Hold Me, Cowboy, page 13
They piled into Ivy’s car with Rhett behind the wheel. Kendall sat back and allowed Peta to monopolize the conversation. They wove their way through the mountain pass out of Bozeman and when they emerged on the other side to look over Paradise Valley, Kendall sighed.
“Glad to be home?” Ivy said softly from where she sat between Kendall and Peta.
“I am. It’s been an incredible trip but I’m the same person I was when I left. A small town girl who’s happy to be home.”
Ivy smiled and patted her leg. “I know someone who’ll be glad to hear that.”
Kendall nodded, not trusting herself to speak. Rhett would have told Brent their new arrival date and she’d gone to text him several times. But each time she couldn’t press send. She needed to see him in person and to see his face to know if any of his fears lingered.
Peta’s travel anecdotes continued to entertain everyone until they reached Marietta and their red brick, Bramble Lane home. Gifts were exchanged and the special dinner their father had cooked, savored.
As darkness pushed against the kitchen windows, Peta smothered a yawn.
“Dad, Mom’s apple pie was delicious. I can see me coming to town once a week to eat, not at the diner, but here.”
The smile that softened her father’s weathered features said how much he’d missed them.
Peta stood to collect their empty plates. “I’d best head off. I don’t want to leave it too late in case deer are on the road.”
“What’s wrong with staying here?” her father said, voice gruff.
Peta dropped a kiss on his forehead as she passed by him to the sink. “Nothing. It’s just that I’ve a foreman to deal with. I bet Tanner Ross hasn’t done a single thing I’ve asked.”
Ivy arched a fine brow. “Good luck. Rhett, you met Tanner at Grey’s didn’t you? I can’t remember your exact words but they went somewhere along the lines of Peta might have met her match.”
Rhett grinned. “They were my exact words.”
“I’m sure you saw him in Grey’s,” Peta said, unfazed. “He was probably slacking off.”
Rhett chuckled. “A guy like Tanner doesn’t slack off. I’d unpack those tough-girl cowgirl boots of yours before you leave. You’ll need them.”
“I’ll do just fine. I’ve never had a problem dealing with a headstrong cowboy before.” She turned to Kendall. “Would you like to bunk down at the ranch tonight?”
“Thanks, but I’ll stay with Dad. I’m sure it will be much more … peaceful.”
But when good-byes had been said to Peta, and then Rhett and Ivy, and Kendall wheeled her suitcase into her Bramble Lane room, she hesitated. She didn’t want to stay here either. She turned and retraced her steps to the kitchen, her bag in tow.
Her father looked up from the crossword he was doing. He took off his reading glasses and slid them into his pocket.
“I’m guessing you’re not staying either? I’m going to make waffles for breakfast.”
“No. Sorry.”
“I thought so.” He stood and collected a set of keys from off the rack on the wall. “You were out of gas so I filled up your car.” He passed her the keys to her sedan. “Make sure you watch out for deer too. They could be bad on the drive into Fire Weed.”
Kendall searched his stern face. “You don’t … mind.”
“Why would I?” Rare emotion shone in her father’s eyes. “Brent proved himself a long time ago. Anyone who’s willing to take me on is worthy of you.” Her father’s serious tone lightened. “If it’s any consolation, he looks as dreadful as you. Neither of you must have eaten in a month.”
“Thanks, Dad.” Kendall gave him a tight hug. “I’ll call you tomorrow.”
*
“Across you go.” Kendall pressed her foot to the gas pedal and slowed to allow two skittish deer to bound across the road. They left the strong beam of her headlights and disappeared into the night. This pair was the third lot of deer she’d seen since leaving the road. Along with the deer, she’d also seen plenty of the sleepy black cattle Brent had been looking forward to arriving. Once again Fire Weed was the working ranch it was always meant to be.
She continued to drive slowly until she reached the ranch house. Ruth’s room was dark, along with the room Betty would be sleeping in. The faint glow from the kitchen window suggested that Brent could still be awake. Perhaps she should have called to let him know she would be coming but she needed to see him without his defenses in place.
She parked in her usual spot beside the shed and took a moment to calm her breathing. However their reunion went she needed to remain composed and capable of talking through any issues, like why she’d stayed away longer.
A blurred shape raced across from the back porch. Rosie had come to greet her. Kendall’s heart warmed. The red-heeler hadn’t barked. She thought Kendall and her sedan belonged at Fire Weed. Kendall left the driver’s side seat to greet the exuberant dog.
Kendall’s soft laughter echoed through the stillness. “Yes, Rosie girl, I’m excited to see you too.” Rosie wiggled and wagged her tail so much it was impossible to touch her.
After she’d managed to land a pat on her head, Kendall collected her bag from off the passenger seat and set off toward the house. She knocked on the kitchen door. No one answered. She carefully pushed open the door and was greeted by the sweet scent of a large bouquet of flowers still wrapped in silver paper in a vase on the sideboard. The familiar clang of the hot water pipes sounded. Brent had to be taking a shower.
