Chapter Thirty-Five
“If you fart one more time, I’m leavin’ you on the side of the road!”
I covered my mouth with my hand to stifle my laugh.
Jimmy was driving Colton’s truck, with Colton in the passenger seat. He was leaning back, an ice pack wrapped around his ribs and a warm washcloth soaking his tight hand. “It’s not me!” Colton promised. “You’re just smellin’ yourself.”
“You’re the one who’s been eatin’ all the jerky.”
“Careful, boys. We’ve still got three hours to Stephenville,” I said in a fake motherly tone. To be honest, I was half listening. I had surprisingly more work to do than I originally thought, getting all cocky for a while that I was caught up.
I was a week and a half out from my presentation, the presentation that could give me my dream job.
I had done my best not to think too hard about it, because that meant the summer was over and the promise of being with Colton and the Nash family every day was gone. It meant I was going back to Chicago, and Colton would be in Oklahoma.
I couldn’t think about that right now; it made me want to cry.
I adjusted the brightness on my laptop, the bright glare of the Texas sun making the screen almost impossible to read.
Mr. Sterling’s latest email was causing butterflies in my stomach.
[Presentation locked in for the 29th. The board expects Director-level vision, and I am expecting perfection from you. You got this, Ford.]
Talk about no pressure.
“Your keys are clickin’ so hard I can hear it over the music,” Jimmy laughed, turning another song about Texas down a few notches.
“You’re doing that thing with your jaw again,” Colton added, twisting his neck enough to look at me. “What’s got you so stressed?”
I relaxed my jaw, not realizing I had such an obvious tick when I was stressing out. “I’m, uh, I’m trying to finish up my presentation for the board of my company.”
Colton twisted as much as he could to look directly at me. “Is this the final test before they make you the boss?”
“The boss?” Jimmy asked, his surprised eyes catching mine in the rearview mirror.
Before I could shrug it away, Colton nodded enthusiastically and faced Jimmy. “She’s twenty-four, and they want her to run the company!”
This time, I put my hand up to slow this runaway train. “They do not want me to run the company,” I chuckled. “I would just be over some teams, coordinating with external agencies, planning new business opportunities, just stuff like that.”
“So basically you’d be runnin’ the company,” Jimmy confirmed.
I shook my head, but felt a sense of pride creeping up my spine. Not at all, but gosh, it felt so good to have someone be so proud of me. “Basically,” I said sheepishly.
Billy emailed me another file, and I clicked on it without thinking twice.
It was the last rodeo’s pictures. All the top riders in their Agri-Corp vests.
Boy, it would look fantastic on the website. It didn’t matter that we were selling equipment and a little rodeo gear. People would see these cowboys and girls in their gear and go running for it.
My heart stopped on the last picture.
It was Colton. It was right after he had gotten up from his rough ride. His hands were in the air, dirt splattered on the entire right side of his body, and the look on his face.
I zoomed in.
His eyes were lit up, almost sparkling. His smile spread so far across his cheeks that I could nearly count every tooth. It was the happiest I’d ever seen a person.
My heart ached as I looked up to see the man in that picture.
He wasn’t here.
Instead, we had the remains of a cowboy who had pushed himself too hard and was now facing the consequences.
~~~
In my opinion, Stephenville’s excitement for the rodeo put Amarillo’s to shame.
Okay, yes, I did have a tiny personal bias against Amarillo, but regardless.
We had made it just in time for what they called “Rodeo Heritage Week.” It was a week consisting of a parade, historical displays, live music on every corner, Texas barbecue trucks, and, of course, the rodeos.
I had heard about the parade about a week ago and spent most of the drive organizing some of Agri-Corp’s equipment to be driven through it. I even had to have candy delivered to the closest branch so they could be ready.
“Man, I’m so excited for food,” Jimmy said, mostly to himself as we stopped at the intersection. “I’m gonna get so fat here.”
“You’re a bull rider, you’re supposed to be fat,” Colton said, surprising us both. He had fallen asleep two hours ago and hadn’t moved an inch.
