Comeback Cowboy

by Sara Richardson

“Nah.” Levi seemed to brush it aside. “If anything, I’ll get eaten alive on social media. But I’ve already got some ideas for how to repair the damage. Starting with launching a campaign to rebuild the grounds and bring the rodeo back to Topaz Falls.”

  “I’ll do what I can to help,” Lucas promised, still holding his girls against him. “Now that I’m sticking around for good.”

  “Awww.” Jessa dabbed at her eyes. “We need to go out and celebrate! Darla said she’d close down for a private party. She’s making a chocolate torte.”

  “Chocolate!” Gracie squealed, jumping out of Lucas’s lap. “Let’s go!”

  “You can ride with us.” Jessa herded Lance and Gracie toward the doors.

  “And I’ll give you two a lift,” Levi offered to his father and Evie.

  Luis nodded. “We’ll see you two over there.”

  His family hadn’t even cleared the doors before Lucas pulled the woman of his dreams into his arms again. “I hated thinking about leaving you.” He would’ve, if he thought it could protect her from more pain, but it would’ve cost him his soul.

  “I wouldn’t have let you leave. Not this time,” she said, touching her lips to his. “I would’ve hog-tied you and hid you in my bedroom.”

  “Is that plan out the window?” he wondered aloud. “Because it could be fun…”

  He loved her laugh. Loved how it made him want to laugh and hold her and let it soften all of the rough edges life had given him.

  “Come on,” Naomi said, linking her arm through his. “Let’s get out of here. We might have a little time before we have to show up at Darla’s…”

  “No.” They didn’t have to be in a hurry. “We have more than a little time.” He slid his hands onto her arms and brought her to face him. “We have all the time in the world.” For once.

  Even after he’d finished his prison sentence, he’d still been a prisoner. He couldn’t have what he wanted, what he’d dreamed about. Naomi had changed that. She’d given him back a life—a real life with the potential for love and joy and intimacy.

  For the first time in ten long years, he was free.

  Chapter Twenty-eight

  The unmistakable pitter-patter of rain on the roof drew Lucas to the window. He gazed out at the mountains, at the low-hanging clouds, at the dry ground finally being drenched. “About damn time,” he said, rejoining his brothers in Lance’s kitchen.

  “Isn’t rain on your wedding day a bad sign?” asked Levi.

  Lucas flicked him in the ear. Something he’d missed doing. It’d been his favorite form of torture to inflict on his younger brother back in the day.

  “Ow.” Levi rubbed at his ear, revealing the same disgruntled expression he’d worn when he was six.

  “Given how dry it’s been—and the fact that there’s a wildfire raging dangerously close to town—I’d say rain is a sign of good luck,” Lucas told Lance. “Not that you’ll need luck.” Jessa was made of some strong stuff, and he had no doubt that their marriage would thrive.

  “Jessa loves rain anyway.” Lance sipped the good whiskey. “Says it makes everything more romantic.”

  “Well, she’d know.” She was definitely an expert in that area.

  “Speaking of romance…” Levi elbowed him. “You’ve been staying at Naomi’s place this week, huh?”

  “Sort of.” He had dinner with them every night. Then, after Gracie went to bed, he and Naomi retreated to her bedroom, but he always left before Gracie woke up. Naomi wasn’t quite ready to deal with her daughter’s questions yet. But God, he couldn’t wait until she was. Until they could have lazy mornings together…

  “So what’s your plan?” Lance awkwardly straightened his tie. Thankfully Jessa hadn’t gone the tux route with the wedding. She likely knew they would’ve revolted.

  “Plan for what?” he asked, playing dumb.

  “Plan for the future,” Levi said impatiently. “Plan with Naomi. Don’t forget I stuck my neck out for you.” And he’d made it known far and wide that he was already getting shit for it. The local Denver stations had run a story on the whole thing, and two days ago the national media had picked it up. They kept calling Lucas for exclusive interviews, but he turned them all down. He had more important things to focus on at the moment.

  “You two getting hitched?” Lance came right out and asked.

  He guessed it wouldn’t hurt to share. “You two’d better keep this to yourselves. Got it?”

  “Got it,” they said in unison.

