Her Perfect Cowboy

by Trish Milburn

  As the minutes ticked by in the dark, India soaked the fabric of the chair with a lifetime of tears she hadn’t even realized she’d imprisoned somewhere deep inside. She wondered if it was possible to cry so much she would simply fade away.

  Chapter Thirteen

  Liam figured the day of the rodeo festivities would be so busy he wouldn’t have time to think about India. He’d been dead wrong. Somehow he managed to keep up with everything that needed to be done, but he still caught himself scanning the crowd for her. Not once was she looking back at him. He didn’t like how that made him feel in his gut, in his heart, but he had no one to blame but himself.

  Midway through the afternoon, Ginny came strolling into the barn wearing her new red hat and boots and holding a big, pink-frosted cupcake in her hand.

  “Are your judging duties over?”

  “Yep.” She licked a dollop of frosting off her thumb.

  “How was it? Did you have a good time?”

  “There were so many cupcakes, I thought I might bust.”

  Liam laughed, and it felt foreign, as if he didn’t have any right to laughter. “Who was the big winner?”

  “A lady who made chocolate-orange cupcakes. They were so yummy!”

  Liam gave the cupcake in her hand a glance. “Just how many cupcakes have you eaten?”

  Ginny shrugged and gave him a look that said the answer was “Too many.”

  “That’s it. You’re having nothing but vegetables for dinner tonight.”

  Ginny pulled an “eww” face that had him laughing again. He ruffled her hair and turned when one of the bull riders had a question.

  Liam expected Ginny to leave, to go check out some of the other festivities India and her friends had organized. But when he turned back around, Ginny still stood there with a concerned look on her face.

  “What’s wrong, honey?”

  “India is really sad today.”

  His heart twisted at his daughter’s words. “Did she say that?”

  Ginny shook her head. “No. I can tell, though. I tried to give her a cupcake, but she said for me to keep it. I miss seeing her smile. She’s pretty when she smiles.”

  Yes, she was. She was the most beautiful woman he’d ever met. In that moment, he wanted to say to hell with the rodeo and take India off somewhere private, to somehow find the right words for how he felt about her. But this rodeo was more important than most, and India had worked hard to make it and the accompanying events a success. If he could just get through the next couple of days, then he could figure out if there was a way to make things work between them. If India was even interested anymore.

  * * *

  INDIA MADE HER WAY THROUGH the various booths filled with arts, crafts and all manner of food that would make a cardiologist cringe. In the background, she could hear the announcer for the rodeo events calling out names and times. She bought a glass of lemonade and wandered over to the booth sponsored by the local tourism bureau, complete with piles of travel brochures highlighting Blue Falls’ many offerings. Verona and Skyler were busy talking to a young couple, so India picked up one of Skyler’s new brochures for the inn.

  When the couple left the booth, her friends turned their attention to her.

  “Where’s Elissa?” she asked.

  Skyler pointed toward the arena. “Over watching hot cowboys.”

  “Which is where I thought you would be, honey,” Verona added.

  India shook her head. “No, I need to make sure everything is running smoothly here.”

  “Everything is fine. Stop worrying, and go enjoy yourself.”

  She didn’t think that watching the man who’d captured and tossed aside her heart ride a dangerous animal qualified as enjoying herself.

  Verona took India’s hand and squeezed it gently. “Honey, what happened? You’ve looked miserable all day today, and you disappeared without a word last night.”

  “I’m just tired. I think maybe I need a vacation.”

  If she lost the business, she’d have all the free time in the world. But then she wouldn’t be able to afford a vacation. Catch-22.

  “Are there any cupcakes left at Keri’s booth?” Skyler asked, shifting the conversation in a different direction.

  India shot her friend a silent thanks. “Yeah, a few.”

  Skyler exited the booth. “Verona, can you hold down the fort for a few minutes?”

  “Sure, sweetie. Take your time.” Verona let go of India’s hand and went to talk with yet another visitor to the booth, who was asking about Vista Hills, the Teagues’ guest ranch.

  Skyler hooked her arm through India’s as they headed toward the Mehlerhaus Bakery booth. “You’ve fallen for Liam, haven’t you?”

  If Elissa or Verona had asked, India knew she would have denied it. But Skyler was different. She had an easier way about her despite her perfectionist tendencies. And India felt like if she didn’t confess to someone, she was going to crumble.

  “Yes.”

  “But you’re afraid to admit it because of how different you are.”

  “And the fact that he’s leaving, and Fort Worth isn’t exactly close. Not to mention I don’t think he feels the same way.”

  “Are you kidding me? Have you seen the way he looks at you?”

  India stopped walking, causing Skyler to stop, too.

  “I’m so confused, Sky. One minute we have a very nice dinner together, and we kiss. But then I freak out and pull away. I understand why he wasn’t all warm and fuzzy after that, but last night after the party he stopped by the shop. I went there after I left the party because I just couldn’t face going home to an empty house.” She met Skyler’s eyes and saw genuine sympathy there. “I never thought I minded being alone until now.”

  “What happened when he stopped by?”

  “I’d hit the breaking point, and everything just spilled out.”

