19. 19
19
Honey
7 YEARS EARLIER…
‘ I ’m going for a ride. Why on earth would I wear that ?’ I looked at Ellie-May holding the white top with puffy sleeves like she was crazy.
‘Because you’ll look so cute!’
‘It’ll be brown by the time I get there.’ I frowned with a nervousness. ‘What’s going on? Why is it such a big deal I dress up for Colton today? We go riding all the time!’
Ellie-May ignored me to turn back to my wooden wardrobe, hangers scraping as she flicked through my small assortment of “nice clothes”. She pulled out a black off-the-shoulder top. ‘Perfect!’
I was still curious, and a little worried, when I caught the black shirt to pull over my bra. With my hair straightened, perfected makeup, bling belt buckle, jeans and my favourite pair of boots, I looked ready to watch Colton compete than go for a casual horse ride. Ellie-May clapped her hands, obviously liking what she saw.
‘Can you tell me what the heck is going on?’
I wondered if this was some big apology orchestrated by Colton. I loved him with all my heart but the more his name grew in the sport of bull riding, so did a shadow over the boy I’d once known. He’d always been a little cocky, but he now had an ego to masquerade any fears he felt in his chosen sport. When he was away on the circuit, my messages would remain on read for days, and my calls never returned. But then he would be on Instagram commenting on his fellow competitors’ photos. I tried not to let it worry me. Everything was new and exciting for him. It was a phase that would eventually fade.
‘I’m under strict orders not to say a word.’ Ellie-May grinned. ‘Now let’s get you saddled up!’
***
I didn’t know what to expect when I rode Misty towards the Double Q Ranch barn. There was something inside of me, a gut feeling, which told me something big was going to happen. My hands sweated on the leather of the reins. Colton had been vying for a contract in the US. Had he landed one? I was supposed to be his biggest supporter, but I was only saddened by this prospect. Colton expected me to follow him, but I didn’t want to go. I wanted to be settled. I might only be nineteen but I’d always wanted to live in a dependable town to raise a young family. I wanted the stability my own parents had never given me. And how could I move halfway across the globe with Granny here alone?
The old dusty radio, tied to the beams of the barn with bits of hay band, blared out the latest country hits. A wheelbarrow sat in the aisle before Beau filled it with dirty straw and manure.
‘Oh, hey, Honey.’ He gave me an easy smile but there was a glimmer in his eyes that told me he knew the same thing Ellie-May did.
‘Hi, Beau.’
I watched as his bare bicep, shiny with sweat, flexed to adjust the cowboy hat on his head. While Beau was far from ugly, he didn’t make me swoon like Colton. Sometimes, though, I wished Colton was more grounded like his older brother. At twenty-one, he was already a business partner with Clyde and was committed to staying on Double Q Ranch for the rest of his life.
I turned my focus to the big gelding, Shooter, who was saddled up in the aisle and dozing. ‘Is Colton here? We’re meant to be going for a ride.’
‘Yeah, he’s around somewhere. Most likely giving himself another pep talk.’ Beau smirked. My stomach curdled. It had to be the contract and he was working up the nerve to tell me. ‘How about you go ahead and I’ll try track him down for you?’
‘Yeah, um, okay. Thanks.’ I eyed him suspiciously as I turned Misty back to the paddocks.
I’d lost count of how many figure-of-eights, side passes, hindquarter turns and back-ups I practised with Misty when cantering hooves filled my ears. Misty swung her head and gave a whinny to Shooter who had Colton in the saddle. My nerves spiked when I looked at his nervous face. Colton was never nervous. Bull riders weren’t allowed to show fear, something he now carried through all aspects of his life.
I looked at him for an explanation when he halted Shooter alongside me.
Colton flushed. ‘Sorry. I just had to sort something out. Let’s go.’
I squeezed Misty into a fast canter to catch up with Shooter’s long strides. ‘Are you okay? It’s not like you to pick the quietest horse in the barn.’
‘Yeah, fine.’
I didn’t believe him a single bit but didn’t push the matter further, forcing myself to be content in cantering alongside him. The homestead was long behind us as we moved through the paddocks. The horses used their powerful hindquarters to heave themselves up the rise, which would give a view of Appleyard Farm at the top. Both us and the horses caught our breaths as we stopped to take in the view. Granny was moving through her orchards, tending to the fruit trees preparing to burst with fruit.
I stood up in my stirrups and cupped my hands around my mouth. ‘ Coo-ee ! Granny!’ I laughed when she returned my wave before disappearing between a row of apple trees. ‘So why did you—’
Colton was no longer in the saddle on Shooter’s back. My heart was thudding crazily inside of my chest. There was a whooshing in my ears. In slow motion, he lowered himself down onto one jean-clad knee. My eyes were locked onto the small box in his hands and I managed to gasp at the ring gleaming on its pillow inside.
I couldn’t think of anything to say other than, ‘Colton, what are you doing?’
‘I know we’re young … Wait no, that’s not how it went.’ I couldn’t help but smirk a little as he scratched his scalp beneath his cap. ‘What I was meant to say was … Honey, I know we’re only nineteen. Our friends will think I’m crazy for doing this, but we’ve been together for four years now so I guess if we were older, this would be overdue anyway.’ He dared a glance up at me and I was relieved to see him relax a little at the smile stretching across my face. ‘You’re my best friend, Honey. I want you with me for the rest of my life. Will you marry me?’
My body was trembling when I slowly slid down from the saddle. I stood over Colton, my eyes locked onto the beautiful ring.
‘What about me wanting to stay here and you wanting to go to the US? We want different things now,’ I whispered.
Colton rose to stand in front of me. I blushed at my trembling hand as he placed the ring at the tip of my finger. ‘We’ll work it out. I promise. Please, say yes.’
I looked up at him, the nervousness in his eyes so foreign. ‘ Yes .’
Colton grinned, pushing the band along my finger until it sat at the base perfectly. I took a second to look at it glistening on my left hand before flinging my arms around his neck and crashing my lips to his. Colton responded by wrapping his arms around me tightly and spinning me around.
‘You and me, baby.’ He pressed a kiss to my forehead. ‘Nothing else matters.’