No Promises Tonight - A Cowboy BB Love Story - Rated T Author: IHartBooth

Their meant to be together no matter what era it is:)

BGWGscienceteacher

*thud*....that was - *thud*....I'll just stay down here...in the gutter room...that was amazing though....holy crap...

miller0259

Aww...too sweet...glad they are together....hope he comes back for her!!! Please post more soon hart!

cariness

Sorry about the delay in posting guys, if you've lost interest in this, don't blame you...but, I hate loose ends. So here's the last chap.

It was raining. How appropriate. She stood just under the protection of the overhang outside her bar and watched as he mounted his horse, already soaked to the skin with the cool summer downpour. Inevitably his eyes met hers and she could read all the promises he hadn’t made and all the honesty he’d given her the night before written plainly in the brown depths of them.

The rain had driven everyone inside and it felt as if they had the whole world to themselves in that moment. Her fingers itched to hold him, her arms felt empty without him inside them so she crossed them over her chest and stuck her chin out in that defiant way she did. She didn’t want to need anyone, she knew that. But in the past 24hours she’d learned that she unequivocally, completely needed him, more than water or air. And the naked fear she felt because of that made her shiver as if standing in the middle of a winter snow.

He saw her shiver and bit back the impulse to tell her to go inside where it was warmer. If he’d learned anything the night before, it was that Temperance Brennan did exactly what she wanted, when she wanted. He admired and respectfully feared her for it. Everything about her drew him in and pulled at him, as if with physical ropes and chains.

He’d never been the kind to stay in one place for very long, but he’d also never felt so completely entwined with another person before either. Even as he mounted his horse and looked at her through the rain, he knew deep in his heart that he’d be back for her. That she would wait for him even though she swore she knew he’d never return. Since speaking over the pounding water was nearly impossible, he wished to communicate all his thoughts and hopes without words, using the connection they’d had from the very first moment their eyes met, and he knew she understood. The shyest of smiles danced slowly across their lips.

In an instant the connection was broken and with a slight nod he turned and galloped out of town, mud and water splashing beneath the horses’ hooves and the fog and rain soon masked his lone silhouette. He was gone. She swallowed hard and tore her eyes off the dark horizon, hugging her arms closer and knowing he would never come back this way again. She knew that, past experience had taught her that much. And still…she couldn’t seem to quash the small desire that burned in her heart, wishing and hoping that he would one day be back for her.

“Sweetie please, it’s hotter than the hinges of hell in here.” Angela sighed, draped across the bar in a very unladylike stance, but not really worrying about that fact as she sipped her cool beer and cooled herself with an oriental fan Jack bought her in San Francisco.

Brennan looked at the floor to mask a roll or her eyes and lazily turned the page in her book. “You can leave anytime you want to Ange, I told you that.” She flicked light blue eyes at her friend and casually scanned the bar, empty save two old timers playing poker with pennies in the corner.

“Yes, and I told you I’m not going anywhere without you. You’ll read yourself to death in this heat.”
“That’s impossible Angela.”
“How do you know?” She tugged irritably at her puffy red skirt and made a disgusted face at her inability to get comfortable in the insanely humid air inside the bar. Seeing her friend was about to retort, she jumped in quickly, not wanting another of her long drawn out medical lectures. “What ever happened to that cowboy?”

Brennan returned to her book, replying distractedly, “Cowboy? I’m going to need something a little more specific than that. In case you haven’t noticed, the majority of the people walking in and out of here are cowboys.”

Angela was the one to hide a roll of her eyes. “You know the one I’m talking about Brenn. The Marshall?”

Her gaze flicked up sharply and darkness passed over her blue eyes for an instant, before being quickly masked and pushed aside. “That was nearly six months ago Angela. He’s not coming back, you know that.”

Angela saw the change but didn’t comment, having seen it many times before and knowing better than to call attention to it. “I know no such thing.” She leaned far over the bar and laid a delicate hand on her friends’ pale wrist. “You’ve really got to learn to have a little faith in people Brennan. They don’t all let you down.”

After a moment of hesitation Brennan set down her book and pulled away quickly, turning to rearrange some glasses on the back counter. “All evidence to the contrary.”

The dark haired pianist sighed in defeat and turned away to look outside and, hopefully, pass the day a bit quicker, when her eyes landed on the swinging doors, and a vaguely familiar silhouette forming behind them.

“Oh, you think so do you?”

Brennan’s shoulders slumped. “Angela, it’s too hot to argue, can’t you just accept the fact that people who make promises can’t be…” She turned around to emphasize her point and halted mid sentence as a tall, broad, tired looking cowboy moved slowly through the front door, “trusted.”