She made her way to his room and set about taping as many of the postcards she’d saved for him as she could to his wall. When she heard the hot water pipes go quiet, she stifled a flurry of nerves and slipped out of her clothes and into his black shirt she’d carried around Europe. Heart pumping, she pulled back the covers and slid into his bed. She shivered at the coldness of the cotton sheets. She’d meant it when she’d said she’d wanted to take up exactly from where they’d left off.
Silence closed in around her before her nervous breaths filled her ears. Footsteps sounded, a hallway floorboard creaked and then Brent was in his room. Dressed in nothing but a low-slung towel around his waist, he was so gorgeous the tears she’d held onto while away threatened to fall. He was the only dream she’d ever wanted.
He realized she was there. His bare chest stilled and then rose and fell sharply.
“Dell.” Her name sounded more of a groan than a word.
She sat up. All the greetings she’d rehearsed flew out of her head. All she could manage was a breathless, “Yes.”
His guarded gaze briefly left hers to skim the wall of postcards. “You’re home and have been … busy.”
“Yes. I’m home … where I belong.” This time her voice grew stronger and more certain.
Brent didn’t move. The toll of the weeks apart was etched in every strained and lean line and she knew her own suffering was reflected in physical changes too. The grooves beside his mouth deepened. He folded his arms.
“When did your plane land?”
“A few hours ago.”
She drew her knees to her chest beneath the covers and looped her arms around them. This stilted conversation wasn’t how she wanted their reunion to go but she had to give him time. She also wouldn’t let the fact that he again withheld his emotions from her, sway her off course. She wasn’t leaving his room until the cowboy before her was finally hers.
A muscled pulsed in his cheek. “You … stayed away longer.”
She pushed off the bed covers. “Yes, we did.” She stood to rifle through her purse on the chair. She walked over to him and breathed in the clean scent of soap. “This is why.”
She held up her phone that contained a picture of a laughing Peta. Dressed in a sleeveless white dress, Peta stretched her arms out wide against the background of an azure blue Italian sea.
“Peta looks like she’s having a great time.” Brent barely looked at the photograph. “Dell … it’s okay if you had a great time too and found something that will make you happy outside of Marietta. Whatever it is … wherever it is … we will make it work. Fire Weed is nothing without you here.” His voice lowered to a rasp. “I’m not being apart from you again.”
Kendall trembled with the force of her love for the man standing so still and so rigid before her. A man who fought for them to be together by offering to give up everything he’d ever wanted to make their future a reality.
“Brent, thank you … but no one is going anywhere, least of all away from Fire Weed.” Her words were little more than a whisper. “We want the same thing in the same place.” She held up her phone a second time. “Look at the picture again. It’s more than Peta having fun. She’s the reason why I stayed away.”
“You stayed for … Peta?”
Brent’s shoulders relaxed and he unfolded his arms. His eyes darkened with emotions that he again allowed her to see.
“Yes. She found herself overseas. She’s the only reason I stayed. It wasn’t because I had any doubts about coming home. I’ve done what you asked. I’ve seen what the world has to offer.” She crossed to the chair, set down her phone and took a folder out of her bag that she sat on the bed. “I’ve also researched every landscape design course, job opportunity and company that is out there and … there’s nothing else I want to do.”
Brent didn’t glance at the folder. All his attention remained focused on her. She closed the distance between them. “There’s no better place for me to specialize in designing gardens featuring native plants than right here.” She touched his bare shoulder. “And when it comes to living my dreams … all I’ve ever wanted was to be with you.”
For a heartbeat he didn’t move but then he smiled. A smile so brilliant and so full of love that all she could do was stare. It wasn’t until his arms encircled her and tugged her close that the reality of what had just happened registered. There was now nothing between them holding them apart. Brent was truly hers.
“And all I’ve ever wanted was to be with you.” His fingers brushed her cheek as if he too weren’t sure if this moment was real. “I love you, Dell. I’ve never stopped loving you.”
She nodded and spoke, even though she wasn’t sure she’d have any words. Tears already welled in her eyes. “I love you too.”
All the past pain and heartache fell away as he kissed her. In his tender touch she felt the promise of a lifetime’s worth of togetherness and loving.
They drew apart. His eyes burned an intense blue. “You do know this means I’m not letting you go again, even back to Bramble Lane.”
She went to speak but kissed him instead to let him know that was perfectly fine by her.
“And here I thought I’d get an early night so I could head into town first thing tomorrow,” Brent said breathless minutes later.
She pulled back a little to see his face. “Why did you need to get to town in a hurry?”
“I was supposed to surprise the woman I love with flowers and to make sure she never went anywhere without me again.” He kissed the corners of her mouth. “But instead she surprised me.”