  “You told him how you felt about him?”

  “No, not that. I told him about Mom and Dad, about why I am the way I am. Driven, closed off.”

  “Afraid of getting hurt.”

  India nodded. “After I spilled everything, he just said he was sorry and left.”

  “Oh.” Skyler glanced in the direction of the rodeo arena as the announcer told the crowd that the barrel racing was about to start. “Sometimes guys aren’t good with feelings and heavy stuff.”

  “And sometimes they’re looking for a way to get themselves out of an uncomfortable situation.”

  Skyler took a step to face India. “Hon, if he wanted to make a clean break, why would he have stopped to see you last night?”

  India shrugged. “I don’t know.”

  “I think you do.”

  “It doesn’t matter now.”

  “If you care about him, it does matter. You’ve just got to figure out if you care enough about him to try to find a way to at least give the two of you a chance to work.”

  Could she do that? It felt as if choosing to make that final confession to Liam would be like throwing herself off a cliff and hoping he caught her.

  “Now let’s go get a cupcake,” Skyler said.

  As they approached Keri’s booth, India spotted Liam standing halfway between the barn and the grandstand. And Gretchen Toliver was standing on her tiptoes next to him, planting a kiss on his cheek.

  The pang in her chest stole her breath. She turned so she couldn’t see them and somehow managed to go through with buying a lemon cupcake. After a few seconds of chatting with Keri, India touched Skyler’s arm.

  “I’m not feeling well. If you think things will be okay the rest of the night, I’m going to go home and get some rest.”

  “Are you okay?” Skyler’s concern was almost India’s undoing.

  “Yeah, fi
ne.”

  Judging by Skyler’s expression, she knew India was running away. But she was kind enough not to point it out.

  “Think about what I said. There are a lot of sparks between the two of you. I think it’s worth giving a shot.”

  India couldn’t bring herself to tell Skyler what she’d just seen. It was easier just to flee like she always did.

  But as she was in the process of doing just that, she almost literally ran into Kevin.

  “Oh, hey,” she said, surprised to see him. He didn’t seem like the rodeo type.

  “Hello. You’re leaving?”

  “Yeah. Have a good time.” She started to walk past him.

  “I will if you’ll blow this hoopla and go have dinner with me. I’m craving Mexican.”

  She almost declined him for the fourth time, but then wondered if that was the wisest course. She’d just acknowledged to Skyler that she was lonely. Wouldn’t it make more sense to try to cultivate a relationship with a man who might actually be moving to Blue Falls? One who was easy to talk to and didn’t make her feel as if she might crack inside.

  “Sure. La Cantina sounds good after all this junk food.”

  Kevin’s eyes widened before he ushered her to the parking area, probably thinking she might change her mind at any minute. She wasn’t sure she wouldn’t.

  “I’ll just meet you there,” she said when they reached her car. “So I don’t have to come back and get my car later.”

  “Okay, but don’t stand me up.”

  She managed a smile, determined to see where this evening led. “Don’t worry. I have tacos on the brain now.”

  Throughout dinner, India kept reminding herself that Kevin was exactly the kind of man she’d always wanted. And with him leaning very heavily toward buying the buildings from Celene, at least he’d be around and not hours away. She laughed at his jokes, answered questions when appropriate, even asked some of her own. But by the time the waitress cleared away their dishes, even Kevin knew she was only half there.

  “Trouble in paradise?” he asked.

  She opened her mouth to deny it, but she couldn’t force the lie. “I’m sorry, Kevin. I really am.” She looked down at her clasped fingers atop the table, ashamed that she’d tried to use him to forget about Liam.

  “Don’t worry about it. I knew my chances weren’t great. I saw the way you looked at that cowboy at the inn.”

  “Evidently I’m not very good at hiding my feelings.”

  “Does he know?”

  She shook her head.

  “Then tell him. Guys are, well, we’re pretty dense about these kinds of things. Take it from someone who knows.”

  A hint of something that wasn’t teasing drew her gaze up to his.

  “Believe me when I say that you shouldn’t let a chance at love pass you by. I did, and she ended up marrying my best friend.”

  “Oh, Kevin, I’m sorry. I had no idea.”

  “Of course, you didn’t. How could you? I try not to wear it on my sleeve. After all, what’s done is done, and all we can do is move forward.”

  For some reason, those words from a virtual stranger sank in more than anything her friends had said since Liam Parrish strode on those long legs through her front door.

  “Thank you,” she said.

  India hurried back to the fairgrounds and arrived just in time to see the beginning of the bronc riding competition. She’d heard from Ginny that Liam had decided to ride, so she walked to the area next to the grandstand to watch.

  As she watched the first rider out, she was amazed how anyone could stay on an animal that was trying so hard to send them flying through the air. After only what seemed like three or four seconds, the horse finally won the battle and bucked the cowboy off into the dirt. She gasped, afraid he was hurt, but the guy jumped up as if nothing out of the ordinary had just happened. She guessed it hadn’t.

  “India.”

