by H. J. Bellus
The sound of cop sirens get closer and I rip myself from Marvel’s hold.
“Well, tell Louie my dad doesn’t own a ranch.” I turn to walk down the steps and don’t believe a fucking word that just came out of his mouth. “My dad did tell me that your old lady was one fine lay.”
“You son of a bitch.” I feel the vibrations on the steps and know he’s coming for me and step to the side, pushing him down to the grass, and then start raining all sorts of punches on him. This time I’m pulled off the bastard by a cop, handcuffed, and stuffed in the back of a cop car alongside of Maverik and Marvel.
***
I cover my eyes as I walk out into the sun, Challis jumps into my chest before I see her nearly knocking me to the ground.
“I’m so pissed at you.” Her lips are on mine kissing the ever-loving piss out of me. I wrap my arms around her waist and never want to be without her for another night.
Every time Maverik or my ass has landed in jail, Granddad makes us stay the night. It’s his way of saying you dumbasses.
“Your granddad is in the truck. I stayed the night with him last night. Your mom took off to stay with her parents for a while.”
“Okay.” I walk backwards toward the truck, keeping Challis pressed up to my chest and kissing her as we walk.
“I’m going to fall.”
“I’ve got you.”
She giggles into my lips. All of us climb into the truck. I settle into the driver’s seat with Challis in the middle and then Granddad. My brothers are in the back, and I finally have the courage to lean forward on the steering wheel and look at my granddad.
“Well?” he asks.
“I went and beat the shit out of Saint and Preston.”
“Preston?” Challis questions.
“And did it make anything better? Solve all of your problems?”
“No, Granddad, it didn’t, but sure as hell made me feel better.”
“You know he’s pressing charges.”
“Sure do, and I’ll do the same thing again when they fuck with Silver Star. I’m not going to let them get away with this shit.”
He nods his head.
I start the engine and then rat out Maverik. “Mav shot all the windows out on the place.”
“Goddamn, boys.” Granddad pounds the dash and I knew that would get him fired up. He turns around and swats at Maverik in the back seat. I bust out laughing at the old man. “Since you were eight years old, Maverik, you’ve gotten into more trouble with that damn shotgun.”
“Sorry, Granddad.”
I turn to look at Maverik, who has a shit-eating grin covering his face. I know damn well he’s not sorry but just being respectful.
“What about the colts?” Challis asks.
“We’ll finish our job and wash our hands of the fucker,” Marvel pipes up.
“We owe more money to whoever this Louie is,” Maverik adds.
“Challis and I are going to hit the road, chase our titles, and send all of our paychecks back to you guys.”
“We are?” She turns to me.
“We are going to save Silver Star, get you your first national title, and bring Wine Cup back to life.”
“Okay.” She nods.
“And I’d like to see the wedding happen before I die, Merek.” Granddad pats Challis’s leg.
Chapter 20
Challis
“How long have we been on the road, Merek?” I wipe the sleep from my eyes.
“Too damn long, babe.”
“But how much longer until we get there?”
He reaches down and swats my ass. He hates it when I ask that, and I do it on purpose just to annoy him.
“You have two more rodeos and are sitting in the number four position going into the finals, Verde, so go back to sleep and rest up. It will be a tight push for us to make it.”
I’ve gotten used to cutting it tight. It’s never been a problem for me, but since Merek’s event is always first it seems like we’ve done nothing but bust ass from one rodeo to the next.
“Are Maverik and Granddad going to make it?”
“Yeah, he called about twenty minutes ago and they’re already there.”
“Damn, nothing like being early.”
“He has Granddad with him, that’s why.”
I chuckle and miss the old man like crazy. After the fire, he and I bonded quite well. We ate dinner at his house every single night until it was time to leave for the road. We’ve been gone nearly four months traveling all over and rodeoing.
“Do you think he’s going to kick your ass when we tell him we eloped?”
“I’m not telling him. You are.”
