Chapter 11
Tanner finishedhis chicken salad sandwich, pleased to see his dad’s appetite was back. “Would you like more?”
“No. Saving room for dinner. You promised Mrs. Barker’s pork pie.”
Hell, he’d forgotten that. “That’s right. Brody ordered it already. We’ll pick it up after the parade.”
“You’re going to speak to Manda, right?”
His gut tightened. “Yes. But don’t be disappointed if she won’t speak to me. I was an ass. It’s hard to come back from that.”
“You were an asshoe.” Dad grimaced, still having trouble with the L sound.
“Exactly. I’m going to do my best, but I don’t have a lot of hope. Would you forgive me?”
His father shook his head, then grinned. “Yes.”
He chuckled. “Well, she is a lot nicer than you are, so maybe I have a chance.”
His only answer was a snort.
The front door closed, and they both listened as the footsteps came closer. Within seconds, Brody loomed in the archway. “It’s time. The horses are loaded and the men are ready.”
He rose. “Tell Isaac we’re leaving.”
“Will do.”
As his brother disappeared, he gathered the empty plates and glasses and put them on the tray. “Wish me luck?”
“Good duck.” Dad scowled, obviously not happy with his word.
He laughed. “It could be worse you could have started that with the letter F.”
Dad shook his head, but there was a small smile on his face. Then he turned himself around and rolled to the sunny spot in the room for his nap.
Tanner strode into the kitchen and set the plates in the sink, before heading for the entry where his brother waited impatiently.
“We’re barely going to make it. If your girlfriend hadn’t picked a fight, we’d already be lined up.”
“Lulabell was right. She’s queen.”
Brody yanked open the front door. “Obviously, the heat has gotten to your brain, so I’m driving.”
Before he could say anything, Brody hopped into the driver’s seat.
“Fine.” He took shotgun as the other two hands climbed in the back. “Just remember, the horses don’t need to think we’re having an earthquake, so go slow on the drive.”
“Spoilsport.”
He would have preferred to drive just so he could keep his mind off his coming conversation with Amanda. Or what he hoped would be a conversation. He’d given up any hope, but the longer he was without her, the more he missed her. Even worse was the hole in his life she’d left. That it was his own fault was the hardest part to swallow, but swallow it he would if she would give him another chance.
It was his dad who suggested the parade because she wouldn’t make a scene in front of people. He wasn’t as sure about that, but at least with others looking on, she might actually listen.
He’d prefer it if he had more time to prepare his arguments, but his mother always said the longer people are mad, the more stubborn in their views they become, so sooner was definitely better. Had Mom figured that out dealing with Dad?
Not one to like a lot of attention, the whole parade scheme had him nervous. The plan was to ride up before the parade started. She would either be with her brothers or her dad. He’d face her as the man he was, full of faults, but in love with her nonetheless, in front of the families of those who were in the parade, so basically the whole town. They were allowed to line the staging area. His only hope was that people were so busy talking, they wouldn’t notice. But would she pay him any attention?
He shook his head. He probably didn’t stand a chance.
Brody took care on the drive, but once they hit Black Spur Road, he did his best to make up time. Unfortunately, the road into town was jam packed.
By the time they arrived and got the horses unloaded and in line, the coordinator gave the signal to start.
His heart sank as the line began to move.
Brody moved Chaos closer. “What are you going to do?”
“I don’t know. I haven’t even seen her.”
“Her brothers are up ahead. I saw Luke running to catch up.” Brody pointed forward.
At least he knew she was ahead with either them or her father, who would be very close to the front. But that meant she would be done with the route before him, and could disappear among the throng. “Hell, I don’t even know if she’s still in town.”
“She is.” Brody grinned. “Waylon told me his wife saw her at the Lucky Lasso restaurant this morning.”
Okay, so she was probably in the parade. He breathed a relived sigh, even as they turned onto Main Street. His relief was short lived as Brody started his tricks.
Though he’d seen his little brother trick ride for years, it always made him nervous. But the kids loved it, and Brody was all about entertaining, while he preferred tipping his hat and waving.
The crowd was large and loud. Maybe the extra tourists would put the Town Council in a good mood. He still had five days before the expert arrived and who knew how long before the council made a decision. He hated waiting to know his own fate. He liked to be in control. As he watched Brody stand on his horse, he wondered if maybe his sense of control was just his imagination. How much control over anything did he really have?
As Brody came back down to sit on his horse, they all came to a stop. His brother leaned over again. “And now for the handing off of the baton.” He shook his head. “Never did get that. It’s not like we need a baton to march down Main Street.”
He was right, but it was a chance to thank the sponsors and get their names out to the people visiting. It was basically the council member who led the parade the year before, handing the baton to another council member. There would be a speech, and they’d all stand around in the hot Arizona sun until it was time to continue on down the street.
All stand around? He turned to Brody. “I’ll be back.”
He pulled on Fury’s reigns and walked him down the side of the stopped parade. His heart pounded in his chest at what he was about to do, but if anyone was worth it, it was Amanda. As he came upon the Hayden brothers, they scowled at him, but he ignored them, swallowing hard as he realized Amanda had to be with her father in the car. People in the crowd looked expectantly at him as if he were going to be a part of the baton ceremony, but he didn’t plan to be. That was at the very front of the parade.
