CH 59 - #dreamcometrue
#dreamcometrue
Madison
Song: “White Horse” by Chris Stapleton
The first morning after being back at the ranch with my mom, I sat on the front porch in one of the rocking chairs, sipping my cup of coffee and wishing Luke were sitting beside me, sipping his, while we watched the sunrise.
As I kept sitting while my mom and sweet babies slept, I took a photo of the sunrise with my left hand at the bottom.
On my ring finger was Luke’s engagement ring.
I’d been wearing it since the day after he left my house in Dallas.
The next photo I took was of myself from the neck down.
I was wearing Luke’s high school football jersey.
I was also wearing his class ring on a gold chain around my neck.
Before texting him the two photos, I closed my eyes and prayed for him to come back to me.
When I opened my eyes, I gasped as a white-winged dove’s feather floated down from the sky and landed on the porch railing.
I stood up, walked over to it, and picked it up, breaking down crying.
“Dad, you’re here.”
Seconds passed, complete peace filling my soul. I knew in that moment that whatever Luke chose to do, I would be okay, although I still wanted him with me. I wanted to be Mrs. Luke Harrison.
I took a photo of the feather in the palm of my hand, then texted it, along with the other two photos I’d taken, to Luke.
After thirty minutes, he still hadn’t replied, but I knew he saw my messages because I saw the read receipts.
Choking back my tears from realizing he’d never have me again, I put my cellphone in my blue jeans pocket and went back inside, my mind spinning and my stomach knotted up.
I had just made myself a second cup of coffee when my cellphone chimed, startling me. Luke had sent me a link to a song that I’d never heard before: “White Horse” by Chris Stapleton. Trying to keep the ranch house as quiet as possible, I went back outside to the front porch to listen to the song.
After hearing the powerful intro music and then the lyrics—“If you want a cowboy on a white horse riding off into the sunset, if that’s the kinda love you wanna wait for, hold on tight, girl, I ain’t there yet.
No, I ain’t there yet. Someday, maybe you could have your way.
Right now’s just not the time. Some things a man’s just got to do.
I wish you could change my mind.”—I understood exactly how hurt Luke was by me, and I wiped away my tears that wouldn’t stop coming.
Once I’d halfway composed myself, I listened to the song again with a glimmer of hope in my heart that Luke and I would eventually be us again.
SUNSET THREE WEEKS LATER
“Madison, honey?” my mom asked, walking into the living room where I was playing with Beau while Bella watched cartoons on TV.
“What is it?”
She softly smiled. “Someone is here to see you.”
“I didn’t hear the doorbell.”
“He didn’t ring it.”
The second she said “he,” my heart skipped a beat. I got up from the floor and stared at my mom. “Is it Luke?” I whispered.
She nodded. “He’s outside by the corral. I’ve got my grandkids, so go.”
I hurried to the front door, opened it, and looked out, seeing Luke’s black Chevy dually with Casper’s trailer behind it. The handsome cowboy who owned my heart and soul was leaning against his driver’s side door, wearing his hat, a western shirt, jeans, a belt, and boots, looking in my direction.
I took a deep breath and walked down the front porch steps toward him, trembling all over. After only a few yards, I started crying and covered my mouth, so happy to see Luke, no matter the reason he was here.
As I neared him, I noticed tears brimming in his long-lashed hazel eyes, and then I stood before him, only a few feet away. We stared at each other, his muscled chest rising and falling, neither of us saying anything but clearly overwhelmed by all we were feeling.
“Are you here to stay?” he asked, the sound of his deep voice running all over me.
“Yep.”
“This isn’t a game, Madison. This between you and me is as real as life gets.”
“I know.”
“Do you love me?”
“So much.”
“Tell me you do.”
“I love you. I have also missed you. I am so very sorry for all the pain I’ve caused you. Will you forgive me?”
“I already have; otherwise, I wouldn’t be here.”
“I’m just scared, Luke. I’m insecure. I told you my greatest fear is that you’ll realize one day that I’m not what you want. I know I’m a lot to handle.”
“Not for me—and you’re everything I’ve ever wanted.” He studied my eyes. “Are you going to marry me?”
“I would tonight if it were possible.”
He kept staring at me, not saying anything, then he slowly stepped over to me and held out his hands. They were trembling like mine as I laid mine in his, and he wrapped his long, warm fingers around them.
“There will be no turning back after this. I am taking you and our kids into my future, full speed ahead,” Luke said.
“I’m ready for you to.”
“If I ever get the slightest hint of you wanting to run away from what we share again, I swear, I’ll…” He stopped short and shook his head.
“I’m not running anywhere. I belong with you.”
“You damn sure do, baby.”
He let go of my hands, wrapped his around the sides of my head, and pulled me into his deep, wet kiss.