Cowgirl, Say Yes

by Brenda Mott

  Wade was actually surprised at the large turnout. Tess, Bailey and the kids had all put a great deal of time into publicizing the event, and apparently their efforts had paid off. The arena and the grandstands were clogged with spectators and participants. The official start time was 9:00 a.m., and Tess began the proceedings a few minutes prior by addressing the crowd over the loudspeaker.

  “Good morning, everyone. I’d like to thank each and every one of you for coming here today, whether to participate or just to have fun watching. Your support is greatly appreciated. And if you’d like to see exactly where your dollar is going, please feel free to stop by our booth, located at the west end of the fairgrounds. I’ve got a photo display with before-and-after shots of some of my rescue cases. If you look around, you might even see one or two of them here today, taking part in the gymkhana. I’ve also got some horses that are available for adoption in the porta-pens near the booth, and anyone interested can see me during or after the gymkhana. So have fun, ride safe and let’s get started with our Fun Day Fund-raiser.”

  Cheers and whistles resounded in the air, and lively country music poured over the loudspeakers. The announcer took over the microphone and ran down a list of the opening events. Wade leaned on the fence, thoroughly enjoying the chance to watch his kids ride. And Tess.

  She’d entered most everything available that morning, though only for fun. As the founder of CWHR, she wasn’t eligible to win prizes. But she and her little paint mare made an impressive team as they worked their way through some of the crazy events such as the egg-and-spoon race and the bare-back-dollar-bill contest. It was hard to believe the mare had been a rescue animal. Then again, Diego no longer looked like one, either. The welts on his body had healed, and he’d filled out nicely under Macy’s loving care, his coat now slick and shiny.

  The liver chestnut flicked his ears as he watched the events unfold, not so much with fear as with curiosity. He spooked a time or two when the riders in the arena gained momentum and raced directly in front of him at top speed. But overall, Wade was impressed with the gelding’s levelheaded reaction to the sights and sounds of the gymkhana.

  At one o’clock, a one-hour lunch break was announced, and Wade met Macy and Jason at the gate. “Ready for a bite to eat?” he asked.

  “I’m starving,” Jason said from the back of his horse.

  “Now, why doesn’t that surprise me?” Wade clamped his hand on his son’s knee. “You guys looked pretty good out there. Better save a few ribbons for somebody else.”

  “Dad.” Macy rolled her eyes at him. “We haven’t won that many.”

  “Well, as long as you’re having fun.” Leading Diego, he walked beside Amber, scanning the crowd for Tess. He’d lost track of her while cheering Macy and Becky on in the team barrel race.

  There. He spotted Tess’s paint, Tess walking at the mare’s shoulder, headed in their direction. Happiness washed over him, and he wondered, not for the first time, how he’d gone so long without having someone like her around. How was it he’d never before seen just what sort of person she was? Funny, how you could be around a person for a long time without really knowing her.

  “Hey, Tess,” he said. “Good job on ‘Rope Lucy.’ I didn’t realize you knew how to use a lariat.” The contest event had involved a roping dummy, and Tess had proven her skills by throwing a loop in an impressive time during the demonstration run she’d given the audience.

  “What—are you saying I might even make a fair ranch hand?” she teased. “For your information I’ve done my share of work on my dad’s place.”

  He didn’t know why that should surprise him. He’d realized Tess had grown up on her dad’s sheep and cattle ranch. It was just that her opposition to raising animals for meat had given him the impression she would never have lifted a hand to help out in anything that involved shipping animals to market.

  “Is that a fact?” Wade shook his head. “I had no idea. I figured you left that sort of thing up to your dad and brothers.”

  “These days I do,” Tess said, confirming his assumption. “But when I was a kid Dad taught me how to work the ranch and how to rope. And knowing how can come in handy at times working with horses, too.”

  Her words reminded him that she’d changed from the working ranch cowgirl she had been growing up to one who simply rescued horses, which put Tess and him right back to square one. With polar views on ranch life.

