The Cowgirl Rides Away (Bluebonnet Texas Book 1) (23 page)

"I'm not getting married with a black eye!"

"Colby's cast!"

If he hit Jace with that cast, he could do all kinds of damage—to the both of them. By the time it was all over it had taken two of the hands, Cutter and Kane to pull the both of them apart. They'd ignored Daddy and Marlene, who kept yelling for them to stop. And now the two hands held Colby while Kane and Cutter kept Jace in check. From behind me came the sound of a car door slamming followed by footsteps in the gravel.

"Well, Jessa, seems like you set a new record," Marlene said. "It took you a whole twenty-four hours to cause a commotion."

All I could do was shrug. "Yes, ma'am, sure looks that way."

"This wasn't Jessa's fault," Jace panted as he dusted off his jeans.

"Don't make excuses for her. It's always Jessa's fault." Marlene now stood beside Daddy, her arms folded across her chest.

"Help you, son?" Daddy asked.

The hair at the nape of my neck tingled. Literally
tingled
. I swallowed hard and caught Kane's eye. He just grinned back at me. My jaw clenched and my lips formed a tight smile as I turned around to find Zack standing a few feet behind me.

"Look at you, causing trouble," he said softly.

I'll admit, the smile on his face turned me to mush. I threw back my head and laughed, hard and long while Daddy kept asking who he was and how I knew him.

"Always," I gasped, then laughed some more. Finally, I calmed down enough to close the distance between us and throw my arms around his neck. His hands were around me in an instant, pulling me against the solid length of him, and then his lips were on mine and it didn't matter that my entire family was watching us because I'd missed him and I'd missed this. "I guess I just can't help myself."

"Neither can I," he said just before he kissed me again.

"Jessalyn!" That was Marlene.

"Leave her be."
That
was Kane.

"They don't know about Kane," I whispered when he finally let me up for air. Zack nodded in understanding. "Now, what are you doing here?"

"I said I'd see you soon."

"Yeah but, your family, Travis…"

"They're fine. They don't need me and I missed you." He tucked my hair behind my ear, glanced down and then back up at me. "I was afraid you wouldn't come back."

"I was afraid you didn't want me to come back after all the trouble I caused."

"I always wanted you." His lips twitched. "I'm just not sure I can handle you."

My cheeks grew warm as a soft whistle to my right caught my attention. I turned to find Jace standing with his arms crossed over his chest, one eyebrow cocked. "This is Zack."

"I see that."

"Be nice," I said as he stepped closer and stuck out his hand.

"I'm always nice" His expression said otherwise.

"Keep an eye on him. I have some business to take care of."

With a deep breath I whirled around to face Colby, who stood with blood dripping from his nose, and Dad, who stood a lot closer to Zack and me than I'd expected. "I may never win the All-Around, you little shit, but I've set world records you'll never beat. No matter
what
you do, no matter
what
you accomplish, you'll never top me because I'm a woman. And for five years I dominated a male-dominated sport. You can't top that. You'll never be better than me, Colby, and it eats at your gut. Daddy." I turned so I stood directly in front of him, my hands on my hips.

"What is it, Jessa," he sighed, looking more than a little shell-shocked at my outburst and Zack's presence. I'd never, in thirteen years, brought a man around. Except Kane, but that was different.

"I need to see you in the barn. Now." What I had to say was between us and no one else. I stalked past him and across the yard, whirling on him as soon as we were alone and the door slammed behind us. "Did you hear what I said to Colby?"

"Every word." A smile I didn't understand teased his lips.

"Good. You do realize that applies to you, too?"

He frowned and opened his mouth to speak but I beat him to the punch. "I don't appreciate the way you treated me after my accident."

"I know. But Marlene—" If anything, Daddy looked even paler, as if even
he
knew how pitiful he sounded. "There were blizzards coming."

"Blizzards? I. Nearly. Died! I nearly died and you
abandoned
me. Why? You owe me that much."

He just shook his head and turned away.

