sigh out "yes I guess that would be reasonable." After giving him my number so he could call back when he had decided we say goodbye and hang up. Now to look for a place to work so we can afford a place to live. I'm going through the listing and find a waitressing job open at Rusty's Cafe which is just a few miles from where the house is located. Feeling good I call about the job ring, ring "Hello thank you for calling Rusty's Cafe this is Susan how can I help you?" "Hi yes, my name is Stacey Rankin and I'm calling about the waitressing job I found online?" "Oh yeah, do you have any experience waiting tables, Stacey?" "Yes, I do. I haven't done it in ten years but I'm sure it hasn't changed any from then till now. I'm sure I could use a refresher though." "When can you start Stacey?" "Well, I live in Utah and my husband decided to tell me he was leaving me for a twenty-two-year-old and then I was served with divorce papers." "So if you live in Utah why are you asking for a job, she asks?" "Because I'm moving me and my three kids to Dubois Wyoming in a few weeks, I tell her." "Can you be here by May fifteenth?" "Yes ma'am I can my kids get out of school on April twenty-eighth so that gives me plenty of time to get there and situated, I say." "Okay, I'll give you a thirty-day probation period since I don't know you, she tells me." "Sounds just fine to me ma'am." "Call me Susan. I'm the manager at Rusty's who is my husband by the way." "Okay, I'll see you then Susan." "All right now bye-bye." I hang up the phone and for a brief minute, I was happy. I go to check on Liam and he's up playing with his toys. "Hi, mama's handsome boy. How was your nap little man?" "Good mama." "Oh good, that makes mommy happy. Are you ready for a change and snack, I ask?" "Yes, mama." After changing Liam we set out for downstairs to get a snack. Grabbing some cheese and pretzels we head to the living room to watch his favorite cartoon Blue's Clues. It was better than the stuff Isaac and Pen watched. I can handle Blue and her friends. We watch Blue until the kids get home.

Chapter 2

Ring, ring, ring, "Hello. Is this Miss Stacey, the voice asks?" "Yes, this is she. Who is this, I ask?" "Oh, pardon me ma'am it's Charles Stanton about the house that's for rent." "Yes, Mr.Stanton, how are you doing?" "I'm doing just fine. I wanted to call you to let you know that I will hold the house until May first and if you're not here then it goes back on the market." "Okay yes, sir I can do that." "Don't call me sir, it came out in a growl." I don't know what comes over me but I shiver from it. My insides went to jelly by it. What's my problem? I must be coming down with something. "Okay, very well Mr. Stanton." "You can call me Charles, he says." "Well, then you can me Stacey." "If you don't mind me asking but do you have a job lined up to pay the rent every first of the month." "Oh, yes silly me I got a waitressing job at Rusty's Cafe." "Oh, you talked to Susan." It wasn't a question more of a statement. "Yes, I did. I start my job on May fifteenth." So I should expect you when he asks? My kids get out of school at the end of April and I have court for the divorce tomorrow. "How many little ones do you have again?" "I have three. Isaac is eight, Penelope is five and Liam is two." "That bastard left you with three kids under ten to go off with some woman?" "Yep, that's pretty much the jest of it, I say." "He's not a man at all. Well Miss Stacey I'll see you and your little ones in a few weeks." "All right, Charles, and thank you for trusting me." "It's not about trust ma'am it's about you and yours needing a place to stay. I'm gonna help you out okay." "Okay thank you, I say." "Goodbye Miss Stacey." "Goodbye Charles." We hang up and I start supper for the kids while they clean up and get their clothes ready for the next day. Kids are fed and bathed in no time. "Mama... Issac says." "Yes, son." "Can you read us a story?" "Yes but only one tonight mommy has to be somewhere tomorrow." "Okay mama, he says." After reading to the kids I slowly place Pen in her bed and cover them all up. Switching off the light and closing their doors I tiptoe down the hall to my room. I head to my closet to find my best outfit, settling on a pair of black slacks, black pumps, and a soft purple top. That should be good enough for court right? I quickly shower not bothering to wash my hair since I did last night. I put on a nice silky nightie and climb into bed. We all wake to a loud clap of thunder. I guess it's going to be that kind of day. "Mama! Mama!" "I'm here sweetie. Mommy is right here." I had jumped out of bed and raced down the hall to the kid's rooms. I get to the kids and they jump into my arms. "It's okay my babies. Mommy is here, I say." I gather them up and we all head back to my room to cuddle for the next few hours. We wake to my alarm going off. "No dilly-dallying today guys mama's got to be somewhere very important, I say." After getting the kids dressed, fed, and on the bus I had to take Liam across town to my mom and dad's house so they could watch him while