Epilogue
Royce
Eight Months Later
The national anthem starts, and every conversation in the arena dies at once.
I look down at Ryder.
The kid stands on the bleachers beside me, his little boots planted wide, one hand clutching his cowboy hat. He pulls it off his head and holds it over his chest.
The hat nearly covers the entire damn thing.
I bite back a laugh.
It’s the cutest thing I’ve ever seen.
Jovie catches my eye from across the row and grins. Shelby presses a hand over her mouth, trying not to laugh too.
Ryder doesn’t notice any of us. He’s watching the flag. Watching the arena and waiting patiently to see his two favorite cowboys and his momma.
The second the anthem ends, Ryder drops his hat back onto his head. “Is Mommy next?”
I glance at my phone. “Nope. It’s gonna be a while, little man. We got bareback and saddle broncs up first.” I grin. “You like those events. They’ll be fun to watch.”
He groans, but as soon as the bareback riders hit the arena, he becomes mesmerized, and time flies as we watch the action below.
Then the announcer’s voice rolls through the arena. “And now, ladies and gentlemen, we come to one of the most anticipated returns of the season.”
The crowd starts to stir, and a wave of anticipation flows through the spectators as he keeps going.
“At only twenty-one years old, she was already a three-time world champion and one of the biggest stars this sport had ever seen. Six years ago in Las Vegas, she broke the record for the standard pattern on a regulation course with a blistering sixteen point forty-seven seconds—a record that still stands today.”
Ryder grabs my good hand. “That’s Mommy.”
I smile. “Yeah, little man.”
“And she also shattered the prestigious Calgary Stampede arena record during her final year of competition, along with several other individual arena and event records.”
The crowd gets louder.
“After stepping away from the circuit for a few years, she’s back. And if her recent performances are any indication, she’s stronger than before.” The announcer pauses. “Welcome back to the arena … Marina Kincade!”
The place explodes, and Ryder screams at the top of his lungs.
I scoop him up with my good arm before the people in front of us can block his view.
“There she is!” he cries.
And then I see her.
Marina sits tall and proud on Rowdy, looking as confident as ever. Like she never left.
The gate opens.
Rowdy launches forward, and everything slows down as she rounds the barrels with clean precision before charging for home.
Just horse, rider, dirt, and instinct.
She crosses the finish line, and for one second, Marina looks straight toward us.
Straight at me.
And winks.
The timer flashes, and the crowd erupts. I don’t even need to hear the number. I know.
“Mommy won!”
I hold him tighter as pride fills my chest.
The woman I fell in love with is back where she belongs.
And she is better than ever.
Marina
I don’t remember getting off Rowdy.
I don’t remember walking out of the arena.
And I sure as hell don’t remember most of the interviews.
One minute, I was crossing the finish line, and the next, there are microphones in my face.
“Marina, what does this win mean to you?”
“Did you ever think you’d make it back?”
“What does it feel like to win a gold buckle after six years away?”
“Are you staying on the circuit?”
I smile politely and answer every question and thank everyone. I do all the things I’m supposed to do. But inside, I’m counting the seconds until I can get away because all I want in this moment is to make it to Royce and Ryder. I want my people.
Eventually, a reporter asks for one more question, and I laugh.
“I’m sorry. I really have to go.”
I don’t wait for an argument. I turn and push through the crowd.
The gold buckle is still clutched in my hand, and I look down at it as I walk.
Holy shit. I actually did it.
Eight months ago, I wasn’t even sure I’d ever compete again. I wasn’t sure the woman who used to fly around barrels with the whole world watching was still in there.
Royce was.
He believed in her before I did. He pushed when I needed pushing and stood beside me when I was scared.
And here I am.
A gold buckle in my hand.
My heart skips a beat when I see them. Royce and Ryder stand with Shelby and Axle, who’s still glowing from his own win, Jovie tucked happily against his side.
Ryder sees me first. “Mommy!”
He comes flying.
I drop down just in time to catch him.
“You were so good!”
He wraps his arms around my neck so tightly that I can barely breathe.
“I knew you would win.”
My eyes burn.
I squeeze him harder and bury my face against his neck and cry. Not sad tears. Happy ones.
Ryder pats my back. “Why are you crying?”
I laugh through the tears. “Because I’m happy, baby.”
He nods solemnly. “Me too.”
I kiss his cheek before finally looking at Royce.
He’s standing there with that crooked smile I love.
His shoulder is secured against his torso in the immobilizer, still healing from the surgery he put off for too long.
But his eyes?
They’re fixed on me.
He steps closer and kisses the top of my head. “You did it, Rina.”
I smile up at him. “We did it.”
His good hand settles at my waist, and I lean into him.
For eight months, this man has been beside me through every training session, every bad day, every doubt, every moment I wanted to quit.
He never once made me feel like coming back was something I owed anybody. He just reminded me that I still had a choice.
Before I can say anything else, I hear my name.
“Marina.”
I turn.
Blaze and Francey are approaching.
For the briefest second, I clench my teeth, preparing for the worst.
Francey reaches me first and gives me a tight hug. “Congratulations.”
“Thank you.”
Then Blaze looks at Ryder before returning his eyes to me. “Can we take him to dinner?”
Ryder immediately looks at me. “Can I?”
I glance at Royce.
He gives me a small nod.
“Sure, baby.”
Blaze smiles a genuine smile. “I’ll have him back before bedtime.”
I crouch in front of Ryder and straighten his cowboy hat. “Be good.”
“I will.”
“And listen to your dad.”
“I will.”
He hugs me one more time.
I hold him for an extra second before letting go.
Then he takes Blaze’s hand.
“I’ll call you and find out where to drop him off,” Blaze says.
I watch the three of them walk away.
And there’s no ache.
No anger.
No fear.
Just peace.
I turn back to Royce.
He’s still watching me.
I step into him carefully, mindful of his shoulder, and wrap my arms around his waist.
“So …” I bite my bottom lip. “You wanna go check into that sleazy motel down the street with me for old times’ sake?”
His grin comes fast. “Hell yes.”
His good arm hooks around my waist, and before I can even laugh, he’s walking me backward with surprising speed. My feet tangle beneath me, and I stumble.
I squeal, grabbing his shoulders, “Royce!”
He laughs, catching me against him and tugging me flush to his chest.
Then he leans close, his mouth brushing my ear. “Just remember, you’re gonna have to do all the heavy lifting.”
I laugh. “I can definitely do that.”
His eyes darken.
Then his mouth crashes against mine.
The crowd is still roaring somewhere behind us.
The arena is still alive.
The lights are still blazing.
Reporters are still shouting my name.
But none of it matters.
Not right now.
Because after everything I’ve survived, everything I’ve lost, and everything I’ve fought my way back to … I’m exactly where I’m supposed to be.
At home in his arms.
He pulls back just enough to look at me, that wicked grin still playing across his mouth. “I’ve always wanted to be a buckle bunny.”
I burst out laughing.
And then I kiss him again.