Cowboy Country (59 page)

When she met Kip Howe thirteen months ago at an equine software seminar, there had been an instant attraction and she had felt some butterflies. Those pangs continued the first few months of dating but soon faded into a comfortable routine. They enjoyed watching DVD movies, going out to eat, always alternating between each other’s home and who would pay. They divided their time between their careers and each other, maybe a little more time spent on their careers, if she was honest. He was a software engineer and she bred and showed dressage horses. They had absolutely no idea or interest in each other’s career but understood the drive and desire to succeed, the love for what they did. Maybe it was that understanding and respect for each other that made her say yes when Kip proposed.

“Funny
.”
she smirked sarcastically at the reflection staring back at her, “his proposal had been practical too.” They were at his house watching a movie when he pulled out a ring box, opened it up and asked if she would marry him. It hadn’t been
horrible
. Her friends had said it was cute and that he obviously just wanted an intimate setting to propose to her. It had definitely been intimate, intimate and boring. Her story of how she got engaged would not elicit squeals of excitement from her friends and family. No exclamations of “how romantic!” would be heard in response to her tale.

“Rebecca,” she chastised herself, “you should be happy you’re even getting married, that someone loves you enough to ask you to be his wife.”

She continued to stare at herself in the mirror but what she saw wasn’t who the mirror reflected. Her five-foot, six inch frame which was curvy and womanly, she saw as twenty pounds overweight and lumpy. Her waist-long, platinum blonde hair that was normally pulled up into a bun or clip, she saw as wispy and brassy. Her long, slender hands she thought were too muscular from years of working with horses and throwing bales of hay. Overall, she didn’t find herself feminine or attractive.

She often mentioned to Kip that maybe they could do something different, maybe skip the take-out dinners that they often got, and prepare a meal together, something healthier. But Kip always laughed at her, saying she looked fine and didn’t need to change. At six-foot tall and naturally lean, almost bordering on skinny, he never worried about what he ate. He had the metabolism that was burning calories twenty-four-seven, so whatever he put in his body it was burned off within hours. He was also reluctant to change, having every minute of his day planned and knowing exactly what was to come. Kip’s idea of spontaneity was ordering Tai instead of Italian for Thursday night’s dinner.

His short, reddish blond hair and brown eyes made him attractive but not breathtaking or stunning. With his precisely trimmed mustache and gold-rimmed glasses, he was the perfect, stereotypical computer guru. Smart and simple. She had dated many men during her adult years but found very few as compatible as Brayden. The cowboys she had dated snickered and almost seemed embarrassed that she was a dressage rider.

She had also dated “city” or urban men but quickly found out they didn’t appreciate the time required to train a horse. They quickly came to resent the time she spent in the barn instead of with them. They were bored at the horse shows and didn’t like being put on the back burner during the show season.

The small Colorado town that bordered Wyoming raised mostly roping and barrel racing riders and fans. English riders were few and far between and considered snobbish in her community. She had tried to fit in at first, showing quarter horses in Western Pleasure classes and the speed races such as barrel-racing and pole-bending, but she was overwhelmed by the beauty and elegance of dressage and gave up her quarter horses for warm bloods. The strength and size of these horses were like a drug for her and when she made them dance, she became one with her horse instead of just a rider.

Kip seemed to have understood the time she needed with her horses and used that time working on his computer programs, he spending as much time at his office as she did in the barn. When he wasn’t at the office, he was at his desk at home, working on the latest software program designed to save companies money, which is how she met him.

He had developed a program with the help of a local vet to track the fertility and breeding schedule for equine breeding facilities. She had traveled two hundred miles to attend the seminar and had met Kip after the talk to ask him more about the program. They were both excited about the new software, him because he had spent three years developing it, and her because it would make it easier to track her mares breeding cycles. Their conversation continued over dinner and they found they lived only fourteen miles apart. Now, fast-forward thirteen months from that night and here they were, their wedding day.

“Are you doing alright?” Her reverie was broken when her mother came into her room.

