The Bull Rider's Valentine

by Cathy McDavid

  “You should talk to him.” Sam moved close and put an arm around Ronnie’s shoulders. It was almost as if she were the older sister and Ronnie the younger one.

  “I think it might be too late.” Her voice cracked slightly.

  “Maybe not.” Sam gave her another squeeze. “Why else would he be here now?”

  Ronnie spun to see Nate’s truck pulling into the ranch. “What in the world...?”

  “My guess is he wants to see you. He sure didn’t come all this way to see me.”

  Breathe, Ronnie told herself. Focus.

  “Hi, Nate!” Sam waved wildly when he emerged from his parked truck.

  Ronnie squeezed her eyes shut. What was wrong with him? He seemed to be walking in slow motion. After an eternity passed, he came to stand in front of her.

  “Hi, Ronnie. Sam.”

  “I’ve got to exercise Big John before the lesson starts.” Sam gave him a quick hug. “See you later.” She hesitated. “I will see you later?”

  “Probably. We’ll see.”

  “Whoo-hoo!” She hopped on Big John and trotted off.

  Ronnie had yet to speak. She couldn’t; her jaw hung loosely, unwilling to cooperate.

  “You have a few minutes?” Nate asked. “To talk?”

  She knew in that instant how she answered him would dictate their entire future. Yes, they’d have one. No, he’d turn around and disappear from her life forever.

  Hoping and praying she was making the right choice, she met his gaze and nodded.

  * * *

  NATE COULDN’T HELP thinking how similar this scene was to his first day in Mustang Valley. Like then, he’d arrived at Powell Ranch to find Ronnie and Sam together examining Big John. Ronnie wore her Arizona Cardinals hoodie and her long blond hair fell in a braid down her back just like before.

  The sight of her sent a powerful zing through him straight to the center of his heart. He’d had the same reaction at the New Mexico State Fair Rodeo so long ago when he’d watched a startling young beauty blaze into the arena on the fastest horse there, a look of sheer determination on her face. He’d been smitten with her then and still was, regardless of, or maybe because of, everything they’d been through.

  There were a lot of differences between the day he’d arrived and now, he couldn’t help noting. Ronnie and Sam weren’t at odds, and Big John was almost fully recovered. Sam had reached her dream of going to Nationals and resolved her differences with her family.

  Perhaps the biggest changes were to Nate himself. Instead of wandering aimlessly, he’d found a purpose ripe with promise and rich with potential. He was gainfully employed and likely to stay employed. No more temporary side jobs for him.

  All that remained was Ronnie. She was the last missing piece in the completion of his plan.

  Wait a minute. Plan? She was infinitely more to him than that. More than his first love and his one true love. Ronnie was air and food and sunshine. She was the guardian of his heart, the shelter he sought and the best reason to better himself.

  If he could convince her of all these things, that he’d been an idiot not to realize it sooner, they might have a fighting chance.

  “Did you come to tell me goodbye?” she asked. “I heard from Sam you have a job interview in Florence.”

  “Had an interview,” he corrected her.

  Confusion marred her features. “I don’t understand.”

  Nate glanced around, seeking a less public location. The discussion he hoped to have with her didn’t need an audience. Not that people were staring. They were, however, casting plenty of interested glances. Sam in particular.

  “Come on,” he said and captured her hand when she didn’t immediately respond.

  “Where are you taking me?”

  “For a short walk.” There’d be fewer people on the other side of the horse stables.

  She didn’t move. “What’s going on, Nate?”

  “I called and canceled my interview with Spence’s friend in Florence.”

  “Why?”

  “I’m staying on at The Small Change.” This time, when he tugged on her hand, she followed him.

  “I thought Reese hired a nursing service.”

