A COWBOYS REDEMPTION

𝐅𝐀𝐑𝐌 𝐋𝐈𝐅𝐄

Since I was fifteen, I had been riding bulls, and I had dedicated every waking moment to mastering the craft.

My mother loved the rodeos, she'd always beam with excitement as she cheered for the bull riders.

After she passed away, riding became not just a passion but a tribute to her memory.

I could still hear her voice ringing in my ears, urging me to ride harder and to take more risks.

This year had been different, though. It was my prime season, and I had been racking up championships like never before.

The thought of having to give it all up was unbearable.

I had poured my heart into this sport, and I couldn't imagine a life without it.

What would I even do? The idea made me feel uneasy.

I was lost in my thoughts when a soft knock on the door jolted me back to reality.

I looked up to see Milia entering the room, her scrubs a vibrant shade of blue. The moment I saw her, a warmth spread through me, causing my stress to fade a bit. I couldn't help but smile as I stuffed my hands into my back pockets, trying to shake off the anxiety that held me captive.

"Hey, Wyatt," she said, her smile brightening the room.

"Hey, beautiful," I replied, feeling happy to see her.

She walked over, her eyes searching mine. "How are you feeling?"

I shook my head, "I mean... I never thought I'd be possibly having to say goodbye to bull riding, so I don't know."

Milia wrapped her arms around my waist, and I felt a rush of warmth and comfort. "You don't know if that's what's going to happen," she reassured me.

"I don't know, Milia. I've never had a seizure in my life. It was scary to experience." I could still feel the fear from that day, the way the world had tilted beneath me, the way my body shook. It was all uncomfortable.

"I know, Wyatt, but thankfully you had a gorgeous nurse on hand to help you out," she said playfully.

"Gorgeous indeed," I replied, leaning down to peck her lips.

Just then, the door swung open, "Woah! Get a room!" Sawyer shouted, stepping into the room wearing a white coat.

Milia pulled away, and I turned to look at him, rubbing the back of my neck. "Sorry, Sawyer," she said, holding her hands up apologetically.

"It's okay," he chuckled, "I'm just happy it isn't Malakai."

Milia shot him a confused look, and Sawyer shrugged, "Bad joke? Sorry."

He cleared his throat, shifting his focus to me. "Anyways, Mr. Buckley, let's see what we have here." He opened a manila file folder and scanned its contents before looking up at me with a serious expression. "Unfortunately, I don't come with good news."

My heart dropped. I could feel a knot forming in my stomach. "What do you mean?" I asked, trying to hide my panic.

Sawyer sighed, his eyes steady on mine. "We received your CT scan results, and this is what we have." He pulled out a photo of a brain, one side labeled 'normal' and the other displaying my own scans.

I squinted at the images, confusion swirling in my mind. "What the hell am I supposed to be looking at, Sawyer?"

He took a breath, trying to simplify. "In simple terms, you have what we call an abnormal brain."

I closed my eyes, placing a hand on my forehead, overwhelmed. "Sawyer, look, I didn't graduate with a PhD in doctor language, just tell me what's wrong with me."

"Look, Wyatt," he said, his tone softening, "we're friends, right? I mean, you're dating Milia and she's like a little sister to me, so yeah, I'll say we're friends."

Milia chimed in, "We're not dating."

But we ignored her. Sawyer continued, "The point is, since you're my friend and patient, I won't sugarcoat this, okay?

" He took a deep breath before continuing.

"You have stage one epilepsy, and it likely developed from your concussion.

This means that the concussion they thought was only minor was, in fact, not minor.

It was a mild head injury that caused abnormal electrical activity in your brain, which led to your seizure. "

I had no idea what the fuck Sawyor meant, but I knew it wasn't good. "So what does this mean for my career?" I asked, trying to make sense of all this.

"I'm sorry, Wyatt. But you won't be able to ride bulls, at least not for a very long time. If you do, it'll likely trigger another seizure. And if you have another one—" He hesitated. "You could end up hospitalized for a long time, or worse... you could die."

His words hit me like a punch to the gut.

I could feel my heart racing, the reality of my worst nightmare crashing down around me.

"Fuck, this can't be happening!" I whispered, frustration boiling over.

I threw my hat to the floor, running my hands through my hair as I paced again, feeling the stress building inside me.

"Listen," Sawyer said, his voice steady, "You'll be out for a while, but that doesn't mean things can't change. I'm prescribing you three medications that you need to take twice a day. I promise the consistency will make a difference."

"I hate pills," I muttered, rolling my eyes.

"Seriously?" Sawyer raised an eyebrow. "You ride bulls for a living, and pills are where you draw the line? Spare me."

"Do you speak to all of your patients like this?" I asked, half-joking, half-serious.

"No, I don't," he replied with a grin. "But you're my last one for the day, and I have a date tonight, so I'm ready to go!"

Milia gasped. "Sawyer, who's the lucky girl or guy?"

"His name is Jonah, and he's a firefighter," Sawyer said, holding the folder up to hide his blushing.

"Wow, Sawyer! That's a huge difference from the scientist you were messing around with," Milia teased.

