The Great Gift (Contemporary Romance - Urban Life)

by WRIGHT, MISTY

  The man looked at Kent and tipped the brim of his hat. Kent did the same. Alyssa surmised that the gesture was only a friendly bush rivalry signal. A buzzer sounded and the contest was over in eight seconds.

  Without looking at Alyssa, Kent said, "all I have to do is rope a cow and hog tie it in seven seconds, and I'm still champ."

  "Sounds like a mean feat," said Alyssa.

  "It's in the bag."

  Kent crossed the arena, waved to the cheering crowd and climbed on his horse. As he waited, he patted the horse's neck. He leaned forward and whispered something in its ear. He then sat straight and grinned at Alyssa as his hand slid over the tightly coiled rope that was attached to his belt.

  Kent gave the judge who held the car horn the nod and the man pushed a green button. The wooden gates swung open and the cow sprinted off for freedom. Kent and his horse came up behind. In a second and a half, he had unclipped the rope and was swinging it hard in the air. He had the cow down and hog-tied in six and a half seconds.

  Alyssa stared at the timekeeper who was shaking his head.

  "Ladies and gentlemen," he called slowly through the megaphone. "Today you have witnessed history in the making. Kent Stanton has shattered the time that was set by him last year and has again shown all who is present today why he's still champion. Put your hands together for Kent and a new fair record."

  The crowd roared and cheered. Kent received a standing ovation from the crowd. A Mexican wave erupted and circled the arena three times before being subdued.

  The man wearing the oversized hat walked over and extended his arm. Their handshake looked a little strained. Both stared each other in the eye. Neither of the men acted like they wanted to be the first to look away.

  "Congratulations on a fine ride."

  "Thanks, Tom," said Kent.

  "Here's a friendly warning, Kent old boy. You wait for next year."

  "I'm looking forward to it."

  A second Mexican wave started up and moved around the fenced arena like a slithering snake interrupting the standoff. Both men looked at the crowd at the same time. There were hoots and cheers, yelling and clapping. Tom spat in the sawdust.

  "Don't forget what I said."

  Kent stood facing the man with an all-knowing grin. He gave him a sharp nod and watched Tom walk off, dusting the bottom of his boots as he went.

  An official walked to the center of the oval and tapped a microphone.

  "Everyone, please, a little quiet," he called, raising a hand into the air.

  The crowd settled and a whisper quiet descended on the oval.

  "I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate Kent Stanton on a wonderful exhibition today. Everyone please give this champion another round of applause as he collects his trophy."

  Kent was handed a small box from his brother and, as he walked toward the center of the arena, an enormous cheer erupted. He waved to the onlookers, who immediately cheered louder.

  "Speech, speech, speech," chorused the crowd.

  Kent accepted the microphone and put his hand in the air. A young girl in tight blue jeans and a white singlet walked over. She presented the huge trophy of a cow mounted on a mahogany board to him and kissed Kent on the cheek.

  "Lucky gal," yelled a middle-aged woman standing next to Alyssa and Kaite. Alyssa glanced sideways at her and gave an icy stare.

  The woman leaned over. "Lucky girl who gets that one," she whispered. "If he doesn't hurry up and choose a wife, I'm going to insist he picks me, even if it's a shotgun wedding." She stuck her hand out. "Name's Vie. It's short for Violetta."

  Alyssa shook her hand. Kaite leaned sideways and whispered. "From what I've seen of the outback, I've decided to leave the city. This is where I'd like to spend the rest of my life."

  Alyssa grinned. It was as though a heavy burden had been magically lifted off her shoulders. Maybe, just maybe, her fantasies would come true after all. There was only one hurdle left. Her spirit sank to an all-time low. She was still undecided over whether she should have applied for the jillaroo job. She doubted that Kent would ever discover what she thought was the perfect gift. How could he? Out here in the middle of Australia where education was probably low? Again, she asked herself what she was thinking as the thought moved into her consciousness and stuck there like a fly to sticky paper.

  "Kaite, what do think of Mitch?"

