by Stacy Finz
Tawny looked at Colin, who she assumed had been in on the house talks.
“It’s property that doesn’t belong to him,” Colin said. “But if he can buy it, the views will be fantastic. He wants to do something like our house.” He smiled at Harlee. The man was clearly smitten with his wife.
“Sounds beautiful.” Tawny had only been to Colin and Harlee’s once, but the place was gorgeous. Colin had built it with his brother-in-law.
Talk of Lucky’s plans for a house depressed her. How long until he started his own family there?
People had started lining up for Donna and Trevor’s burgers. Tawny told Harlee and Colin that she wanted to get Katie something to eat and she and her daughter headed over to the barbecues.
“My goodness, Donna. You guys went all out.”
Donna handed Katie and Tawny plates with burgers and chips. “We saw Harlee’s blog, heard Owen and the Mafia were headed over, figured it was just a matter of time before the whole town showed up, and decided to make a fiesta out of it.” Donna bent over to whisper in Tawny’s ear. “I never did like those Rossers. They were always snooty, if you ask me.”
It seemed that the impromptu party wasn’t just about celebrating the local celebrity bull rider. The town wanted to stick it to the Rossers. Nugget didn’t mind infighting—in fact, it thrived on it—but the townsfolk drew the line when the battle got as vicious as false murder accusations. And Lucky was their hero—a resident who had made a big name for himself but never forgotten where he came from.
“Well, here’s the man of the hour,” Donna said, and Tawny turned around to find Lucky striding their way.
Over his jeans and plaid shirt, he had on suede chaps and a down vest with the PBR logo. Tawny’s stomach fluttered. He tossed Katie a big grin and gave Tawny a once-over but didn’t say anything.
A couple of kids surrounded him to ask for autographs, and Katie left her half-eaten burger with Tawny to go stand by him. He absently put his arm around Katie, and the sight of them together made Tawny’s eyes brim with tears. She couldn’t help but grab for her phone and snap a picture.
“I want a copy of that.” Cecilia came up behind Tawny. “I hope you don’t have plans tonight.”
“I don’t,” Tawny said too quickly, and wished she’d made up something. In a short time, she’d become too attached to the illusion of family.
“Good.” Cecilia hugged her. “Be home at around six. We have a lot to celebrate . . . and Jake has something to tell everyone.”
From the corner of her eye, Tawny caught Lucky watching them. She made her way through the small crowd that had come to wish Lucky well in the finals. “You have a minute?”
Lucky nodded, excused himself from the group, and in a defensive voice said, “Katie’s fine. I’ve taken good care of her.”
“I know. Where did you get the mittens?”
“I had to stop off at Farm Supply for some feed. I got her wool socks too.”
Right then and there she wanted to tell him how much she loved him. How she had always loved him. “I plan to move Katie and me back home tomorrow. Tonight, though, your mother and Jake are holding some sort of celebration at the house. Cecilia wants me there. Is that a problem for you?”
“You’re the mother of my daughter. Wherever Katie is, you’re always welcome.”
Except for his heart. “All right.” She started to walk away.
“You’re still coming to Vegas, right?”
“As long as Katie’s doctor says it’s okay.” They had an appointment in two days.
“Hang on a sec.” He caught up with her. “Why are you moving out of my mom’s?”
“I wasn’t planning to stay there forever, just until Katie felt better.” They both watched Katie horsing around with a group of kids. Cody McCreedy laughed at something she said. “Soon, God willing, she’ll go back to school. It’s time for us to be normal again.”
He nodded. “I’m working with Colin on my house.”
“He told me. You’re planning to buy more property?”
“Ten acres on the top of the hill. It’ll be private from the cowboy camp. Clay knows the owners. I’m just waiting to hear if they’ve accepted my offer.”
“I’m sure it’ll be lovely. And, Lucky, I am truly sorry about Raylene.”
He must’ve sensed her thoughts because he blurted, “The house was never meant for Raylene and me. Even before she set me up, even before I’d broken up with her, I’d fallen out of love with her . . . It was when I started spending time with you.”
