“Thanks, Nick. I’ll try my best,” Dustin said.
“Why do you want to sell?” Jenna asked.
“My wife and I want to get out of the business. Maybe do some traveling, visit our kids and grandkids. They’re scattered all over the place.”
“And this ranch ties you down, doesn’t it?” Jenna asked, knowing the answer already.
“Sure does. We’re busy day and night.”
A stately woman with long salt-and-pepper hair and a warm smile walked out onto the porch. She wore faded jeans and a glittery T-shirt. Her cowboy boots were a bright yellow.
“This is my wife, Amber.” He turned to Amber with a big smile. “This is Dustin and his friend, Jenna.”
Dustin tweaked his hat and Jenna waved, immediately liking Amber’s warm smile.
“I’d recognize Dustin Morgan anywhere. I’m a bull riding fan.” Amber walked down the porch steps and shook Dustin’s hand. “We put a lot of blood, sweat and tears into this place. Call us sentimental, but we both love this ranch and want to place it into good hands.”
Jenna nodded. She didn’t blame Amber at all for wanting their hard work to go to people who’d appreciate it.
“Shall we go into the house first?” Amber asked.
“Oh, yes. Absolutely,” Jenna said immediately.
They all laughed, but Jenna was drawn to the expression on Dustin’s face. He really looked happy and at peace at the same time. This was where he belonged—on a ranch.
Suddenly, she didn’t want to look at the house, didn’t want to like it.
But she followed Amber on the tour and found that she did like it—very much. From the golden knotty pine to the beehive fireplace, and from the chunky log furniture that came with the house to the rustic chandeliers—it was perfect. The kitchen was a dream. The master bedroom on the first floor was in back and its private deck overlooked a built-in pool and hot tub.
She could picture herself in this house—cooking, grading papers, reading. But would she be happy staying put?
Dustin and Nick went outside to check out the barn and stock, fast friends already.
Jenna felt comfortable with Amber. She was warm and friendly and the type of person who was very open and honest.
It was at times like these that she especially missed her mother. She’d like to talk to her mom about Dustin, about whether or not to marry and settle down, about this property.
Amber motioned to the living room. “I’ll bring us some coffee.”
“Only if it’s already made,” Jenna said.
“It is. Coming right up. Make yourself comfortable, Jenna.”
Jenna picked a chunky log chair with brown leather cushions and sat down. She had a wide-angle view of the downstairs. Looking around, she decided that she wouldn’t change a thing. Well, maybe this, maybe that.
What was she doing? She didn’t plan on ever living here.
But she could picture raising a family within these walls with its four bedrooms and four bathrooms. She could imagine their children running through the meadow to the right of the ranch house and riding horses under the watchful eye of their father, Dustin.
She’d keep up the little garden in the back for fresh vegetables and herbs. And the flowers would be perfect for cut arrangements on the circular table over there…or maybe even the mantel. She’d put their Christmas tree to the right of the fireplace. No. To the left, so it can be seen outside, too.
She took a deep breath. She was totally getting ahead of herself, was totally conflicted and wished she’d never came here and seen this fabulous place.
“Here we are,” said Amber, returning to the room and handing her a steaming mug of coffee.
“Um…Amber…could I ask you a question?”
Smiling warmly, she crossed her legs and leaned forward. “Ask me anything.”
“It’s not about the house—it’s about…well…I grew up on a ranch, and I know the work involved. I really didn’t want to be a rancher. That’s why I became a teacher.”
Amber nodded. “You’re wondering if you’d be happy here.”
Tears stung Jenna’s eyes, and Amber reached out and patted her hand.
“This was just a cactus patch when we bought it. It was a lot of work—building, making roads, putting up fence, more building, buying stock, breeding. I’m sure you can see that most of the hard work is done, Jenna. Dustin and a couple of hands can do the rest.”
“And I can take care of the house,” she said, thinking out loud. “Which I’d enjoy. I know I would. And I can still teach. And I can help Dustin in my spare time.”
Jenna felt better, but still her mind was racing. Settling on a ranch certainly wasn’t in her plan.
But she hadn’t counted on falling in love.
When Dustin and Nick returned, they said their goodbyes, and with an invite to return at any time from Nick, they headed west on River Road.
“What do you think, Jenna?” Dustin asked.
“I love it. I love everything about it. I don’t think you could find another ranch that had so much care.”
“Then you liked the house?”
“I did. I do. It’s perfect,” she said.
“I have a couple more places to look at. Do you want to go with me?”
“Dustin, I don’t think that any other place would top this one.”
“I agree, but I think I’ll look anyway.”
She nodded and spoke softly, “Whether or not we get married, I hope you buy the ranch of your dreams.”
Dustin stared straight ahead, but his knuckles gripping the steering wheel were white. Jenna could sense the tension emanating from him.
“You know, Dustin, I’ve been asleep for thirty years. You might say that I’ve just woken up.”
