Page 56 of The Cowboy's Ultimatum

“Nite, darlin’, I love you.”

“I love you too, cowboy,” she murmured, then slipped into sleep with her lips curled in a soft smile.

EPILOGUE

One Year Later

It was a warm spring day, and riding up Smoky Hill with Helen and the dogs, Andy was trying to control his nerves. Shortly after Helen moved into his home, he discovered she was a social media genius, something he knew nothing about. She’d created a Facebook page for him, opened an Instagram account, and began posting videos of him working with colts and teaching his clinics. One night over dinner just a few weeks earlier, she’d told him he was approaching fifty-thousand followers on Facebook and almost as many on Instagram.

“You can’t be serious,” he’d exclaimed. “Wait, is this a joke?”

“No, see for yourself,” she’d replied, handing him her iPad. “Look at the bottom of the banner.”

“This is unbelievable. No wonder my clinics sell out so fast. I’m still amazed I’ve been invited to hold one at that big western facility in Lubbock.”

“Don’t be, you’re fantastic. You do what Brody does, ride horses naked, but you put your own twist on it with how you do the roping thing.”

“Fifty-thousand,” he muttered, shaking his head. “That’s almost as many followers as he has.”

“And I bet many of his are because of your sister. She’s a huge star.”

“Maybe, but Brody has that magic touch. What he does with his hands that makes animals just sort of melt is incredible. And people too, so I’m told. But still, fifty-thousand. Just a month ago you said around twenty-thousand.”

“Um…well…I posted some other pictures. That’s when things took off. Click on the Meet Andy button.”

As he touched the link, a short video appeared showing him shirtless and tossing hay to the horses.

“What the hell is this?”

“You now have a ton of adoring fans,” she declared with a giggle. “Remember that day I followed you around taking photographs?”

“Hell, yeah, you drove me crazy.”

“Well, they’re a hit. You could be on the cover of Cowboy Love if you wanted to be. Scroll through them. You are one fit, handsome man, and the best thing is, you’re all mine.”

He’d been astounded, and also a bit embarrassed,

“I’m going to start merchandising you,” she’s continued. “A friend of dads owns a clothing company and I can get T-shirts at a huge discount.”

He’d been blown away, but in addition to her enthusiastic support, =she had a passion for horses that took his breath away. She was devoted to them. Now reaching the top of the trail, he readied himself to ask the ultimate question. As they climbed off and tethered the horses under the shade of a tree, he brought her into his arms and hugged her tightly.

“Darlin’, I love you to bits.”

“I love to you, Andy. It’s hard to believe it’s a year ago today since that awful thing happened at Lake View Point.”

“Yeah, it feels like ages ago, but at the same time, like yesterday. The sheriff said some people will be there to pay their respects, so he’s openin’ it up and he’ll stay to make sure everyone’s safe.”

“Um, Andy, there’s something I have to ask you, I mean, tell you, and it’s really important. I’m just not sure how to begin.”

“Sorry, darlin’, I have to go first or I might not, uh…”

“What’s wrong? Are you upset with me?”

“Lord no, but I will be if you don’t agree to something.”

“Andy, you’re talking in riddles. Whatever it is, just ask.”

“Okay. Here goes nothin’.” Reaching into his pocket and dropping down on one knee, he presented her with a solitaire diamond ring. “Darlin’, will you make your stay here permanent?”

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