Page 26 of Cowboy Crush
She laughs and smacks my chest playfully.
“Guys, it’s time,” one of her employees says from the other side of the curtain. I take a minute to kiss her deeply, then we part and pull open the curtain. She walks over to the door and unlocks it, followed quickly by flipping the sign to open. She squeals. “That’s it. We’re officially open for business.”
Her two employees have a quiet cheer, and the door opens. I never expect who walks in.
My dad.
Hannah looks from him to me with fear on her face. I walk over to her. “It’s okay. I’ll be right back,” I tell her, opening the door and holding it for my dad. He steps out, and I follow him.
He starts toward his truck.
“What are you doing here, Dad?”
He turns around and leans against the hood. “Bluff over at the jewelry store came in to the market today. You’ll never believe what he told me.”
I have an idea. I don’t respond.
“He said you came in looking for an engagement ring. Imagine how surprised I was to learn of my only son planning on getting married from someone in town. Is that her, in there?” he asks, motioning toward the store.
I nod. “It is. Her name is Hannah. We’ve been together for three years now.”
“I know how you feel about me, son. And I can’t say I blame you. But I wanted to give you this.” He reaches into his pocket and pulls out a shiny gold band with a big rock. It’s my mother’s engagement ring. I haven’t seen this since she passed away. He sets it in my hand, and the tears well up as I study it.
“I know she would’ve wanted you to have it.”
I will the tears away. “Thank you, Dad.”
He nods. “Well, I better be taking off.” He turns to leave.
“Wait,” I say, stopping him.
He stops and turns back to face me.
“What happened to us?” I ask, looking between him and the ring in my hand.
He presses his lips together. “What do you think happened?” he asks, lifting one brow.
“I think I let you down that day. That I ruined all the hopes and dreams you had for me. We haven’t been the same since.”
His brows lift as his eyes widen. “You think this is because of your accident?”
“Isn’t it?”
He takes a deep breath. “In part, yes. But you didn’t let me down, son. You could never do that.”
“Then why?”
I see his troubled eyes that look so much like my own fill with tears. “You almost died, son. You almost died because of me. If I hadn’t brought you into that life, you never would’ve been there. You would’ve gone off to college, fell in love, had kids, and you never would’ve gone through all the pain you’ve been through.”
“You blame yourself?” I ask, confused.
He turns his head to wipe his tears away, not wanting me to see. “I do.”
“Dad,” I breathe out. “This wasn’t your fault. You didn’t make me want that life.”
“I didn’t try stopping you either, though, did I?”
I chuckle. “We both know you wouldn’t have been able to stop me. And look at everything I got in return. Once upon a time, I never thought I’d be where I am now. I mean, I found a beautiful woman who loves me with her whole heart…Only God knows why. The Lord knows I haven’t exactly been a saint.” I shake my head. “I’m about to ask her to marry me, and I know she’ll say yes. We’ve already talked all about it. We want kids. We want to start a family. That accident was hard, painful, and life-changing, but I wouldn’t be where I am now without it. And that’s something I’ll never want to give up.”
