When Sparks Fly (77 page)

As we drove home, I counted the stars while thinking of Nate and how he used to count them. Each night he’d tell me “for every star in the sky he counted, I would get one wish”. He was crazy, but he knew how to make me laugh and loved me deeper than I could have imagined. I was so lost in my own train of thought I hadn’t realized Tucker had stopped the truck.

“Kennedy, we are home.” He touched my arm lightly bringing me back to reality.

“Sorry I was counting stars.” I joked.

“You seemed a little more than lost tonight. Are you okay?” He asked as he brushed a runaway piece of hair from my face.

“You know what Tucker, I am perfectly fine. Life has a funny way of coming full circle and being okay. I still don’t have a few answers to questions I asked when Nate died, but I have come to the realization that some questions should never be answered.” I leaned over and kissed him sweetly on the lips.

“Will you finally tell me why you knew Nate was riding with me?” His voice begged.

I nodded. “Yes, you see, your tag read 722. Nate’s birthday was July 22nd. I don’t know how or why, but Nate was here tonight. He protected you from Patriotic Rodeo. You can say I am crazy, I don’t care. The moment I saw your sticker, I knew you would win. I knew you would not be bucked off.”

“I don’t think you are crazy. I felt him. I have to agree. Nate was in that arena. I rode for him and he knew it. I will have to thank my cousin whole heartedly when I see him next time… I have found something I had been searching for a long time.”

“And that is?”

“You.” He clipped my nose. “You have brought so much to my life in just a few days.”

“Likewise Tucker Dean…. You have given me something I never thought I’d get back – a second chance.”

“Come, let’s go shower and go to bed.” He smiled.

“A shower and bed?” I questioned because I didn’t really want to sleep. I wanted to be with him. Make love to him. I wanted to be his for at least one more night.

He chuckled rubbing his forehead, “I never said we were going to sleep. I may be a little bruised and battered, but I promise you… this cowboy can still work his magic in the bedroom.” He opened the door stepping out of the truck.

I followed suit and climbed from his truck. As we walked the short distance to the house, we noticed all the lights were on. As we walked in the back door we were greeted by a small group of people.

“Surprise Tucker!” A banner hung on the wall that read ‘Congrats Tucker’.

He looked at me and I back at him. “Did you know anything about this?” He raised an eyebrow.

“Scouts honor. I knew nothing about this party.” I responded following him into the kitchen where Kaleb promptly shoved a cold beer in his hand and a sweet drink into mine.

“We just wanted to give you a proper send off and to say you had one hell of ride.” Aaron piped up shaking Tucker’s hand. I could tell he was little shy. A crowd was not his cup of tea.

*

By the time the party wrapped up, Tucker and I were ready for bed. As soon as we took our shower we didn’t even bother with clothes. We just wrapped ourselves in towels and headed to my room. I felt a little sick when I saw his packed bags sitting at the foot of the bed on the footstool. It meant he was leaving in just a few hours. Not leaving me, but he had another rodeo to attend to.

We made love until the sun started to break the sky creating the perfect hue of orange and red spreading across the skyline. I fell asleep with Tucker wrapped up around me, keeping me warm and safe. I hated saying goodbye and I knew when we awoke we had to say it.

I listened to his steady breathing for a very long time before sleep found me. I wanted to remember this moment. There was a difference in our lovemaking last night. We were connecting soul to soul. We were speaking to each other and truly falling in love.

*

When I awoke I had nearly slept the whole day away. I rolled to find my bed empty and Tucker’s side of the bed cold. I glanced at the clock on my dresser. A quarter after one and my heart sank. I knew he was gone. I pulled the sheet from the bed wrapping it around me. The need to use the bathroom called me.

I finished up in the bathroom and went directly to the kitchen. The house was dead silent. I suddenly felt stupid for falling for a man that I knew would leave me. In the kitchen I found a card addressed to me. I could see out the window all the vehicles were gone. In this moment I was thankful to be totally alone.

I snatched the letter from the counter and retreated to my bedroom. I knew once I read this letter I would bawl and I sure as hell didn’t need anyone else seeing me cry.

Inside my room, I flung myself on my bed before I tore open the envelope. As I picked up the card a folded letter fell out. I read the card first: I love you… I don’t know how, but somewhere I fell in love.

“I love you too Tucker Jaxson.” I said the words out loud. Part of me wished I would have said I love you last night when he won, but I was too chicken. I couldn’t. The words just wouldn’t form on my lips.

I unfolded the letter and I smiled.

My Kennedy,

Where in the hell do I begin? I have never felt the connection like I felt the moment I touched you in the store. I knew in than instant I loved you. I can’t explain it. I know you are so very torn with letting the past go and facing the future. I am here, I am not going anywhere. I am not going to ask you to leave. So I am making the decision for you. Maybe in time you will be ready to leave the farm and your family…. Until then we will have to make do. I am traveling a lot, but I will make time for you. I love you. I know last night you started to say it on several occasions, but couldn’t bring yourself to say it, so I am saying it first.

I appreciate everything you have done for me. I saw Mabel yesterday and I thanked the crazy old woman for sending me your way. I sat in bed watching you peacefully sleep this morning. It was the hardest thing I have ever had to do, leaving you in the bed alone. It took everything I had not to crawl back into bed with you.

I love you Kennedy!

Tucker

PS My cell phone is 555-596-8958.

I clutched the letter to my chest. I started laughing. It seemed strange that in the four days we were together we never exchanged cell phone numbers. Although part of me was sad he left without really saying goodbye, I understood. It wasn’t easy for either one of us. If he would have woken me up, I would have begged him to stay. He had suggested it, but then again, it would have made it harder when he left on Monday. I didn’t give him a yes or no answer. I just honestly didn’t want to give him one. He did ask me to leave with him, but I told him how unsure I was of actually leaving. I told him one day at a time. Maybe one day I would join him.

‡
Epilogue

For the next few months, if Tucker Jaxson was within driving distance of me, I hopped in the car for the weekend and met him where wherever he happened to be. If he didn’t have an event, he would drive out to me. We were perfect in every way possible.

As time drew on, we seemed to drift apart. Tucker started winning almost every rodeo and most of his free time became filled with sponsors and fans. Slowly our trips faded away and the communication between us just stopped. I knew we were meant to be together, but our timing was completely off. I missed him like mad but I knew one day we would find our way back to one another.

January ….

It had been nearly three months since I had last shared a bed with Tucker. I did receive a Christmas card saying he was somewhere in California doing a photo shoot for sponsors. I had to laugh; my shy boy had quickly learned to be a man among the people. He had finally started coming out of his shell. I watched him at local events and he had started to be recognized wherever we would go. He never let it go to his head. I told him if it ever did I would knock it out of him. No need to be a jerk to anyone just because he was on his way to becoming a world champion.

He agreed I could smack some sense into him if he ever got too big for his britches. I told him I didn’t think I was manly enough, but I am sure I could get Kaleb or Aaron to gladly bring him back down to earth. I honestly believe it would never be needed, but I would threaten every now and then.

Life would never be “normal”, but it was as normal as it was going to be for me, or so I thought. I spent several days down in bed sick with the flu. A week later still feeling like shit. I brought home a pregnancy test just for shits and grins. I had been on the pill for years, so being pregnant was the last thing on my mind.

I sat on the bathroom floor and watched as the stick turned from clear to blue. My stomach flipped, I was pregnant.

Not only did Tucker leave me with a lifetime of perfect memories…. But he gave me the one thing in life I really wanted – a child.

To be continued…

Title Page

Copyright Page

Dedication

Where it all begins…

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four