Maribel looked out across the field. She was proud of her new life. Starting over had been difficult, but she was finally comfortable in her new skin. Somewhere in her marriage she had lost herself. She started doing things on autopilot, not because she wanted to, but because she felt it was expected of her. After a while, it was suffocating, and she just had to get out.

She had to get away. If she didn’t leave, she would get sucked back into it all. Maribel knew she had to start over. The realization was so strong when it hit her it almost seemed too simple. That was it! Keep it simple. That would be her motto moving forward. She would do what made sense to her, not anyone else. Maribel needed to start something that would be hers and hers alone and not shaped into something she didn’t even recognize.

A voice in her head told her to go west. So, she went.

Maribel ended up in Nevada and decided that was west enough. She bought some land and an old farm house and began to rebuild her life. She stayed true to herself. She kept it simple. She kept to herself and only formed relationships with a few people for business purposes. She worked smartly and ended up with several heads of cattle and a few hands to work them .

By her third year, she was doing well. She had steady income, good land, and hard working hands who respected her decisions. She knew just enough about farm life to know that she needed to surround herself with the right people to keep things running smoothly.

Things weren’t perfect though. Maribel was lonely. Most of the people in town looked at her as an outsider who had swooped in, so they were pretty cold to her. She hadn’t dated in quite a while. With Internet dating all the rage, maybe she could find someone that way since there weren’t really any prospects locally. The thought of it made her nervous though. This was completely uncharted territory for her. She felt as if she needed to practice some. But she would need to find someone she could trust.

Recently when she was looking for some new ranch hands, a strange website came up in her search. It was Cowboys 4 Angels, a male companion agency. Maybe she could practice Internet dating with a professional.

She called the number listed on the website, shocked to find herself speaking with the agency owner. She explained her dilemma and talked through the possibilities with him.  He was very understanding and helpful. Together they decided on a way to practice corresponding with one of the guys and then practice a first meeting. Jax was her chosen suitor, given his close proximity in Vegas.

Garren created a special email address so Maribel could  practice writing the things she would have to tell men as part of the process of Internet courtship. Maribel had to get used to talking about herself, explaining her goals and dreams, and learning to ask the right questions to learn about someone new. After several email exchanges,  Maribel found herself feeling very comfortable. This was easier than she thought it would be. She even found herself flirting online, which surprised her. Garren played the suitor role well and seemed to know all of the right things to say to boost her confidence.

After more than a week of exchanges, it was time to coordinate the initial meeting with Jax. They decided that for their meeting, she would introduce him to her world, and he would introduce her to his.  As she prepared to head to Vegas, Maribel had to admit she was nervous. It had been far too long since she had a first date.

Maribel arrived in Vegas feeling excited but out of her element. This wasn’t the ranch. It was a very different life – a life of glitz and glamour. She arrived in town a few hours before she was supposed to meet Jax. She checked into her hotel and tried to quell her nerves.

When Jax arrived to pick her up, Maribel’s heart skipped a beat. He was even better looking than his photos, but more importantly, he was so down to earth and sweet. He gave her a hug and kissed her cheek in greeting.

“So nice to meet you Maribel. I can’t wait to be introduced to your world”

“I’m nervous about being introduced to yours,” Maribel laughed in return.

They drove about an hour outside of town. On the ride, the conversation flowed easily. The attraction was there—the chemistry. As they continued to drive and chat, Jax held Maribel’s hand, gently teasing her senses with his fingertips. He seemed surprised that his slightest touch to her seemed to take her breath away. It was as if she was highly charged, ready to explode at any second. The scent of her cologne filled the car, tantalizing his senses.

They arrived at the ranch and their horse were saddled and waiting for them. Maribel was grinning from ear to ear.

“Ready to ride, Cowboy?”

“Yes, my lovely Cowgirl.”

And they were off, laughing as the horses took off across the field. They followed the trails, enjoying the scenery and thankful for the occasional shade from the heat. When they reached the creek, they dismounted, enjoying the feel of the cool water running through their fingers. Maribel playfully splashed Jax, and he returned the favor. Despite the water, the electricity flowed between them.

Jax noticed a wall of greenish black clouds in the distance. Holding up his hands in surrender, he suggested they head back.

“If we don’t get going soon, we’re going to be stuck out here riding the storm out. I  need to get you back safely ”

Maribel agreed, looking up at the darkening sky. She could feel the wind change. It was gusting now, and she could almost smell the rain.

Maribel mounted her horse and watched as Jax easily climbed onto his, with his long legs stretched to the stirrups. Maribel bit her bottom lip watching him, wondering to herself how she’d gone so long without a man. The thought surprised her and she shook her head.

They made the ride back, chatting about life, as the wind picked up. The first raindrops were beginning to fall as they approached the barn. They tucked the horses safely away and headed back to town. The sky was black now the rain was coming in sheets, blowing horizontally.

Maribel’s perfume was all Jax could smell, making it impossible for him to concentrate on anything but the scent of her. Maribel was equally distracted. It had been a long time since she’d felt this relaxed with anyone, let alone a man she found so attractive. His light t-shirt was clinging to his body, contrasting against the dark blue jeans and his tan. She fought the urge to run her fingertips down his chest. Maribel felt herself blush at the rush of tantalizing thoughts. She knew she shouldn’t be fantasizing about all the things she wanted to do with him, but she couldn’t take her eyes off of him.

Once back at the hotel, Maribel felt the butterflies in her stomach slowly start to beat into a frenzy. She knew they were supposed to go out, but she wanted to stay in. The heat between them practically caused their wet clothes to steam. As Jax leaned in close, the rest of the city faded into nonexistence. The hell with the city. She had her very own Cowboy right here. No need for the ride to stop.