The Cowboy Lawman (11 page)

He hadn’t been thrown like that in years. He moved gingerly, testing his limbs. About the only thing that hurt was his back and his head. He groaned and leaned back. Maybe his horse wasn’t quite ready.

Jackson appeared next to him, leaning over and grinning that cheesy grin of his. “You okay?”

“Great. My pride hurts. My back hurts. My head hurts. What happened?”

“Some kid decided to fly a paper airplane into the arena.”

“Seriously?”

“For real.” Jackson held out a hand. “Anything broken? Can you get up?”

“Yeah, I can get up. But could you tell someone to stop spinning the globe?”

“Hit your head, did you?”

“Yeah. I think I might have blacked out for a second.”

“Well, at least you know where you are.”

Slade heard a commotion as he reached for Jackson’s hand and stood. Everyone clapped and he waved his hat. Yeah, this was humiliating. Nothing like getting thrown off a perfectly good horse in front of everyone you know. The commotion continued. He turned and saw that it was at the gate. The commotion had a name—Mia.

“If you can walk, I’ll get our horses.” Jackson had his horse by the reins, but Slade’s gelding stood close to the fence. “And you can deal with Mia.”

“Thanks.” He limped toward the exit. The crowds had gone back to their popcorn and talking to the people around them. Rodeo was as much about visiting with neighbors as watching the events, he guessed.

“Are you okay?” Mia opened the gate for him.

“I think so.” He rubbed the back of his head and felt a knot the size of a golf ball. “Other than the lump on the back of my head.”

“The paramedics are waiting.” She took his arm and was practically dragging him toward the ambulance.

“I have a horse I need to tend to and I don’t need a paramedic.”

“Jackson has your horse. He’ll take care of him. Look, it’s my turn.”

“Your turn?”

“To take care of you.”

“Oh.” He let her lead him because he didn’t feel like arguing. One of the attendants nodded as he headed their way.

“Slade, I didn’t expect you over here,” the guy said.

“Paper airplane meets horse,” Mia explained.

Slade flinched when the guy flashed a light in front of his face. “Could you warn me before you do that?”

“Sorry.” Pete was someone Slade saw on a weekly basis. They were often at the same incidents. “If I tell you to go in for a CT, will you?”

“No. If anything, it’s a mild concussion.” Slade stretched. “And a bruised back.”

“You might want to keep an eye on him for a few hours.” Pete said this to Mia, who nodded. “He needs to stay awake.”

Slade yanked the flashlight out of Pete’s hand when Pete started to raise it toward his face a second time. “If you want this back you’ll stop flashing it in my face.”

Pete laughed and held out his hand. “At least he’s conscious and alert. If he does get groggy or his speech gets slurred, headaches...”

“I know, I’ll get him to the E.R.” Mia looked at him, like she was looking for signs that he might go into a coma.

“I’m fine. I need to check on Caleb.”

“I was sitting with him when you went down.”

“Nice way to put it. I think the story will be a little more dramatic than the actual event.”

“Anyway, he’s good. My mom is up there with Heather, Sophie, the whole crew.”

“Good to know.” He walked away from the ambulance and Mia walked with him.

He thought about telling her she didn’t have to babysit him, but her hand brushed his, and being alone was suddenly the last thing he wanted.

Chapter Eleven

M
ia walked next to Slade, even though common sense told her to walk anywhere but next to him. He walked a little slower than normal. She moved to his right side and slipped her left arm around his waist. He circled his arm around her shoulder. After they’d walked out of the bright circle of lights from the arena he stopped and leaned forward, taking in a deep breath with her hand on his back.

“You’re not okay.”

“I’m fine.” He straightened and turned to face her. “I’m going to be sore tomorrow and the world is a little less than clear right now, but I’m good.”

She smiled and reached to wipe dirt off the side of his face. Her hand stilled, her heart and lungs did the same. Complete silence hung between them, and something else, something tangible, strong, pulled them close.

Slade groaned and closed his eyes. “Mia.”

