Chapter 24 Rhett
twenty-four
Rhett
“Damn, I love this rodeo.” Jackson says as he leans against the fence beside me and we watch the tractor drag the sand to prepare for the barrel racers.
“Me too. It’s always been one of my favourites. Feels different being here as a resident of Kissing Ridge, though. I’ve never had a bigger cheer, I don’t think.”
I’ve had my share of fans over the years, but today’s roar when it was my turn to ride was deafening. It filled another crack in my soul I wasn’t aware of. This is my real home. Perhaps where I was always meant to be.
“Ah, yes. The people here love their own. Doesn’t matter that you’ve only lived here for six months. You’re one of us.” Jackson slaps my shoulder with a warm smile.
“Thank you. I feel like it, too. I’m in love with this town.”
“And a certain barista, too, I hope?” Jackson laughs, and I glance around. Diamond said he had a surprise for me and disappeared over an hour ago.
“Oh yeah. He’s the one, and I’ll be the first to admit that I never thought I could love someone again.
He’s…” I catch myself before gushing over Diamond to Jackson.
Jackson understands probably more than anyone, since his partner is in the romance business, but I don’t want to make it weird.
“I haven’t seen him for a while. After my ride, he said he had something to take care of, and he’d be back before the rodeo ended. ”
“Knowing Diamond, he’s got some over-the-top creation baking for you and went back to finish it.”
“Yeah, maybe.”
Although I don’t think so. But he can be…unexpected in all the best ways, so I shouldn’t rule that out. I fell in love with him when I specifically said I wouldn’t. He could show up parachuting from the sky, and I wouldn’t be surprised.
The barrel racing starts, and Jackson stays with me as we watch.
He fills me in on who’s the daughter of whom and the championships they’ve won.
Jackson is a walking rodeo encyclopedia.
He lives for it all, and I like that about him.
He’s not just here for his event. He’s here for the rodeo. All of it in every way he can.
“Folks, we have something special for you tonight.” The announcer says, and we both pause our conversation to listen.
“It’s been several years since barrel racing for men has appeared at the Kissing Ridge rodeo.
That event stays to the south of us mostly, and we rarely get interest in entries until this year. ”
No way. It couldn’t be. Could it?
“A onetime men’s barrel racing champion at the Green Back Open Rodeo, and a frequent top-five money finisher when he was active on the circuit, please welcome Kissing Ridge’s own, Diamond Ward on his horse, Cherry!”
Diamond and Cherry burst into the ring in a blur of dapple grey and blue.
My mouth hangs open as Diamond expertly takes Cherry around the barrels.
Actually, he’s just the guy in the saddle.
Cherry does the work, like she was bred for it.
Maybe she was. I’ve never asked because he never admitted the buckle he wore that day was his.
They’re fast and smooth and finish in a blistering time of 17.1 seconds. He disappears down the exit chute, and Jackson hoots and hollers next to me while pumping his fist.
“Did you know he was a racer!?” Jackson laughs as I try to get my brain online.
“Not exactly. He had a buckle, but…I didn’t know he’d do this. Holy shit.”
“You should go find him.”
Without saying goodbye, I leave Jackson and jog back to the area where the riders cool down their horses. Cowboys who know I’m with Diamond try to stop me, but I wave them off, my chaps swishing as I break into a jog.
Then I see him.
Diamond knew I’d be looking for him, and when he grins and tips his hat while on the back of his horse, I damn near combust. Fuck me, I’m a very lucky man.
“Surprise,” he says as I come up next to him.
“Get down here so I can kiss the fuck out of you. When did you ever get the time to practice, and how did I not know?”
“Oh, can I answer that?” Hunter materializes next to me as Diamond dismounts.
“Go ahead.” Diamond laughs.
“He used the ring at the facility, and I brought his horse in. Conveniently, on the days you were busy doing things, and Diamond was ‘working.’” Hunter uses air quotes when he says working, and I reach for Diamond.
“Why, though? Why didn’t you tell me?”
“I wasn’t sure if I could still do it, for one. The other was that I wanted to see you like this. You’re shocked good, right?”
“You have no idea,” I say as I pull him to me. Diamond removes his hat before I can do it for him, and then I’m kissing him so hard I’m losing my breath. I hear Hunter’s laughter, so I give him the finger while I practically maul Diamond.
“I think I have an idea,” he murmurs against my lips, and I reluctantly release him.
“You’re the most amazing person I know. You had an epic time, baby. Do you want to do this again? Race more? I’m behind you if you do. Just say the word.”
Diamond’s face softens, and he leans in to press a kiss to his lips. “Thank you,” he whispers against them. I try to chase after his lips for more, but Hunter keeps talking.
“I want him to do clinics.” Hunter offers, and I turn my head his way.
“Why are you still here?”
“Same reason you are. Well, except without the kissing,” he chuckles. “I want to tell my friend he was amazing, and the offer still stands. You killed it, Diamond. I’ll leave you two alone.”
Diamond quickly hugs Hunter before he leaves and whispers in his ear. Hunter’s eyes well up, and he nods quickly before spinning on his heel and leaving us.
“You have him at your beck and call even more than me, I think. He’d do anything for you, beautiful,” I say as I watch Hunter disappear into the crowd.
“He’s a good man and a better friend. I lucked out.” He takes my hand, linking our fingers and kissing my palm. “Luckier to find you, though.”
Diamond steps closer, his blue eyes soft as he smiles his special Rhett-only smile.