Rebecca broke into a smile at seeing her mother, Evelyn, dressed so elegantly and nodded. “Everything is fine, Mama. I’m ready to go. Is Kip here?”

“Yes, right on time, just like clockwork.” she said, then both of them laughed, knowing Kip’s history of punctuality.

Evelyn crossed the room and hugged her daughter, tears welling in her eyes. She knew her daughter was having second thoughts about the marriage and seeing the doubt in her eyes, wanted to comfort her and make things right. “You know that it’s not too late. We can call this whole thing off if you want to.”

Rebecca felt her own eyes fill with tears and shook her head. “No, Mama. It’s too late. And everyone is here, all the money you and Dad spent, our family spending their hard-earned money to fly out here. Plus, I
want
to do this. It’ll all be ok, it’s just nerves. He’s a good man and he treats me right.”

“Everyone on
our
side of the family would understand. We’d just turn this into one big, family party and have a blast!” her mother argued gently. “You could just, postpone the wedding, just a little longer until you’re sure.”

“No, I couldn’t do it to Kip. I
do
love him.” she trailed off. But even as she said the words, she felt a pang of uncertainty. “This is right.” she stated, trying to shake off the feeling and give her more strength.

“Ok, if you’re sure, honey. They’re ready for you then, the music is about to begin.” Her mother kissed her cheek.

Rebecca nodded and looked one last time in the mirror. “Okay, let’s start the wedding.”

CHAPTER TWO

“Why do you have to be such a witch about it?” Kip screamed at her. “I promise I’ll be home in time to take you out for a nice dinner and we’ll still make it to your friend’s house for the party!”

“It’s already six o’clock and we’re supposed to be at Megan’s in an hour. I know for a fact she baked my favorite cake and had her kids go over to their grandparent’s house over an hour ago.” Rebecca softened her tone. “This is a really important night for me, alright?”

“I know, and it will be, I promise. I just need ten more minutes then I’m on my way. We’ll make it, Becks, and you’ll have an amazing birthday.”

Rebecca cringed at the pet name Kip had come up with for her. Instead of making the situation more volatile, she conceded to Kip. “Ok, I’ll be ready.”

“Thanks, Love. I’ll see you in a few.” His tone became loving and she found it irritating. He used that tone every time he got his way, which lately seemed all of the time.

She immediately called Megan, who had been her best friend since childhood, and explained that Kip was running late but they were still planning on coming. An hour and a half later, Kip pulled into the drive. She didn’t say a word as she got into the car. When he tried to lamely explain how time got away from him, she put her hand up and shook her head. She wasn’t in the mood for his feeble excuses.

She was torn between being utterly furious and completely crushed at his complete lack of consideration. Her own husband blew off her birthday. He hadn’t sent flowers, given her a card or even called to wish her a happy birthday. When she had woke up this morning, he was already gone, no note, no special breakfast, nothing. She knew he was working on a new software program that excited him but the project wasn’t due for another eleven months. She’d called his cell phone at ten-thirty, wanting to catch him before lunch. He sounded perplexed at why she called and she suddenly realized that he had forgotten her birthday. Trying not to let it affect her, she reminded him that they were going out to dinner then over to Megan’s to celebrate Rebecca’s birthday.

She didn’t know if his hesitation was because he was embarrassed at forgetting her birthday or was trying to figure out how to get out of it. His actions proved to her it was the latter. She stormed out to the vehicle and got into the passenger side, looking out of the window, unable to look at her husband. He got in quietly, started the vehicle and drove into town.

She was a little surprised when he pulled into the parking lot of a nice restaurant. “What are you doing?” she asked, unable to keep the annoyance out of her voice.

“I promised my baby a birthday dinner so that’s what we are doing.” he smiled, seemingly oblivious to her irritation.

“Well, that would have been nice
three
hours ago but now all we have time for is drive thru at a fast food restaurant. We should have been over at Megan’s two hours ago.”

“Fine.” he snapped and whipped the Lexus convertible around, pulling back onto the street. “But don’t ever accuse me of
not
trying to do something nice for you on your birthday.”

