Her Cowboy's Christmas Wish (Harlequin American Romance) (16 page)

Maybe because they always were.

She scoured the main arena, where a dozen riders were exercising their horses, none of them Justin.

At last she spotted him in the round pen. The same pen where Ethan had been injured when riding Prince. Justin sat astride a horse, Ethan standing beside him. Tamiko straddled the fence, the empty wheelchair not far from her.

Where was her boyfriend?

Caitlin drove her van right up to the pen, hit the brakes and slammed the vehicle into Park. Shoving the door open, she bailed out, tripping over her own feet in her haste.

“Justin!”

“That didn’t take long.” An exuberant grin split his face.

“Are you okay?” She was aware of Ethan watching her, studying her.

Her body, always attuned to him, hummed in response.

“Great! This is amazing.” Justin shielded his eyes from the afternoon sun and regarded the horizon. “I can’t believe how far I can see. Look at the mountains.”

The motion unbalanced him and he teetered in the saddle.

Caitlin let out a yelp. “Ethan, help him!”

“Whoa!” Justin grabbed the saddle horn.

Ethan reached up and placed a steadying hand on Justin’s leg. “Hang on.”

He looked considerably better than the night he’d shown up at the clinic, but not strong enough to catch Justin if he fell. Someone else must have lifted her brother onto the horse. Someone else should be here now.

“No problem.” Justin let go of the saddle horn.

Ethan started walking, leading the horse, which Caitlin now recognized as old Chico.

She was going to kill both Ethan and her brother.

“He’s doing great, don’t you think?” Tamiko said.

Caitlin looked around. “Where’s…um…”

“Eric? I really don’t know.”

She didn’t have time to process Tamiko’s answer because Justin clucked to Chico, and the horse broke into a run.

All right, not a run. A very, very sedate trot.

Ethan walked beside the horse, letting the lead rope dangle. If Chico reared or bucked, there was no way he could restrain him. Justin would be hurt.

At least he was wearing a helmet and, she noticed upon closer inspection, a safety vest. If Ethan had been wearing a helmet and vest when he fell off Prince, he might not have broken his ribs or sustained a concussion.

Wait! Justin didn’t have a harness. Ethan said at Thanksgiving that he had harnesses Justin could use. What if he slipped again?

“Be careful,” Caitlin said, sounding like the broken record she was, her white-knuckled hands gripping the railing. Thank God there was no wind today. She scanned the immediate vicinity for stray plastic bags anyway.

“I can’t wait for my turn.” Tamiko glowed.

Caitlin, on the other hand, couldn’t speak. Her heart had lodged in her throat.

Was she the only one terrified?

Yes, she was—the only one. Not Justin or their parents or Tamiko. Certainly not Ethan. And he should be more than anyone, after what had happened to him.

All right, she was a little overprotective. A lot overprotective. But she was hardly unreasonable.

Was she?

She looked at her brother, really looked at him. He was enjoying himself. Now that she thought about it, he always seemed to be enjoying himself. For the past several years, anyway. Ever since he took up wheelchair athletics.

He grinned confidently at Tamiko as he rode past her, a far cry from the insecure, self-conscious geek he’d been in high school.

Caitlin had to stop seeing him as disabled and start seeing him as what he was, a capable, competent young man with endless potential and no need of a hovering older sister.

“Yes, he’s doing well,” she said, sensing a shift inside her.

After a few more circuits, Ethan led Justin through the gate. They stopped in front of Caitlin and Tamiko.

“What do you think?” Justin preened. “Are we ready for the races?”

Tamiko’s smile was radiant and for him alone. “You were awesome.”

“I’m impressed,” Caitlin admitted, her pride overflowing.

“You’re not just saying that?”

“Definitely not.”

“Any chance I can ride around the ranch?” he asked Ethan.

“Not by yourself. Not yet.”

She sent Ethan a silent thank-you.

He nodded, and the yearning in his eyes reached into her, tugging at her heart and her belly, where she carried their child.

“Can Tamiko take me?”

“How about your sister? And just up and down in front of the stables.”

“Me!” she squeaked. “What if Chico starts bucking? I can’t hold on to him.”

“He won’t buck. He has the temperament of a kitten.” Ethan thrust the lead rope into Caitlin’s hands. “Go on. You can do it.”