“Ha. Very funny, asshole.”
I drift off to the day I said “I do” to Merek, and of course in his cocky, badass mode, he did it in full fashion.
“Las Vegas has been good to us.”
“Only because I’m with you.” Merek shoots me a sly grin from the couch. He’s naked with a blanket in his lap. We decided to break down and get a hotel, spending an extra night in Vegas to relax. It’s something we never do since hitting the road to rodeo together. It’s always go, go, go. I won’t lie, it’s been nice to relax an extra day with Merek.
I put down the stack of cash I’m counting from my winnings last night in the casino and raise my shirt over my head, exposing my skin and leaving me only clothed in my lacy panties. Merek is engrossed in an old western on the television, not paying attention to a damn thing.
“Merek.”
“Yeah, babe.”
I watch him mindlessly answer me without paying an ounce of attention to me.
“What are we going to do today?”
He shrugs this time and I’m fully convinced he didn’t hear a damn word I spoke. The remote lays on the glass table next to him. I tiptoe up to him and grab it. Before he knows what’s going on, I push the power button and finally have his attention.
“What in the hell?” He looks up to me.
“I was getting lonely in the big penthouse with all my money.” I push away the blanket perched on his lap and then straddle him, wrapping my arms around the back of his neck.
He smirks at me. “Your whole whopping one hundred and twenty five bucks.”
I try not to laugh and only shrug as I push my exposed skin up to his chest. “I asked what we were going to do today.”
“Looks like you picked it already. Bedroom Olympics.” He cocks an eyebrow in my direction.
“You got any skills, boy?”
He flips me over, pushing my back into the overstuffed couch and enters me without warning. His face is full of question, waiting on my answer as he works in and out of me, and I know what his damn motive is. He’s trying to render me speechless and is beyond successful at it as only moans roll off my tongue.
He adds a bit more to the pot when he reaches down between us and works me closer to my release with his finger swirling around.
“Merek,” I scream as I clutch onto him. My nails dig into his shoulder blades as I buck up, milking out the last waves of pleasure.
“Let’s get married today.” He grunts and releases inside of me.
“What?” I bolt up under his weight, knocking him off of me. I watch as he tumbles to the ground and knocks his elbow on the corner of the table.
A mixture of laughter and groans of pain escape as he rolls around on the floor. “I take that as a yes?”
I look down at him from the couch and can’t help but smile at my badass boy lying naked on the ground. “It’s a yes.”
“Get dressed. We are going now before you change your damn mind on me.”
“Naked?”
“Move, Challis.”
I hustle to the bathroom before Merek has the chance to slap my bare bum and squeal the whole way as I go. My fingers tremble as I lock the bathroom door. I know if I leave it open I’ll have a visitor whose sole mission is to distract me and make me hopelessly delirious with his lovemaking skills.
“Ten minutes,” he
hollers from the other side of the door.
“Okay, okay.”
Turning toward the mirror that covers the entire wall in the bathroom, I see a rosy-cheeked version of myself staring back at me. I look again, taking a longer and deeper stare and am amazed by what I see. A girl who has her life back, living out her dream, and in love. My green eyes sparkle back at me and I see my daddy’s love in them. The love that planted my roots and turned me into this.
I move quickly to the side, not wanting to spiral down a path of sadness thinking about my dad, and I guess my wedding day. I tug up my jeans and toss on my white tank top.
“Merek, are you sure you want to do this?”
“Dead serious.”
I pull on my favorite pair of Ferrini cowboy boots and open the door. Merek is standing right on the other side of it.
“Stalker.” I joke but only joke to hide the fact he literally just took my breath away. The scent of his musky cologne hits me first and then his starched jeans and favorite black cowboy hat are next. He’s a walking sexy billboard for every cowgirl’s dream and he’s about to become mine.
He guides me out into the hall and as we wait for an elevator I panic.
“Merek, I look like shit.”
