Instead, he started walking and soon found himself close enough to Erin’s RV that he could see her loading things into the horse trailer sitting next to it.
He needed to wish her good luck, if nothing else. He didn’t want bad feelings between them. But would it make it worse? Either way, he had to do it.
* * *
ERIN HEARD THE crunch of twigs and the snap of a small limb behind her as she shoved another bale of hay into the trailer. She didn’t look to see what had caused the noises, suspecting Sollie had come to visit and tell her goodbye. Not that the dog had a clue she was leaving, but thinking so made her feel better.
“So, you’re going.”
She nearly jumped out of her skin and spun around. Jake stood at the edge of the tree line, his hands in his pockets, his face showing no emotion.
“I thought we already said goodbye,” she replied.
“If you want to call it that.”
She bent down to pick up two covered grain buckets. “I’ll be back again, Jake.”
“And we can pick up where we’re leaving off?” he asked.
She didn’t look at him but lifted the buckets and put them in the trailer. “If that’s what you want.”
“What I want is for you to stay,” he said, his voice sounding closer. “But I can’t stop you from leaving, Erin. I won’t do that.”
She straightened and faced him. He knew how to push her buttons, and she tried to control her temper. He could have stayed home and saved them both from this, but he didn’t.
“Why not?” she asked. When he shook his head, she silently counted to five. “One of us has to know.”
“Everything I’ve ever done, I did with good intentions,” he said. “Breaking it off with you was one of those.”
Her legs seemed unable to hold her. Lowering herself to the end of the trailer, she pulled in a shaky breath. “Why is that?”
He moved to sit beside her, clasping his hands to dangle between his knees. “I was fifteen when I realized I’d fallen for you. But it had happened long before that. Maybe that day you smacked the rump of my horse, and it took off while I hung on for my life. Do you remember that?”
Nodding, she relaxed and smiled. “Your uncle finally said you could take one of his horses out. But not before Dylan and I convinced him that you could ride. Which you couldn’t. I’d never met anyone so determined in all my life. Except me, of course.”
“That’s what I liked about you. After that first summer I spent here, I didn’t want to go home. Knowing I had summers here became the only thing that got me through the school year.”
“I’m surprised,” she said, “considering how mean I was to you.”
“I didn’t care. You didn’t ignore me.”
“I couldn’t,” she said with a shrug. She’d been as drawn to him as he had been to her. “And I didn’t know why, until I was twelve and realized I wanted you to like me.”
He lowered his head. “I wish I’d known that.”
She felt the old embarrassment she’d had back then. “I couldn’t let you know. I didn’t know how.”
They sat in silence for several minutes before he spoke again. “I guess I owe you an explanation.”
When he took her hand and held it, she looked up. “For what?”
“For what I did...what I said that last night.”
Not knowing if this would be good or bad, she couldn’t respond. She didn’t want to hurt anymore. Better to be done with it and move on. That’s what she’d always done, and it had served her well. It would again.
His body rose and fell with a deep breath. “I never planned to go to college. But my parents had other ideas. I fought them about it. Threatened to leave. I wanted to come back here and stay with Uncle Carl. Learn how to be a rancher, not a businessman like my dad. In the end, Uncle Carl took my choice away after my mother talked to him. And they won.”
She stared at his hands, hands that knew every inch of her and more. It was her turn to explain why she’d done what she did.
“That last summer, you said you’d be back as often as possible, so when you came back at Thanksgiving, I thought everything was okay. I wanted you to know how much I—” She wouldn’t say it. Couldn’t. “I worried that you’d find somebody better than me in college. Somebody pretty, who didn’t argue with you all the time or spend her life on a horse. I didn’t know how to tell you, so I seduced you. I know it was a crazy, stupid thing to do, but I didn’t care. And then when you—”
He turned his head to look at her. “I never meant a word of it, Erin. But I had to do it. Not just because my parents forced me to go to college. You deserved more than a visit from me every few months.”
Gazing into his gray eyes, she saw regret and a sadness she’d never seen there before. “I wouldn’t have minded.”
“I needed more than that, Erin. Much more. I broke it off with you because I had to. For you.”
He took her hand in his, and she felt his thumb move across her knuckles, sending warmth through her. She tried to ignore it but failed. “I don’t understand.”
“I wasn’t nice about it. I didn’t know how to do it any other way. You would have argued with me.”
She turned away, knowing it was true. She would have done anything to keep him there. “But that doesn’t explain it. We could have had spring break and summers, and—”
“Look at me, Erin, because I’m going to tell you why I did and said what I did. Why I was so angry that night.” When she refused, he put a finger under her chin and forced her to look at him. “I wanted you to have the chance to do what you always wanted to do—join the rodeo and travel.” He shook his head. “I didn’t tell you that, and maybe I should have. When it came to what I wanted, my parents didn’t give me a choice about college. They put a lot of pressure on me, keeping me from what I truly loved—being with you. I wanted to give you what I hadn’t been given. I wanted you to have the freedom to chase your dream.”