"You might think I'm not shit cause I can't ride anymore, but I am something—" I circled around to stand in front of him, my temper growing. He wasn't getting off that easily. "Look at me. Look at me, Dad." I waited until he raised his eyes before continuing. "Just in case you didn't hear me earlier, my name is Jessalyn Hope Stratton and I'm a
five-time
PRA World Saddle Bronc Champion. I'm the
only
female roughstock world champion in PRA history, and you might not be proud of me, but I am.
I
am proud of
me,"
I shouted at the top of my lungs, causing a few horses to stomp their feet. "Despite the fact that I rodeoed for you, not myself. I gave you thirteen years of my life. I'm done. And I'm glad. I'm glad it's over. You got thirteen, Daddy, but the rest are mine. All mine."

He opened his mouth a couple times like a fish gasping for air, and then finally said, "I am, too." His words stopped me cold. "I never meant…I never meant for you to ride roughstock. Certainly not for so long. I never meant for you to take it as far as you did. I figured you'd quit after high school and settle down with some local boy. Maybe help me run the ranch."

"You never meant—" I slowly shook my head and sighed, my sadness and anger just as strong as before. "You never
said
. You never even said you were proud of me." I held up a hand at his open mouth, refusing to let him speak yet. "And if you think that Marlene would let me help run the ranch, Dad, you're delusional. You know, you should have sent me to Mom's family. You really should have, and I'll never understand why you didn't."

"Because I loved her so much."

My mother. It didn't take a genius to figure out that was talking about my mother. I'd asked him once if he'd loved her like he loved Marlene, but he'd said no, he'd loved her differently. "You weren't the only one who loved her. Her family loved her, too. You, Daddy, you were selfish. And now, it's
my
turn to be selfish."

"That man?"

I nodded. "He's the reason I'm going to Texas."

He smiled a little, but it was a sad smile. "I always thought it was Kane."

"Nope, Daddy. It was never Kane."

I walked out of the barn, ready to go home.

Epilogue

Zack and I wandered around the large, airy hall accepting congratulations from everyone. I wore a white dress, though it was nothing like the one he'd mentioned sketching me in in one of those early emails, and he wore a suit and tie. As did Travis.

"You nervous?" he whispered, his hand at the base of my spine.

I nodded and shook another hand, then blew out a heavy breath at the sight of my father coming toward me. "Yes."

"I am so proud of you, honey." Daddy leaned in for a hug, but it was brief. Of course I knew he was proud of me, but our relationship would never be like what I had with Jerrod and Maggie, and I'd made peace with that. If I'd learned anything over the last six months, I'd learned to let go and just accept what was.

My family was here—and by family I meant not just my dad and step-mom and siblings, but my aunts from Louisiana and Kane and a whole slew of cousins I'd never even met, and of course, Zack's family. My new girl cousins had been coming up to me, squealing and hugging my neck all afternoon. Zack just watched and laughed and shook his head.

It was all very surreal as a smiling attendant tapped me on the arm.

"It's time, Ms. Stratton."

I followed her to the front of the room, Zack's hand clutched in my sweaty one, as we weaved through clusters of people. I only reluctantly let it go when I reached the stairs. I turned back to look at him one last time.

"I love you," he mouthed.

"I love you, too," I said and climbed the short set of stairs as the woman at the podium began to speak.

"Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the Cowgirl Hall of Fame. We're so honored you could be with us tonight as we welcome our newest member."

Postscript

Confession time: THE COWGIRL RIDES AWAY is the first full manuscript I ever wrote. I started it twelve years ago—when my critique partner, Melissa Blue, had just graduated high school (We didn't know each other then LOL).

I never could get it published so I set it aside and wrote other things that did get published. Over the years I've tried to rewrite it a number of times so clicking 'publish' so many years later means more than you know. It's finally done and I feel good about how it ended. These last few chapters are dedicated to Melissa but also, my Wattpad readers. Without their support, encouragement and demands for more, this one might not have ever gotten finished.

Stories have themes. Sometimes it's accidental, sometimes we plan these things. In ONCE IN A BLUE MOON (May 2015), it was about loving conquering all.

In THE BIG GIRL'S GUIDE (October 2015), again, it was about love conquering all but also about not being tied to your past -- and parental expectations. Guess what? With THE COWGIRL RIDES AWAY love has again conquered all. But this one is also about letting go and acknowledging that we're all flawed, all broken and still worthy of love. 

