Happy Independence Day!
Chapter 16
Hi Dear Reader!
I am writing to you from my living room couch. The kids are sleeping and Tank, the Dachshund, is curled up next to me. He isn’t super thrilled about the fireworks being shot off. The city is having a great show from the fairgrounds and my neighbors are also shooting some off. Do you enjoy fireworks?
Except for the four years of vet school in Madison, WI, I have lived in a small town for most of my life. Different ones all over the country and some smaller than others. In my current small town, the sheriff lives on my block. He always waves and is offering help to anyone who needs it. The other day he was in his police car and stopped to give some kids riding their bikes stickers for their helmets. The neighbors meet in the street in the late afternoon to share gossip. That is Toddler Bock’s favorite time to go to the park as the neighbors give her treats and juice boxes. When we get to the park, we see the same people everyday. The kids all play together as the adults talk. There is just a charm to living in a small town.
This week’s book giveaway is all romances set in a small town. Maybe you’ll find one or two or three that need to be on your ereader!
Welcome back for chapter 16 of Second Chance with My Bull Rider. If you are just joining us, you can read Chapter 1 below.
Chapter 16 October 17th
Kade
My leg itched in the walking boot, so I loosened a strap to wedge my finger under the foam to scratch. Nervously, I paced around the kitchen. Everything was ready if only Delilah would get here. She met Melanie for breakfast in town hours ago to discuss more plans for the therapeutic riding stable. I missed her already. I looked at my watch and paced around the kitchen table. Step, clomp, step, clomp in time with my rapid heartbeat.
Finally, her car rumbled down the drive and slowed to a stop in front of the barn. She climbed out of her little car, whistling a tune. Her long black hair was tied into a braid that swung when she walked. A smile played on her lips as she scrolled through her phone while she made her way up the stairs. Her jeans hugged the curves of her hips and led down to red cowboy boots. She reached for the screen door when I swung it open for her. Her face lit up when her eyes met mine, and my heart fluttered in my chest as I took her in. My arm went out to usher her into the kitchen, placing my hand on her lower back and guided her further in. She walked past me.
“What’s all this?” She gestured to the plump saddlebags sitting in the middle of the table and Zip sitting on the floor below them. His stump wagged and his tongue rolled out of his mouth.
“I have a surprise for you.” I hobbled over to the table, handing her a saddlebag. “You take this one and follow me.” I held out my hand. She slipped her small hand into mine and weaved her fingers with mine. Electricity buzzed in my palm and my breath hitched at the contact. Then, she leaned over and kissed my cheek, shocking me to my core. My heart dropped to the floor as I stared into her eyes. Could she forgive me and love me again? Or was she just flirting?
“What’s the surprise?” She broke the moment by playfully pushing me on the shoulder.
“Just follow me.” I led her out the door and to the barn in the back. In the barn aisle, Apache stood saddled. A chestnut mare tied next to him, dozing in the shaft of sunlight. “I thought I could take you out for lunch. Cowboy style.” I winked at her. She giggled and blushed.
“How would that work?” She walked up to the mare and rubbed her forehead, brushing her forelock out of the way.
“Well, first you get on this pretty horse just waiting for you.” I limped over to the mare and untied her. “Then, you follow me.” I handed her reins to Delilah. I wanted to help her into the saddle, but my ribs were still tender. Plus, I did not have the upper body strength to lift her. Delilah snatched the reins from my hands and talked to the horse softly. She placed her foot into the stirrup and swung up with ease. I smiled to myself. That’s my girl. I led Apache outside. I tapped his knees and he laid down to let me mount. I climbed into the saddle. Clucking to my horse, he stood up with a lurch.
“That’s cool.” Delilah rode up next to me.
“Only took a couple of days to teach him.” I reached down and rubbed his neck. “He’s pretty smart.”
“Lead the way, cowboy.”
I swallowed the lump in my throat as I urged him forward. This was my one chance to show Delilah how much she meant to me. My hand shook on the reins, turning him down the lane.
Delilah
That was a neat trick to get Apache to lay down. I didn’t know when he found time to teach his horse that. He rode ahead of me. The warm sun reflecting off Apache’s white coat. Kade’s broad shoulders stretched the cotton t-shirt tight when he set his cowboy hat on his head.
My little mare was agile and responsive. I urged her to keep up with Kade. She tossed her copper mane before moving off my legs into a bouncy jog to cover the ground between us. I sidled her up next to him as the red dirt path widened out to go through a hayfield. Even though it was the end of October, the grass was long and brushed the horses’ bellies. A red fox sprang up from the grass and bounded away, and birds called to each other. I turned to Kade.
“Did you see him? Wasn’t he a beauty?”
A smile broke across his face as he nodded at my questions. “He sure was,” he said.