“I might just do this rodeo every year for fun,” he says.
“My heart is with my business more than rodeo. When I learned to race, it was a coping mechanism. Do the things everyone says you can’t, kind of thing.
I just happened to be good at it.” Diamond winks as we walk Cherry over to the horse trailer.
“I never thought I’d win an event or money doing it.
It gave me the confidence I needed to move to life after cancer. ”
At his trailer, he ties Cherry to the side, and I help him remove her saddle.
“So you took up a challenging sport to move past the most challenging life circumstance in order to live a normal life?”
He nods. “That sounds like me, yep. I really wanted you to see me in the ring. You had asked before, and I never gave you a complete answer about the buckle. I wasn’t quite ready to then.”
“What changed?”
“You, Rhett. You’ve changed everything.”
We brush Cherry together and pack up the trailer. Both of us remain quiet, but touch each other every time we pass or when our hands are close.
My name is called for me to return to the chutes for the final round of the bronc riders, and I almost don’t want to go. I want to stay with Diamond. He knows that, too.
“I’ll be in the stands, cowboy. Go win this thing.” He kisses me hard before pushing me away. “We’ll celebrate tonight.”
“Damn right we will. I’m winning this for you, beautiful.”
And I do.
Housewarming parties are just an excuse to make loads of food and drink more than you should on a random night. It’s like the holidays, but you do it whenever you want instead of the calendar saying when.
I’ve never smiled and laughed as much as I have tonight, but I need a bit of quiet from the chaos. Stepping out the front door with Tater at my heels, I walk over to the fence of Wilbur’s and now Cherry’s pasture. After clicking my tongue, both horses exit the barn and walk towards me.
“Great place, isn’t it, buddy?” He huffs and takes the offered apple as Cherry nudges him out of the way. “Even got you a girlfriend for the new house. That’s cool, right?”
Cherry takes the apple I offer her, and Wilbur sticks his neck closer, ruffling my hair with his breath as he nips at my shoulder. “It’s just a T-shirt, buddy. Be careful. The only bite marks I need on me aren’t from you, okay?”
Wilbur has always been an affectionate horse. If he had arms, I’m sure he’d hug me. Tater barks at him, and he drops his head. With Wilbur at Hunter’s for a few months, Tater hasn’t had as much time to play with him. He chases her, and she loves it.
Leaning against the fence, I watch my horse and dog play like goofs. Cherry still isn’t sure what to think of Tater, but I think she’ll play eventually, too. She loves Wilbur already, and I don’t know why that makes me smile so much, but it does.
“Rhett? Can I join you?”
Turning to find Diamond’s dad, I pat the top of the fence next to me. “Pull up and lean, Will.”
He laughs as he settles next to me.
“Great place. Great party, too.”
“Thank you. Your son organized most of it. I just cooked.”
Will hums and shifts to face me. “I never got the chance to thank you. You make my son happy. Happier than he’s been in years. That means a lot to me.”
“Well, he makes me happy, too. I should thank you for raising him. He’s…I love him.”
“I know you do.” He turns back to the pasture where Tater still races like a demon around Wilbur. “Your horses get along well. I like that. It’s not a traditional human family, but the horses and Tater are your children, right? That’s how it feels?”
“It’s a lot like that, yes. I’ve never had children, only pets. Tater is the first dog I’ve ever had, and since I raised her, I guess she’s my kid.”
“Diamond loves that dog. We never had pets when he was a kid. It was just too much to take on.” He clears his throat.
“You’ve given him more than you realize, Rhett.
I just wanted to tell you that. He’s always had the romantic dream of marriage, kids, and a picket fence, you know?
When he was diagnosed, he had his dreams lined up only to get ripped out in the worst way.
It’s taken him a long time to allow himself to dream again. ”
Will and I have had deep talks before, usually about sustainable produce and tomato grafting. Nothing has been this personal, though.
“I wasn’t supposed to love him, or anyone, really. I didn’t want to get hurt again. The last time broke me so hard I thought I’d never be myself again.”
In the moonlight, Will’s lips twitch into a smile.
“My son is very convincing. He gets that from me.”
I chuckle. “Believe me, I know.”
We stand in silence for a few minutes until Will breaks it.
“I’m going to head out. I just wanted to thank you for coming into our lives, Rhett. I know the rodeo guys call each other family, but I want you to know, if you need a father to talk to, I think of you as another son. So, ah, you’re part of my family too.”
Will’s words make mine dry up on my tongue. He squeezes my shoulder, but I pull him into a hard hug. He goes with it and returns the hug, patting my back with an understanding I’m grateful for.
After he leaves to say more goodbyes, I lean into the fence again and wipe at my eyes. “Jesus Christ this town makes me emotional. Must be something in the water.”
Tater bounces out of the pasture, and I know before I even bend to pet her what she’s been up to. “You were eating shit, weren’t you?” She playfully runs ahead of me, and I shake my head with a laugh. “You’re not sleeping in the bedroom, you disgusting animal!”
Is it a glamorous life? Definitely not.
Am I truly happy for the first time?
Diamond’s voice sounds in the dark. “Rhett? We’re playing a game of Scrabble! You want in? Hunter is still mad about serendickity and looking for revenge.”
Serendickity? I’m not even going to ask.
“Definitely,” I call out with a laugh. “I’m definitely in for Scrabble.”
I smile into the darkness as I walk back towards my home.
Yes, this is truly happy, and I wouldn’t change a thing.