  “She did. Eight hours a day, five days a week. I’ll cover for the nurse the other two days, Wednesdays and Saturdays. Theo insisted. I’ll be driving him to his monthly Cattlemen’s Association meetings and his poker games, the rodeo events at the Poco Dinero, the Phoenix Suns’ games when he has tickets, and anywhere else he wants to go without a nurse tagging along. I’ll also get him up, showered and dressed every morning and stay with him every evening when I’m not working for Bess.”

  “Really? Okay.” Her tone was skeptical. “How is that different from before, if I can ask?”

  “On the surface, not much, other than I’ll be working a lot more hours. Plus, I agreed to be on call to help whenever I’m needed. Reese and Theo were able to compromise, once she calmed down. He’d agree to the nurse on the condition I was allowed to stay on and that I get paid. But in addition to wages, Theo’s funding my college expenses.”

  “College?” Ronnie’s confusion increased. “I don’t understand.”

  They fell into an easy stroll very reminiscent of what Nate had envisioned when he’d suggested a date. “I’m registering at Scottsdale Community College. Nursing classes. I’ll start after winter break.”

  He expected her to accuse him of joking or ask him where he got such a ridiculous notion. She didn’t. Taking him by complete surprise, she showed him all over again why she was the only woman for him.

  “That’s wonderful! I’m so happy for you.”

  She stopped and hugged him briefly. He wanted to hold her forever, along the lines of till death do us part, but he was getting ahead of himself.

  “Thanks. I’m actually pretty excited.”

  “You’ll be great,” she continued. “I know how rewarding it was for you to help with Allan’s care.”

  His chest tightened, his emotions expanding and struggling to find room in the confined space. “Yeah, it was.”

  “He’d be proud of you.”

  Nate marveled at her compassion. She alone understood how close he’d been to his late brother and the depths of their bond. “He’d kick me in the rear end for taking this long to figure out what I wanted to do.”

  “Are you going to keep working at the Poco Dinero?”

  “Absolutely. I’m not giving that up.” The job with Theo would only provide pocket change.

  “Because you can’t let Bess down?”

  “Because it seems quitting bull riding is impossible for me no matter how hard I try. Not that I’m competing anymore. But I didn’t realize how much I missed the action and excitement until Bess hired me.”

  “Trust me, I can relate. I love teaching barrel racing and training horses for those very same reasons.”

  “It’s obvious. And you’re great at what you do.”

  Her bright smile restored and revitalized him. How different things might have turned out if he’d refused his mother’s request to stop in Mustang Valley on his way to Houston.

  “Thank goodness you’re not competing anymore,” Ronnie said. “I hate to admit it, but I couldn’t handle you getting injured. You came too close the other night, and you weren’t even on a bull.”

  “I like having you worry about me.”

  “I doubt I’ll ever stop.”

  Every cell in his being ached to kiss her. He resisted, and it was torture. “Won’t be easy, working and going to school. I’ve been slacking off for a while now.”

  “You were never afraid of hard work, Nate.”

  He stared, admiring all the qualities about her that made her so special. She could have refused to talk to him. Could have maintained her distance. Instead, she was open and warm and enco
uraging. Whatever they’d been through, she was and always would be his friend. Was she ready for more? He couldn’t be sure.

  “I have you to thank,” he said.

  “Me? No way. Sounds like you have Theo to thank.”

  “I suspect he’ll run me ragged.”

  “How? By making you take him to his poker games?”

  She laughed, the sound light and joyous and giving Nate hope. Ronnie wasn’t throwing up barriers or drawing invisible lines. She wasn’t shutting herself off.

  “Hey, those chips are heavy.”

  She groaned.

  “Maybe you can help me study.”

  “Ah!”

  They’d reached a critical moment, and Nate sensed she knew it, too. They either quit now and went their separate ways or took a leap. It was completely up to Ronnie.

  Gazing straight into his eyes, she asked, “What are you really suggesting?”

  He surrendered to his longing and reached for her hands. Her skin was like satin, cool but instantly warming to his touch.

