My Beloved Cowboy's

Chapters 18. Meet Gaby

Rani can't imagine what Philips had in mind when she saw his appearance in the house, until Tony says that he is the grandson of the new owner of Maggie's ranch.

“What is she Simon's daughter?”

Tony nodded and Mr. Philips' face changed instantly, staring at Rani full of days. “Close.” The man spread his arms wide. “You are beautiful like your mother, and you have eyes like Simon. Can I hug you?”

And after that Rani does not remember the details that have been passed, knowing he was already in the arms of Mr. Philips. The man cried sobbing, making the heart of Rani who hugged him back while rubbing the skinny back.

Tony turned his face away, and sighed. He let the two men embrace each other and talk freely just alone without himself, and chose to go out waiting on the porch while lighting his cigarette.

The two hugged each other for a long time, and Mr. Philips slowly stretched his arms as he continued to stare at Rani. “I'm sorry,” he said while holding onto Rani's shoulder. “I got carried away with emotions, seeing you suddenly just reminded me of the figure of your father.”

Rani can only smile and nod understandingly, she was dissolved in a fragrant atmosphere and could not hold back her tears.

“You must have something important until you have to come alone to this house.” Mr. Philips took Rani into his kitchen and stopped in front of a freezer.

“Actually I came here because I wanted to meet Gaby in person. There are things I want to talk to him about,” explained Rani without conveying her true purpose.

“Gaby is not at home, he is working and will be back in the afternoon.” Answer Mr. Philips.

Rani follows him, and for the next time he re-circulates his gaze. There was nothing special about the items in that place, Mr. Philips still wore old-fashioned kitchen utensils.

“We can not afford more modern cookware, Gaby think the items in this kitchen are still worth using.” Mr. Philips said as if he could guess what Rani had in mind.

Rani blushed in embarrassment, she turned her gaze to the table where she presented the results of Gaby's simple cooking. It looks like just an ordinary omelet, but it looks tempting due to its special color texture and appearance. Unknowingly Rani gulps her saliva, she is tempted to try the results of Gaby's cooking.

“I think Gaby is the best chef, she can make simple cooking special. And he is good at making biscuits,” added Mr. Philips again, he gave one can of cold drink to Rani.

"Thank you."

“No, I know you want to try Gaby's cooking. You will love it,”, said Mr. Philips looking proud when talking about his daughter. He thrust a plate containing omelet in front of Rani and a can of biscuits and apple jam.

“Try,” said Mr. Philips again, and Rani could not refuse him again. He ate voraciously and Rani had to admit that Mr. Philips' speech was indeed true. Gaby's cooking taste is delicious, and the biscuits are amazing.

“What did Madame Maggie send you to come see Gaby?” asked Mr. Philips while opening the lids in his hand. The booze of the drink came out and hit his hand, but the man just flicked it and took a quick sip of the drink right out of the can.

Rani was stunned for a moment, she stopped her movements of chewing on the biscuits and swallowed them quickly. “Grandmother feels very lost and wishes Gaby would go back to work on our farm again.”

Mr. Philips sipped his drink again, and threw the empty can into the trash. Without speaking he turned his wheelchair back, walking towards another room of his house. On the kitchen doorstep she stopped, “I know your grandmother was a very nice person, she loved Gaby like her own granddaughter. But I can't force Gaby to go back to work there, you must know what caused it.”

Rani wiped the tip of her hand against the washcloth hanging on the wall, sipped her drink for a moment then walked in following Mr. Philips back.

“I know, which is why I came here to tell him that we really want him back to work at the Maggie.” farm

Mr. Philips stared at the wall clock, still three in the afternoon. Gaby came home at half-six in the afternoon. That means Rani will have to wait for Gaby for another two and a half hours. “Do you want to wait for Gaby to come home this afternoon?”

Rani did not hear Mr. Philips say, she was standing in front of a photo attached to the wall of the house. The photo is worn black and white, which on the sides are already a lot of damaged and bulging.

Rani's hand was stretched out by wiping the image of her father and mother with Mr. Philips, was in the middle of a field that was overgrown with tall grass.

“My father and I have been friends since we were kids, growing up together and going to school in the same place. When I graduated, your father asked me to continue school in the city. But I can't be with her anymore, because I had to help my parents run the farm. A few years later I got married and Gaby was born a year after our wedding.”

“At first everything was fine, until the accident happened. I had to accept the harsh reality of being paralyzed and losing my wife and both of my parents. At that time Gaby was in college the second year, she came home and decided to quit.”

I heard her heavy breathing. Mr. Philips turned his wheelchair around and stopped in front of a large open window, which was creaking loudly as the wind gusted fiercely and hit the shutters.

He was silent for a while, until shortly afterwards his cry was heard. “That Gaby comes, she doesn't usually come home fast!”

Rani follows the direction that Mr. Philips points to, smiling at Gaby who is seen walking hastily. Upon reaching the door of her house, Gaby is shocked to see Rani present inside her house. Just as surprised as Rani saw Gaby's red and puffy eyes, there was also a small cut on the corner of her lips that dried up.

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