  Brushing the negative thought aside, telling himself he was nuts even to be toying with the idea of having a solid future with Tess, Wade slung his arm over her shoulder. He couldn’t help it. The need to touch her overwhelmed him, even if it was just casually. “Hungry?” he asked. “I’ve got potato salad, chips and baked beans if you’re interested.” He hadn’t gone to any special trouble with the picnic lunch—had done up fried chicken he and the kids favored for outdoor meals. Of course, he normally didn’t bring as much potato salad and baked beans, but when he’d packed the meal this morning he’d had Tess on his mind—as usual.

  “Now, that’s an offer I can’t refuse,” she said, taking hold of his right hand, which rested on her shoulder. She caressed his wrist in a way that left his skin tingling and his body aching for more than a casual touch. They locked eyes for a long moment, but then she let go of him, and he reluctantly moved a few steps away, creating a space that was necessary if he didn’t want to be tempted to sweep her into his arms and ravish her mouth.

  After tending to the horses, the four of them sat beneath the shade of a huge cottonwood. Macy spread an old quilt over the ground to serve as a picnic blanket, while Tess distributed cans of pop from the cooler. “That breeze sure feels good,” Jason commented as he helped himself to a drumstick and a huge scoop of potato salad.

  “It does, but I hope that cloud cover doesn’t turn into a storm,” Tess said, frowning up at the sky. The distant horizon showed signs of charcoal gray and near-black.

  “Me, too,” Macy said. “The gymkhana’s going great so far, Tess. I’ll bet you’re going to raise all sorts of money for your horse sanctuary.”

  “I’d say so.” Tess smiled at her. “Hey, Macy. Why don’t you let me ride Diego for you after lunch before things get started up again.” She turned toward Wade. “That is, if it’s okay with your dad.”

  Wade scooped a spoonful of potato salad onto his plate. “Sure, if you feel he’s ready.”

  “He’s handling the sights and sounds better than I expected he would,” Tess said. “It will do him some good to get a little practice workout in the arena.” She looked at Macy. “This time next year, you’ll have him out there taking part in the events.”

  “I sure hope so.” Macy sat down next to Tess, legs folded, and balanced her plate in her lap. “I’d like to get him started on walking the barrel pattern by the end of this summer.”

  “I think that’s a reasonable goal,” Tess said.

  Wade half listened to their conversation, content simply to absorb the mood of the moment. It felt good to sit under the shade tree with Tess and his kids, almost as though they were a family. Once again longing pulled at him. He hadn’t realized just how much he’d missed feeling this way. Over the past few years, he’d told himself he and the kids were a solid unit…and they were. But something had been missing. Something he hadn’t totally been aware of until now.

  After lunch, the kids helped clean up the trash and put away the picnic supplies, then Macy hurried off to get Diego, eager to see how her new horse would do in the arena. She put his bridle on him and retightened the cinch on the saddle. Tess adjusted the stirrups. She’d ridden Diego several times at the Darlands’ ranch, and Wade had helped Macy work Diego, as well. The chestnut was broke; he was just still a little green in the knowledge department. Wade figured time was all the gelding really needed to turn him into a good 4-H animal for Macy. He was glad now that he’d helped Tess rescue the horse and happy he’d bought him for his daughter. Overall, the horse had come around.

  Before the
events started up once more, Tess put Diego through his paces in the arena. The gelding did well, his ears flicking as he listened to and obeyed the cues and commands Tess gave him. He held his head high and proud, checking out the sights and sounds of the arena while she loped him in circles and figure eights. Tess halted near the fence where Wade and the kids leaned against the pipe rails.

  “I think I’ll take him outside the arena,” she said, “and ride him around through the crowd a bit. He needs to get used to that, as well.” She patted Diego’s neck. “He’s doing fine, Macy. You’ve got a good horse here.”

  “Thanks,” Macy said. She looked up at Wade. “Can I ride him next, Dad?”

  “We’ll see,” Wade said cautiously. “There’s a lot going on here today. First let’s watch how he does for Tess, ’kay?”

  “Okay.” Macy sighed.