He sidestepped Apache closer and reached for my hand. It felt safe to be enclosed within his fingers. Our horses stepped together down the lane. My heart was beating out of control at the nearness of him, the fresh air, and the scent of leather. The saddles creaked with each stride and our horses swished their tails at the flies buzzing around. We rode like this for a while until we reached a gate at the end of the field. Kade maneuvered Apache close to the gate and opened it.
“Go ahead. I’ll close it.”
He rested his bad foot on top of the gate to hold it still while I guided my horse around and into the next pasture. The appaloosa nimbly sidestepped the gate shut and Kade latched it with a chain.
“Come on. It is not much farther now.” Kade said.
The wind blew gently from down the hills. It tousled my hair, and I closed my eyes to enjoy the feeling of it on my face.
“Why don’t you let her run for a bit.” He chuckled at my expression. “I obviously can’t.”
He motioned to his walking boot. I looked at him with questioning eyes. He nodded. I whooped. I leaned forward in the saddle and urged her forward. She rocked back onto her hindquarters. She burst forward; neck extended. We flew across the ground. We galloped two laps of the field. The wind stung my cheeks, whipping my hair back from my face. I clutched the reins in both hands as I urged her on. She went faster, stretching her body out. We made another lap before pulling up next to Kade. He grinned at me and I tried to straighten my hair that had come out of its braid. His eyes twinkled and his lips parted. I rode my horse up to him and placed a kiss on his lips. A surprised look covered his face.
“Thank you for letting me ride her. She’s awesome,” I said.
He chuckled. “Come on. We are almost there.”
He led us over a couple of hills to a stand of trees that bordered a creek. We walked the horses down to the trees and dismounted. Kade loosened the cinches and replaced their bridles with halters that were tied onto the saddles. The horses chomped on the grass under the shade of the trees.
“Wow, this is so peaceful.” I wandered down to the creek and kicked off my boots before wiggling my toes in the water.
Kade came up behind me and placed his hands on my shoulders, gently rubbing small circles with his thumbs. “Hmm, that feels nice.” I leaned into his hands. Closing my eyes, I tilted my head back. Kade gently pressed his lips to mine. Butterflies flew around in my stomach as I basked in his attentions.
“I brought us some lunch.” He said before stepping back.
His hand sent tingles down my arm as he led me to a blanket spread out on the ground. He had a couple of peanut butter and jelly sandwiches set out next to a couple of cans of cola. I helped him down as the walking boot was awkward. He pulled me down next to him, wrapped me in his arms, and kissed the side of my neck. Shivers raced down my spine when I leaned into him. I twisted around and my lips met his. Fireworks exploded around us. He pulled away from me. His eyes swept from the top of my head to my lips, where they lingered.
“I wanted to talk to you.” He cleared his throat. He leaned away and ran a hand through his hair. “So, I brought you out here… This is my favorite spot on the whole ranch.”
“Ok,” I urged him.
“I was an idiot.” He pulled at his hair with his hands and stared out into the slow-moving creek. “I should’ve been with you that day.” He swallowed as tears filled my eyes. “I was so afraid.” He grabbed his hat and twisted it in his hands. My stomach twisting in knots from watching him. I placed my hand over his forearm, feeling the muscles bunch and tremor with my touch. “I didn’t want to lose you or the baby and… when I walked into the hospital room and saw you.” He gripped my hands squeezing them tightly. “I couldn’t make myself stay.” His eyes swung to me and searched my face. “And be the man you needed at that moment.” He sighed. “The grief made it hard to be with you… around my family… or even in Sunnydale.”
He drew me closer and tucked me under his arm. His heart pounding and a slight sheen of sweat broke out on his skin. “I think it was why I traveled the country bull riding.” He continued. “I had to get away.”
His eyes locked with mine and I could see the pain and sorrow swirling in their depths. His voice cracked as he said, “I should’ve been there for you instead.” He leaned to the side and pulled out his wallet, handing me a faded picture of me in the green prom dress. “My heart has always belonged to you, even if I couldn’t, wouldn’t acknowledge it…It’s the only piece of you I carry with me.” Tears fell from my eyes. He wiped them with his thumb. “Delilah, I love you with all my heart. Will you forgive me?”
I didn’t know what to say. I’d always loved him, even from afar so I nodded and pressed my lips to his. I don’t know if I could forgive him, but at this moment my heart was screaming at me to take him back. I just had to try.
“Kade, I love you too.”
He wrapped his arms around me. Holding me close to his chest, he kissed the top of my head.
“From now on, I want to always be there for you.” He popped the top of a can of cola. “I don’t want to lose you ever again.”
It was a perfect afternoon, but I didn’t know how long it would last. I pushed the sense of foreboding down and concentrated on enjoying the afternoon. There were so many things we needed to discuss, but first, he had to heal up.
Author’s note: This was such a fun chapter to write. I love it when they can finally start showing their feelings to each other. What did you think?
Hugs,
Allie
P.S. If you want to read ahead, Second Chance with my Bull Rider is available for purchase on all retailers and to check out from your local library.
Love fireworks but rarely get to see them.