Chapter 47 Hattie #2
The crowd’s cheers turn to a roar when Granger digs his heels in the dirt and effortlessly centers his momentum. Blythe stands, and I leap to my feet along with her.
The clock stops at just over four seconds, and we all freeze.
An eruption of applause surrounds us, but we don’t celebrate as early as the other fans do.
Not until the official time is posted. Heston stands slowly and hooks a thumb in his front pocket.
I hold my hands to my chest and stare up at the jumbotron, lower lip trapped between my teeth.
Time: 4.3
I jump up and down, cupping my hands over my mouth and cheering at the top of my lungs. By contrast, Heston adjusts his hat with a subtle, lopsided smile.
Granger picks his hat up from the dirt and dusts it off. His grin is as wide as I’ve ever seen it, and my heart leaps from my chest as he points in our direction. Heston points back and nods.
Everyone in our section turns curiously to see who Granger is looking at. The cameraman must catch on as well, because the video feed cuts from the arena to a shot of Heston. It doesn’t take more than a few seconds for the announcer to add his commentary into the mix.
“We have a four-time world champion in the house, folks. How about a big round of applause for Heston Landry!”
Heston’s face turns blank for a moment, realizing that every eye in the audience is on him. Maybe he expected to get booed, because there’s a hint of shock on his face when a joyous applause rings out instead.
Down in the arena, Granger jogs to Dr. Mike and pulls himself into the saddle. The camera momentarily pans over to him to show him holding his hat up toward Heston as he exits toward the chutes.
The blend of music through the speakers and the welcoming cheers from the crowd is so loud that my chest vibrates. I peek over my shoulder to see our friends joining in on the enthusiasm. Savannah’s eyes are the most watery, but Tripp’s are a close second.
Heston flattens his lips and holds a hand up as if to encourage the audience to switch their attention back to the next run. The noise dies down slightly, but the screen continues to show the most handsome face in the arena.
I smile when he reaches a hand around my waist and pulls me into his side. He leans down to kiss me when I tilt my head back. A final surge of applause makes me smile against his lips.
“I’m proud of you,” I say.
He squeezes my hip. “You’re gonna slap my arm if I shake my head and tell you I didn’t do anything for you to be proud of, aren’t you?”
“See,” I answer with a laugh. “You’re learning.”
Our friends and most of the crowd have retaken their seats as the announcer and cameraman turn their attention back to the next run. I tune it all out. Heston keeps me at the center of his focus with a look so deeply affectionate, I’m tempted to pinch myself.
“I love you,” he says, voice laced with more warmth and softness than his typical cadence.
“Good gravy, son. Don’t invite me to a rodeo just to make me cry.”
We turn our heads to see Nora, Heston’s mom, standing behind him. He lets go of me for long enough to hug his mom. Before I know it, she’s pushing him to the side and coming straight for me with open arms.
“Wasn’t that something?” she says, tightening the embrace by tucking her chin over my shoulder. “I can’t believe we almost missed it. The damn traffic in these cities is an abomination.”
“It’s awful,” I agree with a light laugh.
“Truly.” She pulls away from me and turns to shoo her husband. “Huck, scoot down. The people behind us can’t see.”
I smile at the way he takes her direction without a second thought. He backs up to take a seat further down the row. Heston sits next to him, leaving a seat for his mom between us.
The announcer’s voice carries through the speakers again as he announces the official time of the run we just missed. It’s slower than Granger’s, and Nora pats my knee with an excited smile.
“This is a whole lot more fun, not having to worry about my kid out there,” she says.
“Now, it’s just Heston’s kid,” I tease. I glance over to see Heston leaning forward with his elbows braced on his knees. “He’s more invested than he’ll admit.”
“It does my heart good to see him here. And with all of your friends, and the boy he’s been training.” Nora sniffs to keep from getting too emotional. “And you, Hattie. It’s so damn good to see you.”
I loop our arms together and lean toward her for a side hug. “It’s good to see you, too.”
“I wasn’t hallucinating when I saw you cozied up with my son just now, was I?”
“If you were, then I was too,” I joke.
“Missy is coming back from Wyoming next weekend. We could take a trip to Westridge, if you’re up for filling us in. You know Heston leaves out the best details.”
“I don’t work next weekend, so that’d be perfect.” I lean back in my seat and cross my legs. “Please come.”
A series of low gasps from the crowd pulls my eyes up to the jumbotron. I wince at the replay of a steer wrestling tumbling through the dirt after a bad catch. Nora pretends to conceal her excitement that Granger is still at the top of the leader board, which makes me laugh.
“Three more to go,” Mesa says on my left.
Heston and his dad are deep in conversation, both leaning forward to analyze the next contestant. Nora pulls a tube of Chapstick from her purse and hums along with the upbeat song that’s playing while the previous steer wrestler exits the arena.
I lean my head softly on Mesa’s shoulder and reach a hand up to smooth my fingertips over my earring. I’ve always loved wearing jewelry, but I’ve never been gifted a custom set that means more to me than these do.
Mesa absentmindedly spins the ring on her thumb. It has the same prairie rose design found on the earrings she gave me.
Only a few people in this world could understand that Blythe’s necklace, Mesa’s ring, Savannah’s bracelet, and my earrings are more than just matching jewelry. They represent a place that has given us so much. A place that has given us everything.
I slowly spin the earring, thinking of the years ahead rather than bittersweet memories of the past. My gaze flicks to Heston just in time to catch his eyes on me, full of promise and gratitude.
I’m sure a lot will change for us in the future. But as long as the circle of people we’re sharing it with will always remain the same, the unknown doesn’t scare me anymore.
Just as the final run concludes, Mesa’s temple brushes the top of my head. “Wait for it.”
My eyes screw shut, and I scrunch my entire face as everyone in our row holds their breath. It’s obvious when the event’s last official time is displayed on the screen.
Granger and Dr. Mike have earned their first win.
I jump to my feet along with everyone else in our crew. My ears might be ringing from the roar of cheers, and my cheeks might sting from the grin on my face, but my chest feels lighter than a cloud.
When Granger rides out from the chutes for the obligatory victory lap before the next event, I regret not slipping an airhorn into my purse.
He’s smiling and holding his hat in the air as they make their way around the perimeter.
It’s almost comical how both he and his horse are basing in the glory like they were made for moments like this.
I watch them disappear behind the chutes. They’re going to have many victory laps under the lights of a pro rodeo arena. I just know it.
Nora moves to sit next to her husband when Heston steps toward me. His stoic expression is back in place, despite the exhilarating moment, and I slip my hand into his palm.
“Well, now you have to go with him to Houston,” I say.
“He’s not going to win that one.”
I shrug. “Underdogs want it the most. I wouldn’t count him out for a second.”
“Maybe, but I’m not going. He can chase buckles across the country on his own.”
“You have somewhere better to be than the highest paying stop on the circuit?”
Heston lifts his arm to rest it on the back of my seat. He thinks for a moment before leaning down to whisper in my ear.
“I’ll be in West Texas. We’ve got a life to start.”
The way his breath dances across my skin makes me shiver, and I smile when he plants a kiss just below my earlobe.
“Big plans, huh?” I ask, practically begging him to give me more butterflies.
Heston leans back in his seat and spreads his legs. My hand lands on his thigh just as he pulls down the brim of his hat.
“I’m gonna marry you, Hattie Jo.” The corner of his mouth curves up in a smirk. “Plans don’t get any bigger than that.”