0800 → RULES BROKEN → WAITING ON A FRIEND

“Yes, bourbon. Neat.”

“Anything in particular?”

“Surprise me.”

She placed a glass of bourbon on the bar with a side of water.

“Angel’s Envy. I think you’ll appreciate it.”

“Something to eat?”

“I’ll have the ribeye, medium rare. Something green on the side.”

“Appetizer?”

“No, thanks.”

She walked away and returned a few minutes later with his place setting and silverware.

“Visiting? First time I’ve seen you in here.”

“Yes. I’m staying a week at the Amangani.”

“Nice. Tell Michael—the GM—Dakota says hello.”

“I will, Dakota.”

“And you are?”

“My name is James, but family and friends call me Jimmy.”

“Well, Jimmy, Dakota means friend.”

“Are you here alone?”

“Yes. Flying solo.”

“Let me guess. You needed to get away from the family?”

“No family.”

“Divorced. Son studying in Italy.”

“Work?”

“I am my own boss.”

“Stressful?”

“Not for me. But I have a tendency to stress out others.”

“This was just the right time for a long-overdue vacation to Jackson.”

“I’m sure you’ll be hitting the Snake and Yellowstone.”

“Already did all that.”

Dakota stored that information for later, like she was trained to do.

She wasn’t going to show her cards, but she felt his vibe.

West Coast cool with an East Coast edge.

Interesting combo, she thought.

· · ·

“Hey, Dakota.”

“Hey, Georgia. I thought you were off today.”

“No. Jake asked me to cover for Debbie.”

“Debbie’s daughter had to go to the doctor.”

“No worries. I could use the extra money.”

As Georgia walked away from the bar, she gave Dakota a look.

Jake faded into the restaurant.

Jimmy finished the best steak he could remember having.

He could get used to Wyoming farm-to-table.

· · ·

“So, Jimmy, where’s home?”

“New Jersey, just outside of New York City.”

“Do you work in the city?”

“No. I work from home or the road.”

“So, you’re a ‘consultant.’”

“Something like that.”

“Can I get you anything else? How about another bourbon?”

“No, thanks. I’ll just take the check.”

She returned with his credit card and receipt.

“Here you go.”

Jimmy looked up.

Their eyes locked again.

The bar disappeared.

“I’m off tomorrow.”

“If you want to see the real Wyoming.”

“I thought I saw it already.”

“No.”

She leaned slightly closer.

“You saw what we preserved for guys like you.”

Jimmy held her eyes.

“Guys like me.”

Before he could ask, she was already walking away.

He turned over the receipt.

A phone number.

DAKOTA

Underneath:

0800. Amangani.

Then:

Don’t dress pretty.

Jimmy laughed.

· · ·

Just as Jimmy was leaving The Cowboy Bar, the mood changed.

The Rolling Stones.

“Waiting on a Friend.”

· · ·

Dakota was watching.

Across the room, so was Georgia.

Jimmy disappeared through the door.

Georgia walked over.

“You just broke your own rules.”

Present but invisible.

Intimate but detached.

Dakota looked toward the door.

“We both know a guy like that doesn’t just show up in Jackson Hole.”

Georgia looked toward the empty doorway.

“No. He doesn’t.”

■ ■ ■