The pace was fast as they circled the arena and then lined up side by side. The crowd roared with applause. Tuf and Beau came to a stop in front of where the Hart family sat. Sadie and Sammie were at the rail waving. Tuf nudged his horse forward and tipped his hat to them.
“Tuf!” they screamed.
He backed his horse into the lineup and saw they were captured on the big screen.
“Show-off.” Beau laughed.
Soon they charged out of the arena whooping and hollering. A sense of excitement filled the air. Nine long days, and tonight world champions would be awarded in each event. Time to rodeo. Time to find out who those champions would be.
* * *
TUF SAT IN THE LOCKER ROOM attaching his spurs, mentally preparing himself.
“This is it,” Beau said. “This is what we’ve worked for all year, sleeping in the truck, eating crappy food. It’s all come down to a hell of a ride.”
Was this what he’d worked for? In his mind that didn’t seem right. And he knew what it was. All year he’d worked to regain his freedom. Freedom from the nightmares. Freedom to live again—with Cheyenne. But he hadn’t accomplished that. He took a long breath and suddenly realized that freedom was a state of mind. And his mind was locked in combat.
The past nine nights hadn’t been the thrilling experience he’d expected and he knew why. Cheyenne wasn’t here. But for his family, he would do his best.
He placed his hand over his jeans pocket and felt the ring he carried. Cheyenne’s engagement ring. Then it hit him. He couldn’t ride tonight without her here. It was that simple. He jumped to his feet.
“Where you going?” Beau asked.
“I have to see Cheyenne.”
“What? Bareback riding is fixing to start. Are you nuts?”
“I have to see her.”
Beau shook his head.
“Cover for me with Colt and Ace. I’ll be back.”
“You better be.”
Tuf made his way out of the cowboy-ready area and then broke into a run. His spurs jangled, but he didn’t have time to take them off. A shuttle was outside letting people off to see the rodeo. He jumped on and did something his pride wouldn’t let him do last night.
He called Cheyenne.
* * *
CHEYENNE AND ANGIE WAITED for the elevator.
“It’s over. After ten long days, I sold out of horse cookies and I’m ready to go home.”
“Me, too,” Cheyenne said. “Although I do have a few earrings left, but I plan to give those to some of the ladies here in the hotel.”
“That’s nice.”
Cheyenne’s cell buzzed and she fished it out of her purse. Tuf. Her heart raced as she read the name.
“Where are you?” he asked quickly.
“Uh…at the elevator in the hotel. Why?”
“I need to see you. Can you meet me at the entrance?”
“Why?”
“Please, Cheyenne. Just for a minute.”
The please got her. “O-okay.”
“Who was it?” Angie asked.
“Tuf. He wants me to meet him outside.”
“What are you waiting for?”
“You’re coming with me. I’m not standing out there alone. There are a lot of strange people here.”
“Like my one-hundred-and-ten-pound frame is going to deter anyone.”
“You know what I mean.” Cheyenne’s hand shook as she dropped her phone into her purse. What does Tuf want?
“Yeah. Let’s go.” They walked toward the entrance. “Bareback riding is first, isn’t it?”
“Yes, and I don’t know what Tuf is doing coming here. He should be getting ready to ride.”
They went through the glass doors and into the cool evening. People were milling around, laughing and talking.
A man puffing on a cigarette sidled up to them. “Hey, ladies, need a little company?”
“No, thanks,” Cheyenne replied.
“You sure?” The cigarette bobbed on his lip. “I could show you gals a good time.”
“Will you get that smoke out of our faces?” Angie said in a voice Cheyenne had never heard her use before. As the man turned tail and went back into the hotel, Angie laughed. “Hey, guess I’m tougher than I thought.”
Cars and cabs dropped off people, but she didn’t see any sign of Tuf. Then a shuttle bus roared up and Tuf jumped out dressed in his red, white and blue rodeo garb, including the spurs that jangled as he rushed toward her. At the sight of him, her heart knocked wildly.
