Epilogue
CAL
Iwalked through the crowd on the way to my last event at the charity rodeo.
From the look of things, it was an overwhelming success and the town would be building its new community center soon.
Next to the temporary arena and bleachers was an array of booths offering food from local restaurants along with merchandise for sale and various locals hawking their services.
Every inch of space was packed with people having a wonderful time.
And from what I’d heard, the livestock auction was just as much of a success.
“Good luck, Cal,” a voice called out and I spotted Rafael in the stands sitting with Jake, Brian, and what looked like all the Caffertys. Behind them were Aurora and Marc and the deputy who’d strongarmed me the night I fought with Jake. I waved to everyone and continued on.
Since this was my last rodeo, I wanted to compete in as many events as possible.
I’d already gotten through two roping events.
One was team roping and the other was my solo steer roping.
I’d successfully met my marks and avoided any injuries.
But now I had my final bronc ride. I expected to feel some sorrow or regret at leaving competitive rodeo.
To my surprise, I felt pumped instead. The life I was making for myself was too damn good to have regrets.
I caught a look of surprise on a woman’s face and tipped my hat to her.
I could guess what was going through her head.
Some folks in town continued to give me a double take, thinking they were seeing Luke, but I no longer minded.
Most of the community had come to know me for who I was, and the rest would in time.
Cal Pierce, former rodeo rider and future owner of a rodeo training center.
Word had spread quickly through the area that I was opening the facility and I already had interest from parents who wanted to enroll their kids.
I figured by fall I’d be up and running and ready for students.
Soon enough, too, the people of Poplar Springs would recognize me as Amy’s husband.
I told myself I had to be patient on that one.
We’d only known each other for a month, and I needed to give her time to trust that I was sticking around.
I never wanted her to doubt that. But I’d spotted the perfect ring in a jewelry store in Denver and bought it.
It was hidden away in the tack room of my barn, but I couldn’t stop myself from pulling it out just to look at it all the time.
I wanted to propose, get married, move into the farmhouse with her, and begin our life together.
I would have to be patient. It would all come true in time.
And for now I needed to focus on my last event.
I made my way to the chute and pulled my hat down farther on my head.
I dropped into the saddle, lifting my hand to signal I was ready, and the gate was flung open.
The horse came out bucking, trying to unseat me by standing on his hind legs and coming down hard on its front end, but I hung on, ticking off the seconds in my head before kicking free.
I didn’t need the roar of the crowd to tell me it was a good ride, and I was happy about that.
My name and reputation had been used to draw people to the event, and my rides throughout the day had been some of my best. As I got to my feet and waved, I acknowledged that that part of my life was over, but I smiled as I found Amy and Henry on the edge of the arena.
Henry scrambled over the fence and ran toward me, and I swung him up onto my shoulders and headed for Amy.
“Nice ride, cowboy,” she said, giving me a pat on the cheek and a kiss. “Can you watch the last event with us?”
“Love to,” I said as we made our way to an empty space on the bleachers near the rest of the Thorne family and all their friends. I put Henry on the seat between us, not that the boy sat still with the excitement of the rodeo all around us.
Amy smiled at me over Henry’s head and I remembered that she’d taken an emergency phone call from the mayor an hour or so ago. From what I understood, the man had been released from the rehab hospital and returned home that very day. “What did the mayor want?” I asked. “Nothing bad, I hope.”
“Not bad, just surprising,” she said. “Bob has decided to retire and thinks I should run for mayor. I’m not sure what I think about that.”
“Are you kidding? You’d be great at it,” I said. “You love this place and look at the amazing success of the event you put on.” I gestured to the people gathered for the rodeo.
“I’ll think about it,” she said, but she was smiling.
I didn’t think it would take too much encouragement to get her to pursue being mayor.
With how well everyone seemed to like her, and how capable she’d proven herself to be, I was sure she’d win against anyone foolish enough to run against her. Damn, I was proud of her.
“Oops,” Henry yelled and dropped under the bleachers to pick something up. “Don’t want to lose my hidden treasure.” He came up, putting a shiny item in his jeans pocket.
“What was that?” Amy asked as Henry scrambled back to the seat. “Let me see.”
Henry dug in his pocket again and held out a diamond ring on his open palm. I gasped. It was the engagement ring I’d bought for Amy.
“Henry, that has to be valuable,” Amy said, reaching for the ring, but Henry closed his fist around it. “We need to find the owner. Someone is going to be looking for it.”
“I didn’t find it here,” Henry said. “It was in Uncle Cal’s barn. I was playing in the tack room yesterday, and I found it in the back of a drawer in a little box. Somebody must have left it there. Can I keep it?”
Amy’s eyes met mine as she put two and two together. And she smiled. I searched for a sign that I was moving too fast, but all I saw on her face was happiness. If she looked that happy about the idea of being engaged to me, I wasn’t waiting another minute.
“Henry.” I leaned close and whispered in the boy’s ear. “I bought that ring for your mom because I want to marry her. You okay with that?”
“You bet I am.” Henry stage-whispered back and handed me the ring.
I hadn’t planned this, but it felt right. I dropped to one knee in front of Amy and reached for her hand. “Amy, this may be too soon for you, but I’ve never been surer of anything in my life. I love you and I’m asking you to be my wife.”
“I would be so happy to be your wife,” she said with no hesitation.
As I slid the ring onto her finger, a chorus of congratulations came from the people around us, but the loudest was from Henry. His wild whoop made heads turn everywhere in the crowd.
Amy hugged her son before bending to kiss my lips. “You make me happy,” she said so only I could hear.
“I plan to keep doing that for a long time to come.” I gathered her in my arms and didn’t intend to ever let go.