by Carly Bloom
Ford hadn’t left because he didn’t care. He’d left because he cared too much.
“I’m a grown woman. I don’t need protecting.”
Ford grinned. “You give me fits.”
The ice nugget was no match for the grin. It was for sure going to embarrass itself and melt all over the place.
“I don’t expect forgiveness or for you to return my affection,” he said. “But I’ll always save a space for you; in case you can ever change your mind about me—”
She placed her forehead against his. “You have to forgive that broken little boy inside you. Can you do that?”
“I can try. Because I love you, Claire. I’ll do anything for you, even if it means learning to forgive myself.”
“You’ve never said you love me before.”
“I was afraid to say it out loud, in case it invited bad luck…”
“You’re not cursed, Ford,” Claire said.
“I know. And I love you, Claire. You’re my whole world, and dammit, that’s terrifying. But I’m here for it, and I’m never leaving again.”
Claire’s heart was splashing like a little sparrow in the puddle left behind by the nugget of ice. “I’ve been waiting for you my whole life,” she whispered.
“I’m sorry it took me so long to get here.”
Claire smiled and wiped away a tear, because apparently she wasn’t done melting. “It’s been a long, broken road, cowboy. But all that matters is that you’re finally home.”
Ford pulled Claire close and pressed his warm lips to hers.
And they lived happily ever after in one town, on one ranch, and with each other.
The End
Epilogue
Claire drove her Mini Cooper over the Wailing Woman low-water crossing, noting with satisfaction that there wasn’t a cloud in the sky. It had been two years since the dreadful flood, and the community of Big Verde was one hundred percent back to normal.
All of the shops and cafes on Main Street were up and running. The library was bigger and shinier and even more amazing than Alice had dreamed it could be. And Rancho Cañada Verde was still the gem of the Texas Hill Country ranching community.
Today had been a busy day at the ranch store, simply known as the RCV Mercantile, but Claire had finally finished setting up the new baby nursery section. The merchandise—a crib, monogrammed bedding, diaper bags, and clothing—was finally prepped, priced, and on display. And she’d had so much fun setting it all up that she’d lost track of time.
She looked down at her tummy. “We’re running late to our own party, Peanut.”
Talking to Peanut was her new favorite pastime.
She drove past the lane that used to lead to Miss Daisy. The little trailer had been uprooted by Claire’s parents, who dragged it on near-constant adventures to “see some other countries,” as her dad liked to say whenever he and her mom left Texas. Luckily, they were back from Yellowstone National Park in time for today’s festivities.
She drove past the gate to the foreman’s cabin before turning onto the road that led to their house at Oak Meadow. Everyone still called it “the old Luna house,” even though she and Ford had been living in it since they got married.
Today was their one-year anniversary.
She smiled thinking about their wedding, because how could she not?
The photographer had asked for a photo of Ford being “roped.” It was meant to be a silly stunt, but after Beau had successfully tossed a rope around Ford (he’d clearly been trying to impress the photographer), he’d tightened it and, at Bubba’s goading, had literally dragged Ford down the aisle.
The wedding guests had hollered and clapped as Ford passed, blushing and grinning in his gray tuxedo and black felt cowboy hat.
After he’d taken his place, Beau had shouted, “Should I untie him?”
Claire, who’d been standing at the entrance of the old stone chapel, had shouted back, “Are you nuts? Not yet!”
Folks had nearly gone insane with laughter, and it was to this joyous noise and the melody of “Bless the Broken Road” that the bridesmaids—Maggie, Alice, Trista, and Caroline—had walked down the aisle with Travis, JD, Bubba, and Worth.
Next had come the showstoppers.
Henry had pulled little Miss Brianna Castro-Mayes and her trusty sidekick, Maisy Mae Blake, down the aisle in a wagon. As toddlers, they were basically loose cannons. But they’d been darling and had mostly remained in the wagon, distracted by their gigantic blue tulle gowns (Maggie had said they looked like blue Pomeranians) and the petals they were supposed to be tossing from their baskets.