I like the idea of love conquering all. I like the idea that love can make us brave, brave enough to confront our past and embrace our future. 

I wish I could have given Jessa and her father a happy ending. Maybe one day. I like to think that grandchildren can bridge just about any gap...but we'll see. But that's okay. Jessa has Jace, Kane and Susie and Maggie and Jerrod and one day real soon she'll have Betti, and of course, Zack and Travis. She'll be fine.

For those of you reading in order, BLUE MOON is the second Bluebonnet book. And yes, for you long-time fans, this is Ty and Betti's story originally published in 2005. Nothing's changed. I just got the rights back and I'm republishing it along with Zander's story in June, Rowdy's story in October, and Tim's story, too, but probably not until early 2016.

Will Susie Boudreaux get a story? Of course. I'm not sure how, but she ends up with Kane. Something I've known from the start. What about Jace and Colby—probably! I'm never saying never. And, of course, Jessa has a slew of cousins that even I haven't met yet. 

Until next time....Happy Reading! Scroll down for a look at ONCE IN A BLUE MOON.

Amie

ONCE IN A BLUE MOON

CHAPTER ONE

Never Sleep With A Boy From Bluebonnet

After a decade in the business, I'd discovered hairdressers are a breed apart and I pretty much stuck with my own kind. However, this Friday night I ditched the girls to see Asleep at the Wheel playing at the Bluebonnet Dancehall.

Now, normally I avoided anything to do with Bluebonnet, Texas, even the dancehall that carried its name and sat right on the highway. After all, its good citizens are the ones who blessed me with my nickname--"Bad Betti." I've been Bad Betti since the fifth grade. That's when I started to blossom, as they say. There's nothing worse than being the only girl in the fifth grade who wears a bra, except living in a small town and being the only girl in the fifth grade who wears one.

By my freshman year I'd swelled to a 36D and stayed there. My wide hips, long curly hair and green bedroom eyes didn't help matters either. I was, to borrow a phrase, "built like a brick shithouse." Every boy from ninth grade on up, and a few dads, had made passes at me. And then there was that whole "daughter of the town drunk" thing. Get a reputation in a town like Bluebonnet—population five thousand and change—and it sticks. I could become a United States Senator, come home for a visit and they'd still call me "Bad Betti Blanchard."

I will admit to making a mistake or three, but I wasn't
bad
.

I was tired and cranky, and the smell of perm solution still lingered in my nose. I cursed fussy clients who made me late and the crowded parking lot as I squeezed my Mustang into a hole three pickups down from the dumpster.

Dressed in a shocking pink, knee-length halter dress and three-inch heels, I topped six feet easily and in a dancehall full of rednecks, I stood out like a whore in church.

God love small towns.

I snorted softly, taking in the denim and plaid wearing crowd. With a deliberate swing to my hips, I tuned out the stares and strolled through the crowd to the bar. I wormed my way into a small space, shouting out my order for a gin and tonic. The bartender quickly obliged, and I threw a ten on the countertop, waving away the change she offered.

Up on stage, the band was going full tilt and I cursed myself again for being late. I'd never get a good spot. I'd seen them a few other times around San Antonio and Ray and the boys weren't to be missed. The only thing better, in my opinion, was Joe Ely with or without The Flatlanders.

Being tall did have its advantages. I finally spotted Tim Caldwell at the railing near the stage, and with a smile, he let me squeeze in front of him.

Cardinal Rule of Womanhood Number One:
Never Sleep With a Boy From Bluebonnet.

Guys have a lot of nerve calling women gossips, let me tell you! The only time after high school I broke that rule was with Tim, and to this day, we're still good friends.

Cardinal Rules Two through Four:
Be Discreet; Have Fun; Keep It Light.
This had allowed us to part friends, and I've successfully done so with almost every man since him.

"How's it going, sugar?" The deep rumble of his voice tickled my ear. That man could give a gigolo lessons on flirting!

"Fine, and you?" I gave him my flirtiest smile and batted my lashes at him.