  He reached into his pocket. Flicking open the lid on the ring box, he showed off his purchase. “Had to go to Denver to find it.” He looked again at the wide platinum band, with its two carats of diamonds set into an intricately scrolled design.

  “Whoa,” Levi muttered.

  “It’s almost exactly like the one she saw when we were in high school.” When he’d taken her on that date to Denver right before he was arrested.

  “What’re you waiting for?” Lance demanded. “After all this time, you should’ve had that ring on her finger the day after everything went down at the meeting.”

  “Don’t want to steal your thunder.” Lance and Jessa didn’t need him to take the focus off them right before their wedding. “Figured I’d wait until you two were back from Maui. So we could all celebrate.”

  “Don’t wait,” Lance said. “Not on our account. Jessa’s been hounding me, asking me every day if you’ve bought the ring yet. When I said I didn’t know, she told me to go through your things.”

  “Sounds about right.” Given what he knew about Jessa’s penchant for happily ever afters.

  “She’d love it if you proposed today.” Lance set down his empty glass. “It’d make our day that much better.” He grinned. “It’d get her off my back, too, so in a way you’d be helping me out.”

  “I’ll think about it.” It didn’t have to be a production. He didn’t have to take the focus off Lance and Jessa. He could pull Naomi away from the crowd, maybe during the reception…

  “I could prepare a special karaoke number,” Levi offered. “Do a little serenade to set the mood for ya.”

  “Thanks, but I don’t need help setting the mood.” He’d been setting the mood for over two weeks. And truth be told, the ring was starting to burn a hole in his pocket. Even after only three days.

  Now that Lance had given him permission, he didn’t want to wait anymore.

  * * *

  “How can you be so calm?” Naomi demanded, peeking out the shelter’s window. “Half the town is out there hunkered under a tent and it’s raining cats and dogs.”

  There’d be mud and mess and everything would get wet…

  Smiling like a woman in love, Jessa handed her one of the fancy umbrellas she’d ordered just in case. “There could be a tornado out there and I still would feel like this is the best day of my life.”

  “It’ll be the best day of mine if I get to third base with that guy sitting in the last row right there,” Darla said, her gaze stuck to the window.

  “What guy?” Jessa looked out over her shoulder.

  “The one in the black suit. Blond hair?”

  “That’s my cousin,” Jessa scolded. “And he’s twenty.”

  “Damn.” Darla’s gaze roved away from him as though searching for another potential victim.

  Naomi turned from the window and checked Jessa’s hair and makeup again. “You look so beautiful,” she murmured, shaking a wrinkle out of Jessa’s train, trying not to think about what the mud would do to it. She’d stashed a Tide stick in her purse, but that wouldn’t cut it.

  “This’ll be you soon, huh?” Jessa’s eyes probed for information.

  “Um…maybe…” she said quietly so her daughter wouldn’t hear. Gracie was across the room with Jessa’s mother, brushing Ilsa and decorating the pig’s collar with small white flowers.

  The thought of marrying Lucas was enough to send her heart spiraling. “But I’ve done the whole wedding thing.” Even though she’d been
pregnant and only eighteen, her parents had insisted on a church wedding and had gone all out for the reception. “I don’t want to do that again.”

  “Really?” Cassidy joined them.

  “Really.” There was so much stress around it all—the planning and the invitations and the food…

  “I’ve always thought eloping would be romantic,” Darla mused.

  “I guess so.” But she didn’t care much about the day itself. Or whether they were in the mountains or on a beach. Naomi looked out the window again. Lance, Lucas, and Levi had taken their places in front of a beautiful white arbor that stood before the crowd. Lucas looked so handsome standing there, so proud and strong. “I just want to be married to him.” She didn’t want to have to jump through all of the hoops and make it some big production.

  “I hear you,” Jessa said. “At least my mom did most of the planning. If it would’ve been up to me, we would’ve done a hoedown.”

  They all laughed.

  Outside, the music changed.

  “Oh!” Darla started to scramble. “That’s our cue.”

  As the band started to play “Lucky” by Jason Mraz and Colbie Caillat, Naomi rushed over to get Gracie ready. She looked so grown up in her white tulle dress. Jessa had had it made to match her own.