He growls at me then reaches over biting down on my bottom lip and drags it out until it makes a popping sound.
“Sexy as sin is all see, baby, and if the Elvis that marries us looks down at your tits, I’ll hurt him.”
The elevator opens and is filled with my loud laughter. We walk a couple of blocks until we spot the cheesiest of cheesy chapels with cupids, neon lights, and a life size Elvis lighting up the front.
“Challis, I’ll give you a big fancy wedding.”
“Puke.” I drag him up the steps and into the red crushed velvet chapel. We both have a hell of a time being serious with the over the top theme.
As soon as Elvis starts the ceremony we both fall silent and listen closely repeating along and saying our I do's.
After a very long and heated kiss, Elvis speaks up, “Just a minute, sir, and we’ll get you the songs you requested.”
I give Merek a sideways stare and watch Elvis waddle back down the aisle. Where I’m sure any typical bride would be appalled, in this moment my life couldn’t be more perfect.
“What’s he talking about?”
“There are two songs that I want to dance with you to.”
“Really?”
“Yeah.” He bends down and kisses me again as Neal McCoy fills the room singing his song No Doubt About It.
“You’re going and getting all romantic on me, Slatter.”
He places one hand on my cheek and the other on my lower back. “To me, I married you the day in your trailer when I gave you my buckle. I’m just making it legal, baby.”
I fall into him, letting him sway me back and forth to the song. “I love you, Champ.”
Keith Whitley’s When You Say Nothing At All starts playing next, causing a steady line of tears to run down my cheeks.
“This was my daddy’s favorite song.”
“I know.” He winks down at me.
“How?”
“Tori. I told her I was going to make this official out on the road.”
“It’s perfect.”
This will be as close as we get to being home and actually get to spend a few days in Sterling. It’s only twenty minutes away from Silver Star.
I look up at Merek. “Do you think we’ll have time to stop by Wine Cup on our way out from here?”
“Of course, baby.”
Merek made good on his promise and brought my daddy home. The bitch had him moved to the public cemetery. I’ve visited him a couple of times back on the ranch. Marvel being the very savvy businessman and rancher has Wine Cup running with a thousand heads of cattle and is being managed by his best friend from high school, Tanner. He’s a great guy and I know my dad would be proud as hell even though we’re not running bucking bulls.
“I can’t sleep now. How much longer now?”
Merek grabs my side and pinches it. I can’t help the fit of laughter that ensues.
“Ask me again and I’ll pull over this truck and beat your ass.”
“Well, I do like it rough.”
His phone keeps going off, and Merek tosses it to me.
“Here. Someone thought it was a good idea to teach Granddad how to text.”
“Oh my God, really? Why hasn’t he texted me?”
“Give him hell, Verde.”
I waste my time by texting him all sorts of messages and emoticons and sing along to our music.
“God finally found a way to make you shut up. We’re here.”
I sit up and spot Maverik and Granddad sitting on his tailgate and I wave like an idiot. The Slatters have become my family and home. I bolt from the truck before Merek has the chance to park it and run straight to Granddad.
“Hey, Sissy.”
“I’ve missed you guys so much.” I wrap him up in a hug and kiss his cheek.
“You too, big guy.” I give Mav a quick hug.
“Must say we’ve all missed you on Silver Star, Sissy.”
I squeeze in between the two of them and love hearing them call me by my new nickname. Maverik passes me a beer.
“Cheers.” Granddad holds his bottle up to mine.
“What are we cheering?”
“You marrying my grandson.”
My eyes go big and I hear Merek laughing in the background.
“You two owe me one hell of a party back at Silver Star.”
“Deal.”
I take a long pull from the beer and toss my bottle cap toward Merek, who settles between my legs.
“Gotcha.”
The men erupt in laughter.
“He had me scared shitless to tell you.” Granddad pats my leg.
“I’d never get mad at you, girl. Can you walk me to get a burger and a seat in the stands?”