  “Us having a second chance, only to throw it away, finally penetrated my thick skull. I can’t bear the thought of losing the most important person in the world to me. You.”

  “Believe me, I like hearing that. But I can’t forget what you said the other day. Is going to college and working part-time enough for you to feel you’re contributing to the relationship?”

  “I still won’t have two dollars to rub together for a while. A long while, probably. But I can support myself, if not in the lap of luxury. I have a solid direction for my life and a future in a career I’m confident I’ll like. That’s more than I could say a month ago.”

  “Very true.”

  “If you can wait a year or two for this diamond in the rough to shine, I think you might be happy with the results.”

  He thought she might jump in his arms as she had before and kiss him soundly, exclaiming, “Yes, yes, yes!” Instead, she simply stood there, and his heart started to sink.

  “I wouldn’t want for us to wind up in the same place as before,” she finally said.

  He understood her being cautious. “You’re right. We have a lot to overcome.” Recognizing her need for assurance, he squeezed her fingers. “I’ll say it, I’m not afraid. I love you, Ronnie. I always have and always will. We’ll have our ups and downs. Just think how much more we’ll value what we have because of how hard we fought for it.”

  The tiny upward curve of her lips was the first sign, followed by her leaning in closer.

  “I love you, too,” she whispered so softly he barely heard. “Could the third time be the charm?”

  He didn’t wait for her to make the first move. Dropping her hands, he lifted her by the waist and held her high in the air. The emotions fighting for room in his chest erupted in a loud, “Yee-haw!”

  She laughed again and, when he finally put her down, said, “We go slow. That hasn’t changed from before. One day at a time.”

  “You call the shots, sweetheart.” He cradled her cheek with his palm.

  “I’d also think we should visit your folks and make peace with your mom. Or, they can come here.”

  “She’d like the chance to make amends, I’m sure.”

  “Okay.”

  “Is that it?”

  “Of course not. You know me.” She stood on her tiptoes and pressed her lips to his in a sweet, gentle kiss that, as always, was infinitely more electrifying than their passionate ones.

  Nate imagined them a few years down the road, the two of them married, living in Ronnie’s house—only now as homeowners rather than renters—her running her business and him graduating with a nursing degree. He kept the images to himself. Eventually, when the moment was right, he’d share them with her.

  “I do have one request.” She flung her arms around his neck. “If you’re free, I’d like to take you to the Valentine’s Day dinner and dance.”

  Nate dipped her backward over his arm. “I accept,” he said before his mouth claimed hers.

  Epilogue

  Two months later

  “What’s he doing?” Frankie shouted in Ronnie’s ear in order to be heard above the country band’s rowdy music.

  “I don’t know,” Ronnie shouted back, watching Nate as he approached the band and passed something to the steel guitar player.

  The two sisters stood at the end of the buffet line that had been set up for the Valentine’s Day dance and dinner. Couples had immediately resumed two-stepping to the music even before dinner ended.

  Obviously, the food was a huge hit, given that the buffet line looked like a deserted battleground. Beans and coleslaw remnants were stuck to the sides of chafing dishes. Crumbs littered and barbecue stains dotted the once pristine white linen tablecloths. Pieces of broken plasticware were strewn about, and overturned condiment boats spilled what remained of their contents.

  “Do you think he made a song request?” Frankie shouted.

  “Maybe.” Though why Nate would request a song, Ronnie had no clue.

  They’d been together every day for the past two months, together every night for the past two weeks. That was when he’d moved in with Ronnie. Her suggestion, not his. And, yes, she’d been the one to insist they proceed slowly, only to change her mind.

  What could she say? Asking him had felt right, and nothing yet had changed her mind. If anything, she was convinced they were going to succeed this time. For good. Life together was that wonderful.

  They’d learned from their mistakes and continued to learn more about each other with every passing day. Nate had become a neat freak during the last six years. Who’d have guessed? She, to his shock, had developed the habit of watching the nightly news before going to bed and eating vegan dinners once a week.