“I know.”

“I can’t think straight.”

“Neither can I, and I don’t have a concussion.”

“I only know that if I don’t kiss you right now, I’m not going to get through this night.”

“I feel the same way. Then I feel like kissing you is the worst thing I could ever do.”

He leaned in close, the brim of his hat touching her forehead. They stood there for a long time, just holding each other, waiting for the moment to pass.

“Remember when we were kids and this was it for us? Every Friday night we were all down here, thinking we’d be young forever, thinking we’d never hurt or cry or want to scream at God.”

“I remember.” She settled her hands on his waist. His hands were on her shoulders. They kept space between them. Distance.

Mia looked up and he was watching her. They were in the shadows of the trees on a starry autumn night. Slade moved, leaning closer, capturing her mouth with his. They weren’t kids anymore. They’d both seen that life could hurt. They’d both found faith again.

Mia let herself be captured by him in that moment. She parted her lips to meet his, needing him the way she had never needed anyone before. She closed her eyes as he swept her away. The world faded, the sounds of the rodeo faded. She let her heart be touched by his. His hands, strong and wide, traveled from her shoulders to her back, holding her close.

“Mia.” He withdrew long enough to whisper her name and then he kissed her again.

Mia reached for his hat, took it off and held it at her side. The moment ended, his lips grazed her cheek and settled close to her ear. Mia brushed her lips across the rough plane of his cheeks, feeling the shadow of whiskers from a long day.

“What you do to me...” He shook his head. “I don’t know.”

“I don’t, either.”

He cupped her cheeks and kissed her again, just a taste, a sweet taste of what they could be together. “I need time.”

“We both need time.”

“There’s a lot between us.”

“Yes.”

Her heart wanted to sing. It wanted to cry. Everything she’d never known she wanted was standing in front of her, promising everything—and nothing.

“Mia, I have to think. I have to have space.”

“Of course.” She moved her hand along his cheek and he grazed her palm with another kiss.

“We should go back.”

He took her hand and led her away from that place, that moment, and back to the light of the arena. Back to reality, to the people who would ask questions, speculate.

Caleb saw them first. He was standing with Heather and Elizabeth, and he led them toward Slade and Mia. Heather’s expression asked questions. Elizabeth hadn’t been a member of the family long enough to give those looks.

Slade let go of her hand and she knew it was because of Caleb. The little boy ran toward them. He looked at Mia and then at his dad.

“You got thrown. You never get bucked off, Dad.”

“I know, kiddo. Sometimes it happens, though.”

“Are you hurt bad?”

“No, not bad. I’ll be sore tomorrow and I have a headache tonight.”

“Did Mia make you go to the doctor?” Caleb looked at her. His lips were drawn tight and he narrowed his eyes. Mia didn’t know what to say to him.

“No, buddy, she just made me go over and have the ambulance guys check me out.” Slade reached for his son and Caleb jumped into his arms. “I’m fine, Cay.”

“Okay, but what if you’re not?” For the first time, Mia saw the little boy tear up.

“Of course I’m fine.”

Caleb looked at her again. “Is he fine?”

“He’s very fine.”

Heather snorted and the usually composed Elizabeth actually laughed. Mia glanced at Slade and saw a twinkle in his dark eyes. “Fine?” He mouthed the word.

Heat climbed into her cheeks, a condition she had rarely experienced in her life. She didn’t get embarrassed or flustered. She knew how to handle things.

She didn’t know how to handle Slade.

“We should get the horses loaded.” Mia stumbled over the words and ignored her sister and sister-in-law.

“Of course we should.” Slade winced as he shifted Caleb in his arms. “Buddy, I think you’re going to have to walk. Your old dad isn’t as young as he used to be.”

Caleb slid to the ground.

“Thank you for watching him.” Slade included Heather and Elizabeth in a smile. “I guess we’re going to put up the horses.”