Lucky walked away, leaving Tawny to puzzle over the meaning of that statement. It was when I started spending time with you.
Chapter 24
“You panicking?” Rhys asked Jake.
They’d come back to the station after watching Lucky and eating a few burgers, compliments of the Thurstons. A few loose ends still needed to be tied up on the Rosser case. The DA had given Raylene immunity in exchange for becoming a prosecution witness. If Ray decided to take the case to trial, Raylene would have to testify that her father had coerced her into making Lucky the fall guy. Jake doubted it would come to that. More than likely Ray would plead out in exchange for whatever deal he could get.
“Nah, I’ve been down this road before,” Jake said, but he was nervous as hell.
“You guys doing a big dinner?”
“You know Cecilia. She says she’s going simple, but I’d be willing to guess that at the last minute she’ll put together a feast. My daughters are flying into Reno.” Jake looked at the time. “In fact the shuttle service should be dropping them off anytime. I better get moving.”
“Good luck.”
“Thanks.” Jake grabbed his jacket and scarf and headed out.
His daughters were already at Cecilia’s by the time Jake got there. He found them in the kitchen, helping Cecilia with the meal. The five of them jumped him with hugs and kisses. Cecilia stood back, her smile so bright it lit up the room. God, he loved her.
“Where’s your brood?” Jake asked.
“Lucky is on his way. Tawny and Katie are in the other room getting ready. They’re going home tomorrow.” Cecilia frowned.
“Birds gotta fly, sweetheart.”
“I just so enjoyed having them.”
“Katie will come over after school and on weekends. They just live down the street.”
“You’re right.” Cecilia kissed Jake.
“You still haven’t told them?” Jake’s girls, who were busy setting the table, had known the minute he’d asked them to drop whatever they were doing and make the last-minute trip to Nugget.
“No,” Cecilia said. “With everything . . . well, it’s been difficult. I’m sure they have an inkling.”
Lucky came through the back door and blinked a few times when he saw all of Jake’s daughters. “I wasn’t expecting a full house. Wow. Good to see you all.”
More hugs were exchanged, and Jake got the impression that Lucky didn’t have a clue. He wondered how Cecilia’s son would take the news, not that it would change anything.
At the sound of her father, Katie burst into the kitchen. “You’re finally here.”
“You got your pink dress on,” Lucky said, and scooped Katie up into his arms. “Where’s your mama?”
“I’m here,” Tawny said, and immediately dove into helping with getting the food on the table.
They sat to eat and everyone began talking at once. The girls all wanted to know about the finals. None of them knew much about bull riding, yet they’d gotten caught up in the excitement. Lucky said he’d reserve a box if they wanted to come.
“What’s Noah doing?” Tawny asked.
“He said he’d be spending the night organizing his story,” Lucky said. “He’s got no shortage of material, that’s for sure.”
Jake sincerely hoped that the reporter stuck to the positive stuff and left the Rossers out of the piece. “Looks like Pat is making good headway on the ranch. I had a look around while we were out
there today, and things are shaping up.”
“If the weather holds, he thinks they can finish by spring and start on the house,” Lucky said.
He talked awhile about his plans for a two-story log cabin up on the hill where Jake and Rhys had spent hours doing surveillance. Jake could certainly attest to the view. A person could see clear to the Nevada desert from there.
As they came toward the end of the meal, Jake cleared his throat and got to his feet. “I have an announcement to make.”
A hush fell over the room.
“It’s been a tough couple of months. We feel blessed to have Katie here at the table, looking hale and hearty.” Jake reached out and mussed Katie’s hair. “And I know I can speak for all of us when I say thank goodness that Lucky’s problems are behind us. Next week, in Las Vegas, we’ll be rooting for you.” Jake tipped his wineglass toward Lucky. “No matter what happens, though, you’ll always be a world champion.”
Everyone at the table applauded.