She stared at him incredulously but decided to bite her tongue. They’d be at Megan’s house in a couple of minutes and she didn’t want to waste her energy fighting with him.

She felt relief as she saw Megan’s adorable, sunshine yellow house come into view. It was a two-story, Cape-Cod home with a covered wrap-around porch. The railings and shutters were a bright, cheerful white. Megan had rocking chairs and tables set strategically around the porch, so that no matter what the weather, a person could enjoy the outdoors without suffering the weather. Brilliant colored annuals bloomed from the hanging baskets, spaced evenly and safely away from the ceiling fans that lazily stirred the evening air. The home could have been the feature cover of
Better Homes & Gardens.
She was out of the car and at Megan’s door before Kip had a chance to shut off the engine. Megan, her best friend of ten years, met her at the door with a glass of wine in her hand, ready for her.

“Rough night?” Megan asked. “Where’s Kip?”

“I’m right here. Had to get the key out of the ignition and all.” he drawled sarcastically as he pecked Megan on the cheek. “Rob here?” he peered anxiously around Megan and into the house.

“In the dining room. Cold beer in the fridge.” she smiled.

Kip disappeared through the beige-toned living room, heading in the direction of the dining room as Rebecca lingered on the porch.

“Are you alright? Things get worked out between the two of you?” Megan asked.

“He forgot my birthday! Then I had to call and remind him, then he blew me off tonight for work! Can you believe it?” Rebecca fumed, unable to hold back the tears that had been threatening all night.

“Oh, honey. I’m so sorry. Is he under a deadline? You know they don’t wait, even for birthdays.” her friend tried to console.

“Yeah, he is. Eleven months from now!” Rebecca hissed.

“Are you kidding me? Did he at least get you a nice present? Usually men will make up a big mistake with something extravagant. Remember when Rob forgot our anniversary? I got a
gorgeous
ruby and diamond pendant! I only wear it when the kids are at grandmas, see?” Megan pulled the neckline of her shirt to expose the delicate, heart-shaped necklace that lay at the base of her throat.

“I remember that. Veronica tried teething on it and you just about had a stroke.” Rebecca giggled, the memory of the eight-month-old baby happily gumming away on Megan’s new necklace. Her smile faded as she answered Megan. “No, he didn’t get me anything. He tried to take me to a fancy dinner fifteen minutes ago but I told him to forget it, he should have thought about that three hours ago.”

“Oh, my God! You haven’t eaten? Give me that wine back and I’ll go make you something.”

Megan reached for the glass but Rebecca pulled it away from her and shook her head. “I’m fine. We grabbed Subway sandwiches on the way over. I need my wine now.”

“Alright, so let’s talk about something you enjoy. Horses!” Megan grinned and sat down on one of the porch chairs.

Rebecca sighed and stared at her best friend. At five-foot-five, Megan had kept her petite, hourglass figure through all three of her pregnancies. Her long, brunette hair always seemed to shine with natural auburn highlights. Her cheekbones and deep brown eyes reminded Rebecca of an American Indian beauty but Megan swore she was English and Canadian.

She was pure city girl, having never ridden a horse until she met Rebecca. Though they both grew up in the small town, Megan would have fit right in with a larger city like San Francisco or New York. She was more into fashion and who was on the red carpet than which horse was destined for the Olympics. Yet here she was wanting to know where Rebecca was with her fascination. She amazed Rebecca, who in turn, could care less who was at the Grammy’s or Oscars, or whatever it was that Megan kept up with. Rebecca decided she would start picking up
In Style
magazines so she could get involved with her friend’s obsession and be able to support Megan as much as Megan supported her. Because Kip didn’t have an interest in Rebecca’s passion, it was nice to talk to someone about it.

“Othello is doing awesome! I think we’ll be ready for the freestyle competition at the Stock Show in Denver come January. I’m trying to get permission from a musician to use his music but I keep getting the run around from his managers.” Rebecca snorted in disgust. With all of the negative press of using music without the artist’s permission, riders had to fight through miles of red tape to use just one song. “If I didn’t think Luke Grayson’s song was so perfect for our ride, I would drop it and find another artist.”