“You’ve been busy with your career,” he said. “And I know, I know, you want adventure. But did you ever think that marriage could be an adventure?”
She’d never thought of it that way, but it would be a whole new life—and she’d be living it with the man she’d always loved.
“Do you know the name of the ranch?” Dustin finally said, his grip on the steering wheel not lessening.
“No.”
“The Rocking JD.”
“Dustin, those are our initials!”
“I know.”
It was meant to be.
Married life could be an adventure.
The mantras kept rolling around in her head.
“We can’t take all the credit.” Dustin chuckled. “The ranch was named after the first settler of this area, J. D. Fordham.”
She didn’t care about the first settler. All she cared about was trying to figure out if she should accept Dustin’s proposal or not.
Still, the Rocking JD weighed heavy on her mind. She’d be happy there with Dustin.
Wouldn’t she?
Dustin relaxed his grip on the steering wheel and took a couple of deep breaths. He’d thought that seeing the Rocking JD would nudge Jenna to accept his proposal.
Damn it. He’d thought she’d fall into his arms screaming “yes!”
He was pretty sure that it wasn’t him. Settling down wasn’t in her plans.
“Jenna, I’ve traveled a lot since I turned sixteen. That’s fourteen years. I’ve given up most every weekend. If I ride in extra events, I’m traveling during the week, too. I want to stay put.”
“You know, Dustin…when you go to a PBR event, you’re in and out. You don’t have time to get a feel for the area. You don’t have time to go to museums or the historical society. You don’t have time to try the local restaurants or have nice talks with the people.”
Her face glowed with excitement, and her eyes sparkled just talking about traveling.
“That’s true,” he said.
“Wouldn’t you like to do all that?” she asked.
“It sounds good.” Or maybe it was Jenna’s enthusiasm that made it sound good.
Dustin thought for a moment. “If I don’t win the PB
R Finals, maybe I’ll stick around for another year and keep riding the circuit. You could travel with me. We could explore each city that I’m going to ride in.”
“Travel with you for a year?” She tilted her head. “That would be wonderful. Besides, I could keep the buckle bunnies away from you.”
He grinned. “If I win the finals, we could still travel, Jenna, to wherever you want. And if you want to go to China, well, could we just visit instead of staying there for a year?”
“Yes.” She studied him. “You’d do that for me?”
“I would. But whether I win or lose, I’m buying the Rocking JD. I don’t want someone else to buy it out from under me…us.”
“I don’t want you to lose it, either. I really love that ranch, Dustin.”
“I can’t picture anyone else living there but us, Jenna. I don’t want to live there alone.”
He waited for the big “yes” from her, but it didn’t happen. What more could he do?
They drove in silence until they arrived at the steakhouse that Dustin wanted to try.
Getting out of the car, they held hands for a while, admiring the desert landscaping around the restaurant. It was similar to the landscaping around the Rocking JD.
Damn, Dustin thought, stealing another glance at Jenna. He was still waiting for her to be excited about his proposal, but it seemed that she was making her decision a tedious chore. Then again, she was deciding her entire future.
He pulled her into his arms and held her. He kissed her gently, then he broke the kiss and studied her face.
This was his Jenna, and he was all hers.
He hugged her and she rested her head on his shoulder. He heard a contented sigh. Didn’t she know how right this felt—the two of them together like this? Together they could weather any storm, tackle any problems, run a ranch…
“You’ll always come first with me, Jenna. Not the ranch, so don’t worry about that,” he said with confidence. “I can think of a dozen guys who could ramrod our ranch when we’re not there.”
“Our ranch,” she whispered, and he could tell she liked the idea. “I could always teach here in Tucson.”
His heart soared. Her response was a positive sign.
Jenna wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him. It rattled him to the core. Couldn’t she feel that they were meant for each other? If it weren’t for her brother, they would have been together long ago. For sure, they’d even have a house full of kids by now.
“Jenna, I don’t want to push you into giving me an answer. It’s just that we’ve both been waiting for each other for…forever. I’m just hoping that you make the right decision, because I don’t want to wait much longer.”
“You’ll have my answer at the finals, Dustin. I promise.”
Epilogue
Jenna took her seat at the Thomas and Mack Center on the grounds of the University of Nevada at Las Vegas and settled down to watch the last day of bull riding.
The points were close, and she was already caught up in the excitement that seemed to fill the arena.
Her brother was first in the standings, but Dustin was a close second. The bull rider in third place, Ronnie Bugnacki, could win the event, too.
But they all had to ride their two bulls. One in the long-go, and one in the short-go.
The arena announcer was talking about how close the race was as the huge screens in the middle of the ceiling showed the top rides of the year by the top three riders.
Today would decide the winner.
Jenna sat on her hands so she wouldn’t bite her nails.
Dustin could almost buy the Rocking JD Ranch with the money he’d win. Her brother could pay off the mortgage on his ranch and have enough left over for improvements.
