No Ordinary Cowboy (Mills & Boon American Romance) (Rodeo Rebels - Book 6) (16 page)

“Have you told your parents?”

“Yes.” And, as she’d feared, she might have lost their love for good. “I’m sorry for the pain I’ve caused you, Tony. I don’t expect your forgiveness, but I hope you’ll be able to move on from Michael’s death, because you truly do deserve to be happy.” She removed the bull rope from the gear bag and handed it to a cowboy manning the chute.

“You’re in no shape to ride,” Tony said.

“I have to ride for Michael.”

Tony paced five steps away then turned and glared. “That’s what you want me and your parents to believe, isn’t it?”

“Believe what?” she asked.

“You’re not riding for Michael—you’re riding for
you.
” Tony tapped his finger against her collarbone. “You’re punishing yourself for not answering Michael’s call for help.”

Lucy’s eyes widened and Tony hated that he’d upset her, but she had to recognize the danger she was putting herself in.

“You turned your back on your brother, so you’re punishing yourself until you end up like him—dead.”

Tony knew the moment Lucy accepted that truth. The blood drained from her face and her mouth trembled with the effort to hold back a cry. He gave her shoulders a solid shake. He had to convince her that the forgiveness she desperately sought wouldn’t be found in her self-destruction. “Bad things happen to good people, Lucy. We all bear some responsibility for Michael’s death, as does Michael himself. Your brother knew better than to try to drive himself home that night, but he chose to get behind the wheel anyway. If we could go back in time, each of us would make different choices.”

“But we can’t go back, Tony. I’ve ruined everyone’s lives.”

“You haven’t ruined mine, Lucy.” He drew in a steadying breath. “I love you.”

Her eyes widened.

“All this time, I’ve never stopped loving you. I tried, but you’re the only woman I want to share my life with. Have a family with. Grow old with.”

Tears streamed down Lucy’s cheeks. “You can’t love me after what I did.”

“Yes, he can, young lady.”

Tony swiveled and came face-to-face with Cal and Sonja Durango. This wasn’t how he envisioned Lucy’s parents learning about their relationship.

“Mom…Dad…what are you doing here?”

“Saving our only child from making a huge mistake,” her mother said.

“After what I did, how can you—”

“Lucinda.” Cal Durango stepped forward and reached for his daughter’s hands. “Tony’s right. If we could all go back to the night Michael died, each one of us would make different choices.” He stared at Tony, his mouth turned down in regret. “Tony would have stayed until Michael had finished his last drink and driven him home.” Next he moved his gaze to Lucy. “You would have agreed to pick Michael up at the bar when he called you.” His gaze dropped to the ground for several seconds and then he said, “And I would have answered my cell phone when it rang at two in the morning.”

“Michael called you?” Tony asked.

Durango nodded. “When I checked my phone the next day, I had a missed call from him.”

Sonja Durango sniffed. “I’m the one who told your father to ignore the call and go back to sleep.”

“We all have regrets, Lucy. Me, the most.” Her father cleared his throat. “I haven’t done a very good job showing my love for you. I’m sorry for that. But please believe me when I say that I am very proud to have you for a daughter.”

Lucy flung her arms around her father’s neck and sobbed. Durango reached out to his wife, and her mother joined in their hug. After a long while Lucy pulled free and faced Tony. “I never stopped loving you, either.”

“What do you mean, never stopped? How long have you two been carrying on behind my back?” Durango asked.

“I’ll explain later, Dad,” Lucy said.

Tony pulled Lucy into his arms and crushed her mouth beneath his. The kiss was slow and sweet and he didn’t give a damn if Cal Durango watched. When they broke apart he spoke to Lucy’s father. “Sir, may I have your permission to marry your daughter?”

“Not if you’re going to move away and raise my grandchildren in California.”

“We’re staying right here in Stagecoach where we both belong,” Tony said.

“Then you have my blessing.” Durango pulled his wife close. “Michael would approve of his best friend marrying his sister, don’t you think?”