“Well, hey there, Sleepin’ Beaut,” Jimmy greeted.
Colton was rubbing his eyes, still trying to regain his focus. “Are we here?”
“Yes, sir. I’m just tryin’ to find the campground so we can start eatin’.”
Colton blinked hard a few times, and I saw a smile creep onto his face. “Oh yeah, baby, we’re here.” He cranked the lever on his chair and brought himself out of the reclining position.
I waited for the explosion of pain that I’m sure was cascading through his body with that sudden movement, but it never came.
He winced a little, putting his hand on his side, but that was it.
I leaned forward in my seat, trying to see what had magically healed him.
Colton was practically pressing his nose against the window to get a better view outside.
It was the Cowboy Capital of the World, and it had turned off the pain receptors in Colton’s mind. He had completely forgotten he was so sore he could barely breathe this morning.
I was completely frustrated and unbelievably relieved at the exact same time.
Folding my arms, like a child, I leaned back against the seat and looked out the window. “Do you guys know what the plan is tonight?” I asked as Jimmy started taking backroads toward campgrounds.
“I’m sure Mamma and Dad are gonna go out,” Jimmy answered. “They were kinda hintin’ at it in Amarillo. Other than that, I’m not sure.”
It was only three in the afternoon, since we had left so early and only stopped once, we made fantastic time.
I’m sure when you’re literally traveling the country by truck and trailer, you get pretty good at nonstop road trips.
Jimmy pulled into an RV park.
Colton raised his arms and stretched far enough that I saw the dark blue splotches glaring back at me.
I put my arm on Colton’s. “How are you feeling?”
He looked back and smiled. “A lot better. Thanks, Ally.”
A freaking miracle, I guess. He was not feeling better; he was just excited to ride in the Cowboy Capital of the World Rodeo.
Colton popped my door open before I realized he had climbed out.
“How was the ride?” Jo asked as we climbed out. She was busy tucking a sticky note into a thick book.
“Quick,” Colton answered, throwing his arm around my shoulders.
“Easy for you to say,” Jimmy laughed. “You were asleep most of the time.”
Jo smiled at me. “Were they nice to you?”
I pursed my lips up at Colton. “It got a little stinky a couple times, but other than that, they were perfect gentlemen.”
Jo lightly whacked Colton, then Jimmy, with her book. “Boys!”
“I’m just kidding,” I assured her.
Jimmy shook his head. “No, she ain’t.”
“Feelin’ better?” Dennis asked as he climbed out of the driver’s seat of his truck.
Colton patted his ribs, wincing slightly. “Great.”
“All it takes to get these boys back to themselves is the idea of a rodeo,” Jo said, clicking her tongue. “Alright, well, let’s get these poor horses out of the trailers and into the pastures.”
Alan and Dean were already on it, having the trailer unhitched from the truck and the door open.
Dennis threw his arm around his wife. “Remember, y’all are on your own tonight. Mamma and I are going out and stayin’ out.”
Jo nodded excitedly. “Yup. We even booked a hotel, so we’ll see you guys in the mornin’.”
Good for them. Even though she didn’t ride in the shows, it was obvious Jo had to do the most work to keep the season running smoothly. Jo cooked every meal, with her boys’ help, of course, cleaned the bedding and clothes, and booked the campgrounds with pastures for the horses.
She took care of her kids as if it were her purpose in life.
Imagine who I could’ve been if my mother had treated me with even a tiny bit of the love Jo had for her family.
“Do you need anything for tonight?” Jo asked, snapping me out of my thoughts.
I smiled and shook my head. “I’m great, thank you. You guys go have a good time, I’ll make sure the boys are fed and put to bed at a decent hour.”
She laughed, the cutest little motherly laugh, and bumped my hip with her own. “I knew I could count on you! I’ll double your wages if they’re in bed before eight.”
We had our own inside joke, Jo and I, and it filled my body with warmth.
“Bye, kids!” Dennis said, practically dragging Jo to the truck.
“Colton! Keep up on your meds, take it easy, and remember to ice!” Jo called as Dennis helped her back into the truck.
