by Carly Morgan
The second thing Maya decided was that she’d learn a song on the guitar for the talent show. And she would do it without Jackson. She didn’t want to bother him, but she wanted him to know she’d been thinking about him, which was why she chose the song they had planned to play together, the one they’d danced to at his house the day he fixed her lunch.
Once she had the music, she practiced every night, sometimes for hours. Doing so allowed her to feel closer to Jackson. Their time apart was good for another reason as well. It allowed Maya to really search her feelings and study the way she felt about Jackson and the reasons why.
The conclusion she came to? She loved him. More than she’d believe it was possible to love a person. And she loved Ava too. She missed the child almost as much as she missed Jackson. She also knew that if he didn’t feel the same, if he chose not to love her back, she loved him enough to let him go.
The ultimatum Jackson’s father had issued was still gossiped about. She heard people discussing it in the same breath they talked about how Jackson was rarely seen. No one believed it was dating.
Maya knew the sixty says would be up soon and apparently so did the Winegar’s. Maya saw them in their expensive suits more than once off to the side of the highway looking at Jackson’s land. She’d wanted to run them over, or chase them out of town, but had resisted both.
So time passed. Maya kept busy, living her life, but she felt like it was on hold as well. The day of the talent show, she decided to do something bold.
15
Maya drove to Jackson’s house. She knocked on the door. The elderly woman who answered told her that she thought Jackson was in the barn. She thanked her and ran toward it. Jackson was sitting on a bale of hay, his back to her, the front of his body facing the mountains. She slowed. Now that she was there, she felt nervous. Seeing him again caused her heart to pound against her chest and her mouth went dry. She’d missed him so much, it hurt. “Hi, Jackson.”
He stiffened, his head coming up, but he didn’t turn.
Her heart clenched at his apparent resentment. She realized that maybe it was too late for them. But she figured she would say what she came to say. “You don’t need to say anything, but there are some things I need to say to you.” She swallowed. “When I met you that first day, I knew immediately you were someone special. And you kept proving it to me over and over again by unpacking my car, saving me after the rattlesnake bite, buying me those boots, feeding me lunch, teaching me to ride a horse, taking me boating, and just talking to me about my pictures. Every moment with you felt like a gift.” Tears filled her eyes. This time she let them fall. “Your brother’s told me what you did for me. With Quin? They said you encouraged him to leave.” She paused, hoping Jackson might turn around, but he didn’t.
Buck up, cowgirl, she thought.
“I’m so sorry I didn’t tell you about him.” She wrung her hands as she spoke, desperate to force him to look at her so that she could gauge what he was thinking. “And I’m so sorry about your dad. Meeting him meant the world to me.” A sob escaped her throat and she covered her mouth, trying to hold it in. “And Ava?” She hiccupped. “She’s amazing. You’ve done such a good job raising her. Thank you for allowing me to meet her.” Another sob ripped from her throat. “And thank you for being such a great friend. I hope that when you’ve forgiven me, we can be at least that.” She wiped her eyes and cleared her throat. “I’m playing our song at the talent show tonight. Just wanted you to know that too.” She stood there, crossing her arms, done, almost wishing she could throw something at him. But he still didn’t move.
“I love you, Jackson Bale, and I always will.” With that, she left. She didn’t know what she hoped would happen. Well, she did. She’d wanted him to forgive her and tell her that he loved her too. She smacked her hand against the steering wheel.
According to the program, Maya would be the last person to play in the talent show. The night was warm. A sight breeze blew her hair and her white cotton dress around. She’d also worn the boots Jackson bought for her. Her hair had grown a little since she’d moved to Peach Valley, so she’d swooped her bangs over to one side and pinned them back with a silver bee clip.
All around her were the sounds that went along with a fair. Children squealing with delight. People talking. The rides wheeling along the tracks at high speeds. The sounds of people playing games. Music. The smell of hot dogs and cotton candy. It all filled Maya with a sense of peace, even if she was a little melancholy. Peach Valley was her home.
As the program went on her sadness turned to resolve. Ava sang Amazing Grace like an angel. Her voice filled the air. Everyone within earshot quieted and for the briefest moment Maya thought she might be witnessing a miracle. She’d never heard a child sing with so much beauty and professionalism. Ava hit her last note and for a long second no one clapped and no one spoke. It was as though no one wanted the moment to end. And then the whole crowd erupted in clapping. Maya knew right then she’d won the show.
The remaining contestants did their best, but nothing compared to Ava. When Maya’s turn came, she actually felt nervous. Her knees shook and her throat went dry. Briefly, she thought about not going on. But the guy hosting the show, announced her. Aliza and her two of her friends had done a tap routine. Aliza touched her arm and said, “You got this.” She winked.