“Hey, cowboy, lost your horse?” a guy shouted at him, but Tuf ignored him, running straight to her.
“Listen, Cheyenne, I screwed up. I know that now. I’m sorry, but please come to the rodeo and watch me ride. If you love me, if you think we have a future, you’ll be there. I need you to be there.”
Hurt feelings and love warred inside her. “But you don’t need me. You’ve proven that in the last few months. You shut me out and refused to trust me. And ‘I’m sorry’ doesn’t even start to erase all that pain.”
He cupped her face, and she felt the calluses on his hands. “If you love me, none of that will matter. Be there—for us. I’ve got to go.” He ran and leaped on the shuttle that was waiting for him, and it roared away. For some reason, she felt as if he’d stomped on her heart, and she couldn’t get past that feeling.
“Why didn’t you go with him?” Angie asked.
“What?”
“You should have gone with him on the shuttle.”
“I can’t.”
“Cheyenne.”
“I just can’t.”
“Then why are you crying?”
“I’m not crying.” She brushed away tears with the back of her hand, belying her statement.
“Your face is leaking, then.”
“Angie, it’s not that easy. We still have the same problem. He doesn’t trust me.”
“This whole week you kept saying he hasn’t asked you. Now he has. It’s time to go.”
“It’s not that simple.”
“Oh, but it is. I’m getting a cab. I’ll even go with you, and you know I don’t like rodeos.” Angie turned toward the curb.
“No, don’t.”
“Cheyenne.” Angie stomped her foot.
“Please understand I can’t do this. I’ll talk to him later when we have more time.”
“By then it will be too late. The rodeo will be over and you’ll regret your decision.”
Cheyenne drew a heavy breath and looked at the sparkling lights of Vegas that rivaled a thousand Christmas trees. People passed by her as if she didn’t exist, and in a way she felt all alone battling the pain inside herself.
“Don’t do this to yourself.” Angie kept up her pleas.
“I can’t seem to do anything else.”
Angie hugged her. “I’m sorry.”
“Me, too.”
* * *
TUF MADE IT BACK INTO the cowboy-ready area amid a few startled stares. Luckily none of them were Colt’s, Ace’s or Duke’s. He thought he was home free until Ace stalked up to him.
“Where in the hell have you been? I’ve looked all over. Beau said you were in the bathroom. Are you sick?”
“No. I…”
“You’re not a kid anymore, Tuf. What…”
Suddenly, without warning, the part of his brain he’d kept vaulted tight opened and he could see what was on the top of that hill—the horror. The unthinkable horror he’d protected for years. He staggered backward with the force of the truth. Ace caught him and he struggled to regain his composure.
“Damn, you are sick,” Ace said. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have yelled at you.”
“I’m fine.” He sucked in puffs of air and stood on his own two feet.
“You don’t look fine. You’re pale and shaky.”
Before Tuf could reply, Duke ran to them. “Kinney just scored a 90 on Tempting Fate.”
“Shit.” Ace shook his head.
“Colt ha
s Midnight in the chute, Tuf. You ready?” Duke asked.
Two sets of eyes stared at him. A year of riding the circuit had come down to this moment. His stomach was raw, his back tight and his nerves frayed, but he ignored all that and said, “Yes.”
He walked to the chute, but before climbing it, he put his hand over his right pocket and felt the ring. She’ll come. She’ll come. Climbing the chute, he kept repeating that.
He carefully slid onto Midnight’s back, and the stallion flung his head in protest. Beneath him, Tuf felt the raw power of the animal. It was like sticking his finger in an electrical socket and knowing he was going to get knocked for a loop. Strong muscles rippled, and Midnight banged restlessly against the chute, ready to buck.
The announcer’s voice came on. “Ladies and gents, Cory Kinney just made an outstanding ride. Tuf Hart is getting ready and he has to be feeling the pressure. Everyone is. Bareback riding has come down to this last ride. This is as exciting as it gets.”