After that, Claire had finally walked down the aisle on the arm of her father, wearing a Vera Wang gown and her white and silver cowboy boots with the rhinestone spurs (she’d had the broken one fixed). Her dad lifted her veil, kissed her on the forehead, and then untied Ford with a stern gaze, causing more laughter to ripple throughout the chapel.
But that hadn’t even been the best part.
Unbeknownst to Claire and Ford, Beau and Bryce had placed bright orange Nerf guns beneath each guest’s chair, and the newly married couple had been forced to run down the aisle through a barrage of foam arrows.
Best. Wedding. Ever.
She arrived at the top of the hill and the Oak Meadow clearing to a herd of pickup trucks parked around her house. She pulled up next to Bubba’s truck, which was somewhat routine since he and JD were there nearly every day to oversee the extensive renovations being done to the house. Claire barely recognized the building Ford used to refer to as “Ruben’s hut.”
Alice rushed out to meet her.
“Oh my God,” she said, opening Claire’s door. “Hurry up. I literally can’t stand this for one more second. Seriously. This has been the worst thing anyone has ever asked me to do.”
“You volunteered!”
“I wish I hadn’t,” she said, yanking Claire out of the car. “It has taken years off my life.”
Claire was hustled into the house, where Ford took her bag and enveloped her in a hug. “Welcome home,” he whispered in her ear.
Claire smiled and took a moment to sink into him.
“I noticed that dang horseshoe is upside down again,” she said. “Alice practically threw me through the door, so I didn’t have a chance to straighten it.”
Ford kissed the top of her head. “I don’t care,” he said. “I’m the luckiest man alive.”
“Oh yeah?”
“I might even toss my hat on the bed.”
“Don’t go crazy. We’d hate for this place to burn to the ground just as JD and Bubba are putting the finishing touches on it. And sorry I’m late. I don’t even have an excuse. Time just gets away from me when I’m at the store, and we had a busy day.”
Ford gave her a squeeze before letting go. “Sounds like a good day.”
“It was. And thank you for getting ready without me.”
“I hardly did a thing. Maggie and Lupe got here two hours ago, and all I’ve done is try to stay out of their way. Everybody’s outside. I fired up the grill earlier, and Bubba and JD are already fighting over when to put the steaks on. JD is wearing Brianna in one of those baby backpack things, and she’s eating goldfish crackers out of the brim of his hat. It’s the cutest thing you ever saw. And did you know that Henry already taught Maisy to say shit? Oh, and your portobello mushrooms are marinating in the fridge—”
Claire kissed him. “I love you, and you’re rambling.”
“I’m nervous,” he whispered. “I don’t know how I’ll react in front of all these people.”
“These people are our friends and family, and however you react will be the right way to react.”
Ford smiled. “I love you, too.”
Maggie walked up and put a glass of iced tea in Claire’s hand. “Nice of you to show up. Now come on outside, before Alice explodes and makes a mess.”
The new French doors to the patio opened, and Anna stuck her head in.
“Good
Lord,” she said. “You were late to your own wedding, so I don’t know why I’m surprised, but we’re going to have to call an ambulance for Alice in about five minutes if you don’t hurry up. Just thought I’d let you know.”
Anna shut the door and rejoined the party.
“Who invited Anna?” Claire asked.
“You did,” Ford said.
“Why did I do that?”
“Because you’re too nice,” Maggie said. “Now come on. Let’s get this show on the road.”
Together they walked into the backyard, where Alice was trying to hold Bubba and Trista’s kids off the piñata. “Oh, thank God!” she said when she spotted them. Then she climbed on top of a folding chair and screamed, “Let’s do this thing!” at the top of her lungs.
Everyone quieted down. For one thing, they weren’t used to a screaming Alice. For another, this was a highly anticipated event, and the air was saturated with a hushed excitement.