“Thanks.” Maya picked up a chair with one hand and carried her guitar in the other. She’d memorized the song so didn’t need the music. Lights shone on the stage, making it difficult to see the crowd. She knew her aunt was out there. And several people whooped loudly. She smiled as she adjusted her chair and then sat. She strummed her guitar. “I leaned to play the guitar from Frankie, a homeless man who lived at the beach in Santa Barbara.” She strummed another chord, gaining composure, and trying to relax. “The song I’ll be playing is a rendition of God Bless the Broken Road, by Rascal Flatts. A friend introduced me to their music and I’ve really come to appreciate all of their songs.”
She smiled and then began to play. She’d memorized the lyrics too and sung them in her mind as she played. It was a beautiful song filled with so much meaning about finding love and how all of her previous hurts and trials, even her ex had been part of her journey that led to Jackson. She still believed that, even if nothing came of them. He’d helped her understand what it meant to love someone, that it was so much more than passion. It was the little things that mattered with true love, the day-to-day kindnesses, the way she thought of him before thinking of herself. She knew without a doubt God had a plan for her and meeting him and being in Peach Valley was part of it.
When she reached the first chorus, she was crying. She couldn’t help the emotions that rushed through her. She let the tears fall, not seeing a point in hiding what she was feeling.
Suddenly, though, someone began to play with her. The music sounded far away, but she could hear them and the chords complimented hers. She squinted, trying to see who it was.
Before she could tell, the crowd was gasping and clapping. Until finally she saw him. “Jackson,” she whispered.
He smiled, a huge, breathtaking smile. His guitar was strapped over his shoulder. He wore his regular cowboy hat, a white button up, old jeans, and boots. “Jackson,” she said again. He walked over to the stage so that she could see him clearly. As the played the rest of the song, they kept their eyes locked only on each other. It was as though time stood still and flashed before her all at once.
He’d come, her heart sang.
When the song ended, everyone cheered, standing, whooping and hollering.
Someone shouted, “Kiss her, Jackson.”
He laughed, removing his guitar and setting in on the stage before hopping up onto it. Maya stood to meet him.
Jackson hugged her. “I love you too, Maya Vance,” he whispered so that only she could hear. “Thank you for healing my heart.”
Before she could say anything, he got down on one knee.
“What are yo
u doing,” she asked, laughing and crying nervously.
He smiled. Looking at the crowd, he indicated they should settle down. When it was quiet, Jackson said, “Maya Vance. You are the most incredible, vibrant, beautiful woman I’ve ever met. I knew the first day I met you that God had a plan for you and I.” He paused and Maya saw he was trying to contain his emotions. “Even when I didn’t want to believe it. I knew. You fit so well into my life, like you belonged there. My mom loved you almost immediately as did Ava, my brothers, and…” he trailed off, biting back the tears.
Maya couldn’t. She was blubbering, but didn’t care.
“My father told me that night, after you left, that if I didn’t marry you I was the stupidest man on the planet, and it had nothing to do with his ultimatum.” A single tear trickled down his cheek.
She removed her guitar and knelt in front of him. He chuckled, shaking his head. Then reached into his pocket. Maya’s eyes got big and she heard several people inhale from the audience. “I spoke to Ava and she’s agreed.” Blaze lifted Ava onto the stage and she came over to stand beside her dad. “Right, Ava?”
“Yes, daddy. Ask her.” The child pushed the ring box in Jackson’s hand toward Maya.
“Maya Vance, will you do me the honor of becoming my wife?”
Maya was nodding before he even finished asking. “Yes. Yes. A billion times yes.”
The entire crowd came to their feet and cheered.
Ava hugged both of them as best she could with her little arms and kissed first her daddy’s and then Maya’s cheek. “We’re going to be a family,” she said happily.
Jackson hugged Ava tightly. “Yes, we are, Ava Angel.” He kissed her on the forehead. “Run back to Blaze,” he said, scooting her along. When Blaze had Ava, Jackson stood, lifting Maya with him. “I love you, Maya Vance.” He dipped her, kissing her thoroughly on the mouth. Her insides lit up like the Milky Way on a clear night. She was on fire with love and need and happiness and everything in between. He straightened her, their lips never separating. Then he spun them so that his back faced the audience and deepened their kiss. “Maya,” he whispered against her mouth.
She wrapped her hands around his neck, pulling him closer, pushing her tongue into his mouth. He groaned, and whispered. “Let’s get married sooner rather than later.”
“Is that an ultimatum from Peach Valley’s most eligible cowboy?”
“If you’ll have me, then yes it is.”
In answer, she kissed him again and again and again.
The End
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Most Delicious Cowboy.
About the Author
Carly married the man of her dreams after knowing him only six weeks. Three children and twenty years later they are still in love.
It seemed fitting when she began writing the Peach Valley Romance series that she should incorporate personal experience into the stories. In Most Eligible Cowboy, the two main characters dance to a song by Rascal Flatts called: God Bless the Broken Road.
In real life, she and her husband went on their first date to a Rascal Flatts concert. Their lives haven't been perfect. There have been plenty of broken roads over the years, but they’ve traversed them as a couple and truly believe God blessed those roads so that they might be together.