"Yuck, don't remind me," Sawyer groaned, shaking his head. "I have to go now. I'll see you two later. Love you, Mimi."

"Love you too, Sawyer," Milia replied as he walked out, leaving us alone in the room.

Milia turned back to me, her expression softening. She bent down and picked up my hat from the floor, brushing it off before handing it back to me. "It's going to be okay, Wyatt. You could get better and be back riding in no time."

I shook my head, feeling completely defeated. "I can't believe I have to give up riding for a while. I never imagined this would happen to me."

She reached up and gently touched my cheek, her fingers warm against my skin. "Hey, things always happen to us when we least expect it, but all we can do is move forward."

As I looked into her eyes, I felt the stress begin to fade. There was something about her presence, the way she cared, that calmed me. I couldn't help but smile. "What are you doing after work?" I asked, trying to shift my focus away from the news.

"Uh... nothing, why?" she asked curiously.

"Do you want to spend the day with me? Help me relieve some of this stress?" I bit my lip and winked at her, playfully hinting at something steamy.

She laughed, shoving me playfully. "I have to change, but I'll come over right after."

"Yes!" I shouted, unable to contain my excitement.

Milia stood on her tiptoes and pecked my lips before stepping back.

"I'll see you later, Buckley."

??°

I pulled into Wyatt's long driveway, my tires crunching over the gravel as I parked. Stepping out of the car, I took a deep breath, only to be hit by the strong smell of cow shit. "Ew," I muttered under my breath, wrinkling my nose.

"Milia!"

I heard someone shout my name and I turned to see Wyatt waving at me from near his farm. His smile was wide, and despite the smell, I found myself grinning back as I made my way over to him, taking in the surroundings. The farm was big, and though I wasn't sure how I felt about it yet.

As I got closer, my eyes caught sight of Wyatt. He was shirtless, wearing just jeans, boots, and a cowboy hat. I bit my lip, admiring his toned body. The man looked like he belonged on the cover of a cowboy magazine.

"You gonna keep eye-fucking me, or are you gonna come here?" Wyatt teased, his southern drawl making me laugh.

"Hmm, I like the idea of both," I shot back, closing the distance between us.

Wyatt leaned down and kissed me before giving my ass a playful smack, making me squeal. I shoved him back, still laughing.

"Hey, beautiful," he greeted me.

"Hey, handsome face," I replied, unable to stop smiling.

Wyatt's grin grew even bigger. "So, I was thinkin' we could go for a ride."

"A ride where?" I asked, curious.

Without answering, Wyatt started walking, and I followed him. My eyes widened as we approached a tall brown horse standing nearby.

"How 'bout a ride on little ol' Daisy?" he suggested, patting the horse's neck.

"Absolutely not, Wyatt. You can't be serious," I said, taking a step back.

"Come on, Milia. Daisy ain't gon' hurt nobody," he said, walking over to me and grabbing my hand. He pulled me closer to the horse, guiding my hand toward her. "Pet her. She ain't gonna hurt you, Milia."

My hand trembled as I touched the horse's soft coat. Daisy dipped her head lower, and Wyatt smiled. "See? She likes you."

I continued petting Daisy, feeling a little more at ease. I turned to Wyatt, who was watching me with a soft smile.

"Come on, let's get on," he said, effortlessly jumping onto the horse.

I stared at the saddle, nervous, but I knew Wyatt wouldn't leave me alone. I placed my foot in the stirrup and swung my leg over, settling behind him. Wrapping my arms tightly around his waist, I held on.

"You ready?" Wyatt asked, looking back at me.

"Wait a minute. Are you even supposed to be doing this with your condition?" I asked, suddenly worried.

"He ain't say nothin' 'bout horses," Wyatt replied with a cheeky grin. "Giddy up, Daisy!"

The horse started to run, and I screamed, closing my eyes as my grip on Wyatt tightened.

"Milia, look. Just take in all this beautiful scenery," Wyatt said.

I slowly opened my eyes, taking in the vibrant flowers, tall trees, and the sun setting in the distance. "Wow," I whispered, amazed by the beauty around us.

"I told ya!" Wyatt said, laughing. His laughter was contagious, and soon I found myself laughing too.

As I looked at Wyatt, smiling and enjoying the ride, I realized I was the happiest I'd ever been. I thought about how scared Malakai had made me to open up to someone again, but with Wyatt, everything felt right. His gentle kindness was making me like him even more.

"I really like you, Wyatt, and I hope whatever we have going on works out," I thought to myself, resting my head on his shoulder and allowing myself to feel good.

We eventually came to a stop in front of a small lake house with a beautiful lake surrounded by trees and dark blue water. Wyatt jumped off the horse and put his hands on my waist, helping me down.

"Where are we?" I asked, looking around.

"Follow me," Wyatt said, leading the way toward the house.

When we walked inside, my mouth fell open. The lake house was beautifully decorated. "What is this place?" I asked, turning to him.

"This was my mama's lake house. Anytime she and my dad would fight, she'd bring me here. My dad never knew it existed," Wyatt explained.