Sonja Durango nodded. “I bet Michael’s smiling down on all of us right now.”

The announcer’s voice boomed over the loud speakers as he introduced Lucy and spoke about the Pony Express.

“You’re not riding, daughter.”

For once Tony appreciated Durango’s stubbornness.

“Listen to your father, Lucy. I couldn’t bear for you to get injured.” Sonja hugged her daughter.

Lucy looked at Tony. “You don’t want me to ride, either.”

“I’d rather you didn’t, but I’ll support you either way.”

“I have to finish what I started,” Lucy said.

“Sorry, no can do.” Shannon strolled up to the chute, wearing her bull-riding gear. She flashed a brazen smile at Lucy then climbed the rails and straddled Cruise Control as the announcer’s voice boomed through the speakers.

“Folks, we’ve got a change in plans this afternoon. It appears that Lucy Durango broke her wrist in the Cibola Rodeo last weekend. Riding in Lucy’s place today is none other than Stagecoach native Shannon Douglas.”

The fans cheered and the announcer continued. “You folks know Lucy’s been riding bulls to raise money for the Pony Express in honor of her brother, Michael, who died right after he’d moved into the top spot in the rankings two years ago. Wrangler would like to honor Michael’s bull-riding career today by matching the pledges Lucy has collected in her prior two rodeos, and if Shannon makes it to eight on Cruise Control, Wrangler will become a permanent sponsor of the Pony Express.”

Lucy climbed the chute rails. “Are you sure about this, Shannon?”

“Don’t worry, Lucy. I’ll make it to eight and your money worries will be over.”

Lucy grinned. “Cowboy-up, girl!”

Lucy, Tony and her parents moved closer to get a better view of the action. Shannon went through her pre-ride routine, then nodded to the gate man and Cruise Control leaped into the arena. The bull put Shannon through her paces, but her athletic ability held up against him and fans rose to their feet as the seconds ticked off the clock. When the buzzer sounded, an explosive noise rippled through the arena. Shannon launched herself into the air then scrambled to her feet and ran for the rails.

“Folks, Shannon Douglas made it to eight on Cruise Control!”

Tony swept Lucy into his arms and twirled her. Thanks to Shannon, and Wrangler’s generosity, the Pony Express would live to see another day. “From now on, I think you should stick to raising little bull riders instead of competing yourself.”

“We’ll name our first son Michael, after his uncle,” Lucy said.

Cal Durango cleared his throat. “I’ll make sure my grandson has the best equipment and coaches around.”

“Cal, the baby hasn’t even been born yet.” Lucy’s mother smiled.

“You two better get to work on that.” Durango sent Tony a meaningful stare.

“Not before they’re married, Cal!”

“Don’t be a prude, Sonja. You were two weeks pregnant with Michael when we got married.”

Sonja gasped, and Lucy’s father led her away. Left alone, Tony pulled Lucy close. “Living with your father won’t be easy, but living without you would be impossible. I love you, Lucy.”

“I love you, too, Tony.”

Epilogue

Lucy stood at her open bedroom window on a Thursday morning and watched the sun rise in the east. The swath of pink-and-purple light across the horizon reflected the warmth filling her heart. She closed her eyes and breathed in the fresh, cool desert air. “Are you here, Michael?” she whispered.

The lace curtain fluttered then one panel flew into the air, hitting Lucy’s face. She swatted the linen away and laughed. “You always were a big tease.”

The bedroom door opened and her mother waltzed in, carrying Lucy’s wedding gown. “Honestly, I don’t understand why you couldn’t get married on a Saturday like normal couples.”

“Don’t worry, Mom, this is going to be a beautiful wedding and a beautiful day.” Lucy hugged her mother then escaped to the bathroom to shower. Her parents, especially her father, had come a long way in accepting a marriage between her and Tony, although they didn’t understand Lucy’s desire to honor a Mexican tradition.

