Page 62 of Loving Decker

The first person in line was none other than Decker. “What is he doing?”

Mrs. Dawson squinted her eyes. “Is that our Decker?” She grinned. “I have no idea.”

Then Maverick opened up with his usual. “Helloooo Willow Creek! It’s Friday night in Texas. You’re at the rodeo at the Willow Creek Fair. It doesn’t get any better than this.”

The crowd went crazy, people standing and cheering and making noise.

Maverick’s grin could have cracked his face.

Eventually they quieted enough so that he could speak. “And now, we will introduce some of our acts. But first, to get us started, Decker has a special announcement.”

Decker came flying out in full costume, his horse tearing around the arena at a gallop. He went around once and then circled back until he was standing in front of Faith.

He held out a single rose. “Faith Haws.” His voice echoed through the arena. He wore a clip-on microphone.

She smiled and brought the rose to her face.

They were both up on the jumbotron, so she waved. And everyone waved back. What a dear town.

Then Decker held out his hand. “Want to ride?”

She looked around her, and everyone was nodding. So she climbed out over the railing and onto the front of his horse. His arms went around her, and they took off around the arena again. “I’m the guy who is going to get this parade started. Is everyone ready for the rodeo to start?”

The crowd went crazy.

And Faith was loving it all.

“Okay, first I have an important question to ask this beautiful woman I’ve got in my arms.”

Everyone clapped in rhythm, and then got faster and faster until they were clapping like crazy again.

But when they quieted, Decker nuzzled her neck and said, “Faith Haws, one day I’d like to ask you to marry me.”

She gasped and brought a hand to her chest.

“But first, I think you need to be my girlfriend. Will you be mine?”

She was sure the crowd made noise and that there were other people around, but after the wordmarry, everything had gone quiet. Marry Decker. There wouldn’t be anything in the world better than that. Would that it could be tomorrow.

But his girlfriend? Of course. She’d always been his girlfriend. “Yes!” She kissed his cheek.

And the crowd shouted their approval.

“With that happy news, let the parade begin!”

In a long line, the rodeo participants entered one by one. Faith and Decker led them all.

“You happy?” he whispered in her ear once the microphone had been turned off.

“So happy.”

“Me too.” His arms tightened around her, and she felt loved and safe and powerful.

Chapter Twenty-Four

Decker got dressed in his best church clothes and headed to the hospital. Faith had announced to everyone that she would be turning off the life support for Grandpa. And people were invited to spend his last remaining minutes with him.

It was a generous gift from Faith; everyone would now be able to say goodbye. She had been at the hospital all morning by herself, sitting with him. She’d even taken some selfies to send to Decker.

---