Her fingertips paused in their exploration of the strong contours of his collarbone. “Did Dad know you were coming?”
“Yes. Why? Did he try and stop you from coming tonight?”
“He tempted me with breakfast waffles before handing me my car keys and practically pushing me out the door.”
“It turns out your father and I have more in common than just missing you these past weeks. We can talk about cattle for hours.” Brent’s hands slid to the small of her back. He grinned as his gaze dipped to where she’d left the top buttons of his shirt undone. “I wondered where my favorite black shirt was.”
She stood on tiptoe to kiss his clean-shaven jaw. “It’s a very well-travelled favorite shirt now.”
“I bet it is. Who knew Peta would ever ditch her western shirts, let alone boots? I guess that means she’ll be back doing Zumba now?”
“She will be. With Izzy leaving, I’ll need a new Zumba partner.” She ran her fingers through his shower-damp hair. “Rhett says the barn’s almost finished. I hope you’ve been fixing it for a wedding.”
Brent chuckled. “Maybe.”
“Well then, you’d better hurry up and get it done.”
He smiled another brilliant smile as his hands settled on her hips to press her close. His head lowered. “Is there anything else I need to do?”
She smoothed her palms over the heat of his chest and tilted her face up to his. “Yes. Stop talking and hold me, cowboy.”
Epilogue
‡
The tender strains of a country love song reached all four corners of Rhett’s barn. In the front side sections, circular tables covered in white sateen were topped with vases of pink flowers, interspersed with creamy candles. Bare branches stretched against barn posts, their fragile limbs draped with fairy lights. Soon the ribboned chairs would seat the wedding guests who, for now, sat side-by-side further inside the barn awaiting the appearance of the bride. As brightly lit as the barn was with the overhead lanterns, it was the warmth and glow of the bonds between family and friends that lit the barn from within.
Kendall blinked away her happiness that today her twin would marry the love of his life. She touched her hair to make sure the delicate flowers tucked into her pinned-up hair remained in place. Trinity was the first of the bridal party to walk down the carpeted aisle and she’d almost reached the front. Soon it would be Payton’s turn, then Peta’s and then hers.
Peta half-turned to glance over her shoulder at Kendall. In her sister’s beautiful face she could see that she was just as affected by today as she was herself. Peta appeared comfortable in her royal blue dress and looked more like a cover-girl than a cowgirl. But Kendall had her own theory about the light in Peta’s eyes. It had been there prior to today’s wedding. Her temporary foreman, Tanner, still ran Bluebell Falls and while his and Peta’s clash of wills continued, Kendall was certain a ceasefire would soon be reached.
Payton started her slow and graceful walk down the aisle and as she passed his row, her father looked back at her and Peta. There was no missing the pride that eased his familiar frown. Kendall again blinked to clear her vision. Their beloved mother wasn’t here to share this special day but she was very much in each of their hearts.
Payton reached the front and stood next to Trinity. Peta started on the long walk and Kendall stepped closer to the edge of the carpet ready for her turn. She felt a cold draft and heard the whisper of material as the barn door opened. She turned to see Ivy enter, old Henry Watson by her side. While the delicate veil blurred Ivy’s features there was no hiding the brilliance of her eyes or the radiance of her smile. Simple and elegant, her strapless and full skirted wedding dress showcased Ivy’s tiny waist. Her steady hands were filled with a large bouquet of white lilies.
Peta had almost reached the end of the aisle and Kendall readied herself to follow. She stood tall and held her bouquet of pink lilies a little higher. She’d already taken pictures of the cluster of flowers to put on her landscape design website. A website she’d only just launched and she already had two garden design jobs.
Peta stopped beside Payton. Kendall took a deep breath before she stepped onto the carpet and walked forward.
Rhett and his four groomsmen stood in a dark-suited row. Kendall’s attention centered on a single set of broad shoulders. When she was halfway down the aisle, Brent turned to look at her. Their eyes met. In the clear blue of his gaze she saw pure and unfettered emotion. Her hands trembled. She didn’t think there would ever be a time when he wouldn’t take her breath away.
She glanced at the lilies, hoping the shake in her hands hadn’t transferred to their delicate petals. A flash of light from her ring finger caused her to tremble again.
Come spring she might have gardens to design but this winter there was one thing on her to-do list – to plan her own barn wedding with the cowboy who was finally, and forever, hers.
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Hold Me, Cowboy by Alissa Callen
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About the Author
When not writing Alissa Callen plays traffic controller to four children, three dogs, two horses and one renegade cow who really does believe the grass is greener on the other side of the fence. After a childhood spent chasing sheep on the family farm, she has always been drawn to remote areas and small towns, even when residing overseas. Once a teacher and a counsellor, she remains interested in the life journeys people take. Her books are characteristically heart-warming, emotional and character driven. She currently lives on a small slice of rural Australia.
More from Alissa:
Visit her website at AlissaCallen.com
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