When Lucy learned about the holiday
El Dia de los Muertos
—The Day of the Dead—she chose the holiday to include Tony’s father and Michael in their wedding day. According to Tony’s mother, the souls of the dead returned each year to visit their relatives from October thirty-first to November second.

When Lucy broached the subject with her parents, they’d balked at first but relented when she’d told them that the greatest gift they could give her and Tony was Michael’s presence at their wedding. The Day of the Dead was a celebration, and that’s what she wanted for her special day and for Michael’s memory.

Twenty minutes later Lucy emerged from the bathroom in her robe. Her mother was sitting on the end of the bed holding the stuffed teddy bear Michael had given Lucy for Christmas when she was eight years old.

“Lucy,” her mother whispered, “I think Michael’s here.”

“I know. I felt him earlier.” She joined her mother on the bed and held her hand.

“I can’t believe you’re getting married.”

“I’ve loved Tony for a long time. He’s the man I’m meant to spend the rest of my life with.”

“You know, when you were a little girl I used to imagine planning your wedding.”

“You did?”

“Yes, and I can tell you right now that I did not have a cake with a skull and crossbones on it.”

Lucy laughed and hugged her mother. “You’re a good sport, Mom.”

“I believe it’s a tradition for the mother of the bride to impart some words of wisdom to her daughter.”

“I’m listening.”

“One day you’ll be a mother.” Tears shone in her eyes. “And the best advice I can give you, sweetheart, is to love your children with every breath you take, because you don’t know how long they’ll be with you.”

Lucy’s eyes burned, and she squeezed her mother’s hand.

“Discipline your children and expect a lot from them but never let a day go by that you don’t tell them how much you love them.” She caressed Lucy’s cheek. “I love you, sweetheart. Know that I’ll always be here for you, your husband and your children.”

“I love you, too, Mom.”

A knock at the door interrupted them.

“Come in,” Lucy said.

Her father poked his head around the door. “Where’s Tony supposed to put the bucking machine?”

“Behind the barn,” Lucy’s mother said. “I had Pete set up a table for Michael’s things.”

According to Maria, the family was supposed to gather and display favorite foods and belongings of the deceased. Tony wanted the bucking machine brought back to the ranch in Michael’s honor, and Lucy’s father hadn’t protested. Her mother had baked a peach cobbler—Michael’s favorite dessert—and Lucy had added Michael’s lucky boots, his black Stetson, his bull rope, the photograph of him riding Chicken on a Chain and Maddie’s princess water bowl to the collection of memorabilia honoring his life.

Her father pointed at his watch. “There’s a lot to do between now and two o’clock. You’d better get moving, ladies.” The door closed.

“Dad’s taking all this Mexican tradition stuff pretty well, don’t you think?”

“That’s because I threatened him with no sex for a year.”

“Mom!” Lucy clapped her hands against her ears and shared a laugh with her mother.

“I suppose we better get moving.” Her mother crossed the room to the door. “Maria said her relatives will be over at noon. I’m looking forward to visiting with them before the rest of the guests arrive.”

Lucy and Tony’s guest list included over two hundred people, and in lieu of wedding gifts they’d asked for donations in Michael’s name to the Rider Relief Fund, which provided financial support to injured bull riders and bullfighters.

“I’ll be down in a little while.” After her mother left, Lucy went across the room to the window facing the barn. Tony and two other men dressed in border patrol uniforms were unloading the mechanical bull from Tony’s truck.

Lucy soaked in the sight of Tony in his worn jeans, scruffy boots and T-shirt. He must have sensed he was being watched, because he glanced up at her window. Standing against the backdrop of the Bryon Mountains and a sparkling blue sky, he waved at her. In that moment, Lucy saw the ghostly outline of her brother standing next to Tony. He looked in her direction and smiled and Lucy knew that Michael’s gift to her and Tony was the sense of peace that had been missing from their souls since her brother had passed away.

Today would be a celebration of life…death…and rebirth.

And the beginning of the rest of her life with Tony.

* * * * *

Keep reading for an excerpt from
Cowboy for Keeps
by Cathy McDavid

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