  Ronnie had finally hired an assistant for her business. After considering several candidates, she’d decided on a former student. The gal was a fireball, and already Ronnie had been able to reduce her sixty-hour workweek to forty-five. More time to spend with Nate.

  The recent holidays had flown by in a hectic haze, with Nate’s parents coming for a short visit. Nate’s mom had been sweet and apologetic and, after muddling through their initial hesitancy, she and Ronnie had gotten along fine. Both his parents repeatedly expressed their delight at Ronnie and Nate’s renewed relationship, which gladdened Ronnie and healed the last of her old wounds.

  “Look at Sam.” Frankie pointed, drawing Ronnie’s attention away from Nate and redirecting it to the dance floor where the youngest Hartman sister danced with her boyfriend.

  Ronnie chuckled at the sight of him looking utterly out of his element in a cowboy hat and boots. “What won’t he do for her?”

  “I think they’re adorable.”

  “I think they’re adorable.” She pointed at Mel and Aaron.

  The deputy sheriff had his arms as far around his wife’s enormous belly as they would go and was guiding her across the dance floor. She wasn’t due for another week, though from the size of her she could go into labor at any second.

  They were having a boy. The first in the Hartman family for two generations. It was supposed to be a surprise, but Mel had told Ronnie and then made her swear to keep the secret. Except, she’d also told Frankie, and Aaron’s daughter Kaylee. Probably the only one who didn’t know was Aaron.

  Ronnie crossed her fingers the baby would be born by Frankie and Spence’s wedding, less than a month away. Mel insisted on inducing labor if two more weeks went by without Aaron junior making an appearance. Ronnie believed her, too.

  “Come on.” She reached for the nearest chafing dish. “I’ll help you clean up.”

  Frankie patted her on the shoulder. “I accept your kind offer.”

  At that moment, the song came to an end. Rather than launching into the next one, the steel guitar player stood and remo
ved his microphone from its stand.

  “Ladies and gentlemen, cowboys and cowgals, if we can have your attention. My friend here has an announcement to make.” The man reached down and delivered the mike to someone in the crowd.

  “What’s this?” Frankie asked. “Oh, my God. It’s Nate.”

  She was right. The crowd parted as Nate made his way to the center of the hastily emptying dance floor.

  Ronnie’s heart rate promptly escalated. She had the unmistakable feeling that whatever Nate was doing involved her.

  “Ronnie.” He started toward her. “Come on out here, sweetheart.”

  She shook her head, suddenly embarrassed as a hundred gazes all zeroed in on her.

  Frankie gave her a push. “Go!”

  Caught between her sister and Nate, she had no choice but to take a step forward. From the corner of her eye, she noticed Spence and Dolores holding up their cell phones and taking videos.

  “What are you doing?” she whispered when she got close to Nate, tugging nervously on the tail of her braid.

  They stood toe to toe, almost nose to nose. Nate’s grin lit his entire face. But rather than address her, he spoke into the microphone.

  “Ronnie Hartman, six years ago today, I asked you to marry me.”

  The entire bar went still when Nate’s free hand dug into the front pocket of his jeans. Ronnie’s breath caught. Her feet seemed to float above the floor and her cheeks burned.

  He pulled out a small red velvet box she instantly recognized.

  “I know we agreed to take things day by day. And if you tell me no, be warned, I’m going to ask you again. And again and again until you say yes.”

  In the background, Mel let out a high-pitched gasp. Frankie cheered and someone, possibly Bess, said, “About damn time.”

  Ronnie stared at the velvet box, noting every detail right down to the jeweler’s stamp, the little gold hinges and the slight tremor in Nate’s fingers.

  When she spoke, her voice came out shaky. “Nate.”

  He lowered his head and dropped a kiss to the top of hers. Then, using his thumb, he flipped open the box, revealing the same ring he’d proposed with six years ago.