  She turned at the sound of someone calling her name and saw Elissa waving from her seat at the end of the bleachers. Skyler, Verona, Lara and Pete were seated around her. India hurried past several people sitting in lawn chairs so she wouldn’t obstruct their view of the next rider and slid onto the end of the bleachers next to Skyler.

  “Skyler said you went home,” Elissa said.

  “I changed my mind.”

  She caught the smile on Skyler’s face but appreciated her not commenting on her unexpected return because, honestly, India had no idea what she was going to do. For now, at least, she could just sit here and watch the action.

  After two more riders, the public address announcer said, “Next up we’ve got the man who put this rodeo together for you good folks tonight. Liam Parrish will be riding Skeeter.”

  India tensed as she watched Liam get set in the chute. She sent up a silent prayer that he would be safe. And just like that, the gate to the chute opened and the horse took off, bucking wildly.

  “Hang on,” she said. “Hang on.”

  The moment his eight seconds elapsed, Liam made a quick maneuver off the horse and landed in the dirt.

  India was about to sigh in relief when Skeeter bucked sideways, kicking Liam so hard it knocked him over. She gasped and started to stand. Other cowboys rushed out from the edges of the arena, a couple ushering the still-bucking horse away from Liam and two more helping him to his feet. India couldn’t take a breath as she watched everything happen in what felt like a horrible slow motion.

  But in the next moment, Liam was walking under his own power, hobbling toward the end of the arena. When the crowd started to cheer, he took off his hat and waved it in the air.

  India sank back down, her heart thudding fast, as if it were trying to catch up after missing a few beats.

  Verona leaned down from the bleacher behind India. “Go to him, honey. See if he’s okay.”

  India shook her head. “There are paramedics down there for that.”

  “I don’t think the paramedics are the ones falling in love with that cowboy.”

  Her instinct was to stay where she was, but then she remembered Verona’s words about growing old alone, Kevin’s about grabbing opportunities for love. She also remembered that kiss Gretchen had given him and determined it would be the last. Before she lost her nerve, she stood and jumped off the bleachers to the ground.

  She heard words of encouragement from her friends behind her, but she didn’t turn around to acknowledge them. Instead, she scanned the end of the arena for Liam as she walked that way. When she spotted him, she started to run.

  * * *

  DAMN, THAT KICK WAS GOING to leave a whale of a bruise. At least he’d had a good ride before Skeeter decided to make his displeasure known.

  “Hell of a ride,” one of the other guys said.

  “Thanks,” Liam said as he leaned against a gate.

  The guy looked past Liam. “This one yours?”

  Confused, Liam turned to see India running toward him. His heart leaped at the sight of her.

  She skidded to a halt just a couple of feet away. “Are you okay?”

  Liam saw something new in her eyes, something that hadn’t been there the night before, not even the night that they’d kissed. It was something deeper, more open, and it gave him a sudden surge of hope.

  “I’m fine. I’ll have a nice bruise, but it won’t be the first time.”

  “Oh, okay.” She sounded nervous. “Well, I’m glad you’re not hurt worse.”

  When she started to step away, Liam reached out and grasped her hand to stop her. He didn’t want her running away again.

  “Go to the dance with me.” He remembered what she’d felt like in his arms the last time they’d danced, and right now he wanted nothing more than to feel her close to him like that again. And the post-rodeo dance at th
e music hall was the perfect opportunity.

  “You just got kicked by a horse.”

  “I am perfectly able to dance, among other things.”

  He couldn’t tell in the dim light, but he was pretty sure she blushed. He fought hard against leading her back to the RV and making love to her. Instead, he pulled her close and captured her mouth with his.

  The feel of her soft lips, the curves of her body, pushed everything else away. It took several moments for the sound of hoots from the nearby cowboys to register. India noticed the claps of approval about the same time and hid her face against his chest in embarrassment.

  Liam laughed and kissed the top of her head.

  India stepped back. “See you at the dance.”

  This time when she ran away, he didn’t mind. In fact, he hadn’t felt this good in ages, maybe ever.

  Somehow he made it through the rest of the rodeo and all the administrative work that came afterward. While overseeing the handing out of prize money, he collected his own for second place in the bronc riding. Maybe he’d use it to take India out to a nice dinner again.

  Finally, he was able to grab a quick shower, throw on clean clothes and head to the music hall. He was thankful that Jake had already taken Ginny with him and Mia. When he walked into the crowded building, he spotted the girls at the bar eating ice cream. He searched the sea of faces around him until he found India standing halfway across the room to his left talking to Skyler and Verona. No doubt Elissa was already kicking up her heels on the dance floor.

  He wove his way through the crush of people until he reached her. She noticed him just as he reached out and took her hand.

  “Excuse me, ladies, but I’m going to have to steal India.”

  This time he did see her blush right before he led her toward the dance floor. As he swirled her into his arms, he noticed she’d changed clothes, too. Gone were the shorts and top she’d had on earlier. In their places was a multicolored minidress that had a long sleeve on one side and none on the other. It made him think of Woodstock. On her feet were her ever-present heels, this time a chunky purple pair he had no doubt she’d spent a lot of time color-coordinating with the dress. All he could think about as he held her close was ripping all of it off and leaving it in a heap in the floor of his RV.