Epilogue
“Gosh, I am so nervous I don’t even know how you can eat anything,” Maddy said, settling back into her seat as Telford and Taryn joined them all in the family and VIP section of the arena for the AEbr finals.
The men handed out a variety of food like everyone would starve during the final round. Fried chicken. Corn dogs. Pretzel bites. And a burger for Boone and another for Cole.
Bronte was strapped to her chest and bounced her little feet, as if trying to get them tangled in Riley’s ponytail.
“Hey, girl, you messin’ with me?” Riley turned around and made a face, earning a giggle from Bronte. Riley accepted the pretzel bites and dipped it into the mustard. “Still hot. Yum. Thanks for being speedy.”
“I wanted to be here for the intro,” Telford said. “Cash is top of the leaderboard, and I want to see the poser look he has when the lights go out and the gunpowder’s lit so I can harass him after.”
“You been practicing your cowboy poses in the mirror?” Boone said. “Can I see one?”
“As if,” Ayana said and snagged a pretzel bite from Riley and tossed it at Boone who caught it in his mouth.
“Good one,” Telford said, and his hand rested on Bronte’s silky curls. “This is supposed to be entertaining,” he added, smiling.
“I know but—” She broke off not wanting to harsh anyone’s buzz. “Oh.” She pulled Cam’s box out of her tote and placed it between her and Telford.
“I thought you were crazy when you suggested we bring him, but it feels right,” Telford said, dropping a kiss on the top of her head and sliding his arm around her waist.
Boone had fashioned a box from a fallen oak tree on the ranch, and he’d inlaid the box with a few quartz stones she and Telford had found, and he’d put an oval stained-glass piece in the top so “Cam could look out.”
He hadn’t even looked at her like she was crazy when she’d asked Boone to do that.
Ayana didn’t know if the ashes would always be in the box.
She and Telford, after a lot of consulting with Taryn, had put in an offer on some land that was owned by a tech CEO who had only been there a few times.
It had been eye-wateringly expensive, but the views were spectacular, and the Yellowstone River ran through it.
A part of the land abutted to the northeast section of the Telford family ranch, and it hadn’t been a part of the ranch for nearly fifty years.
“I know Cash knows what he’s doing, and he’s a fierce competitor, but now that I know he’s my brother I am a little—” He broke off, frowned and pulled his phone out of his pocket.
He stared at the screen, and then he looked into Ayana’s eyes.
She could barely swallow. “Yes?”
He nodded. Then he held out his phone to his uncle. Taryn stared at the screen. So did Sarah. Her eyes filled with tears, and she placed her hand on her husband’s knee and whispered a small prayer.
“Congratulations,” Taryn said, standing and shaking Telford’s hand before pulling him into a hug. “Neighbor.”
“You got it?” Boone demanded.
Telford nodded. Boone whooped. “Bring it out, brother.”
Rohan, who’d had a shopping bag all morning opened it up and pulled out a rich, dark brown Resistol.
Telford stared at it.
“Ayana helped us with the sizing, but you’re going to have to wear it in. Not hanging out with you if you think you’re going embarrass me by looking like a tourist.”
“And we’re going to get some work out of you when you’re not wheeling and dealing.”
“You will,” Telford said quietly.
He took the hat. Put it on.
It fit perfectly, and he looked so sexy Ayana wanted to pull him in for a hug and a kiss, but this was a big moment for him with his family—their family.
“Thank you,” Telford said after a long moment of silence.
“Welcome home,” Taryn said, blinking hard.
And Ayana thought everyone might just puddle up in tears, but the announcer boomed over the loudspeakers for everyone to get on their feet, and they did.
And then the music and the spectacle of the clowns and the rodeo queens riding in, and the cowboys who’d help contain any bulls and the energy of the crowd transported her to a place she’d never been before—swept away and happy to take the ride.
Telford wrapped his arms around her and whispered. “Wait for it.”
“For what?”
The lights went out. A country rock song blared and each rider was announced, and they walked out, struck a pose, briefly were lit by a spotlight before the darkness consumed them and then between one breath and the next the arena was lit up by fire that snaked over the dirt and sawdust and gunpower to highlight all the tour riders who’d made it to the final round of the finals.
And there was Cash, all in black with gold fringe chaps looking directly at them. He touched the brim of his hat, and Telford after a moment did the same.
“He was born for this,” Telford said. “So smooth. I need to practice.”
“No, you don’t.” She stuck her hand in his back pocket, while her other hand checked that Bronte’s ears were covered by the baby noise-canceling headphones. “You don’t need to practice anything. You’re perfect.”
The End