He was talking about more than her brother riding a horse, she was sure.

“It’ll be okay, sis,” Justin said, also talking about more than riding.

Yes, it would be okay.

The shift in her was suddenly complete and seamless.

Giving Ethan one last long glance, she took a step, then
another. Chico followed like the good, dependable horse he was.

As she and Justin passed the office, he said to her, “Thanks. I know this isn’t easy for you.”

She didn’t respond, afraid she might start crying. Must be hormones.

“You have to stop feeling bad about the accident,” Justin said. “I don’t. Haven’t for a long time.”

“But you lost the use of your legs.”

“Pretty incidental in the larger scheme of things.”

“No, it isn’t!”

“It is. I’m better off now than I ever was. I’ve got my degree. Have two job offers I’m considering. I play sports. White-water raft. I’m learning to ride a horse.” He patted Chico’s neck. “Have a girlfriend.”

“Tamiko? What about Eric?”

“She dumped him. For me. For
me,
” he repeated, wearing the goofy grin of a besotted man.

Caitlin wasn’t just proud of him, she was impressed. “I’m glad.” As long as he didn’t get hurt.

She had to stop thinking like that—
would
stop thinking like that.

“I’m happy, sis.”

He was. She could see it in his face, hear it in his voice.

The weight she’d been carrying for the last six years didn’t lift entirely, but it decreased. Eventually, soon, she’d be free of it.

“You should be happy, too. Ethan loves you.”

“I messed up with him.” She sniffed and Chico gave her arm a sympathetic nudge.

“Nothing you can’t repair.”

“I don’t know how.”

“Talk to him. I guarantee, he’ll listen.”

“I’m not sure there’s a point to it. I can’t handle his bronc riding. You saw how I was at the hospital.”

“You’d be surprised what you can handle if you have to. Look at me. Look at Mom and Dad.”

He made a good argument. And she already felt stronger. Amazing what release from guilt could do for a person.

Chico turned abruptly and started walking in the opposite direction.

“Hey, there!” Caitlin pulled on the lead rope, then gave the horse his head. Chico was going exactly where she wanted to—back to Ethan.

He must have noticed a change in her because his whole countenance lit up at her approach.

“Can we go somewhere to talk?” she said when they were close enough.

His shoulders straightened as if he, too, had had a weight lifted from them. “I’ll find Conner and T.J. so we can get Justin down.”

“I’m fine,” Justin said. “Tamiko will lead me around for a while.”

Tamiko jumped off the fence in eager anticipation. Caitlin passed her the lead rope, and the pair took off.

By unspoken agreement, Caitlin and Ethan headed in the direction of the office.

“Do you think they’ll be all right?” she asked. Old habits were hard to break.

“They’ll be fine.”

Caitlin sat on the top porch step, keeping Justin in sight, but not fretting about him. Not like she had, anyway.

Ethan lowered himself down beside her, his movements still stiff.

“How are you doing?”

“Better. The doctor suggested physical therapy. Know a good therapist?”

“I might.”

They both laughed and, just like that, the tension between them evaporated.

“You first,” she said.

He took a moment before continuing. “Being laid up the last couple of weeks has given me a lot of time to think. About my job. About rodeoing. About us.” He cleared his throat. “I’ve made a decision.”

His tone was so serious. Had she misinterpreted his intentions? Good heavens. He was breaking up with her. Now, after she’d finally come to her senses.

“I love you,” she blurted.

“Good.” He sagged with obvious relief. “That makes what I’m going to tell you a whole lot easier.” He fitted his palm to her cheek and rubbed his thumb along her jawline. “After my discharge, I wanted to…needed to ride broncs. To prove to myself and everyone else I was the same man I’d been before I lost my leg.”

“I understand. And you don’t have to give up rodeoing for me.”

“I want to.” His dark eyes searched hers. “It isn’t important to me anymore. Having you, loving you, is. Nothing I do matters without you in my life. You make me the man I want to be. If Justin hadn’t tricked you into coming here today, I would have gone after you myself and begged you to give us a second chance.” He chuckled. “Guess that would be a third chance.”

“Justin tricked me?” She tried to be mad at her brother, but couldn’t. “Remind me to thank him.”

Ethan cupped her other cheek and held her face between his hands. “If you’ll have me, I’ll also give up breaking horses.”