Ace and Duke helped with his rigging, and Colt worked with Midnight’s flank strap. He was the only one who did that on Midnight. As soon as Colt tightened it, Midnight jerked his head.
Tuf slipped his gloved right hand into the handle on the rigging and worked his hand to get a secure grip.
“You about ready?” Ace asked.
“Is Cheyenne sitting with the family?”
“What?”
“Look and see if Cheyenne is with the family.”
“Tuf, forget about Cheyenne for a minute.”
“Look, damn it.”
Ace raised his head. “No, she’s not there, but the twins are waiting.”
The bottom dropped out of his stomach, and he fought to regain his focus. For his family, he had to focus.
He got into his groove.
“Good luck,” Ace and Duke shouted.
Then Colt was there. “You know how Midnight bucks. Just be prepared for the power.”
The announcer’s voice pushed through. “In chute number two, Tuf Hart is on The Midnight Express, owned by the Hart family. This horse has the power to get the job done, and Tuf Hart knows it. As does everyone here. For Tuf the trick will be to stay on the horse for eight seconds. What do you think, Bob?”
The other announcer chimed in. “Cory Kinney had an impressive ride and it’s going to be hard to beat that. But anything can happen here. Tuf Hart’s got the talent, though. Let’s see what happens.”
Everything faded away, and it was just him and Midnight. And eight seconds. He raised his left arm and nodded. The gate banged open, and Midnight reared up on his hind legs out of the chute, almost unseating Tuf, but he kept his balance and his grip. And the show was on. The power of the bucks jarred his kidneys, strained his back and his arm, and pounding waves of pain shot through his head, but he got into a rhythm and kept it. He lost track of the count and thought the damn buzzer must be broken. It felt as if the black stallion had jarred his body for at least ten minutes. Then he heard it and let go. The power catapulted him into the dirt and he landed on his back. Pain radiated through his body. He thought he was dead, but if he was, he wouldn’t be able to feel the agony.
He stared up into the bright lights and thought he should get up, but he couldn’t move a muscle.
The announcer’s voice penetrated the fog. “Cory Kinney is waiting for the score to pop up. Everyone is. I’m glad I don’t have to judge this, Hal. That was an astounding ride. Man, what an ending to bareback riding.”
“Wait, Bob. Tuf Hart is not getting up. Is he hurt?”
“Ace and Colt Hart and Duke Adams are racing to his side. Big Ben, the clown, is there, too. Everyone is waiting for this tough cowboy marine to get to his feet. I’m sure the Hart family is holding their breath.”
Tuf stared at a big red nose.
Then there was Ace’s, Colt’s and Duke’s anxious faces. “Tuf, you okay?” Ace asked.
“I might need a hand up.”
With a smile, Ace and Duke lifted him to his feet.
“What’s my score?” Tuf asked.
“It hasn’t come up yet,” Colt replied. “I don’t know what’s taking so damn long.”
The crowd erupted into applause and shouts. “There it is,” Duke pointed.
“Hey, hoss, look at that,” Colt shouted. “Congratulations, bro. I have to check on Midnight.”
Tuf glanced up and saw 91. He’d done it. He’d won the title. But where was his joy?
“C’mon, Tuf, show some reaction.” Ace slapped him on the back. “The crowd expects it.”
“You might have to lift my arms.”
Ace laughed, and there in front of eighteen thousand people, his big brother hugged him. “I’m proud of you. Dad would be, too.”
“Thanks.” Tuf picked up his hat.
“Tuf Hart seems a little dazed,” Hal said. “I don’t think he realizes he just won the title.”
“Tuf!” The little voices drew Tuf’s attention. He lifted his hat in acknowledgment, trying not to flinch, and froze. Cheyenne stood with them, her hands over her mouth in worry.
She’s here.
