Chapter Twenty-Two
The cookies faded from the plate over the next few days.
Blythe came over and from what I could tell, they had a good time.
Dixie kicked the crutches today and is putting weight on her ankle for the first time.
She won’t be ready to take that off for a little while, but as the days move on, I’m feeling resistant to the fact, she will eventually be back to normal and won’t need me or this house anymore.
But when she ultimately insists on going back to the bunkhouse, I’ll have to break the news to her it won't be happening. The sheepdog inside of me won’t allow it.
Brian keeps me updated on what’s going on at the cow camp.
We’re moving into July and they’ll be there into August. We’ll do a rotation soon and switch the boys around to give everyone a reprieve and a brief vacation.
The few who stayed back are itching to get up into the mountains and sleep under the stars.
I’ve been gearing up for the Fourth of July parade all week.
We decorated the trailer for our Silo Springs Ranch float, and my girls are on cloud nine.
It’s their favorite part of the summer. There’s a big community potluck picnic after the parade.
People play horseshoes and compete in potato sack races, egg on a spoon, those kinds of games.
Then there’s a rodeo with fireworks in the evening.
Both are contingent on the weather. Last year we got rained out, but it’s looking like clear skies today and for the foreseeable future.
“Dad! Do you like it?” Evolette squeals as she runs toward me. I don’t have a clue what I’m supposed to notice. She’s wearing her classic jeans, shirt and her cowgirl hat. She’s cute, but nothing looks unusual.
“I love it! Whatever it is…” I lift a brow, and she rolls her eyes.
“Ugh.” She grunts and pulls the hat off her hair.
She spins around so her back is facing me and points to the top of her head.
“It’s a French braid! See, from the top to the bottom.
Dixie did it for me. She did Addie’s hair like this too.
Now when I race, I won’t have hair blowing in my face.
” She waggles her eyebrows and puts her hat back on her head.
“Very logical of you, princess.” I say with a wink.
I look up and see Addie coming down the porch steps with a sunflower blonde goddess limping next to her. Dixie’s wearing her usual getup, but her hair is curled underneath her dusty beige hat. She’s wearing a bigger belt buckle than usual, and those jeans are painted on buckskin tight.
Fuck me, she looks like she’s one of us. Every damn day she’s here the fantasy fog grows thicker. My girls love her, and I… damnit, I want to lay her down and eat her for breakfast even more.
“Hey, boss—think I can ride Blazey girl in the parade?” She smirks, and I give it right back.
“You ready to pony up, barely outta those crutches, blondie?”
Her eyes shift sideways toward the barn. “Maybe…” She’s joking, but something tells me she’s actually thought about it. I run my hand over my beard and take a step closer, towering over her.
“Dixie Wilder, you so much as try to mount a horse, for at least the next two weeks, I’ll tan your hide.”
She can sure as hell mount me if she wants though.
She steps a little closer, fronting me. “I dare you.” The left side of her mouth tilts up when she says it, and her green eyes glint with her challenge.
She doesn’t even know what I could do. It takes everything I have inside of me to bite my tongue, because my two daughters are standing right next to us.
I want to grip her chin between my thumb and forefinger, bend down, and bite her bottom lip between my teeth.
Then I’d reach around, spank her jean clad ass and tell her exactly how I’d tan her hide.
But I lower my voice to a deep rumble and say, “Just obey the rules, and we won’t have to get that far. ”
Her breath hitches and I jerk my head sideways toward the truck, telling them all to get inside. I don’t want to be late and lose our spot in line for the parade.
“Dad!” Evolette panics from the back seat. “We forgot to get the throwing candy!”
I pat the top of the center console. “Nope. Got it right here.” I look at her through the rearview mirror with a smile. I picked it up on one of my trips to town recently.
Her body relaxes as she lets out an audible sigh.
“Phew. Thanks, Dad. We can’t have a float without candy.
” Adelaide giggles next to her and Dixie smiles.
We usually have more bunk boys riding on the float, but since we had to drive the cattle up early, it’ll be just us and the few guys still on the ranch—plus Blythe and baby Jake.
Justin will ride one of his horses behind us with his Forge Farrier Co.
banners. If they didn’t have the baby, Lythie would ride with him. But it all works out this way.
We rolled up to the parade, just in time. I sat Dixie between Addie and Evie, but without Blythe monitoring how much candy got thrown, it was gone in twenty minutes. Which meant, they had to just smile and wave for nearly half the parade.
The Forge family contributed the watermelon for the picnic and I brought all the meat this year.
Brian and I grilled for hours while everyone played games.
And there hasn’t been a lick of rain. So the mayor of Amber Ridge announced on his megaphone that since the skies have been clear all day, the rodeo and fireworks are still on.
My girls have maxed out the weight limit for mutton busting, which made them a little sad.
Riding the sheep was their favorite part of the Fourth of July rodeo.
But Evie begged me to sign her up for a barrel race.
It’s competitive, set up for the younger girls, ten and under.
Brian and the boys brought Evie’s horse in an extra trailer and I’ve got her saddled and ready to go.
I tighten the final strap under the horse's belly and make sure it’s secure.
When I turn around my little barrel racer is ready to go.
But she’s not the only one. She’s holding Dixie’s hand.
This woman busted into our lives three weeks ago and somehow it feels like she’s been here forever.
