Page 71 of Rogue Cowboy
“I didn’t want to wake you.And then I didn’t want to cause gossip as you’ve been so keen to avoid it until after the rodeo.”
Her look of scorn was full of fire.
“That’s considerate.You got what you wanted finally and then didn’t want it so beat feet out the door.It’s fine, Cole, I didn’t ask you here.You came.I’m not holding you to anything.”
He felt like he was spun around and turned inside out.
“I don’t need you.Last night was fun—more than any dreams I ever had, but I’m not holding you to anything.I never was.”Her eyes looked hot and dry, and she vibrated with hurt and anger.
How had he made a mess of everything so quickly?He felt like they were back at stage one, again, and was trying to find his footing or a handhold, but there were so many people around this was the last place they should have a serious conversation, but with the finals today, the animals, her brother Boone in the finals and some Ballantyne Bash tonight, he had no idea when they could have the conversation—dinner with her folks tomorrow?
Yeah, that would be prime time to dig out their laundry.
“I intend to be held to our vows.I don’t want a divorce.”He practically spit the words out like his mouth was a nail gun.“No one in my family has divorced.No one.”
Well, his cousin Elijah had finally given up the ghost of his disastrous marriage, but then his ex had hightailed it again, and it was hard to serve papers to someone off the grid, so technically he was married.
“I even brought a ring with me,” he said, knowing this was totally the wrong time but helpless to stop himself from pushing back hard against Riley’s unexpected resistance.
“It was my mother’s.”He dragged the green velvet box out of his coat pocket.
“Cole, no.”Riley paled and placed her hand on his arm, stilling him.“It was your mother’s,” she whispered.“It’s precious.A family heirloom.”
“Exactly.”How could she not see it?“You are my family.”
“But you live in Texas,” she said like it was Mars.
“Riley.”Sarah Telford appeared at the end of the row.“Got a minute?”
“Yeah,” she said, swallowing hard.“Of course, Mom.”Then to him she announced, “I’m not running away.I’m calling time out.”
She even held her hands up in the universal signal.
“So figure out what you want, Cole.And I’ll make my list.”
“A list sounds official.”
“You’re the one spouting all the big ideals—vows, forever, heirloom ring, and not one word about love.”
She spun around, but not before he caught the sheen of tears, and she strode toward her mother like she had an escaped foal to corral.
*
Riley drooped withexhaustion instead of the usual elation she felt after a successful rodeo.Their bulls and broncs had scored well.Boone was still a champion bulldogger, Petal and Arlo’s trick riding had been a hit, and she already had a list of potential clients who’d reached out and wanted to schedule a meeting next week.
She should be happy.
But she was miserable.
She’d laid down the law with Cole.She’d tried to channel her inner Tucker because he’d hurt her.But then her mom had interrupted them, and she hadn’t seen him since.
“Why would he?”she groused at herself.He’d been right.She had been running.She’d always been a slow processor, and last night had given her so much to think about, and she had more questions than answers.
She walked Cinnamon toward the trailer, planning to load up the horses, get them settled back home and attend the bash, and then she and Cole could talk about the future if there was one for them.
A future she wanted.But did she want Texas?Riley couldn’t imagine leaving her family, but Cole probably couldn’t imagine leaving his, and for his grandparents and aunts and uncles to lose the last tie to his lost parents and siblings.Her heart felt squished by the conflict.
Where did that leave them?
