Page 6 of Blue Moon Cowboy
“I spend most of my time on the road going from one rodeo to the next as a pickup man for the Rockin’ K Rodeo Company. My son is my pickup partner, so it’s nice to spend time with him. When we aren’t on the road, we are at the ranch. Shaun’s family is there too. They have a small acreage about a mile up the road. His wife, Brylee, helps out when she can, but she and Shaun have two little ones who take up most of her time.”
Jason had no idea why he was telling this stranger all about his family, but something about her seemed to loosen his tongue along with his good sense. As the sun sank into the western horizon, all he wanted to do was wrap his arms around Lainey and see if her lips would taste as sweet as he imagined.
Rather than succumb to the urge, he shoved his hands into the front pockets of his jeans and kept walking beside her, taking shallow breaths so her enticing fragrance wouldn’t completely addle his brain.
“Does your wife help at the ranch, or does she work in town?” Lainey asked, looking at the horses in the pasture closest to them.
That was a question he hated to answer because it made his heart hurt to think about Judy and his mother, and daughter. Instead of letting his maudlin thoughts steal the joy from themoment, Jason looked over at Lainey. “I’m not married. Haven’t been for more than twenty years.”
Both of her eyebrows shot upward in surprise. “Oh, I, uh … I just assumed you would be, with kids and grandkids.”
“I just have the two kids, Lisa and Shaun, and their spouses, and three grandkids. And my brother, and Dad. That’s it.”
“That seems like a lot. A wonderful blessing,” Lainey said as she stopped and watched the sun drop out of view. “We should head back before it’s too dark to see out here.”
“Probably,” Jason said, turning and heading back toward the house. “So, where is your next photography assignment? Andrew mentioned you’re leaving tomorrow.”
“California. The matriarch I’m meeting there is twenty-eight. She lost her grandmother, mother, and older sister to cancer and took over the business her great-grandmother started in the 1950s. They make high-end leather bags. Evie has three kids, owns a small farm with her husband, and still manages to run the company. She’s earned the title of being a pillar in her family.”
“Wow! She sounds like a strong, incredible person. I’ll look forward to seeing what you share about her in your book.”
Lainey cocked an eyebrow at him. “You’re going to buy my book?”
“Of course. If I don’t, Liz would never let me hear the end of it.”
A smile lifted the corners of Lainey’s perfectly kissable mouth. Her lips looked so soft and appealing in the fading light, Jason nearly tripped over a rock while he stared at her.
“Careful,” Lainey cautioned, her hand involuntarily shooting out toward him in a habit ingrained in anyone who has ever cared for a child.
“Thanks.” Jason tried not to let his embarrassment show. “Do you have children? A family waiting for you somewhere?”
“Nope. My parents are both gone, and my only sibling told me not to contact her again until I came to my senses and got a real job. That was nine years ago. As far as I know, she’s still living in New York, where she works as a corporate attorney. She never married, which is probably for the best.”
“That’s … hard.” Jason wanted to ask if Lainey had ever been married, but they were nearly back to the yard, and he had a feeling it wasn’t a topic she’d appreciate discussing any more than she wanted to discuss her family. Her plainspoken words made it clear to him she wanted to move on to a less tragic subject.
“Have you always been a photographer?” he asked, hoping to keep her talking.
“I have. I took photography as an elective class when I was in high school and loved it. I learned all I could about it in college, then got a job as a real estate photographer for a big corporation. I lived in Los Angeles then. After years of staging photos to sell places that didn’t actually look that good, I could tell it had started to eat away at my soul. I felt like I was creating images that tricked people, and it bothered me. When I wasn’t working, though, I took photos for fun, things I liked just for myself. One day, I captured an image of a homeless veteran, and it hit me like a freight train that I was wasting my time and talent in the corporate world. That’s how I got started doing portraits, which led to the Faces series.”
“It was great you could take something you love and pivot into a career that seems like it brings you a lot of joy.”
Lainey smiled. “It does bring me joy, and I love it. I love the people I get to meet and the places I get to see. It’s incredible and amazing, and it feeds my soul. There are days I just about have to pinch myself to believe it’s all real.”
Jason grinned. “From what I’ve seen in the book Tyler has, you are a talented artist. The photos you take are meaningful, honest, and wonderful.”
Lainey ducked her head, as though she wasn’t accustomed to compliments. “Thank you.”
“I’m just telling it like I see it. Kash Kressley’s wife, Celia, is a photographer. She mostly shoots action at rodeos, although she’s been known to occasionally take photos at a wedding or a family gathering. She takes spectacular photos, so when I say you are talented, I’m not just blowing smoke.”
“I appreciate the kind words, Jason. Thank you. I’ve never taken action photos, although I did attempt to catch a few today. It was different and fun.”
Jason grinned at her. “I could be assuming things that aren’t true, but was today the first rodeo you attended?”
Lainey nodded. “What gave me away?”
“Nothing in particular, other than it all seemed so new to you. I’d be happy to share what I know if you decide to learn more, though. I’m at a rodeo almost every week from mid-January through September. If you ever drive through Eastern Oregon, you are more than welcome to stop at the Circle P Ranch in Baker City, whether I’m there or not. My family would welcome you.”
“That’s very kind of you. Both offers. Give me your phone number, and if I decide I want to go to another rodeo, I’ll give you a call.”