Erin’s throat clogged with tears, and she ducked her head so he wouldn’t see. “We were too young,” she managed to say.
“You were, but I wasn’t. I was eighteen. I could have walked away from my parents and what they wanted. I didn’t. Not for two years, anyway. And by then, I didn’t care. I’d lost what I wanted. I wanted you. But it was too late. So I left school. I knew Uncle Carl wouldn’t budge on letting me come here, so I went out to Arizona and found a job on a ranch. That’s why I hired Jonah when you didn’t want me to. I wanted to give him a chance.”
“I should have guessed,” she whispered, her heart breaking for what he’d been through.
“I was never happier than when I was here,” he said. “That’s why I came back. I could have sold the ranch, bought a new one somewhere else, but this is where I wanted to be. Even knowing you wouldn’t be here.”
“But I am,” she said.
“And you’re leaving.”
Not knowing what to say, she remained silent and noticed that dusk had darkened the sky. She would be on the road in a few hours, headed to Chandler. Back to rodeo.
He took her hand again. “Look at me, Erin.”
She did, but it didn’t calm her or make any of it easy.
“I’ve always loved you, Erin,” he said, his gaze holding hers. “I never stopped loving you.”
She opened her mouth to tell him she loved him, too, but nothing came out. Speechless at the declaration, she closed her eyes. When she opened them and saw the love in his, hers stung with tears. “Oh, Jake.” She sighed.
He kissed her, a kiss she would never forget. One filled with sweetness and love.
“Hold on a minute,” he said when they took a breath. He stood and started walking toward the trees.
“Are you leaving?” she asked, feeling a prick of panic.
&nbs
p; “No,” he said, and looked over his shoulder at her. “I’m never leaving.”
He disappeared out of sight, and she heard rustling. She waited, wondering what he might be doing. When she finally saw him heading back to her, she saw what he was carrying. “My shoes!” she said, snatching the high heels he dangled in front of her. “Where did you find them?”
“I didn’t. Kelly did. In the barn.” When she groaned, he laughed. “Don’t worry. I told him some story about teenagers necking in the barn, and he believed it. But you might want to think up some story, if he ever sees you in them.”
She laughed, and then noticed a small box stuffed in one of the shoes. “What’s this?”
“Open it,” he said, watching her.
Curious, she did. Nestled inside was a sparkling diamond ring. She looked up to see him smiling, yet tentative.
“Will you?” he asked. “Will you marry me, Erin?”
Unable to speak, she nodded, tears of happiness stinging her eyes, and then she threw her arms around him. Years of loneliness on the road, without Jake in her life, flashed through her mind. Those days are gone.
“When?” he whispered in her ear. “Soon?”
“Very soon,” she whispered back.
Taking her hand, he slipped the ring on her finger. “I considered a branding iron,” he said, “but I guess this will have to do.”
“I’m relieved,” she said, laughing. Smiling, she looked into his eyes. “It’s beautiful, and you’re wonderful.”
He stood and helped her from the trailer, and they shared another kiss, full of love and unspoken promises.
“You can rodeo all you want,” he told her, “but you have to come home, not wander the country. At least, not without me. So come home when you’ve won in Chandler.”
She’d nearly forgotten. “Hold that thought,” she said, pulling her phone from her pocket. She hit a button and waited.
“Shelly,” she said, when her friend answered, “I’m sorry to call you so late, but I won’t be in Chandler tomorrow.”
Jake grabbed her and swung her around, as Shelly said, “Oh, I’m sorry to hear that. Did something happen?”
“Yes,” Erin answered, stifling a giggle, while trying to hush Jake’s whoops and hollers. “I’m engaged.”
Shelly screamed so loudly that Erin had to hold the phone away from her ear. Jake laughed, but she shushed him. “I’ll send you the money you spent for the entry fee.”
“No, you won’t,” Shelly said. “Consider it an engagement gift. Money well spent, I’d say.”
Erin laughed. “All right. And I’ll call you tomorrow.”
“Tell her we’ll try to be there on Saturday,” Jake whispered.
“I heard that,” Shelly said. “We look forward to meeting a guy who has to be special. After all, he picked you. Now go on, enjoy.”
Erin slipped the phone back into her pocket and looked at Jake. “How long have you had this?” she asked, wiggling her finger with the ring on it.
“A few days,” he answered with a devilish smile. “Before you told me you were leaving.”
“I’ll bet Jonah will be surprised in the morning.”
Jake snorted. “Somehow I doubt it. He’s a pretty smart kid.”
“A pretty smart young man,” Erin corrected. “Maybe it’s because he takes after you.”
“Could be,” Jake agreed with a laugh. Running a finger down her cheek, he sighed. “I wonder what he’d think of a baby sister.”
“I think he’d like that. He’s an only child.”
“Not for long,” Jake said softly.
She had a sudden thought and groaned.
“What?” he asked.
“I have to plan a wedding!”
“Heaven help us,” he said, laughing again.