“I’m not finished yet.” Jake chuckled. “In other news, Cecilia and I have decided to make us official. We’re getting married.”
Everyone erupted in hoots and hollers. Across the table, Jake made eye contact with Lucky, who gave an affirmative nod and grinned. Sarah and Janny tapped their glasses with their forks. That was Jake’s cue to kiss Cecilia. Happy to oblige, he pulled her out of her seat and gave her a sloppy smooch. Lucky was next to get to his feet.
“Whoa,” he said, and cast his eyes at Tawny. “I guess I should’ve seen this coming—actually, someone told me it was. Still, you’ve surprised the hell out of me and I’m a little lost for words. All I’ve ever wanted for my mama was happiness, and, Jake, you make her happy. Here’s to the both of you.” He held his glass up and clinked it with the person’s next to him until everyone had a chance to do the same.
Jake saw Tawny smile at Lucky in what he presumed was I told you so. After the toast everyone started shouting questions in unison. “Have you set a date?” “Where will the wedding be?” “Is there a ring?”
Cecilia held up her finger and let her diamond wink under the chandelier light. “We were hoping to do it on Valentine’s Day in Lucky’s barn.” It was the only finished building on the property thanks to Nate and Samantha Breyer, who’d seen to the renovations themselves because they’d held their own reception there.
“Nothing fancy,” Cecilia continued. “We just want all our friends and family.”
Jake hadn’t thought it possible that he would be standing at the head of Cecilia’s dining room table, planning a lifetime with her.
Tomorrow, an announcement would run in the Nugget Tribune. But tonight, they’d savor their future with just family.
And this time, Jake would get it right.
Clay flew them into the Palo Alto Airport and they took a cab to Dr. Laurence’s office. It was just one of Katie’s post-transplant checkups, yet each one filled Tawny with dread. Doctors had warned her that the infusion was not a sure thing. Any number of problems could still occur: fever, vomiting, and complete loss of appetite. The key was whether her bone marrow would go back to producing healthy blood cells.
Katie still had the catheter in her chest, where it would remain for months. Today, the big question would be whether Katie was healthy enough to travel to Las Vegas to watch Lucky in the finals.
“You okay?” Lucky asked Tawny as they shuffled into the doctor’s waiting room. Although he’d been keeping his distance, he could read her like a book. These appointments were hell on her, and he made sure to be as attentive as possible. He was a caring person. But Tawny would be a fool to think it was anything more than Lucky just being sensitive.
“Yep,” she answered, not wanting Katie, who viewed these weekly visits as an opportunity to fly in Clay’s private plane and eat in a nice restaurant, to see how nervous she was. But when Katie found a quiet corner away from them to thumb through a kid’s magazine, Tawny squeezed Lucky’s hand for moral support. He’d made it clear that she shouldn’t become dependent on him, but today she gave herself a pass. She needed the boost.
“You nervous about next week?” she asked, trying to focus on something other than doctors and cancer.
“Nope. Whatever happens, happens. We should probably talk about Christmas soon.”
“What about Christmas?” She had always made as much as she could out of the holiday. But with Katie sick, Tawny had never gone all out with a big tree or elaborate dinner. They weren’t religious, so no church. Just a few presents for Katie.
Lucky shrugged. “Like what gifts you’re getting her so we don’t duplicate. My mom wants us for Christmas Eve, Christmas morning, and Christmas dinner. I wanted to make sure that was okay with you . . . that you didn’t have your own traditions.”
Tawny didn’t know who “us” was and didn’t want to be the fifth wheel at the Rodriguezes. “Let’s talk about it later, okay?”
“Sure,” Lucky said. “No pressure.”
A nurse eventually called them back to an exam room and Dr. Laurence asked the usual questions and took the usual tests, including Katie’s temperature and a sample of blood to check on her numbers.
“So you want to take her to Vegas, huh?” Dr. Laurence knew Lucky desperately wanted his daughter at the finals. “Of course, I’ll have to wait for the results of this.” He held Katie’s vial of blood and let out a breath. “The problem with crowded places is the chance of infection.”
