Falling For A Cowboy (24 page)

“
Because I
’
ve got something very serious to ask Dusty
.
First I
’
ve got to ask her
for
forgiveness
.
And second, I want to ask her to marry me.
”

The crowd began to clap, the sound thundering in her ear
s
.
Had she heard right
?
He was going to ask her to marry him
.
No
,
he
had
asked her to marry him.

“
He
’
s serious Dusty.
”

She
jumped and
turned to face Jesse.

“
I didn
’
t think he
was
,
which is why I pulled that stunt
.
But I
’
ve never seen him like this
.
He
’
s so in love it
’
s hurting him something awful
,
”
Jesse
said
.

Her mind felt numb, as if this was all some dream—or nightmare. Why was he doing this
?
Why was he exposing both of them in this public display?

“
Now if she
’
ll forgive me,
”
Clay
’
s voice rang out
.
“
I
’
m hoping she
’
ll walk out here and make me a happy man
.
P
ut an end to
my
misery
.
And if she doesn
’
t, well, I
’
ll be looking for some advice from those of you in the stands.
Dusty, if you hear me
and if you
can
forgive me, will you come out here and accept my proposal?
”

The clapping was deafening
.
Feet were stomping
.
The crowd
started to chant her name.

“
Can you forgive him
,
Dusty?
”
Jesse whispered in her ear
.
“
He
’
s waiting
on your answer
.
”

Could it possibly be?
She took a deep breath and her heart started to race as she heard the crowd roar
.
What had Clay said about her talking to her father?

I
’
m talking now, Daddy
.
What should I do? I love him
,
but is he for real?

The moment she thought the words
,
her feet started moving
,
as if they had a mind of their own
.
The cowboys were clapping as she brushed by them
.
S
he entered the arena
and t
he
handsome
man with the microphone held out his arms to her
.
T
he crowd was on their feet.
The next thing she knew she was running
.

Tears streamed down her face as she rushed into his
embrace
.
Happy tears
.
He grabbed her, held her tight against him
.
“
Honey, I love you.
And I
’
m so sorry.
”

The place was going wild
.
“
I love you too
,
”
s
he managed to
say
,
startled to hear her words ring out
over the loud speaker
.

“
Then will you forgive me
?
Will you marry me?
”

She looked up into his gorgeous face
.
Tears
ran
down his cheeks, his gaze focused on her and only her
.

“
Yes
.
Yes to everything.
”

The next thing she knew Clay
’
s lips were claiming hers as he lifted her off the ground and against his hard chest
.
It was the best eight second
s
of her life
. She
’
d taken
a re-ride on love.

* * *

Anne
Carrole
h
as been creating stories since she first wondered where Sally was running to
in those early reader books.
Besides reading and writing romances, you might find Anne researching western history, at a rodeo, watching football, in the garden, or on the tennis court. Married to her own urban cowboy she
’
s the mother of a teenage cowgirl. She
’
s also a founder of the western historical fan page
www.facebook.com/lovewesternromances.com
. She loves hearing from readers. You can friend, follow, or find Anne on:

Facebook
:
http://www.facebook.com/annecarrole

Twitter:
http://twitter.com/annecarrole

Web:
http://www.annecarrole.com