  She raised her eyebrows. "He's a hunk and a half and sure knows how to push the right buttons."

  "Have you talked to Mitch about wanting to stay?"

  Kaite pushed the sides of her hair up with her hands. "What do you think?"

  Alyssa's eyes honed in on the rock that she was wearing on the finger of her left hand. "He asked you to marry him?"

  "You bet he did."

  "When?"

  "He asked me to stay behind when we were standing on the hill looking at the cows and greeting the day."

  "Was that the meaning of the wrestle?"

  "Yes. Mitch explained to Kent what he had in mind. They were both so excited that their little brotherly talk ended in a family wrestle."

  "Congratulations. You deserve it. Mitch is a good bloke."

  Alyssa sighed and turned her attention back to the arena. She feasted her eyes on Kent.

  "I'd like to name a few people that need thanking," said Kent through the microphone. "First, I'd like to thank the organizers of today and to everyone that has made this annual day spectacular. Twenty years is no mean feat. I'd like to make a special mention to a wonderful lady. I've explained to her I don't waste words, but for once I need to say what's on my mind. Everyone, please give a warm welcome to the most wonderful lady I know. Alyssa Fitzgerald, please come out."

  Her eyes widened as her face flushed bright red with instant fear. Vie leaned sideways. "If that's you Kent's calling 'little darling,' get out there."

  "How did you guess that?"

  "I didn't, you just told me. Besides, you're a pretty little thing that looks and smells like a city chick." Alyssa frowned and smelled her clothes.

  "Don't worry about the smell," said Vie. "One day you'll see that the country air has a way of changing the smell of city folk. I know that to be fact."

  "If what you say is true, then the only way you'd know is if you had come from the city. To me you look like you've never been that far."

  Vie gave Alyssa a sharp nod and winked. "Kent's a-waitin'."

  Alyssa glanced sideways at Vie. "Thank you for being so friendly." She clasped both hands on the top wooden railing and heaved herself up and over the fence, then slowly climbed down the other side and found Vie smiling at her.

  "You'll change," she whispered. "A few years out here and no one would ever know you came from the city."

  Alyssa pushed her head through the wooden railings. "How long since you've seen the city?"

  "A wonderful twenty years."

  Alyssa's knees were like jelly. She gave a sharp nod, turned and straightened her clothes. She certainly didn't want to embarrass herself further by falling face first into the sawdust.

  "Slow and steady," she mumbled. "Don't be nervous. Place one foot in front of the other." She fixed her eyes on Kent, inhaled as deep as she could and started walking.

  The crowd cheered her on. She suddenly had a warm feeling shoot through her body from her feet to the top of her head and back down again. It washed through her like a whirlpool. She felt more special than she had ever felt before. She felt like the queen and found herself giving the crowd a royal wave.

  Kent put his arm around her waist and spoke into the microphone. Three hundred people listened to his every word.

  "Alyssa, I know we haven't known each other long," he started. She gave him a puzzled look and whispered, "what are you up to?"

  The crowd was silent. It was as though they had all vanished.

  "Get on with it," yelled Earl from somewhere over Alyssa's left shoulder. She didn't have the nerves to look for his face.

  "As I was saying,"
said Kent, looking at the crowd. "Andy, thanks for the information on this so-called, 'perfect gift.' Take no offense when I decline your theory that it has to be a puppy."

  The crowd immediately roared with laughter.

  Alyssa giggled quietly. Had this cowboy actually discovered what she called the perfect gift? Her arms were frozen to her sides. She so wanted to reach up and grab the microphone off Kent to explain that the perfect gift was just a childish fantasy.

  "Please don't," she managed to mumble. "It's not important."

  Kent either didn't hear her or he was ignoring what she had attempted to say. "Alyssa Fitzgerald, I know I have discovered the meaning of the perfect gift."

  She opened her mouth to whisper the word 'don't,' but not even a squeak developed. "'The,' means the man. The word 'gift' represents something small and important in a girl's life."

  "Go Kent!"