His hair was a little bit longer. He’d forgone the vest and badge, instead opting for a light cotton shirt, the top three buttons undone. He was stubbly and sweaty, his hat was different too, but there was no mistaking his eyes. They met, as before, from across the room and there was nothing anymore. No bar, no heat, no beer and no Angela. Nothing outside blue and brown gazes, locked in a battle of fear, hope, trust and relief.

“You came back.”

“I told you I would.”

They spoke quietly, inching toward each other with calculated steps. He moved three steps further inside, she moved three steps further from behind the bar. Give and take, as it should be, she’d always thought.

“I didn’t believe you.”

“I know.”

That sweet, almost flowery scent hit him again and he found himself inhaling deeply without really meaning to, he’d almost forgotten how wonderful she was. She balled her fists to contain her fingers as they began to tingle with the familiar urge to hold him once more.

“Why?” She whispered once they were mere breaths apart. A small, lopsided smile took hold of his lips.

“Guess I just had to prove you wrong.”

She smiled too then and clenched her fists tighter to keep herself from reaching out to him.

His eyes fell to her lips and back again ,silently asking permission. She swallowed hard and silently granted it, bottling up the fear that had held her captive for so long.

He pulled her close and despite the heat she only wished to be held closer. She opened her hands and took hold of his shirt, tugging and pulling at him. As if to melt him into her would be the only way to know for sure that he was actually there.

Booth pressed his nose into her neck and hair, the flowery scent he’d been so missing invaded and overwhelmed his senses. As she pulled at him, he tugged right back, the heat of the day all but forgotten as they pressed their bodies closer. Now that he was back in her arms, he found himself wondering how he’d ever managed to survive these last few months without her.

Reluctantly ,they pulled apart, wearing matching, goofily happy grins.

“You got your guy?”

“I did.” He read a question in her eyes and wound his fingers with hers in reassurance. “So now…I’m back.”

“To stay?” She asked before she could stop herself, feeling more vulnerable than she’d intended.

Booth nodded, responding quietly, “For as long as you’re willing to put up with me.”

A new smile, this one holding back tears, crossed her face and she went back into him, wrapping her arms around his neck and turning toward his ear.

“Than make yourself comfortable Cowboy, you’re gonna be here a while.” She whispered. His tightened grip around her waist assured her that was what he wanted and she pressed her face into his shoulder once more as a few tears escaped her eyes.

“Hey Marshall.” A voice called out from across the bar and the two pulled apart just enough to see Angela making herself at home behind the counter, a sly grin on her face. “How about a cold beer?”

Booth smiled and then looked at Brennan. “You’ve still got to tell me how you manage that.”

“Yeah well, we’ll see about that.”

They settled on a pair of stools, hands gently, deliberately brushing against each other as they settled into place, and Angela put two mugs of beer in front of them.

“So, Mr. Marshall, what’s next? More criminals to go after?” She said, leaning over, elbows on the bar as a few hastily pinned black curls fell into her face.

“Nope, nothing so far. I put Thompson away and came right back here.” He squeezed her hand below the bar, and Brennan blushed, gulping down her beer as fast as possible.

“Well, what a coincidence.” Angela said, feigned shock and surprise, “Would you believe that we have an opening for Sheriff right here in Hodgins City…and I happen to know a very influential man.”

“Really now?” He said, sipping his beer, “Sounds like you’ve got it all worked out.”

“I try. I certainly do try.” She looked up to grin that sly grin she did so love, but in that moment, she could have been wearing a carved out pumpkin on her head and yodeling on top of the bar, the two people in front of her certainly wouldn’t have noticed.

Rolling her eyes, Angela couldn’t hide the satisfied smirk that graced her lips as she collected her beer and went to join the quiet poker game happening over in the corner. Booth and Brennan didn’t see her go, but then, neither did Angela when they disappeared inside Brennan’s room at the back of the bar five minutes later.


Not one of my strongest endings, but at least all the loose ends are tied. Catch ya on the flip side, peeps. Thanks for reading.

whooooo hoooooo......he came back......i am very surprised you made him come back.........knowing you, i would have thought he was injured somewhere......shot and bleeding...cause thats what hart does.........so glad to see it wrapped up......and of course i like the ending..........whoooooooooo hoooooooooooo again

Hey... loved this fourth chapter. Sheriff sounds like a interesting possibility. Can't wait to see what happens next.

saraluvzbonz