“I will, Mamma!” Colton promised as they drove off.
“Geez, they were in a hurry to get out of here,” Jimmy muttered with a shudder.
Alan shook his head. “You should’ve heard them in the truck. Bleh.”
These boys didn’t know how lucky they were to be disgusted by their parents’ affection for each other.
Colton slid his hand around my waist and pulled me close enough to plant a kiss on my temple.
Dean nudged his twin. “Uh, guys, you wanna go pick up some food?”
“Yes!” Jimmy threw his hands up. “Yes, please!”
Colton tossed his truck keys to Alan. “Bring us some dinner back?”
“You got it,” Alan agreed.
Dean poked his head out of the window as Alan started the truck. “Make good choices and remember who you are!” He said in his best impression of Jo.
Colton waved at them as they drove out of the campground.
“You’d think they’d be sick of being in the truck,” I said, mostly to myself.
“Nothin’ will stop them when they’re hungry.” Colton grabbed my hands and rubbed his thumb over my skin. “Well, well, well, we’re completely alone.”
I looked around. “Oh my goodness, I think you’re right.”
He put his thumb under my jaw and pulled my face up toward his. “I missed your touch.”
“Then kiss me,” I demanded.
“Yes, ma’am.” His lips were on mine in a second, filling me with euphoria from head to toe. I tilted my head, wanting more and more and more. He obliged and opened his mouth enough to invite my tongue inside.
My fingers were in his hair, tugging at it. I craved him, I wanted him, I needed him. My desire for Colton Nash was getting addictive, and that scared me. I gently pulled away first, breathing hard.
“Where have you been all my life?”
I looked up at him, his green eyes already locked on mine.
“I just hate all the life I had to live without you. It feels like I have to make up for lost time.” His eyes were full of yearning, like his heart was so full it was taking over his whole body.
I knew that look. Gosh, I knew that look; it was probably plastered all over my own face.
Colton Nash and I were falling…
No, it hadn’t been that long. We were just lusting over each other. That’s all.
But the way his hand on my cheek was giving me electric shocks made it clear that this wasn’t simply lust or merely attraction.
It was so much more.
“I know what you mean,” I finally answered.
He lit up. “You do?”
I wanted to give up, to drop the exhausting guard that was constantly up, but I knew I wasn’t ready yet.
“I mean, I’ve truly lost myself these past couple of years.
I became someone unbearable, but I felt safe like that.
I was too scared to get too close to anyone; I didn’t think I could handle another broken heart.
But in just a few months of knowing you, I’ve laughed more, felt more like myself, and loved life more than I have in a very long time. ”
Colton had replaced Corporate Allegra with Ally, and it was like a breath of fresh air.
Colton’s face was serious, his strong eyebrows raised slightly, but the rest of his face was solemn. “Ally…”
“Colton…” I swallowed hard, sure I was going to have a heart attack at any moment.
He pulled me close again, his hands on my face as he kissed me long and hard.
He was kissing me like he was dying, and I was oxygen; he kissed me as if his life depended on it.
“I love you, Ally,” he said between our kisses.
“I love you.” He lowered his head to kiss my neck.
“I love you.” He kissed my collarbone. “I love you.” He kissed my jaw.
“I love you.” He kissed my temple. “I. Love. You,” he declared as he planted one final kiss on my forehead.
I closed my eyes, wanting to remember every second of this moment for the rest of my life. I let out a shuddering breath.
He pulled back, one hand in my hair, tucking a strand behind my ear, the other on my waist, feeling like he was holding me up.
I was smiling so hard my cheeks were starting to ache. “I love you, Colton.”
It was the first time I had said it to a man and truly meant it.
I loved every inch of him. I loved his handsome face, his strong body, and his hands that he held me with.
I loved that he was sweet to me, but was as strong as steel, not afraid to do hard work at the drop of a hat.
I loved that he was sensitive, not afraid to let me see him cry, but also not afraid to defend my honor and protect me no matter what.
I loved him.
And that was completely horrifying.