  The yell deep amongst the sea of onlookers sent the crowd into a whispered frenzy. They all glared at Andy to keep quiet.

  Kent placed the microphone under his arm, got down on his left knee, then looked up into Alyssa's eyes. With his right hand, he took hold of her hand. With his free hand, he produced a small red box that had been slipped to him by his brother.

  The entire crowd had fallen graveyard quiet. Even the cows had stopped moving.

  "Alyssa, there is only one thing missing in my life. My dreams would be made into reality if you would consider accepting my proposal to be my wife." He slowly stood. "Before you answer, I believe there is one word yet to be discovered."

  Alyssa started to tremble. She had no thoughts. She sensed that she was standing on the edge of a cliff looking down into The Oasis, waiting for Kent to come and save her with his magic rope. Her knees had turned from jelly to water. She felt amazed that she hadn't crumpled to the ground. She wanted to feel the magic rope tighten about her waist so she could be pulled into his strong safe arms. Kent's voice broke through her fuzzy thoughts.

  "The middle word of the secret line means you are looking for a man who would surrender his whole heart to just one woman. Alyssa, if you would accept my proposal of marriage, then my whole heart belongs to you."

  *

  The priest looked up at the small group that made up the congregation. Alyssa was standing next to Kent at the altar. Her silk and lace wedding dress looked picture-perfect. The atmosphere in the church was overflowing with excitement.

  Alyssa gave Kaite a satisfied look. As she glanced about the small, beautiful old chapel that had been built decades earlier in one corner of The Oasis, she looked out the small window at the blue sky. Her eyes widened to saucer size as her gaze followed a leaf fall from the large apple tree. She squealed and, with tears streaming down her face, ran past the astonished family members and burst into the warm sunlight. She sprinted to where the leaf had floated to the ground. There, she knelt on the carpet of grass and wept.

  Kent was at her side in seconds.

  "Alyssa, what's happened?" he asked. His voice was full of deep concern.

  "I can't marry you. I'm so sorry." She lowered her head further to the ground and sobbed uncontrollably. Her whole body was trembling underneath her wedding dress.

  "I don't understand. I thought you and I were the happiest couple on the planet. You said those words to me only last night as we walked in the dark, holding hands and watching the moon slowly rise."

  "I am, or at least, I was," she said.

  "Alyssa, please look at me. Whatever has caused you this pain and torment I'm here to help?"

  "It's nothing to do with you. It's all me. I saw a falling leaf. It was a bad omen years ago and it's the same now."

  Kent held her chin and gently raised her head. He kissed her forehead and looked at her tear-soaked eyes. He didn't joke or say anything that put her down. Instead, his words were like melted honey, smooth and loving.

  "A leaf falling off a tree only signals that it's autumn. In America they call it the fall. A falling leaf has no other significance than to help the tree to grow."

  Alyssa slowly relayed the story of Bill and his bigamist ways. He had deeply hurt her. Every autumn, no matter how hard she tried to forget the haunting thoughts of that day, the vivid, painful memories came flooding back. She was totally appalled by his lies, and his deceitfulness had ripped her heart in two.

  Kent lifted his bride-to-be off the ground and showed her The Oasis.

  "This is your home now. You belong here, with me. This might be the first day of a new season, but it also signals a new life for the both of us. I will be by your side every day for the rest of our lives. You have no need to fear anything from your past. Come, let us start our journey."

  "Thank you for your kind, thoughtful words," whispered Alyssa.

  Kent placed her gently on her feet and stooped to pick up two leaves that had fallen from the tree. He handed one to Alyssa and he held the other.

  "I look at these leaves and I see that a brand new season is not far away," he said. "Yes, I know that winter will be first, but after that, spring is around the corner."

  Alyssa turned the brown leaf over in her hand.

  "See," said Kent. "It's a leaf that had fallen from a tree. It decomposes and helps the tree to grow. That's what it does year in and out." He scrunched the dry leaf in his hand and let the flakes fall to the ground. Alyssa scrunched her leaf, opened her hand and watched the flakes she created fall about her feet.