I'm in court. I drop him off and head to the courthouse to wait on my lawyer. I see my soon-to-be-ex climb out of his car and head into the courthouse. I start walking that way when I hear my name being called from behind me, "Stacey, Stacey wait a minute, please." It's my so-called best friend Abby. "What do you want Abigail, I ask?" I keep walking up the stairs not slowing my pace. "I'm sorry I didn't tell you. I just didn't want to hurt you by telling you." "So you let this go on for months and let me look like a fool while he's out in town with his girlfriend." "I'm really sorry Stacey, she says." "Well, it's not going to matter in a few weeks anyway." "What do you mean by that, she asks?" "The kids and I are moving to Wyoming." "Stacey, you can't be serious." "I've already got a job and a place to live." "You don't know anyone there, she pleads.""That's the point, I say." I turn away from her just in time to see Dustin standing there. "Oh good there for a minute I thought we were gonna have to be the ones that moved, he said." "No Dustin you are welcome to stay here and be with your girlfriend as long as you want. The sooner this divorce is final the better for me." We head into the courtroom with our lawyers and listen to the judge award me eight hundred dollars in child support and full custody of the kids. That certainly didn't make Dustin happy. As I was leaving the courthouse I was pushed to the ground with a hard shove, "Why won't you just let him go, she yells at me?" I look up to see this slim young woman standing over me. Next thing I know Dustin is picking me up off the ground. "Madison, why would you push her down?" "I just want this fat cow to let you go so we can get married already, she says." I wrap my arms around my waist to cover my stomach. Dustin notices but doesn't say anything about it. "Let's just go Madison, he says." They walk hand in hand away from me. Not once does he look back at me? I shake my lawyer's hand and head to my Toyota Camry. On my way home I stop at the grocery store and do some shopping then head to pick up Liam from my parents. They know what's going and they don't understand how he could do this to his family. I get home just before the kids are let off the bus. They help me to put away the groceries and get supper ready. The days seem to consist of packing, cleaning, laundry, and school. I try to pack only what we need and sell what we don't. Before I knew it the kids were done with school and out for the summer. We all worked together to get everything packed up and ready to go in the U-haul. The judge had decided to have us meet halfway which would be Rock Springs Wyoming since I decided to move. I don't really think I will be seeing much of him anyway. We take one last look and we all load up in the car and head off to our new home. I gas up the car and on the road, we go. Halfway through all three kids were fast asleep in the back seat. We stop to gas up and use the bathroom and back the road it is. Once we get to Dubois, Wyoming I realize this will be the perfect town to raise my kids. We follow Charles' directions and head down a dirt road taking the first road on my left. It takes us down a long path until we get to this beautiful farmhouse. It's then that I understand we have a long driveway. I take out my phone and flip it open and scroll through my contacts until I land on Charles's number. Ring, ring, ring, "Hello Miss Stacey how are you fairing?" "Well, we just pulled up to the house." "All right, I'll be right there." It's not long before we hear the roar of a pickup truck coming down the dirt road. I wasn't expecting the man that stepped out of the blue truck. Honestly, I couldn't tell you what I was expecting but not him. He stood a good six feet four inches wearing a tan short-sleeve shirt and wranglers with cowboy boots and a cowboy hat. As I slowly looked him up I notice his muscled arms and pecks. I get up to his face and he has a pitch-black beard and the most piercing hazel eyes. Now, this is a man I think. Woah Woah Stacey your divorce isn't even final and you're wanting to jump this man's bones. Plus he's not gonna find me attractive with three kids. That's okay I don't need a man. I will take care of my kids and myself. A girl can dream though right? "Hi, Miss Stacey nice to finally put a face to the name, he says shaking my hand." "Hey, Charles, it's good to finally meet you as well, I say." "Well, let me go ahead and help you get in." "My parents will be pulling into the driveway with our stuff any minute now." "Well let me go ahead and open up the house for ya, he says." As he gets to the step here come my parents in the U-haul. I turn back to see Charles walking back my way. My parents step out and head toward us. "Mama, Daddy this is my landlord, Charles. Charles this is my folks, Mary and Alan Keene." "Hello folks, I hope it buries a few of your fears about having your daughter and grandchildren so far away from you by meeting me, says Charles." My father's the first to speak, "well I don't think anything is going to help with that fear son."