“Sure can, handsome.” I hop off the tailgate and hold my hand out to help him down.
“Spur the piss out of that bucker, son.” He gives Merek a quick hug before we make our way to the food booth.
I turn quickly to Merek. “Hey, honey, will you get Teebaby out and tie him up before you go behind the chutes?”
He nods back to me. Granddad orders a couple of cheeseburgers and a Coke before I settle him in the stands.
“Quite the appetite there, tiger.”
“Don’t get these very often. Have to splurge.”
I kiss him on the top of the head and make sure he has everything. He asks for a cute little gal and I just walk away shaking my head. I guarantee back in the day that man would’ve given Merek a run for his money.
To this day, I’ve never watched Merek ride and got over my ritual of pacing and singing and just focused on my horse.
“Hey, sweet baby boy.” I pat Teebaby on the rump as I walk up to him and he spooks, jumping back and swinging his head around.
“What’s wrong, boy?” I offer him a cookie and he doesn’t take it.
I shake my head and wonder if all the constant traveling is taking a toll on him, but in all honesty he’s treated like royalty on the road. Merek has even become fond of him, spoiling him rotten.
I pull up each of legs to make sure nothing is irritating him, and that’s when I hear Merek and Maverik’s voices in the background. They’re talking loud and laughing as they walk back from the chutes.
Teebaby blows up and knocks me back on the dirt, sending dust swirling everywhere.
“What’s his deal?” Maverik asks.
“Merek, he’s acting weird.”
“I’m sure he’s just ready to run, babe.”
“No, he’s acting super funny.”
“Saddle him up and warm him up. He’ll be fine.”
I change my clothes quickly and then saddle up Teebaby. He seems much calmer, and when I offer him his cookie this time he takes it and nuzzles into my shoulder. I pat his cheek and kiss the top of
his nose.
“You okay, baby?”
Of course, he doesn’t answer, but I have an unnerving feeling something is up with him. I hop on him and begin to walk away but remember I didn’t ask Merek what he scored. Tugging on Teebaby’s reins, I stop him and feel him rear up underneath me.
“Something isn’t right with that horse.” I hear Maverik’s voice.
“He’s fine.” Merek waves him off.
“Hey, Champ, what did you score?”
“Seventy-nine. Got a shitty horse.”
“Ah, sorry, loser.”
I kick Teeaby into a trot and head to the warm up pen. I let him go and run and feel him hitch every once in a while. It’s almost like he’s stumbling. They call for the barrel racers and I line up almost thinking to pull from the race, not liking the way he’s acting, but as soon as we get into the line he starts stamping his feet and throwing his head in excitement.
“That’s the Teebaby I know.” I pat his mane and keep him checked until it’s our turn. He’s focused on the arena and I urge him on. Teebaby takes the first barrel perfectly. I sit up and guide him into the second barrel, he sits his ass down and takes it tight on our way to third and I feel him stumble again, causing me to lurch forward in the saddle. He doesn’t see the third barrel and keeps running full speed toward the fence.
“Whoa. Whoa,” I scream trying to get his attention, but he doesn’t hear me and it’s like my horse has lost all of his senses. I hear it before I realize what is happening. Teebaby’s chest collides into the fence and I hear his front legs crack and rip as the collision happens. Then I feel myself being lifted up into the sky, and then everything goes black.
Chapter 21
Merek
It never gets old seeing my cowgirl take the arena and kick ass on the back of Teebaby. I’ve never told her, but every time she rounds a barrel I’m a bundle of nerves hoping it’s a clean run. They’ve tipped a few barrels and lost a few rodeos but not very damn many.
I notice Teebaby stumble out of the second barrel and then kick it up a gear and completely miss the third one. Catapulting off the chute, I run out in the arena and can hear Challis trying to calm him down. Then in a flash I watch helplessly as he collides into the fence, sending her over into the steer pen.