  “Oh, this is so exciting,” Cassidy gushed as they lined up. Gracie and Ilsa would lead the procession, followed by Naomi, then Cassidy, then Darla. Since her father had passed away, Jessa’s mom would walk her down the aisle.

  During the ceremony, all of the bridesmaids and groomsmen would stand off to the side as couples. Naomi could hardly wait to share this memory with Lucas. She hadn’t seen him all day.

  The song started to play through again, and just as they’d practiced, Gracie opened the door right on time. Naomi handed her Ilsa’s leash, then they all put up their umbrellas in a chorus of rustles and creaks. Holding her head primly and straightening her shoulders, her daughter led them to the tent.

  After ditching their umbrellas on the outskirts they walked down the aisle one by one, and when Naomi saw Lucas step out to take her hand she was thankful she’d opted for the heavy-duty waterproof mascara.

  When they reached their assigned spot, he didn’t let go of her hand. They both turned to face Lance but she could feel Lucas looking at her. Keeping her head still, she slid her gaze to meet his.

  “It’s not fair to the bride for you to look this beautiful,” he murmured.

  “You’re looking pretty handsome yourself,” she whispered without moving her lips. Handsome? He looked panty-melting hot right about now. She tried to keep a straight face as she watched Levi and Cassidy step formally to their spot.

  After Cass, Darla took her time moseying down the aisle. Naomi was pretty sure she wasn’t all that excited about being stuck with Tucker, the Cortezes’ stable manager, though her friend did graciously let Tucker take her arm and lead her to their designated place.

  After that, Naomi motioned to Gracie to sit down. Though the pig fought it, her daughter picked up Ilsa and sat next to Colton in the front row.

  Whew. She relaxed.

  “You gonna save me a dance later?” Lucas murmured.

  “We have to pay attention to the wedding,” she whispered, keeping him in suspense.

  The musicians stopped singing, letting the instrumental swell as Jessa paraded toward them, her face beaming with joy. “Look at her.” She blotted the corners of her eyes with a handkerchief.

  “She looks pretty happy,” Lucas agreed.

  So did Lance. Naomi had known him for years. She’d lived on the ranch since Gracie was a baby, and she was sure she’d never seen him smile that way, with tears running down his face.

  The two of them embraced, and it was such a beautiful picture with the soggy mountains in the background.

  “My God, I love that dress on you,” Lucas murmured, leaning in closer. “What’re you wearing underneath it?”

  “Pay attention,” she scolded. “They’re about to start the wedding.”

  “There’s a wedding?” he teased.

  She shushed him, holding back a laugh.

  In front of them, Lance and Jessa turned to Luis. The old man looked so distinguished in his smart white button-up shirt and black vest. He’d even left off the cowboy hat to reveal his tufted silvery hair.

  “We want to thank everyone for coming out today,” he said, projecting his voice without the assistance of a mic. For being such a quiet, humble man, he was very well-spoken. “It means a lot to Lance and Jessa. A lot to our whole family. I have to admit I wondered if this day would ever come.”

  A murmur of laughter went around the tent.

  “But I think I speak for all of us when I say it was worth the wait.” Luis reached out and squeezed Jessa’s hand. “You are a treasure, Jessa Love, and we’re sure lucky to be welcoming you into our family.”

  The tears came faster, blinding Naomi. She tried to blink them away.

  “When Lance and Jessa asked me to do the ceremony, I thought they’d lost their fool heads,” Luis said to another round of laughter.

  “But then I realized what a privilege it’d be to stand up here. I didn’t always do everything right, but I’m damn proud of my boys. All of ’em.” He looked over at Lucas. “And nothing makes me happier than seeing them build their lives on love.”

  Naomi squeezed Lucas’s hand and smiled at his father.

  He smiled back, that white mustache twitching. “If I’ve learned anything in my life, it’s that, if you work at it, love will always find a way. That’s my prayer for you, Lance and Jessa. That you’ll always work at it. That you’ll always put each other over the demands life will bring.”

  Naomi sniffled a bit, struggling to hold the emotion inside. Lucas pressed a kiss against her temple.

  “Now, Jessa Mae Love, I’ll ask you to repeat after me: Lance, I promise to choose you every day, to love you in word and deed, to do the hard work of making now into always.”

  Jessa repeated each word with a joyful wobble of emotion.