Renewed adrenaline pumped through his veins, recharging his tired and sore body.
“Tuf, where you going?” Ace shouted.
“Where’s he going, Hal?”
“He’s climbing into the stands where those little red-haired girls have been cheering for him all week. And now there’s a young red-haired woman there.”
Tuf swung over the rail at Cheyenne’s feet. “I love you,” he said to her startled face. He pulled the ring out of his pocket. “Will you marry me? Nightmares and all.”
“Tuf.” Her eyes glistened with tears.
“Yes or no?”
“Y-yes.” She hiccuped.
He slipped the ring onto her finger and kissed her, and suddenly he was at peace for the first time in a long, long time.
“Tuf,” she whispered against his lips, “people are clapping and staring at us.”
He drew back and saw all eyes were on them. “Let’s get out of here.” But he couldn’t move for the two munchkins wrapped around his legs. He knelt down. “Stay with Grandpa. I love you.”
“I love you, too,” they called as Cheyenne and Tuf made their getaway to the roar of the crowd.
The announcer’s voice followed them. “Congratulations to Tuf and his special lady.”
“Tuf Hart is our bareback-riding champion. This cowboy marine has had a big night.”
* * *
TUF PULLED CHEYENNE into a corner away from the bathrooms and people milling in and out of the stadium.
“You came. You came,” he said, stroking her hair and kissing her briefly.
“I didn’t want to,” she admitted. “I fully intended not to. I was hurt and ‘I’m sorry’ just didn’t cut it, but in the elevator I couldn’t stop crying and realized that no matter how much you hurt me I still loved you. The next thing I knew, Angie and I were in a cab coming here.” She sighed and leaned her head against his chest. “We still have the same problem, Tuf. This hasn’t solved anything.”
He lifted her chin from his chest. “Everything’s changed. I now know I can’t handle the nightmares alone. I need you. I need your love and support.”
“Oh, Tuf…”
“And there’s more. When I snuck back into the cowboy-ready area after seeing you, Ace was livid and said something like I wasn’t a kid anymore. Suddenly the steel curtain across my brain lifted and I could see what happened on the top of that hill in Afghanistan. The scene that was too horrible to recall.”
“What was it?”
He cupped her face so he could look into her green eyes. “When we got to the top, six insurgents were coming out of a cave with high-powered weapons. We took them out, as ordered. Only after we shot them did we realize they were just boys. Maybe fourteen, fifteen years old. We killed kids.”
“Oh, Tuf.” She wrapped her arms around his neck and held him. “It was either you or them and it was war.”
She kissed the side of his face. “That’s all I ever wanted.” She drew back and looked at the ring on her finger. “I love the Yogo sapphire. It’s gorgeous. I’ve never seen one quite this color. Look how it catches the light.”
“I told the jeweler I wanted it as close to green as possible to match your eyes.”
“It’s perfect.” She raised her eyes to his. “I love you.”
He gathered her into his arms again and held her. “I love you, too, and that’s never going to change.”
“Congratulations, cowboy. I’m so proud of you,” she whispered into his neck. “Don’t you have to go back to the rodeo?”
“Probably.” He stepped back and held out his arms. “Look at me. I’m happy. I’m free.”
She burrowed against him. “Yes, you are. I am, too.”
He reached for her hand. “Later, we’ll get reacquainted.”
She laughed softly and his heart soared. Amid all the pain, he truly had found happiness. Arm in arm, they made their way back into the stadium so Tuf could be awarded his gold buckle. But he’d already won what he’d really wanted.
Cheyenne.
Epilogue
Christmas morning
“Are they awake?” Sammie asked.
“I don’t know,” Sadie replied. “I can’t see. It’s dark.”
“Mommy said not to get up early. We’re gonna get in trouble.”
“Nobody gets in trouble on Christmas.”
Tuf ran his hand across his wife’s bare stomach. “The munchkins are awake.”
Tomas: Cowboy Homecoming Page 18