  "From this moment forth, I, Alyssa, will never let the bad memories of years gone by upset me again." Kent swept her off her feet and kissed his bride.

  "Take me back into the church, it's time we were married," she said with a giggle in her voice. Kent looked longingly at Alyssa. His eyes weren't hiding the inner man anymore.

  "You're the most beautiful person I've ever had the pleasure of meeting. I know we haven't known each other long, but I promise to love and cherish you from this moment forward," said Kent. "Even after death, I will love you."

  *

  Alyssa wore the biggest smile that any bride had ever shown as she turned and threw the bridal bouquet over her shoulders.

  Alyssa had been escorted from the small cottage-style church in one corner of The Oasis to the lush green lawn where a white marquee had been set up ready for the wedding reception. Every flower in the world seemed to be in full bloom. The sun was warming the air and the river was sparkling and had slowed to a crawl. It looked inviting, even to Alyssa. With the wedding photos completed, the background of The Oasis could not have looked any more spectacular.

  In the trees that had grown taller than the mansion, the birds were singing their love song. Alyssa felt like a brand new life had been laid out before her, one that she could only dream of. She felt a warm tingling sensation travel through her body. In a strange way, she wanted her life to speed along so she could read about her exciting adventures that she had with Kent by her side. She beamed with excitement for the years that were to come.

  Kaite leaped through the air and grabbed the bouquet of flowers in full flight. She was flung to the ground by a disappointed group of eager ladies of various ages. She stood triumphantly facing Mitch. He rushed to her side and scooped her up with one hand, then carried her to a vacant chair.

  "Kent, does that scene remind you of anything?" asked Alyssa, laughing.

  Kent scooped her up white-laced wedding dress, train and all, and winked. "I've taught my brother everything I know."

  Alyssa couldn't try to even start to subdue her smile. "It looks like another wedding is blowing in from the north sooner than was expected."

  "It'll have to wait until we get back from our honeymoon," said Kent.

  "That reminds me: you haven't let a syllable of a single word escape your mouth on where you intend to take me," scolded Alyssa. "You really should say."

  "It's a big surprise," said Kent. "I need to have a least one secret left."

  Epilogue

  Jake gently closed the leather-bound book and looked at his s
ister through tear-soaked eyes. An old man who looked like a street bum had opened the door to the tiny room and walked in, stone-faced, straight and tall. Hanging off his belt was a length of tightly curled rope. It had been clipped to his huge brass belt buckle that had seen a few years of use. A tall, slender woman was gripping his arm. Her smile was warm, friendly and looked natural, like the smile a country girl was expected to wear. The couple looked like they belonged together. Then she sent her daughter a short, silent nod. The young woman, who was sitting at the mahogany desk next to Jake, stood as the door was closed. Jake seemed reluctant to stand. The young lady saw to it that he did.

  "Mother," he said in a voice that could have been mistaken for a ghostly gasp. "I thought you were dead. I saw you with my own eyes lying in the coffin. I came here today to give my last respects. Why the fake funeral? If you wanted to talk, all you had to do was to call me. You didn't have to go through with such an elaborate hoax."

  His mother walked gracefully across the gray carpet and faced him. "I suppose you are expecting an apology from me for forcing you to come here under false pretences."

  "That would be a good start."

  "I'm not at liberty to give one." Her voice was still warm, but she spoke with authority. It was as though she was addressing a judge in a courtroom packed with reporters all the way to the seats at the back. "It was all a ploy to convince that you should come home, Jake dear."

  The elderly man stepped next to her and gestured with his hand. "You know I don't talk unless I have something to say," he said.

  "Father, speak your mind. I know I have never listened to a single word you have said in the past, but after reading the book on your and mother's life, I fully regret ignoring you. I've been a fool every day since I turned my back on you and The Oasis and headed for the city."

  The old man raised a strong hand into the air. "Say no more. What was done is water under the bridge now. You need to make a choice about your future. A wise choice is preferred."