  Luis waited for her to finish then continued. “I promise to laugh with you, cry with you, and grow with you. To be your support and your partner in all of life’s adventures. Loving what I know of you and trusting what I don’t yet know, I give you my hand. I give you my love. I give you myself.”

  Lance repeated those same words, pausing every so often to get ahold of himself, but why should he? Everyone else seemed to be crying. Naomi was pretty sure her heavy-duty waterproof mascara was running down her face.

  Luis guided them through exchanging rings, and it was so wonderfully sweet how they held each other’s hands reverently. The whole time, Lucas ran his thumb over Naomi’s knuckles as though telling her he couldn’t wait to put a ring on her finger, either.

  “Well,” Luis said proudly. “I guess that’s about it. You two kids are officially hitched. Son, go ahead and kiss your new wife.”

  A cheer rose up, but Lance and Jessa didn’t seem to hear it. They were staring into each other’s eyes with a loving lost look Naomi completely understood. Lance pulled his wife into a passionate kiss as if it were just the two of them standing in front of a beautiful mountain backdrop.

  While Lance and Jessa made their escape, the band started playing “As Time Goes By”…of course. Casablanca was one of Jessa’s favorite movies.

  As Naomi and Lucas paraded down the aisle behind Levi and Cass, he snuck a grab at her ass. When she stared up at him, he planted a quick kiss on her lips, and she let him.

  The rest of the afternoon flew by in a blur of pictures and bites of delicious hors d’oeuvres and small talk with people in town. Everyone seemed to want to talk to Lucas, but no one seemed brave enough to bring up the fires. The men asked him about life on the McGowen ranch and the women tried to flirt, but every time one of them smiled at him, he’d touch Naomi, kiss her on the cheek, or slip his hand into hers or drape his arm over her shoulders.

  When the sun started to
set, the crowd thinned out and he snuck up behind her, lacing his arms around her waist and drawing her close. “Dance with me?” he asked sweetly.

  She turned into him, clasping her hands at the back of his neck. “Thought you’d never ask.”

  He swayed her out to the dance floor where the band was still playing. A few other couples danced lazily to a slow country song, but she was too distracted with Lucas to care much who they were. A few feet away Gracie and Cassidy sat at a table watching YouTube videos and giggling hysterically.

  “It was the perfect day,” she sighed, leaning into him, inhaling the rain and the mountains. Her bare shoulders had started to chill, but Lucas’s body warmed her right up.

  “It’s perfect now,” he murmured against her hair. “I’ve been waiting all day to get this close to you.” Dancing her into a quiet corner, he kissed her lips softly and made her wonder how quickly they could get out of there. Gracie had begged to spend the night with Cassidy, which meant she and Lucas would have her place to themselves for the first time.

  “Think anyone would miss us if we snuck away?” she asked, resting her head against his chest. Outside the tent, the sun had broken through the clouds just in time to set. Rays of light poked through, spotlighting the peaks. It made everything seem so alive—new and fresh, still glistening with traces of the earlier rain.

  “We can’t go yet.” Lucas stopped dancing and gazed down at her. His thumb grazed her jaw. “I love you, Naomi. And I love Gracie.”

  “We love you, too.” Both of them. He had to know that. Gracie had been ecstatic having him around more these last few days. At the dinner table, she’d tell him every detail about camp, and at bedtime, she wanted him to tuck her in.

  Lucas glanced around, then fished something out of his pocket. “I was going to wait for a while, but after today I don’t want to wait anymore.”

  “Wait for what?” she asked, focused on the small box in his hands. It was a silly question. She knew. Her heart had started to beat wildly even before he’d dug it out of his pocket.

  Lucas dropped to his knee. “I never thought I’d be lucky enough to get another chance with you,” he said, steady and clear, even with tears in his eyes. “And I don’t want to waste it. I don’t want to waste one more second. I’ve loved you forever, Naomi, and I want to be with you the rest of my life.” He opened the ring box and her breath caught. That ring. Memories flooded her of that night he’d taken her to a Moroccan restaurant in downtown Denver. Before dinner, they’d walked around beneath the big city lights, and she’d been awed by all of it. When they’d passed a jewelry store, her gaze had skipped over all of the typical rings, fixating instead on the most beautiful diamond-studded band.