  Tess rode the gelding from the arena and wove her way through the crowd. Wade watched her, admiring the graceful way she sat in the saddle. A thousand thoughts ran through his mind, all of them involving what sort of future he might be able to make with Tess, if she’d let him. He couldn’t seem to steer his mind off the one-way track it had put him on for the better part of the day, and was so deep in thought that it took a moment for what happened next to register.

  As Tess circled the outside perimeter of the arena, two teenage boys rode past her. Talking and laughing, they seemed focused on the rope one held. The dark-haired boy, who carried the lariat, shouted something at his buddy and twirled the rope in the air. With a flick of his wrist, he threw the loop at his friend. It glanced off the kid’s straw hat as he ducked, and bounced toward Diego.

  When the loop brushed his pasterns, the chestnut snorted and leaped sideways. Before Tess could get him under control, Diego dropped his head and bucked. Tess made a nice recovery, sitting deep in the saddle. She pulled on the reins, struggling to bring Diego’s head up and prevent him from pitching further. But he responded by bolting into a dead run. Tess sawed on the reins. However, the gelding strained against them and sped off, heading for the trail that wound through the trees behind the fairgrounds.

  “Tess!” Macy shouted. “Omigosh. Dad.” Frantic, she turned toward Wade.

  “Give me your horse, son,” Wade said.

  Obediently, Jason handed Spur’s reins over to Wade. With no time to adjust the stirrups, Wade sprang onto the paint’s back and rode without them. Mindful of all the kids riding in the area, he kept Spur at a trot as he wove his way around to the far side of the arena.

  But once he cleared the crowd he let the gelding have his head and set out in hot pursuit of Tess and Diego. They’d disappeared into the trees. Wade prayed Tess had managed to get the chestnut under control.

  CHAPTER FIFTEEN

  MACY KNEW that Tess was an excellent rider and that she could handle Diego. Still, her heart raced as she watched her horse take off with Tess. Sweat beaded her forehead as her dad swung up on Spur’s back and headed after the runaway gelding.

  “It’ll be okay,” Jason reassured her. “Dad will catch them.” Pride lent confidence to his voice. “Spur’s fast.”

  “Yeah, but so is Diego,” Macy said. She shook her head in amazement. “Whew, is he ever.” She hadn’t had the opportunity to see just how fast her new horse could run until now. Together with Jason, she hurried across the arena, clambered through the rail and ran toward the trees. They halted on the edge of the bridle trail, just past where the trucks and horse trailers were parked behind the arena. Macy leaned against a tree trunk and waited.

  Several people had witnessed the runaway. They hustled over to ask questions and see if they could help. Macy gave a hurried explanation and assured them everything was under control. She fully expected to see her dad and Tess ride back down the trail at any moment. Therefore, it was with shock that she saw Diego come galloping back a short time later…riderless.

  “Oh, no.” Macy felt the blood drain from her face. Quickly, she moved away from the tree. “Whoa, Diego,” she called, forcing her voice to sound calm. “Easy, boy. Whoa now.”

  Jason, too, rushed forward, and with the help of some fellow 4-H kids, they managed to corner the gelding and catch him. Diego’s sides heaved as he breathed loudly through flared nostrils, and nervous sweat dampened his neck and flanks.

  “What happened?” Sharon Jenkins, the nice lady who’d helped rescue Diego, rode toward them, looking down at Macy from the back of her pretty gray Appaloosa.

  “Diego ran away with Tess.” Fear choked Macy’s voice. “Dad rode after her on Spur.”

  “Which way?”

  Macy pointed, and Sharon loped off down the trail, a worried look on her face. Macy hesitated, then shoved Diego’s reins into Jason’s hands. “I’m going, too,” she said.

  “No, Macy. Stay here.” Jason frowned. “Dad can handle it.”

  But she paid no attention. Her heart pounded as she ran for the horse trailer where Amber was tied. Hands shaking, she bridled the palomino and swung into the saddle. Amber eagerly gave her all as they galloped toward the trees and headed down the bridle path.

