Yes, it would be okay.
The shift in her was suddenly complete and seamless.
Giving Ethan one last long glance, she took a step, then another. Chico followed like the good, dependable horse he was.
As she and Justin passed the office, he said to her, “Thanks. I know this isn’t easy for you.”
She didn’t respond, afraid she might start crying. Must be hormones.
“You have to stop feeling bad about the accident,” Justin said. “I don’t. Haven’t for a long time.”
“But you lost the use of your legs.”
“Pretty incidental in the larger scheme of things.”
“No, it isn’t!”
“It is. I’m better off now than I ever was. I’ve got my degree. Have two job offers I’m considering. I play sports. White-water raft. I’m learning to ride a horse.” He patted Chico’s neck. “Have a girlfriend.”
“Tamiko? What about Eric?”
“She dumped him. For me. For me,” he repeated, wearing the goofy grin of a besotted man.
Caitlin wasn’t just proud of him, she was impressed. “I’m glad.” As long as he didn’t get hurt.
She had to stop thinking like that—would stop thinking like that.
“I’m happy, sis.”
He was. She could see it in his face, hear it in his voice.
The weight she’d been carrying for the last six years didn’t lift entirely, but it decreased. Eventually, soon, she’d be free of it.
“You should be happy, too. Ethan loves you.”
“I messed up with him.” She sniffed and Chico gave her arm a sympathetic nudge.
“Nothing you can’t repair.”
“I don’t know how.”
“Talk to him. I guarantee, he’ll listen.”
“I’m not sure there’s a point to it. I can’t handle his bronc riding. You saw how I was at the hospital.”
“You’d be surprised what you can handle if you have to. Look at me. Look at Mom and Dad.”
He made a good argument. And she already felt stronger. Amazing what release from guilt could do for a person.
Chico turned abruptly and started walking in the opposite direction.
“Hey, there!” Caitlin pulled on the lead rope, then gave the horse his head. Chico was going exactly where she wanted to—back to Ethan.
He must have noticed a change in her because his whole countenance lit up at her approach.
“Can we go somewhere to talk?” she said when they were close enough.
His shoulders straightened as if he, too, had had a weight lifted from them. “I’ll find Conner and T.J. so we can get Justin down.”
“I’m fine,” Justin said. “Tamiko will lead me around for a while.”
Tamiko jumped off the fence in eager anticipation. Caitlin passed her the lead rope, and the pair took off.
By unspoken agreement, Caitlin and Ethan headed in the direction of the office.
“Do you think they’ll be all right?” she asked. Old habits were hard to break.
“They’ll be fine.”
Caitlin sat on the top porch step, keeping Justin in sight, but not fretting about him. Not like she had, anyway.
Ethan lowered himself down beside her, his movements still stiff.
“How are you doing?”
“Better. The doctor suggested physical therapy. Know a good therapist?”
“I might.”
They both laughed and, just like that, the tension between them evaporated.
“You first,” she said.
He took a moment before continuing. “Being laid up the last couple of weeks has given me a lot of time to think. About my job. About rodeoing. About us.” He cleared his throat. “I’ve made a decision.”
His tone was so serious. Had she misinterpreted his intentions? Good heavens. He was breaking up with her. Now, after she’d finally come to her senses.
“I love you,” she blurted.
“Good.” He sagged with obvious relief. “That makes what I’m going to tell you a whole lot easier.” He fitted his palm to her cheek and rubbed his thumb along her jawline. “After my discharge, I wanted to…needed to ride broncs. To prove to myself and everyone else I was the same man I’d been before I lost my leg.”
“I understand. And you don’t have to give up rodeoing for me.”
“I want to.” His dark eyes searched hers. “It isn’t important to me anymore. Having you, loving you, is. Nothing I do matters without you in my life. You make me the man I want to be. If Justin hadn’t tricked you into coming here today, I would have gone after you myself and begged you to give us a second chance.” He chuckled. “Guess that would be a third chance.”
“Justin tricked me?” She tried to be mad at her brother, but couldn’t. “Remind me to thank him.”
Ethan cupped her other cheek and held her face between his hands. “If you’ll have me, I’ll also give up breaking horses.”
“That’s your job.”
“I’ll find another one.”
“Not on your life, cowboy, you hear me? You’re a Powell.”
“Caitlin, baby doll—”
“No. Quitting bronc riding is enough.” She remembered Justin’s words. “I can handle breaking horses, though. I’ll need help. Lots of support and understanding.”
“You’ll have it.”
He kissed her then, and it was the sweetest kiss he’d ever given her.
“Life is full of risks,” she said dreamily. “And they’re not all bad.”
She’d taken a huge one minutes ago when she’d asked to talk to him, and it was already paying off.