Claire’s parents joined them, and then Worth did, too, and the five of them stood together, arms intertwined.
“As all of you know,” Alice began, “Claire and Ford do not know the gender of their baby.”
Ford put his big, warm hand on Claire’s tummy and kissed her on the cheek.
“They had the doctor write the sex of the baby on a piece of paper and place it in a sealed envelope, which they gave to me exactly ninety-six hours and thirty-one minutes ago. This was apparently ninety-six hours and thirty minutes too long, so…”
“Spit it out already,” Anna said. “Why does this have to be such a production?”
“Because that’s literally what gender reveal parties are,” Maggie said, holding her camera up. “Productions. Now…Action!”
Anna rolled her eyes.
“Without further ado,” Alice said, “we’re going to break this piñata! The color of the confetti will reveal the gender of the baby.”
Claire and Ford approached the piñata, which was in the shape of a giant cowboy hat. Together they grabbed the piñata stick, and after the partygoers counted to three, they swung.
The stick connected solidly, but no hole was torn, so they repeated the process two more times and then…
The piñata exploded in a cloud of colorful confetti.
Claire’s heart beat frantically and her eyes widened to take it all in. This was the reveal! This was the moment! And…
Everyone quieted down in confusion, because the color of the confetti was yellow.
Alice screeched and clapped her hands. “Congratulations!” she shouted.
“Um, Alice?” Claire said. “We don’t know what yellow means.”
Alice put her hand on her forehead. “Oh! Of course not. I’m sorry. I was trying to avoid gender stereotypes, because they’re social constructs, and honestly, I find the concept of these reveals to be somewhat problematic. Anyway, I decided to avoid the typical pink and blue, so I went with yellow and purple and—”
“Alice!” everyone shouted collectively.
“It’s a girl!” Alice shouted back. “Congratulations!”
Claire thought her knees might give out, but Ford held her up, as everyone cheered. They were going to have a daughter.
Ford lifted her face to his, and then his trembling lips were on hers. Soon, they were surrounded, and for the next few minutes it was all hugs, tears, and laughter. It was the warmest blanket of love and support Claire had ever felt, and she knew things were going to be okay. With Ford by her side, and these folks lifting them up, she could do this.
She could be a mom.
Her heart was so full she thought it might burst.
“Do you have a name picked out?” JD asked.
Claire looked at Ford and together they said, “Rosa Abilene.”
“I know that Abilene was your sister’s name,” Gabriel said. “Is Rosa a family name, too?”
Not too many folks knew that the old stone chapel had once had a name—the Santa Rosa Chapel—and that their daughter had narrowly escaped being named Hay Barn.
Ford grinned and winked at Claire. “It’s more of a family tradition.”
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Don’t miss the next book in Carly Bloom’s Once Upon a Time in Texas series!
Must Love Cowboys
Available Spring 2021
About the Author
Carly Bloom began her writing career as a family humor columnist and blogger, a pursuit she abandoned when her children grew old enough to literally die from embarrassment. To save their delicate lives, Carly turned to penning steamy, contemporary romance. The kind with bare chests on the covers.
Carly and her husband raise their mortified brood of offspring on a cattle ranch in South Texas.
You can learn more at:
CarlyBloomBooks.com
Twitter @CarlyBloomBooks
Facebook.com/AuthorCarlyBloom
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Also by Carly Bloom
Big Bad Cowboy
It’s All About That Cowboy (novella)
Praise for
Big Bad Cowboy
“Sexy, smart, sensational!”
—New York Times bestselling author Lori Wilde
“Big Bad Cowboy is sweet and sexy!”
—New York Times bestselling author Jennifer Ryan
“Fans of Susan Elizabeth Phillips will delight in this funny, optimistic, quirky contemporary.”
—Publishers Weekly, starred review
“A smart, sizzling read.”
