Page 2 of The Runaway and the Rugged
A broken leg and concussion.
What would it be next time? A broken hip? Lung? Death?
Peering down at my daughter, eight seconds was no longer the high I sought out anymore, but instead it was an adorable little girl who had stolen my heart from the moment I laid eyes on her.
Bull riding was no longer who I was, no matter how hard I tried to hold on. I was a dad, a single dad at that, and it wasn’t until it took this moment, waking up to my daughter lying in my arms while I was in a hospital bed, that I truly realized that I needed to quit.
After everyone finally spoke to me, ensuring that I was going to be okay, I made a silent promise to myself that day. I would never be selfish with my life again. From that moment on, I realized what truly mattered and it wasn’t the money or the fame.
All I needed was my daughter, and for her sake, I was determined to turn things around. A new chapter, one whereeverything I did was for her, and for a future I could be worthy of.
1
EMELIA
Nathaniel: Good morning, beautiful. I hope you slept well. I’ve arranged for George to pick you up this morning around ten o’clock to take you to the airport for a last-minute surprise.
Nathaniel: Be sure to pack comfortable clothing and some boots if you have them.
Boots?
Nathaniel: Sunscreen too. I’d hate for that delicate skin of yours to burn.
Istared at the round of strange texts my fiancé sent me and forced down the painful lump that was forming in the back of my throat. Nathaniel wasn’t the spontaneous type, and the second my eyes read “last-minute surprise,” an onslaught of scenarios crossed my mind.
Surely this wasn’t an attempt to get me to marry him already? It’s only been a week since he popped the question and I was still recovering from the reluctant yes I had given him.
Quickly backtracking through the entirety of our relationship, I not once could recall a time when he ever made an impulse decision without me knowing about it. Everything was always planned. In advance as well as thoroughly thought-out.
Gnawing on the tip of my fingernail, I continued to stare at the screen as if by some chance the messages would disappear. And as the minutes began to pass, I knew I had no other choice but to call him.
Then tapping the call icon, I reluctantly put the phone to my ear as I rose from our bed. It only rang a few times before he answered.
“Sweetheart!” Nathaniel’s eager voice further unsettled my stomach as I paced the layout of our bedroom. “I’m assuming you're calling because you got my messages?”
Irritation ignited its way throughout my body.
“I am,” I forced down the annoyance that was clawing at me, and gave him the typical, refined version of myself that I carefully constructed over the years. “I’m just surprised and a bit confused is all.”
His polished laughter forced me to toy with the five-carat diamond around my finger. Somehow it leveled out the anger simmering beneath, but it was no alleviant for the uncertainty and doubt that had been plaguing me since the day he put it on my finger.
“Confused? That’s not exactly the reaction I was hoping for considering I love to spoil you as often as I can.”
Sighing, I couldn't argue with him there. He did love to spoil me. From lavish jewelry to the finest of fabrics to adorn my body. He thought by indulging me with gifts, he’d earn my heart. And in the beginning, it seemed to be enough.
Until it wasn’t.
“This is different, Nathaniel,” I huffed, my voice taking a turn toward fiery. “When was the last time you ever planned something spontaneous for us?”
The answer was never, but I was curious to see how he would respond.
“Sunshine…” He sighed as an inkling of annoyance began to poke through. “I will admit that I’ve neglected you in the aspect of arranging getaways, and I fully plan on fixing that, but you have nothing to be confused or worried about. Think of this as the start of something new for us.” He paused. “Think of this as something only a man who is madly in love with a woman would do.”
His words did nothing to soothe my wariness. If anything, he had made it worse.
“Natha…”
“Emelia.” His assertive voice shot through the phone like a bolt, sending all my worries straight into the pit of my stomach.