“You ready to ride, princess?” I smile and hold out my hand, she places hers in mine and I help her onto her horse.
Dixie limps over to the iron fence corralling the arena, and lifts her injured foot to sit on the bottom rung.
She looks at Evie on her mount and mouths, “Go girl!” Evie pumps her fist back confidently, then looks up into the stands and waves to the rest of our family.
I pat her horse on its side, and she moves toward the open gate that leads into the arena.
Then I stride toward the sunflower blonde, standing just a few yards away.
We hear the announcer's voice over the intercom. “Next up is Evolette Cole riding on Peanut!” Then Evie races into the arena. We watch as she rounds each barrel with precision and fast too. I know she’s been practicing just about every day, but I’ve never seen her like this.
She’s excellent. When she races back through the gate, the horn blows and her time is called over the intercom. “16 seconds!”
“Holy shit, that’s fast!” Dixie looks at me, eyes wide. “For a little girl who’s never been in a competitive race before? You gotta be kiddin’ me. She’s gonna win. I’m calling it.” I grin, because I’m calling it too.
I jog over to where Evie just halted Peanut, and help her down. “I’m so damn proud of you, princess!” She pulls her hat off and jumps into my arms. I spin her around, kissing the top of her curly, braided, hair. She’s got that buckle in the bag.
“Lettie girl, you badass rider! I knew you’d do it!” Dixie has a grin that’s spread ear to ear. Lettie? Evie pushes my chest to get down out of my arms and wraps hers around Dixie instead.
“Since when did you get a new nickname?” I ask, confusion written all over my face. Evie giggles and waits for Dixie to answer.
“Oh, haha—I uh, it just came out one day, and we both liked it so, we agreed I could call her that. I hope it’s okay?”
The corner of my mouth tilts up as I look at them both. “I like it too, it feels very—you.” I say, smiling at Evie. “Maybe you coin it as your racing name from here on out? Lettie Cole and her horse Peanut!”
Evie’s face lights up brighter than the fireworks are going to be tonight. “Oh. My. Gosh. Dad! That’s it! I’m never going back. I’ve got a racing name!”
Dixie throws her hand up for a high-five and Evie smacks it with her own hand.
“Thanks, Dixie…I love you!” Evie beams, then wraps her in another embrace.
My heart soars for my baby girl as I watch the exchange.
I didn't know our needle and thread would show up as Dixie Wilder…
but every time I see her, I catch her sewing a part of me or my girls, back together.
As I crane my neck to see who is coming up on us, Addie barrels around a corner and straight into their hug.
Within seconds Blythe is at my side with little Jake in a baby carrier attached to her front.
“She was fantastic! No contest. She’s going to win the buckle tonight.” Lythie is just as giddy as the other girls.
Justin strides up behind us and puts his hand on my shoulder. “Who’s been teaching her how to do that? My eyes bugged out of my head when she took off.”
We both chuckle. “She was born to ride.” I say, admiring my two daughters and the woman who so easily fits into our picture.
I can hear another rider in the arena and they’ll be announcing the winner as soon as the last race is complete.
When the final contestant races through the gate, we hear her time.
A few moments pass and the announcer speaks over the microphone again.
“Congratulations to every rider and their horse. You should be proud. It’s been an honor to have you compete in our Amber Ridge Fourth of July Rodeo, junior barrel racing event.
The winner of this year's trophy belt buckle, finishing with a lightning speed of sixteen seconds on the buzzer is—Evolette Cole and her incredible horse Peanut!”
The crowd roars and so do we as I wrap my large hands around her tiny middle and hoist her onto my shoulders.
She throws her fists high above her head while she cheers facing the crowd from our spot below.
The announcer invites Evie and Peanut back into the arena to accept their award together.
I’ve seen my little girl happy, overjoyed even, plenty of times.
But this is different. It’s her first actual dream to come true.
Every person within earshot of the announcer's microphone is clapping for her. Even the event photographer is capturing every second, every angle. I’m so damn proud of her.
The fireworks ended our evening, Addie under one of my arms, Evie under the other—Dixie sitting in a fold out camp-chair with her ankle up on a hay-bale next to us. Blythe and Justin took the baby home early, so it was just the four of us.
With the thirty-minute drive home, both girls were sawing logs in the back seat before we even made it halfway.
Dixie’s elbow is resting on the center console next to mine—but we hit a bump as I turn onto our dirt road, and with the flatbed trailer hitched on the back, the entire setup jolts.
My arm rams into hers and she instinctively grabs onto my hand.
It’s late, and without thinking, I lift her hand with mine, bring the back of her soft skin to my lips and press a kiss there.
“Don’t worry, blondie. You’re not going anywhere.”
Shit. What’s gotten into me? She pauses, stunned, and I let go as she pulls away. I’m getting too comfortable. I know she feels this, I’m not an idiot. This isn’t just a one-way street between us. But we’re both in opposite lanes and if I drive reckless, there’s gonna be a fuckin’ crash.
“I’m sorry. I just…” I say, my mind scrambling for an excuse for why I did that.
“It’s alright.” She chuckles. “I think it's been a long day. I’m tired.”
When I put the truck in park, she opens her door, gets out, and moves toward the house. I should've just let her hold on to me, but I got greedy. Fuck.