Caleb shouted happily and slid between Slade and Mia as they walked away. He held each of their hands, and every now and then holding his legs up in the air to swing between them. Mia watched Slade grimace but he didn’t say anything to stop his son.

Travis already had Mia’s horse in the trailer. Slade’s horse was unsaddled and tied to the back of his trailer. Mia held both of Caleb’s hands as his dad put the gelding up. She smiled at Travis when he walked their way.

“Got it all taken care of?” He poked at Caleb’s belly and Caleb laughed.

“Yes, I think so. Thanks for taking care of things,” Mia answered.

“I could see Slade needed a minute.” Travis shrugged it off but his expression turned serious. “What about you? You okay?”

She nodded, but she couldn’t really say that she was okay.

Caleb reached for Travis’s hand. “Did you see my dad get bucked off?”

“I sure did.” Travis took off his hat and set it on Caleb’s head. “Did you see me run from that bull that bucked off my brother Gage?”

“I sure did,” Caleb imitated with a serious voice. “Where is Gage? My dad says he’ll go pro if he keeps his head on.”

Mia and Travis both laughed at that. Travis pointed toward the big stock trailer from Cooper Creek Ranch. “He’s right over there. But he’s cranky and hard to be around.”

Mia wondered about that. What had happened to her fun-loving little brothers? Both Gage and Dylan had gone through something, but no one could quite figure out what. Gage was mad at God and everyone else. Dylan had left for Texas six months ago and hadn’t been back.

Caleb yawned big. Mia smiled down at him. “Do you want to get in your dad’s truck? It’s getting kind of cold out here and I’ll bet it’s warm in there.”

Caleb nodded and she noticed that he had sleepy-little-boy eyes. She picked him up with her left arm, holding him close, and carried him to the truck. She got the door open and he crawled in. She found a small pillow and blanket in the backseat of the extended cab.

“Do you want these?”

He nodded and slipped off his dusty cowboy boots, letting them drop on the floor of the truck. Mia put the pillow on the seat and he curled up and grabbed the blanket from her.

“I’m good now. I think I’ll just sleep. Can you tell my dad?”

“I’ll tell him.” She stood there for a minute, wishing she could kiss his cheek and tuck him in. She remembered once that she’d tucked in her brother Lucky’s kids when she babysat them for a night.

But that moment didn’t compare to this one. She wanted to hug Caleb and hold on to him. She wanted to read him a story and say bedtime prayers with him.

The thoughts rushed at her with the force of a locomotive. She drew in a breath and blinked back the sting of tears. “Good night, Cay.”

He gave her a sleepy smile and sat up. Before she could react, his arms were around her neck and he hugged her tight.

“Good night, Mia. No one ever calls me Cay but my dad.”

“Oh, I’m sorry.”

He was still hugging her tight and he smelled like rodeo, like hamburgers and candy bars and a dusty night. “You can call me Cay.”

“Thank you.” She kissed his cheek and he let go and settled back in the seat.

It hurt to breathe. She closed the door and wondered how she would get out of this. She had always been good at thinking fast and finding a way out. This time, though, she didn’t know if there wasn’t an exit or if she just didn’t want one.

* * *

Slade stood at the side of the truck, out of the line of sight. He heard his son tell Mia that she could call him Cay. He had watched them hug and watched her tuck his boy in, the way a mom did. The way Slade never managed to. He tried to be both Mom and Dad to Caleb, but the mom gene wasn’t in him.

His heart ached worse than his head.

When Mia turned and saw him, she closed her eyes and shook her head. He reached for her hand. At first she didn’t take it. Finally, she did and they walked back to the trailer. They leaned against the cold metal, feeling the thing move and shift with the movement of the horse.

“I didn’t know.” Mia sniffled and he wanted to offer her a handkerchief or tissue. Unfortunately, he wasn’t that chivalrous. He guessed his sleeve would do. He held it up and she laughed. “I can’t remember ever having a hug like that or feeling that way.”