“Marry me, Caitlin. I love you, too.”
Her eyes went wide. “What did you say?”
“I’d get down on one knee, except between my bum leg and broken ribs, I’m not sure I could get back up.”
She drew in a ragged breath, her earlier indecision fleeing. “There’s something you need to know first.”
“If you’re worried about honing in on Gavin and Sage’s wedding next month, I can wait. Not long, mind you.”
“It’s not that.”
“We’ll buy a ring. Sorry I proposed without one.”
“No, no, no. I don’t care about a ring. Well, I do, but not this second.”
“Then what?”
“Marriage is life changing.” She wavered, scared and yet bursting with excitement. “Having a baby is, too.”
He stared at her blankly.
She huffed impatiently. Did she have to spell it out? “I’m pregnant.”
His dumbfounded expression transformed into one of unabashed delight.
Ethan struggled to his feet. He barely made it and doubled over, a low sound exploding from him.
“Ethan, are you all right?” She was instantly up and grabbed his arm.
“My ribs.” He was laughing, and the sound grew louder as he straightened.
She laughed with him.
Gavin threw open the office door. Caitlin hadn’t realized he was in there.
“What’s going on?” His glance traveled from Ethan to Caitlin. “I take it you two are back together.”
“More than back together.” Ethan stopped laughing and pulled Caitlin to him. “You did accept, didn’t you?”
“Yes, I’ll marry you.” She put her arms around him gently, drunk on happiness.
Gavin barreled down the steps and embraced them both, ignoring Ethan’s protest to take it easy. “It’s about damn time.”
Justin and Tamiko came over, her brother still mounted. “What’s going on?” he asked.
Ethan let go of Caitlin and shouted through cupped hands, loudly enough for the entire ranch to hear, “We’re getting hitched and we’re having a baby.”
After that, everything was a blur. Caitlin was aware of hugs and kisses and lots of congratulations. Wayne Powell suddenly appeared. He must have come out of the house to investigate all the commotion. Sage and the girls were with him.
“Ethan’s mother would be so happy.” Wayne kissed Caitlin on the cheek. “Another grandchild.”
Someone had helped Justin down from the horse, for he was suddenly in his wheelchair. He held her fiercely when she leaned down to hug him.
“Thanks,” she whispered. “For the advice and for tricking me into coming here. You’re the best.”
“Anytime, sis.”
“Guess I’d better let Mom and Dad know.”
Ethan put an arm around her. “We’ll drive out there later. Tell them together.”
She beamed at him. “Really?” That was exactly the right thing to do.
“You could have a double wedding,” Tamiko suggested gleefully, then reddened when everyone stared at her.
Ethan found his voice first. “What do you think? I know it’s kind of short notice.”
Caitlin could tell by his eager grin that he liked the idea. He’d want to get married as soon as possible, what with the baby coming. “Gavin and Sage may not want—”
“Gavin and Sage absolutely want,” Sage answered for them both. “All the arrangements are under way. It makes perfect sense.”
“Okay.” Caitlin shrugged, suddenly warming to the idea, as well. “Let’s have a double wedding.”
They took their celebrating inside to continue over supper.
Caitlin sat at the kitchen table next to Ethan, across from her brother, and with the family that had come to mean as much to her as her own.
When the meal was nearing an end, Wayne tapped his water glass with his fork. Everyone fell silent. “Here’s to my second future daughter-in-law. Welcome to the Powell family.” Wayne smiled at Caitlin affectionately. “I’ve been waiting nine years to say that.”
She’d been waiting nine years to hear it.
The passage of time, the trials and tribulations she and Ethan had confronted and conquered, made the moment all the more meaningful.
Christmas wishes could and did come true.
Beneath the table, Ethan took her hand and linked their fingers. “Stay with me tonight,” he mouthed.
As if she would ever leave him or this place again.
ISBN: 978-1-4592-8238-4
HER COWBOY’S CHRISTMAS WISH
Copyright © 2011 by Cathy McDavid
All rights reserved. Except for use in any review, the reproduction or utilization of this work in whole or in part in any form by any electronic, mechanical or other means, now known or hereafter invented, including xerography, photocopying and recording, or in any information storage or retrieval system, is forbidden without the written permission of the publisher, Harlequin Enterprises Limited, 225 Duncan Mill Road, Don Mills, Ontario M3B 3K9, Canada.
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events or locales is entirely coincidental.
This edition published by arrangement with Harlequin Books S.A.
For questions and comments about the quality of this book please contact us at [email protected]
® and TM are trademarks of the publisher. Trademarks indicated with ® are registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office, the Canadian Trade Marks Office and in other countries.
www.Harlequin.com
* Mustang Valley
Her Cowboy's Christmas Wish (Harlequin American Romance) Page 19