Charles

After getting off the phone I tell my dog Duke that I won't be long and head for my truck. It doesn't take long before I arrived at my old family house. I pulled up in front of the house and see the most beautiful woman I have ever seen. She has long brown hair that curls its way down her back. She had the most amazing curves that would drive any man crazy. She looked good in her jeans and tank top. I hear the chatter of her kids in the backyard as I step out of my truck. "Hey, Miss Stacey glad to finally put a face to the name, I say." "Hello, Charles, it's nice to finally meet you as well." "Well, let me go open up the house for you." "Oh well, my parents will be here soon with the U-haul, she tells me." As I walk toward the front door I hear the rumble of a vehicle coming down the driveway. I walk back to Stacey's side and introduce myself to her parents. "Mama! Mama!" A small little girl comes running our way. "What is it, baby girl?" The girl couldn't have been more than five years old. She was cute a button though. She had long curly hair like her mama but she had blue eyes instead of green like Stacey. "We found a turtle in the backyard can we keep it, the little girl asked?" "No baby the turtle belongs outside with its family." "Okay mama, she says before heading to the backyard." "Pen, honey, be careful please, and help watch Liam for me, Stacy says." "Yes, ma'am she replies." "You got yourself a pretty little girl there I tell her." "Thank you, Charles, I appreciate everything you have done for me she says. Oh before I forget she says walking to her car." She reaches in the passenger window and grabs her purse taking out an envelope and handing it to me. "Here's the first and last month's rent." "Mama, can you help me unload my car, she asks?" "Sure little dove, Mary replies." I walk up to the house to unlock the door and open some windows. After getting the windows opened I head outside to see if I could be of help. Her father and I start to take in the heavy stuff when I had an idea. "Hey, Miss Stacey." "Yes, her sweet voice calls out." "I'm gonna call a few of my ranch hands to come and help us with the heavier stuff, I say." "Oh, are you sure, she asks?" "I can help y'all." "No ma'am we got this, I say back." "Okay if you're sure it's no bother, she says." I pull out my cell and call up Cody and Jaxon to come help with the furniture. "Hey boss what's up, Cody asks?" "Is Jaxon with you by chance, I ask?" "Yeah, he's standing next to me." "Okay, I got a tenant in the old family farmhouse and I'm helping unload her stuff." "Okay, he says." "Can y'all come to help us, I ask?" "Sure bossman. We'll be there in a few." "Thanks, man I appreciate it, I say." "No problem Charles." I hang up just in time to see Stacey come out of the house. The way the sun kisses her exposed skin. She is a really good-looking woman. I just hope Cody and Jaxon don't try and hit on her any time soon. We continue to unload what we can when we hear a truck coming down the drive. Once they park and get out they make their way to us. "Hey, boss where do you want us to start?" That's when Stacey comes out and the guys look up at her. "Now that's a beautiful curvy woman, Jaxon says." "What's her story, asks Cody?" "She's in the middle of a divorce, her husband left her for a younger woman, I say while looking through my sunglasses at her." "Ope, it looks like boss has his eyes on her, says Jaxon." "Oh shut up, she's my tenant and has three kids to look after. Hey, Stacey, I want you to meet a few of my friends. This is Jaxon and this is Cody." "Howdy, ma'am. Nice to meet you says Jaxon." "Well hello, guys. Thank you for helping out, she says." She bats her eyes at us and excuses herself to check on her children. It doesn't take us that long to get everything in the house and set up. By the time we are finished, it's supper time. "Well, thank you all for the help, Stacey says." "It was nothing ma'am, Cody says." "Well, I better get these kids loaded up so we can head to the store for groceries, she says." "Stacey honey, we are gonna get going now, her mom says. Are you sure this is what you want? I hear her mother ask her." "Yes mama, it will be better this way, she says. But you will be so far away from us if something happens. What are you going to do with the kids while you work, her mother asks?" "I'll find a sitter mother, she says. Listen I thought long and hard about this and it's not a rash decision. Everyone knew what he had been doing behind my back and nobody thought to tell me, she says. He made me look like a fool in a small town." "So that's it then, her father asks?" "Yeah, dad that's it." "Okay, pumpkin if you think this is the best for you and the kids then I