Page 16 of Take Me Please, Cowboy
“Why?”
He shrugged.“It’s hard on the body, and hard on the family.”
“You miss your family when you’re gone?”
“I worry about them,” he admitted, unwilling to say too much tonight.He really didn’t want reality to overshadow the Friday night street party.He turned her hand over, stroked the inside of her wrist with his thumb.“But I’m glad to be here.With you.”
Her blue gaze met his.Her cheeks were pink.“You are?”
“I love small towns.I love being here for the eighty-fifth rodeo.”He hesitated, his thumb drawing slow circles over her pulse.“I don’t know if I told you, but I was here ten years ago, for the seventy-fifth Copper Mountain Rodeo, and it was one of my worst weekends ever.”
“You didn’t qualify for the Sunday finals?”
“Worse than that.I was thrown off my horse in my very first event, and then stepped on.I ended up in the ER, needing surgery to set my arm.”He winced, remembering.“I broke it in three places.It took forever to heal.”
She never looked away from his eyes.“Ouch.”
Ouch indeed, but now he was here, older, harder, no more stars in his eyes, which made this moment even more special.Beautiful moments were far and few.With any luck, tonight would never end.“But here we are,” he said, “and my gut says it’s going to be a good weekend.”
“I like the way you think,” she said, smiling at him.
And he liked the way she was looking at him, as if he were someone wonderful, as if at any moment he’d transform into a superhero.No one ever looked at him like that.He wanted to ask if she could come to the rodeo tomorrow but that would be jumping ahead too quickly.He had to slow down and just enjoy this evening, enjoy her.
“Have you heard from your uncle?”he asked.
She shook her head.“I did call the hospital on my way here, but Uncle Clyde was sleeping.I’m planning on going to see him in the morning.I’m not certain he’ll be ready to come home, but I’ll at least be able to talk to his doctors face-to-face.”
Beautiful, kind, compassionate.
The whole package.
Slow down, Calhoun.Don’t get ahead of yourself.
Rather than think about tomorrow, he watched her expressive face and listened to her voice, amazed at how it wrapped around his heart, making him tender.If they were somewhere else, he’d pull her into his arms, but that was dangerous.It was so much better—smarter—to remain here in public where nothing could happen.As it was, these past two hours had done a number on him.He was feeling things, feeling alive, and he’d forgotten what it felt like to feel… open.Human.
Feelings were things that he kept locked up and put away, but somehow, Ansley had a secret key to the lock on his heart.She made everything feel easy.Being with her was effortless.Being with her, he felt younger, stronger, as if he weren’t thirty and trapped in a life he hadn’t asked for—
No, that wasn’t fair.That was harsh.He didn’t want to be ugly.This all—these past thirteen years—had been his choice.He’d volunteered to provide.He’d insisted that his sisters go to college, even if part-time.He’d wanted Jasper to have the best care possible.But that didn’t make the commitment painless, and it didn’t take away the struggle and the quiet whisper of resentment.What about me?When will it be my turn?
Inner conflict was the hardest of conflicts because there was no one to blame.There was no fire or storm creating havoc.There was no destructive wind.Not even a slippery roof in his case.There was just him, and his struggle between being strong and giving, and small and bitter.
He refused to be bitter.He was a better man that that.But still, it had been a while since he felt like a good human being.So much of his energy was spent just keeping all the balls in play that he rarely had time to just be, much less be in the moment, and this night with Ansley was everything a special night could be.So close to perfect that he couldn’t slip into analysis.Better to just let it be what it was—a wonderful escape.A respite from his rigid routine.He had to enjoy it, because it wouldn’t last.How could it?He’d leave Sunday night and then there would be work on Monday and another rodeo at the end of the week, this time in Oregon.He wasn’t complaining.He would be ashamed of himself if he complained as it was a privilege to be able to take care of his family.
And yet, this, tonight was wonderful.He felt younger, happier, and free.As if anything was possible and magic existed in the world.
Impulsively, Rye lifted her hand, pressing a kiss to her knuckles.
“Yes, cowboy?”she said breathlessly.
“Want to dance?”
She nodded and smiled, the smile that made his chest ache, the smile that made him feel like the luckiest man in the world.“I’ve been dying for you to ask.”
“Can’t have that.”He rose, their hands still locked.He wasn’t about to let go of her.
As they threaded their way through the crowd, he spotted Jackson Flint, the guy who’d stopped to help him yesterday when his truck overheated.He was with a beautiful woman and clearly only had eyes for her.
Rye smiled faintly and held Ansley’s hand a little tighter.He could tell folks were watching them, and they were probably wondering how a beat-up cowboy like Rye could have snared a gorgeous creature like Ansley.He didn’t know, either, but he felt good and proud.It wasn’t just because she was beautiful.It was her confidence.She was a straight shooter.No beating around the bush, no silly protests, no games.It felt good not to play games.But honestly, right now none of that mattered.The only thing that mattered was drawing her into his arms, holding her close, his left hand low on her waist, his right hand taking hers.It was one of those western dances where everyone knew the steps.He knew the steps, but the dance wasn’t important.She was, and she felt incredible in his arms, her hips against his, her long legs matching his steps.
