If there was a cowboy checklist, it would also include not talking about the checklist. If everyone knew of the checklist than anyone could be a cowboy and the special would wear thin. ”No checklist, but they should give us guidebooks when we’re kids. Willie probably messed that up. Tellin’ everbody, mama’s don’t let y’r babies grow up t’ be cowboys.” He sang the end of it. He wouldn’t normally have, but Noel’d asked if he could earlier.

While the Ranger would have called the Dr. Pepper label maroon, he answered in the affirmative. ”That’s the one.”

Noel asked how many people he’d dated. He’d answered and then she answered, and it sounded like a train wreck. Before he asked his question he said, ”That’s horrible! Though I’d argue y’ could raise that t’ two. Goin’ out dancin’ an’ all but kissin’ after is close enough.”

Then he asked about if she ruled a country, what law she would first enact.

It was clear Noel was tired, she had been yawning for a while now. He’d been yawning too, but after she’d answered she seemed to be falling asleep on him.

”I could get behind a country with no pants. If I ran a country I’d outlaw standing on the dancefloor t’ be closer t’ the band.” He clearly had dancing on the brain.

The Ranger gently lay his back back against Noel’s and rested his hand on hers. It wasn’t long before he heard the rhythmic breathing of her sleeping. ”G’night, Noel.” He said softly. He kissed her on the head and then he too fell asleep.

***

It was hot and her head was feeling incredibly woolly. Noel didn't normally sleep with the covers on and she certainly never slept with her cheek plastered to a heat engine. She didn't typically drink. None of this was typical, in fact.

Atypical didn't turn out to be so bad, all things considered.

She made a happy sound low in her throat and just enjoyed being there for a little longer while she hovered somewhere between sleep and wakefulness. The sun wasn't up yet, she realized. A lazy roll and the alarm clock told her it was 2 am. Too early to get up. Too late to really do much. She might have hit the gym if her head hadn't felt so off.

Noel kicked the covers away, feeling a bit suffocated. She rolled back to Ranger and stretched up to press her lips to his cheek before she realize that she shouldn't have.

Bah.

She slipped off to go wash her face. Then it really was a lost cause for sleeping.

She could snoop.
Noel shouldn't snoop.

It was hard being here surrounded by things that could tell her about him. The memorymancer picked through a box until she found a scribble pad and a marker. She worried her bottom lip while she tried to figure out what to say... in the end, she left a <3 on the page and balanced the page in his hand.

He knew where she lived. He even knew how to get in. If his memory was so important to be kept secret, she had to go.

The Ranger dreamed. Upon waking her couldn't remember the dream, but he knew Noel had been there and it had been a good dream.

As he woke he realized that Noel wasn't there. He looked around in the light from the rising sun that was creeping in through the windows. She wasn't in the room. He realized she must have left in the nigh-...Was he holding something? He moved his hand so he could see what was in it. A sheet of paper torn from a notepad, slightly crumpled where he'd gripped it in his sleep, that had a heart drawn in marker.

Smiling, the Ranger slid out of bed. He smoothed out the wrinkles on the paper some and lay it down on an nightstand. His heart had skipped a beat when he realized Noel had left in the night. The note, the note had brought a wave of joy over him.

He wished he didn't have to go to work that day. He wanted nothing more than to just go by Noel's and hold her and kiss her cheek, forehead, and anywhere he could that wasn't her mouth.

Today he wasn't stacked with meetings.

The Ranger smiled. There was certainly time for him to stop by today. Introduce Noel to Charlie Pride.