“That’s the way it is with a kid.” Slade sighed and her fingers tightened on his. “I remember before Vicki had him, I didn’t know what I’d do with a kid, how I’d be a dad. And then they put him in my arms and the whole world changed. He’s everything, Mia. I can’t take one step in this life without thinking about how it will affect him.”

“I know.”

He rubbed the back of his head. “Man, this hurts.”

“Are you sure you don’t need to go in and get checked?”

“I’m good.”

“He said to keep an eye on you and keep you awake for a few hours.”

“I heard him.”

They moved to the tailgate of his truck and watched as other trailers were loaded. The bulls in the pens were restless, moving and stirring up dust. Slade heard Jackson yell at Reese to open a gate. Slade watched for his friend. Reese seemed to be doing well. He’d adjusted to his lost eyesight. He’d gotten married and he and his wife had a little boy. But Slade still felt the need to protect the guy who would give his life for anyone.

Cars were pulling out of the parking areas. Slade watched his mom’s car go by with Eve in the driver’s seat. He waved. They didn’t see him.

Next to him Mia moved. He glanced down as she cradled her right arm with her left. She didn’t say anything.

He put his arm around her shoulder and drew her close.

“Slade?”

“Um-hmm.”

“I don’t know what to do. I’m not sure what we’re doing.”

“I know.”

He looked down at their hands, fingers laced together. He clasped and unclasped his fingers over hers.

“I’ll be right back.” He hopped down off the back of the tailgate and then regretted the sudden jolting movement. He ran his hand along his lower back and groaned. Mia snickered and he turned to look at her.

“You said it—we’re not as young as we used to be.”

He grinned and almost quoted the words to a Toby Keith song. He didn’t. Instead, he dug around in the back of the trailer for an old quilt. Mia watched as he brought it back and spread it out in the back of the truck.

The lights of the arena flickered off. The truck pulling the Cooper Creek trailer idled and then eased out of the parking lot. Travis honked, waved and went on, leaving them alone.

“You said you’d keep an eye on me.” He walked to the cab of his truck and peeked in. Caleb was sound asleep, his thumb in his mouth and a happy smile on his face.

Once upon a time, he didn’t know how they would ever be happy, just the two of them. But they were. He walked back to Mia and she was straightening the quilt in the back of the truck.

“What’s your plan, Slade McKennon?”

“Well, we have a five-year-old chaperone and I’m a gentleman, so my plan just includes the two of us pretending for a little while longer that we’re still kids without a care in the world.”

“How long do you think we can get away with that?” She moved as he climbed into the back of the truck.

He took her with him, to the quilt. He sprawled out, groaning at the stiff muscles in his back that didn’t want to release and let him stretch.

“I give a good back rub. Sit up.”

He sat with his back to her. She rubbed the tight muscles and he leaned forward, wishing he could sleep as his body relaxed. Eventually, she stopped and then she kissed his shoulder.

“I’m a gentleman.” He relaxed on the quilt again.

“I’m glad.” She stretched out, too, but kept space between them. “I’m...”

“What?”

“Waiting.”

“For?” He turned to look at her, wondering if she was waiting for him to say something or do something.

“Waiting.” She looked away, sighing. “For marriage.”

“Oh, wow. Mia.” He had never been in love with Mia. As kids he’d thought she was cute, but she’d been the little sister of his best friend. And then she’d been Vicki’s best friend.

Tonight she was one of the most amazing women he’d ever met. Maybe she’d been that person for a while. He slid his hand down her arm and found her hand. The two of them stared up at the stars.

“Aren’t you going to laugh, at least a little?” she asked. He shook his head. “I mean, really, did you expect me to tell you that?”

“No, I didn’t. But...”

“But you think I’m amazing and not emotionally stunted. Not a workaholic with no life, or something?”

“Amazing.” He lifted her hand to his lips and held it there.

But what did he do with the amazing woman next to him? That remained the question of the night, or the question of the year.

“You realize Travis was my ride home.” She broke the silence with a change of topic.

He was okay with the change. “Yes, I think I did know that.”