  A lump lodged in Macy’s chest and refused to leave. Please, please, let her be all right. Over and over, she chanted the words in her mind. Diego had to have done something pretty drastic to throw Tess. She was such a good rider. Hands clammy, Macy clutched Amber’s reins as the little mare hurried along the trail. As they rounded the bend, the lump in Macy’s chest turned to stone.

  Both Spur and Sharon’s Appaloosa were tethered to a tree branch at the edge of the path. A concerned look on her face, Sharon stood next to Wade, who had knelt on the ground beside Tess. She lay flat on her back, not moving.

  Tears sprang to Macy’s eyes. Oh, God, please no.

  Neither her dad nor Sharon noticed her presence. “I’ll get the paramedics,” she heard Sharon say as she swung onto her Appy.

  Macy choked on a sob, unable to tear her gaze from the sight of Tess’s pale face and still body. And it all came back to her in a rush.

  The distant sirens.

  A policeman pounding on their door.

  And her mother…dead. In an accident that had been all Macy’s fault. Just as Tess’s accident with Diego had been.

  Her vision blurred with tears, Macy turned Amber around and, ignoring her father as at last he saw her and called her name, sped down the trail, back the way she’d come.

  “I’M FINE,” Tess insisted, clutching her head. She sat in the middle of the bridle path, her backside aching, her head throbbing where she’d made contact with the hard ground.

  The fall from Diego had knocked the wind out of her, and the blow to her head had nearly caused her to black out. She’d lain still for what felt like an eternity, unable to move or breathe as she heard Wade and Sharon ride up and dismount. The lead weight in her chest would not budge, and she’d fought the panicked feeling that came with not being able to inhale or exhale. She’d been unable to do more than try to communicate to Wade with her eyes the fact that she wasn’t really injured. At least, she didn’t think she was.

  The paramedics had managed to maneuver the ambulance down the dirt trail to where Tess had fallen. Feeling more embarrassed than hurt, Tess sat through their ministrations, wishing they would just let her get up and walk back to the arena.

  “Hush up now, and let these people do their jobs,” Wade scolded.

  Tess shot him a glare but kept silent, figuring it the best and quickest way to get things over and done with.

  “You’ve got a bit of a goose egg,” the woman paramedic told her. “Why don’t you let us drive you back to the arena.”

  Grumbling, Tess gave in and climbed into the back of the ambulance, feeling like a fool. How on earth she’d managed to fall from the saddle she still wasn’t completely sure. Diego had been slow to respond to her side pull on one rein, which would have put the runaway horse under control, but gradually, he’d succumbed. Tess had been sure she had him well in hand, when he’d bolted all over again. He�
�d shied sideways, then spun in a one-eighty maneuver, and this is what must have put her on the ground. She remembered nothing between being in the saddle one moment and being flat on her back the next.

  Minutes later, Tess exited the ambulance, barely paying attention to the instructions the paramedics gave her. Instead, she was focused on Wade, who’d ridden back on Jason’s paint gelding. An odd, worried look had crept into his eyes as he glanced around the area surrounding the arena. Tess’s stomach gave a lurch as she followed his gaze and spotted Jason but not Macy.

  “Where’d your sister go?” she heard Wade ask. “I saw her ride back this way.”

  Mumbling a fast thank-you to the paramedics, Tess hurried toward him, her own injuries forgotten.

  “She took off on Amber,” Jason said. “She went after you and Tess, and then all of a sudden she came galloping back this way.” He pointed. “She headed off in that direction. Dad, what’s going on?” He turned toward Tess. “You okay, Tess?”

  “I’m fine. Where do you think Macy went, Jason? Did she go searching for Diego?”

  He shook his head. “No. Sharon and some other people helped us catch Diego and tie him up at the trailer. I don’t know where Macy was going. She didn’t even hear me when I hollered at her.” Again, he pointed toward a dirt road that led away from the exit located at the back of the fairgrounds. “She galloped up the road, and Dad…I think she was crying.” He frowned.