“We’ll have a box at the Thomas and Mack Center,” Lucky said.
“You want to go, Katie?” Dr. Laurence listened to her chest with a stethoscope.
“More than anything in the world,” she said with a breathlessness that made Tawny laugh.
“You’ll take her back to the hotel room right after Lucky’s rides?” Dr. Laurence was aware that it was a five-day event.
“Yes,” Tawny said. “We’ll limit her audience time as much as possible.”
“No strolling around the casinos either. Stick to room service. There’s so much cigarette smoke in those places I don’t know how people stand it. And keep her warm. It’s cold in the desert this time of year.”
The finals were usually held in October, but for some reason had been moved to December this year. The competition was scheduled to follow the National Finals Rodeo, which was also held at the Thomas and Mack Center.
“I will do all of the above,” Tawny promised.
“I’m very pleased with Katie’s recovery,” the doctor said. “Her cell counts have been steadily rising and her immunity functions seem to be rebounding. She’s really made an astounding bounce back. In my experience, when a patient is this robust after a blood stem cell transplant . . . well, it’s too soon to say for sure, but fingers crossed, we may have licked the leukemia.”
Tawny heard the cry before she realized that it had come from her. Her eyes welled up and everyone turned to look at her. “Excuse me.” She rushed out of the exam room, found the bathroom, sat on the toilet seat, and broke down.
“Hey,” Lucky called through the door, and she let him in.
“Sorry. It’s just . . . emotional.”
“I get it.” He brushed her hair away from her face and held her.
“You should go back to Katie so she won’t worry.”
“I will in a minute.” He just continued to hold her, rubbing little circles on her back, while she let out four years of the worst fear a mother could carry.
“I’ve never heard Dr. Laurence sound this optimistic before,” she said between sobs. “It’s not that he was the voice of doom, but to say we may have licked the cancer . . . it’s just the best news.” And she started to bawl all over again.
“It’s good, Tawny. Katie’s getting better because of you. You saved her.”
Tawny pushed out of his arms. “No, Lucky. It was your stem cells. You saved her. My God, if it hadn’t been for you . . .” She wept so hard her whole body shook from it.
“Shush.” He pulled her against him
and rocked her like a baby until she stopped crying. Then he dried her eyes with his hands. “Let’s get our daughter and go home.”
A week later they flew to Las Vegas—this time on a commercial flight, first class. Lucky thought it would be better for Katie. Cecilia sat next to Tawny, looking at bridal magazines.
Cecilia sighed. “These dresses are made for twenty-year-olds.”
“You could pull off any of them,” Tawny said. “What are you doing for shoes? Because I’d love to make you a pair of wedding boots.”
Cecilia squealed with delight. “I would love that. Do you have time, though?”
“I’ll make time.” Tawny was nearly finished with Brady’s boots. “But pick out your dress first so we know the style.”
Cecilia put her hand on Tawny’s arm. “Your time will be here soon. You’ll see, Lucky will come around.”
“It’s not like that with us, Cecilia.”
Cecilia made a face. “Mija, who are you trying to fool? My son hasn’t been the same since you came into his life.”
At McCarran International, they caught a shuttle to their hotel. This time Lucky had gotten them separate rooms, not a suite. Tawny unpacked her and Katie’s suitcases and was considering taking a bath when there was a knock. She opened the door to find Noah standing in the hallway.
“Hi,” she said. “When did you get here?”
“A few hours ago. I had to check in at the press room. Your friend Harlee’s down there, by the way.” Lucky had worked it out so that the Nugget Tribune would get a press credential. If the whole town couldn’t come to the Professional Bull Riders Built Ford Tough World Finals, then by golly, Harlee would bring it to them.
“The next few days will be crazy for me,” Noah said. “Besides working on Lucky’s piece, the magazine has me doing live coverage of the event for its website. So I just wanted to tell you what a pleasure it was meeting you and thank you for letting me intrude on your family during a particularly trying time.”