won't say another thing about it." "Yes, I do dad, she tells them." "All right honey then we are gonna get out of here and head home." "Thank you for all your help mama and daddy." She moves to stand next to me and we all watch them head down the dirt road. Stacey turns to me and says, "well I better get these kids fed. Kids, she hollers. Let's go to the grocery store and get something for supper." "Well instead of doing that why don't y'all head over to my place and I'll cook you a nice meal, I say." "Oh no, we couldn't impose on you, she says." "No no, it's no trouble, I say. This way you can relax and hang out with the kids, I tell her." "Are you sure, she asked?" "Yes, we three will take care of supper for y'all, said Jaxon." "Well if you're sure it's not a problem she says." "Of course, it's not, says Cody." "Okay, let me get the kids in the car..." "Oh, y'all can ride in my truck if you want and I'll bring you back afterward." "Let me grab Liam's car seat from my car and we can go, she says." I help her buckle in the two younger ones. Isaac is old enough to buckle himself in. I walk around to her side and open the door. Hey, my mama raised a gentleman. I offer my hand and she takes it. I make my way around my truck and hop in. It's silent on our way to my house. "Oh, I forgot this is Isaac he's eight, Penelope is five and little Liam is two. Can you all say hello and thank you to Mr. Stanton, she asks?" "Hello and thank you, Mr. Stanton, they say together." "Please just like your mama, you can call me Charles, I tell them." "Yes, sir, they say." "You have very polite children, Miss Stacey, I say." "Thank you, I try to instill manners in my kids. They should respect adults, she says." It only takes us a few minutes to get to my house and the guys are already there waiting. I park my truck, get out and start to head around the truck, but the guys are already there opening her door. "Thank you guys, she says." "We are gentlemen, Cody says." We all make our way into the house but Stacey stops and turns to the horizon. I can't seem to think about what she is looking at until she speaks. "It's a beautiful view, she says." I look into her eyes and say "yeah never saw anything more beautiful until tonight." She blushes at the attention and it's the prettiest thing I've ever seen. "Come on, let's head inside, I say." I turn to open the door and see Cody and Jaxon smiling like fools. "We were wondering where y'all got to, but I see you are just admiring the sites, Cody says." I push past them to go to the kitchen. "Make yourself comfortable Miss Stacey, I say. I'm sorry I don't have any toys for the little ones to play with." "That's okay, she says." "How about this I say walking into the living room, I'll turn on some cartoons for them to watch." "Okay, thank you, she says." I turn on the tv and find something that all the kids like and head back into the kitchen to start supper. Stacey comes in asking if I need help and I shoo her away to go relax with the kids. I decide on something simple like spaghetti, salad, and garlic bread. "Supper's ready y'all, I holler." Stacey and the kids walk in saying it smells amazing. Stacey gets the kids set down at the table and starts making their plates. Cody and Jaxon stay and help themselves to some supper as well. I stand in the doorway just watching the events unfold in front of me. It feels good having a woman grace my household again. The sound of the kid's laughter got me second-guessing myself. Maybe I should start dating again. It's been three years since I was with Ellen. I haven't been with a woman since she did me so dirty. You see Ellen and I were engaged and it was getting close to the wedding when I find out she had been sleeping with my ex-best friend Logan. That tore my world apart. I've been pretty lonely since we split. I bet it's something that Stacey can understand. My mind starts to turn toward the gutter by watching her. She's got curves in all the right places. She's not slim but toned. She got a little bit of sun today but it looks good on her. She has a woman's body. It's sexy as hell. Man, she's your tenant you shouldn't be thinking about her like that. I look away from her ashamed of myself. Her husband just left her with three kids. I catch the eye of Jaxon and all he does is wink and smile. God, I hate him sometimes. He knows that he's irritating me and it just causes him to smile wider. There used to be four of us when Logan was our friend. We all grew up together and had been there for one another and then Logan was sleeping with my girl. Cody and Jaxon stuck by me and cut all ties with him because of it. They have been pushing me to get back into the dating scene but I guess I just wasn't ready to.