I frowned, thinking about the pain Wyatt must have felt seeing his mom go through that. I continued exploring the house until I spotted a few photos on the wall. One picture caught my attention—a gorgeous blonde woman with green eyes holding a baby boy.

"That's your mama?" I asked, smiling at the photo.

"Yup, that's her. She was pretty, wasn't she?" Wyatt said, walking over.

"She was beautiful," I agreed.

I hesitated before asking, "If you don't mind me asking, where is your dad now?"

Wyatt shrugged. "I don't know, locked up in some prison. I haven't seen him since that night, and I don't ever wanna see him again."

I looked at Wyatt, feeling a wave of compassion for him, and continued to explore the house. My eyes landed on a guitar with a snakeskin strap.

"You play?" I asked, pointing at it.

Wyatt laughed, nodding. "Sing too."

My eyes widened. "You're a farmer, bull rider, florist, and you can sing? Lord, what can't you do?"

"Paint, like you can," he teased.

"You've never seen me paint," I replied, rolling my eyes.

"I know I haven't, which is why you should show me your paintings," he said.

"One day," I promised, walking over to grab the guitar. "Sing for me?"

Wyatt laughed, taking the guitar from me. "Come on." He extended his hand, and I took it as we walked outside, under a sky filled with stars. We sat on some logs near the river.

"What do you want to hear?" Wyatt asked.

I sat there for a moment, thinking to myself. "Play me a song that's meaningful to you," I said, curious.

Wyatt thought for a moment before saying, "Ever heard 'Pink Skies' by Zach Bryan?"

I shook my head. "I don't think so."

He positioned the guitar comfortably before saying, "This song came out months ago, and every time I listen to it, it reminds me of my mama."

I sat silently, waiting for him to play. Wyatt started strumming, and I smiled, appreciating how good he was.

?? "The kids are in town for a funeral.

So pack the car and dry your eyes." ??

My eyes widened at how good Wyatt's voice was as I listened to him sing.

?? "If you could see 'em now, you'd be proud

But you'd think they's yuppies

Your funeral was beautiful

I bet God heard you comin'." ??

The lyrics hit me, and I felt my eyes water, hearing the emotion in Wyatt's voice. I frowned realizing how much Wyatt missed his mom.

When Wyatt stopped singing, I wiped a tear from my cheek. Wyatt placed the guitar against the log before his hand moved up to his chest. He held his chest, breaking down. I stood up, concerned. "Hey, what's the matter?" I asked, crouching down in front of him.

"I just miss her so much, Milia," Wyatt said, his voice full of sadness.

"I know she misses you too, Wyatt," I said, hugging him tightly.

We sat there, holding each other, listening to the night. Wyatt pulled away and looked into my eyes before smiling at me. "You have no idea how grateful I am to have you in my life, Milia. You make everything better."

My heart fluttered at his words. "I'm happy you're here too, Wyatt."

Wyatt laughed, taking off his hat and placing it on my head. I gasped. "Wyatt! I thought you only place your hat on the head of a girl that you're dating."

"That's true," he admitted.

"But we're not dating," I pointed out.

"But we could be," Wyatt said, his eyebrow risen.

"What?" I asked, squinting at him.

Wyatt pulled me closer to him, "Date me, Milia. Be my girl," he said softly.

I felt butterflies swarm in my stomach at his words. "Milia, I like you a lot, and I'm sure you like me too. So what are we waiting for?"

I hesitated, standing up and crossing my arms trying to process his words. "Wyatt, I—I don't know. Don't you think this is a bit too fast?"

"It's been two months, Milia," he reminded me.

"It has, hasn't it?" I murmured, not even realizing it's been that long.

"Come on, Milia, be mine, please?" he pleaded.

Deep down, I knew I wanted to be with Wyatt, but I was scared. The thought of being hurt again was holding me captive. "Wyatt, I like you too, no doubt about it. But there's something you don't know about me, and I'm scared that when you find out, you'll run, and I—"

"Milia, darlin', listen to me," Wyatt cut me off, gently cupping my face, sending shivers down my spine. I gulped at the sound of him calling me 'darlin'.

"I've been pining after you for two months, praying you'd give me a chance. I don't care what craziness or flaws you come with! I'll deal with them for you, Milia. I just want you," he said pleading to me.

I stared at him, my palms sweaty with nervousness. Wyatt was nothing like Malakai, and he had proven that so many times. I had no idea what this relationship could turn into, but I knew I wanted him. "Fine.. I'll be your girl, Wyatt," I finally said, smiling.

"You will?" Wyatt asked, his eyes lightening up.

I nodded, and he instantly pulled me into his arms, kissing me before spinning me around, making me laugh.

"Please don't make me regret this, Buckley," I said as he placed me back onto the ground.

"I won't, trust me," he promised.

Just then, my phone buzzed in my pocket, ruining the moment. I pulled it out, seeing Malakai had sent four attachments. "What is it?" Wyatt asked, noticing my sudden change in demeanor. My heart dropped as I opened the messages, seeing photos of him burning my belongings.

My clothes. My painting. Photos with memories I cherished.

"It's Malakai. He's destroying my things," I gasped, showing Wyatt.

He looked at me, his expression hardening.

"Let's go."