After passing the high school band, two floats, two more groups of horses, he saw the back of the white convertible. Bill Hayden sat on the top of the back seat. Amanda sat next to him on the far side, her white-blonde hair in a ponytail that stood out against her red shirt with the black fringe. Hell. He should turn back.
And always wonder what if?
No. He wasn’t letting Bill Hayden or anyone keep him from talking to Amanda. She, and only she, could make him go away. Digging deep into his gut, he brought Fury up to Bill’s side of the car.
When the man saw him, he smiled.
Was that for the crowd? He leaned over. “I need to talk to Amanda.”
Bill’s eyes widened even as Amanda turned and saw him. At first, her eyes lit, but she quickly scowled.
Hope filled his chest. Though she was obviously furious with him, that one unguarded look gave him the determination to win her back.
Bill slid to the side of the car. “You want to talk to Amanda?”
“Yes. I need to apologize.”
At that, Bill sat down in the seat, opened the door, and got out. “Go ahead. I’ll watch your horse.”
More than a little surprised by that, he jumped off Fury and handed the reigns to his family’s rival. Bill gave a nod then turned to the now fascinated onlookers to wave.
Not about to let the opportunity go by, he quickly got in to find Amanda had dropped down into the back seat, but her arms were crossed and she looked forward.
Closing the door behind him, he slid across the seat. Now that he was next to her, inhaling her warm vanilla scent, all of his planned speech went right out of his head. “I’m sorry Manda. I should have never doubted you. I came to know you and yet I let the feud between our families cloud my judgement. Did you get your car and my message?”
She continued to look straight ahead, but she did nod.
He took a deep breath. “I was an ass. I know that now. My father and my brother were more clearsighted than I was. I didn’t give you a chance to explain, or rather, I didn’t keep my judgement at bay until hearing your explanation. That wasn’t fair to you, to us.”
She didn’t move a muscle.
“I tried to fix everything with your employer. I told them it was a misunderstanding and that we think you’re wonderful. I know you’re wonderful. If I need to go to their office and tell them how skilled you are in person, I will. I’m sorry. Can you forgive me?”
For the longest time she remained absolutely still.
His heart beat hard in his chest, the need for her forgiveness as strong as the need he’d had for his father to live when he found him unconscious.
Finally, her arms loosened, but she didn’t look at him. “Since you recognize what a jerk you were, you’re forgiven.”
Though his gut eased, the tightness in his chest remained. “Please, look at me.”
Her head didn’t turn.
“I love you, Manda. More than I understood. I think that’s why I felt so betrayed without even knowing that was why.”
She faced him and her blue gaze softened, but she remained silent.
His heartbeat started to race at her look. “And if you’re willing to have me, faults and all, this judgmental ass doesn’t want to go another day without you. In fact, I want you in my life for always. Will you marry me?”
Her eyes widened before filling with tears as her lips lifted into a smile and she nodded. “Yes.”
Relief, happiness, and anticipation filled him, closing his throat.
She looped her arms around him and spoke into his ear. “I love you, too.”
He hugged her hard as his heart filled with light. His own eyes itched at having what he truly wanted even though he’d been too blind to recognize it.
Suddenly, the vehicle began to move and they broke apart.
“Dad?” Amanda looked over his shoulder.
He turned his head to find Bill Hayden on top of Fury.
“You two ride the rest of the route. This is what our town needs to see. Not me.” Even as he said it, he turned Fury around and headed back down the route.
“Come on. You heard him.” Amanda pulled herself back up onto the back of the seat. “Let’s see how many people we can shock.”
Not caring about the people, but happy to be by her side, he slid up next to her and wrapped his arm around her, not willing to let her go.
As she started waving, she turned her head toward him. “You need to wave to people. And smile. You’re getting married soon.”
He did smile at that and gave a couple of waves before leaning in. “Why is your father so accepting of me being here?”
She gave him a secret smile that promised a long explanation. “Let’s just say my father has done a bit of growing over the last few days. You will even see him reaching out to your dad.”
Shocked that could happen, he stared at his future wife. If anyone could do it, it would have to be her. “You’re a miracle worker.”
She grinned. “I know. Now wave to Mrs. Barker. She looks like she’s going to faint at the sight of us.”
He looked into the crowd to see the older woman staring, mouth open, eyes bulging. Smiling, he waved at her. For the next mile, he spent half the time waving at the people from town who were completely stunned and half the time gazing at his wife-to-be.
He may not have real control over much of his life, but if he had Amanda by his side, he knew he could weather anything.
Amanda turned to him. “I think we need to get reacquainted after the parade. What do you say to coming back to my room?” She pointed to the Lucky Lasso Saloon and Hotel as they passed. “I have the honeymoon suite.” She wiggled her brows, reminding him of exactly why he loved her.
“I say, yes.” Then, despite the large crowd, he pulled her against him and kissed her, promising her today and forever.