Who would it be?
Jenna fingered the two signs on her lap. One of them was for Tom, the other for Dustin.
Today was the day that she’d promised Dustin that she’d give him her answer. She was content, knowing that she’d made the right decision. It was right for both of them.
As the event began, two “bulls” at each side of the bucking chutes spewed fire from their mouths.
“This is not a rodeo,” said the announcer. “This is the PBR!”
The arena dirt suddenly came alive with the letters PBR outlined in fire.
The people in the stands shouted and clapped. It was almost time for the first ride.
Jenna looked at the arena clock behind the bucking chutes. The digital numbers ticking away reminded her that her life was going to change that fast.
The big screen in the middle of the arena showed Dustin tying his bull rope around Red Wine. Dustin gave a quick grin to the camera, flashing his brilliant smile. The men cheered as many of the women in the arena screamed in excitement. Jenna’s heart pounded wildly in her chest.
“C’mon, Dustin. Reach for your dream,” she said quietly.
Dustin rode Red Wine for eight seconds and made a good get-off. The arena exploded. His score was ninety. The confetti guns popped as colorful streamers and bits of paper rained over everyone.
She saw Dustin looking around for her. When their eyes met, she waved, and he tipped his hat to her. The heat rushed to Jenna’s face as dozens of people looked to see who Dustin Morgan was singling out. Jenna couldn’t stop the stupid grin from appearing on her face.
She loved him. She didn’t care who knew it. And she’d always love him, no matter what.
She touched the sign that she’d made for Dustin. He had one more bull to ride in the short-go. And the short-go bulls were the toughest yet.
Tom did just as well on Hard Luck and Jenna screamed. She held up a yellow sign with red letters that said, “Go Tom!” He received an eighty-eight.
Dustin had to beat Tom’s total score by two points. Then he’d win the finals. He would win the aggregate for the year, too. Two little points.
Jenna sat through eight riders in the short-go. Now it was Tom’s turn. He barely stayed on his bull and was hanging off the side of it at the time the buzzer sounded. He wouldn’t get very many points due to his style, but he’d get a score. He got an eighty-four.
All Dustin had to do was get a score of eighty-six. It was high, but not impossible on the short-go bulls. He drew a bull named Eliminator, and Jenna hoped that wasn’t a sign of things to come.
She held her breath when Dustin nodded his head. Eliminator exploded out of the chute and immediately turned right, into Dustin’s hand. A good sign. The bull did four fast rotations, then switched sides and did four more. Dustin stayed on, clinging to the bull like a piece of lint. Finally, the buzzer sounded, and Dustin made a clean get-off, landing on his feet, but then he fell onto the dirt. Eliminator charged, and Jenna screamed, but Dustin was saved by the bullfighters who distracted the bull and got Eliminator to leave the arena.
Quiet settled over the crowd like a thick blanket as Dustin’s scores came in. The third judge seemed like he was taking his sweet old time, and Jenna was running out of breath.
Ninety-two! Dustin got his two points and more for good measure. The arena went wild. More confetti spewed out of the guns. Dustin was hoisted up on the shoulders of several other riders. Someone gave him the American flag and he held it high.
Jenna’s heart pounded in her chest, and excitement ran through her like an electric shock.
She was happy for Dustin. All his dreams were falling into place.
It was then that she held up her sign. She’d painted it in big black letters on yellow poster board. It said, “I’d love to marry you!”
He saw her and the sign, and a grin split his face. He motioned to his friends to let him down, and he ran toward her.
Climbing into the stands, he gripped her hand. “Are you sure?” he said.
“I’m positive,” she said. “I love you, Dustin.”
“I love you, Jenna.”
He kissed her, and they both smiled.
Jenna put her index finger over his lips. “Let’s buy that
ranch and fill it with children.”
“Agreed!” Dustin exclaimed, then sobered. “I do have a present for you.” He pulled out a beat-up envelope from the pocket of his jeans and handed it to her.
With shaky hands she opened it and pulled out its contents. Two tickets to Europe. A cruise! Tears flooded her eyes. “I’ve always wanted to go on a cruise.”
A fan thrust a pen and a program at Dustin for him to sign. Dustin pushed it back. “Hang on. I’m proposing here.” He knelt on one knee. “Marry me?”
She held up the sign again. “I’d love to marry you, cowboy.”
“Good.” Dustin laughed. “It’s about time.”
Jenna grinned as she pulled him to his feet and into her arms for a big kiss.
Applause erupted around them in the stands, and Jenna realized that the camera was on them. They were on the big screen.
Jenna didn’t know what the world had in store, but she knew, just like Dustin said, and as sure as her heart was beating, that their marriage would be an adventure.
ISBN: 978-1-4592-0805-6
HOW TO LASSO A COWBOY
Copyright © 2011 by Christine Wenger
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How to Lasso a Cowboy Page 13