“That’s your job.”

“I’ll find another one.”

“Not on your life, cowboy, you hear me? You’re a Powell.”

“Caitlin, baby doll—”

“No. Quitting bronc riding is enough.” She remembered Justin’s words. “I can handle breaking horses, though. I’ll need help. Lots of support and understanding.”

“You’ll have it.”

He kissed her then, and it was the sweetest kiss he’d ever given her.

“Life is full of risks,” she said dreamily. “And they’re not all bad.”

She’d taken a huge one minutes ago when she’d asked to talk to him, and it was already paying off.

“Marry me, Caitlin. I love you, too.”

Her eyes went wide. “What did you say?”

“I’d get down on one knee, except between my bum leg and broken ribs, I’m not sure I could get back up.”

She drew in a ragged breath, her earlier indecision fleeing. “There’s something you need to know first.”

“If you’re worried about honing in on Gavin and Sage’s wedding next month, I can wait. Not long, mind you.”

“It’s not that.”

“We’ll buy a ring. Sorry I proposed without one.”

“No, no, no. I don’t care about a ring. Well, I do, but not this second.”

“Then what?”

“Marriage is life changing.” She wavered, scared and yet bursting with excitement. “Having a baby is, too.”

He stared at her blankly.

She huffed impatiently. Did she have to spell it out? “I’m pregnant.”

His dumbfounded expression transformed into one of unabashed delight.

Ethan struggled to his feet. He barely made it and doubled over, a low sound exploding from him.

“Ethan, are you all right?” She was instantly up and grabbed his arm.

“My ribs.” He was laughing, and the sound grew louder as he straightened.

She laughed with him.

Gavin threw open the office door. Caitlin hadn’t realized he was in there.

“What’s going on?” His glance traveled from Ethan to Caitlin. “I take it you two are back together.”

“More than back together.” Ethan stopped laughing and pulled Caitlin to him. “You did accept, didn’t you?”

“Yes, I’ll marry you.” She put her arms around him gently, drunk on happiness.

Gavin barreled down the steps and embraced them both, ignoring Ethan’s protest to take it easy. “It’s about damn time.”

Justin and Tamiko came over, her brother still mounted. “What’s going on?” he asked.

Ethan let go of Caitlin and shouted through cupped hands, loudly enough for the entire ranch to hear, “We’re getting hitched and we’re having a baby.”

After that, everything was a blur. Caitlin was aware of hugs and kisses and lots of congratulations. Wayne Powell suddenly appeared. He must have come out of the house to investigate all the commotion. Sage and the girls were with him.

“Ethan’s mother would be so happy.” Wayne kissed Caitlin on the cheek. “Another grandchild.”

Someone had helped Justin down from the horse, for he was suddenly in his wheelchair. He held her fiercely when she leaned down to hug him.

“Thanks,” she whispered. “For the advice and for tricking me into coming here. You’re the best.”

“Anytime, sis.”

“Guess I’d better let Mom and Dad know.”

Ethan put an arm around her. “We’ll drive out there later. Tell them together.”

She beamed at him. “Really?” That was exactly the right thing to do.

“You could have a double wedding,” Tamiko suggested gleefully, then reddened when everyone stared at her.

Ethan found his voice first. “What do you think? I know it’s kind of short notice.”

Caitlin could tell by his eager grin that he liked the idea. He’d want to get married as soon as possible, what with the baby coming. “Gavin and Sage may not want—”

“Gavin and Sage
absolutely
want,” Sage answered for them both. “All the arrangements are under way. It makes perfect sense.”

“Okay.” Caitlin shrugged, suddenly warming to the idea, as well. “Let’s have a double wedding.”

They took their celebrating inside to continue over supper.

Caitlin sat at the kitchen table next to Ethan, across from her brother, and with the family that had come to mean as much to her as her own.

When the meal was nearing an end, Wayne tapped his water glass with his fork. Everyone fell silent. “Here’s to my second future daughter-in-law. Welcome to the Powell family.” Wayne smiled at Caitlin affectionately. “I’ve been waiting nine years to say that.”

She’d been waiting nine years to hear it.

The passage of time, the trials and tribulations she and Ethan had confronted and conquered, made the moment all the more meaningful.