“I love you, Jake Canfield.”
He grinned, and then kissed her. “That’s good, Erin Walker, because I love you, too.”
Epilogue
Jonah couldn’t remember being as happy as he’d been when he realized he’d found Jake and Erin. A second set of parents. Looking back, finding them had been easy. Not that it had seemed like it, but he’d been lucky. And it all started with a letter.
He’d climbed into the attic, looking for his old Cub Scout handbook. He’d forgotten some of the knots he’d been taught and knew the instructions were in the book. He had to hunt around the attic, but he found it in a box with his name printed on it. His mom was good about doing that. Along with the book were a few baby clothes, old school papers and photos of him. And the letter.
Curious, he’d pulled it out. It had been written in a bold, wide scrawl that began with the words, “I don’t know who you are, but I want to tell you thank you for adopting my baby son.” He’d continued reading and came away knowing she had loved him and wanted only the best for him. That’s when he knew he had to find her. But first, he’d battled with his parents. When they wouldn’t give him the answers he wanted and his dad yelled at him, he started searching with the help of a friend. And now—
“We are gathered here together...”
The sound of Reverend Baker’s voice brought him out of his thoughts as he stood under the flowered arch near the pond with the rest of the wedding party. He tried to pay attention, but it wasn’t easy. He thought of all the things he’d learned, working for Jake, and how pretty Erin had looked, walking down the aisle toward them. He’d expected Jake to be nervous. Weren’t grooms supposed to be on their wedding day? Not Jake. He looked cool, calm and happy.
From his spot next to Jake, he could see his parents sitting in the second row, smiling and whispering. His mother had been excited about being invited to the wedding. His father had been pleased that his escapade in Oklahoma had turned out so well. Jake was the opposite of his dad, who decided he liked Jake after all, especially when Jake gave him a tour of the ranch. His dad loosened up a little. Everything had worked out great, and he always felt proud when introducing both sets of his parents. He couldn’t have been happier.
“Jonah?”
Looking up, he saw Jake grinning at him. “Yeah?”
“The ring?”
He suddenly realized where he was and fished for Erin’s wedding ring in his tuxedo pocket, then handed it to Jake.
With the ring in hand, Jake leaned over to Jonah. “I’m glad you’re here,” he whispered.
“Me, too,” Jonah whispered back.
Turning his attention to the minister, Jonah listened to words he’d heard a few times before about the symbol of the endless circle, and then Erin and Jake slipped the rings on each other’s finger, saying the words, “With this ring...” He kind of liked that.
When the time came for Erin and Jake to kiss, he didn’t feel embarrassed. This was what he’d wanted since the first moment he’d realized who these two people were and that they loved each other. He took a quick look at his mom and dad, who were holding hands. His mom, still smiling, wiped her eyes with a tissue, and his dad gave him a thumbs-up. Jonah couldn’t remember his dad ever smiling so big. He had a feeling his own smile might be even bigger.
The reception, along with a dinner and dance, followed at the Big Barn by the Commune, and he finally had a chance to tell Erin how happy he was for her and Jake. Himself, too.
“It might not have happened if it weren’t for you,” Erin said as they danced together. “Thank you for making me fess up to Jake.”
Embarrassed, he ducked his head for a second. He’d only done what he thought was right. “You would have anyway.”
Erin laughed. “Maybe. But I’m so proud of you, Jonah. Jake and I both are. And I’m so glad we’ve been able to meet your parents. I like them. I really do.”
He shrugged the shoulder where her hand rested. “Yeah, they’re pretty good parents. Even
better now that they know you and Jake. I guess I’m one of the lucky ones.”
“We all are.” She looked at Jake standing with Bowie McClure, the friend who had bought some of Jake’s land and started building on it. Then she focused on Jonah again. “If I haven’t said it yet, you’re something else.”
Before he could answer, he felt a tap on his shoulder and turned to see who it was.
“My turn,” Jake said, pretending to scowl at him. Jonah knew he didn’t mean that mad look, because of the crinkles around his eyes.
“Not yet,” Erin told Jake. “You’ll have plenty of time later.”
“A lifetime won’t be enough.”
Right then, watching the two of them looking at each other, he understood what love meant. “Are you two ever going to stop arguing?”
Jake laughed and Erin shook her head. “If we did, we’d know we were in trouble,” she said.
Nodding, he released her and stepped away, while Jake put his arms around her. “Okay, but don’t leave without saying goodbye,” he told them.
They promised they wouldn’t, and while he watched the two of them dancing, he had a feeling that there would be a lot of laughing and arguing in their life together, with lots and lots of love. He hoped that someday he would be just as lucky.
* * * * *
Be sure to look for the next book in
Roxann Delaney’s DESPERATION, OKLAHOMA
series where cowboy Bowie McClure meets his match!
Available in 2015 from Harlequin American Romance.
Keep reading for an excerpt from TRUE BLUE COWBOY by Marin Thomas
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The Cowboy Meets His Match (Fatherhood) Page 19