—Entertainment Weekly
“Heartwarming, hysterical, and completely sexy & charming, Big Bad Cowboy was an outstanding start to the Once Upon a Time in Texas series. A series that I expect to be a huge hit with rom-com fans.”
—Harlequin Junkies
“A remarkable love story.”
—Fresh Fiction
For a bonus story from another author you may love, please turn the page to read
Rocky Mountain Cowboy, by Sara Richardson.
Everyone wants a piece of Jaden Alexander. Ever since the famous “Snowboarding Cowboy” took a near-fatal spill on live television, he’s been hounded by the media. Every reporter in the country wants an exclusive interview with the chiseled Olympic heartthrob. But only one of them has the easygoing charm—and breathtaking beauty—to knock Jaden off balance…
Kate Livingston isn’t looking for a scoop. As senior editor for Adrenaline Junkie magazine, she’s testing out camping gear on the Colorado Trail when Jaden’s rescue dog Bella seeks refuge in her tent. Before she knows it, Kate is face-to-face with the world’s sexiest snow-riding cowboy—and the biggest opportunity of her career. But getting close to Jaden isn’t just about her job, and for the first time ever Kate has no idea how this story will end.
ROCKY MOUNTAIN COWBOY
Sara Richardson
To Jenna LaFleur
Chapter One
In a small town like Topaz Falls, Colorado, the grocery store was the last place you’d want to go if you didn’t want to be noticed. But when your diet consisted mainly of Honey Nut Cheerios and you’d run out of milk, you had no choice but to show up at Frank’s Market in full disguise.
Jaden Alexander pulled his blue Colorado-flag stocking cap farther down his forehead so that it met the top of his Oakleys. Not that the sunglasses were inconspicuous. They were a custom design, made exclusively for him when the company had courted him for sponsorship six years ago after he’d made his Olympic debut. No one else would know that, though. To other people, he hoped he looked like just another ski bum who moonlighted as a bartender or waiter during the off-season. With any luck, no one in town would realize that J.J. Alexander—dubbed the Snowboarding Cowboy by the media—had come home.
The door still chimed when he walked in, the same way it had when he’d done the weekly grocery run for his grandma twelve
years ago. In fact, it looked like Frank hadn’t changed much of anything. The same depressing fluorescent lights still hummed overhead, casting bright spots onto the dirty linoleum tiles. He passed by the three checkout stations, where two bored cashiers stood hunched behind their registers, fingers pecking away on their phones.
One of them looked familiar enough that a shot of panic hit Jaden in the chest. But the woman didn’t even look up as he slipped into the nearest aisle, so maybe he was just being paranoid. Death threats on Twitter would do that to a guy. Ever since the accident, going out in public wasn’t exactly his favorite thing to do. He’d been ambushed by photographers, reporters, and fans who’d written him off, and he was not in the mood to deal with any public showdowns tonight.
“J.J. Alexander? That you?”
Anyone else and he would’ve shaken his head and kept right on walking, but he knew the voice behind him. He’d never get away with walking on past without a word. He turned around, and right there at the end of the aisle stood Levi, Lance, and Lucas Cortez. Back in high school, Jaden had bummed around with Levi until Cash Greer passed away. After that, Levi had gone to Oklahoma to train as a bull rider, and Jaden had finally been accepted to train with the U.S. ski and snowboard team.
“Holy shit, man.” Levi sauntered over the way a bull rider would—all swagger. “I didn’t know you were back in town.”
“Hey, Levi.” Jaden forced his jaw to loosen and nodded at each of the brothers in turn. “Lucas. Lance.” Now, those three had changed in twelve years. They’d all cleaned up. Still cowboys in their ragged jeans and boots, but each of the brothers was clean-shaven and more groomed than he’d ever seen him. Wasn’t a coincidence that they all had rings on their left fingers now too. Jaden slipped his sunglasses onto his forehead, grateful the store seemed empty, so they shouldn’t attract too much attention.