Wanted: Fairy Godmother (20 page)

“The thought did cross my mind.” His voice, husky and low, sent shivers down her spine.

She forced a bright smile, feeling a nerve twitch in her cheek. “Well, Flossie and Gus were headed this way and figured the guys would like to see you in action. To make a short story even shorter, I was the only one with a van big enough to fit everyone in.” She shrugged. “So, here we are. The others stayed in the stands while I came to congratulate you.”

He raised an eyebrow. “Is that all?”

A trickle of sweat inched its way down her neck. “You were great. Just when I thought that bull would throw you off, you held on tight and rode him out—”

“Callie.” He stopped her babbling cold. “Why are you really here?” Thick, pulsating tension rolled off of him. Every line in his body seemed as if it were made from granite.

Icy tentacles curled in her. Uncrossing her fingers, she looked him square in the eye. “I’ve got this great idea, Jake. Wait-before you say anything, hear me out.”

She held up a hand when he jerked to attention at her words. Clearing her throat, she went on, “Everyone misses you, including me. So I thought we could travel around to the different rodeos together. You know, you, the guys, and me. Now, I know they still have school but every weekend we can hop in my bus and catch up with you. It’ll only be for a couple weeks, then summer’s here. What do you say, Jake?”

His face registered shock and disapproval. Leaning close, he said, “Over my dead body, Callie!”

Pain slashed open her chest, exposing raw, sensitive nerve endings. Crossing her arms, she challenged him. “Your cousins need you. I need you.”

She caught the flicker of unease in the depths of his eyes. Cold, stark realization hit her over the head. The bottom of her world dropped out. Only a black gaping hole remained.

“How could I be so stupid?” she whispered brokenly, backing away from him and uncrossing her arms. “You don’t care for me, not now, not then. You felt obligated to me, just like you do to everything else in your life. Don’t worry. I’m not blaming you for any of it. You made it clear, crystal-clear, from the start you wanted your freedom.”

She shook her head, saying, “You’ve probably got your rodeo groupies lined up, don’t you? Don’t try to deny it. I heard Gus and Flossie talking about how the cowboys at these things have to fight off the women, especially after a big win.”

“Callie, it’s not—”

“Stop!” she cried, holding her hands over her ears to blot out his lame excuses. When his mouth ceased to move, she dropped her hands, curling them into fists at her side.

Gathering all her courage, she said, “I quit, Jake. I’ll stay in Rosebud County and make a life for myself. I’ll be there for the guys. But I don’t want to see you again, understand? I think it’ll be best for both of us that way. I’m going to say my goodbyes to your cousins and Gus and Flossie, then I’m leaving and you don’t ever have to see me again. Goodbye, Jake. I hope you win that championship since that’s what you want most.”

For long, drawn-out moments, Jake stood stark still, watching her sexy little sway as she walked away, walked out of his life forever.

Icy shock crashed down on him, holding him immobile. His mind roared with denial, yet his feet stayed glued to the wooden barn floor.

His thoughts reeled from the encounter.
What kind of life would the boys and her lead, chasing after him to each rodeo?
They needed a real home, not a makeshift substitute bus.

They need you, Lassiter
.

But Callie was willing to give up her dreams for his long-held desire of freedom and a championship, a championship he only now realized held little significance to him.

A hollow victory.

A win didn’t define who he was. Love from the people who cared about him mattered above all else.

Love from Callie.

The most important aspect of his life just abandoned him, leaving him stunned and regretting his failed attempt to explain his numb state. Desolation hit; emptiness followed.

He moved, a half step, released from the grip of emotions paralyzing him. “No,” he said, softly at first, and then louder, “No!”

“Hey, Jake, there you are,” Les said, rushing up behind him, and then grabbing Jake in a big, hearty bear hug. “Damn but you were good on that bull. You even set an all-time record for staying on Satan.” He pulled back, slapping Jake on the back. “What a hell of a comeback! You’re sure to win the championship this year.”

He grabbed his friend’s shirtfront. “I don’t want the damn championship, do you hear me?”

“Christ, what’s eating you?”

Jake grimaced at the mistreatment to his friend. He released the material. “Sorry,” he muttered. “Female trouble.”

Les smiled slyly. “Callie’s here, right?”

Taken aback, Jake jerked. “How did you know?”

“Easy. No one else ticks you off more, whips you up into a frenzy as fast, gets you hotter than a branding iron in a glowing bed of coals, or would make you realize there’s more to life than following rodeos.”

Disbelief crashed over Jake. Then he smiled, feeling lighthearted for the first time since leaving the ranch and his family. “Am I that quick to read?”

“Only when you’re around her, buddy. The rest of us figured you would find your match someday, someone you’d be willing to compromise for. Who would have guessed, back when you were kids, that she’d snag you, huh?”

Jake laughed, knowing he’d been caught and tied in knots ever since Callie returned to his life.

And if truth be told, for the last eighteen years without her, he felt the keen painful loss of the little girl who had adored him.

Only, he admitted now, he’d never put a finger on it before. He wanted freedom, but not for freedom’s sake alone. He longed for the kind of release from the restlessness that ate at him.

Callie corralled that energy, converting it into a well of love, acceptance, and security.

Home. Family
.

A frightening thought gripped him. He raced to the barn exit. “Ah hell…”

Les followed, calling, “Where are you off to in such a hurry?”

“I’ve got to stop her before she leaves.”

A few minutes later, after pushing people aside, Jake made his way to the bull shoot. Les, gasping for air, caught up to him.

“What…are you planning to do? Maybe I can help.”

Hope sliced through Jake. He shoved Les toward the pen, saying, “Hold up the next rider. Don’t let him get on that bull and let him out or I’ll be a sitting target.”

“Huh?”

“Just go and do as I say.”

Jake waited endless minutes until Les suspended the proceedings. Relief washed over him; Jake had no death wish. Next, a mixture of panic and optimism took hold, gnawing at him.

He climbed the metal railing, gained the top, and then jumped to the hard, dirt ground. The landing jarred him, but he remained on his feet. Walking to the center of the large, oval arena, he felt every eye on him.

He halted, aware of the hushed whispers. Gazing out at the sea of faces, he prayed his plan worked. With hands on his hips, he called out, “Where are you, Callie?” His voice bounced and echoed.

The loudspeaker came on, the squealing feedback grating along his nerves. “Jake Lassiter, is that you out there?” the deep male voice called out. “Did I hear you right? You need help in finding your lady?”

“Yes, sir,” Jake yelled, twisting to wave at the man in the booth. He recognized the jovial, round-faced announcer from past events.

“What’s her name, son?”

“Callie Jean Andrews!”

“Well, Callie Jean Andrews, you got a mighty fired-up cowboy here that’s hankering for you. Come on and show yourself.”

Jake’s heart stopped. A dull, persistent roar filled his eardrums. Under the hot, bright lights, Jake felt the rivulets of sweat gathering and falling from under his hat and down his neck.

A sharp, familiar cackle sounded to his left. He twirled around, facing that direction.

“Over here, Jake,” Flossie hollered. “She’s over here!”

Welcome solace lanced through him. He scanned the crowd, spotting Flossie, with her bright red hair, waving a multicolored scarf. Shifting his gaze to her side, he found Callie. He strode purposefully across the dirt-packed arena.

“I can walk away from all this, Callie; I can leave it all behind. But I can’t do the same with you. I tried once, but I’m all torn up inside. Lord knows, I’m not worth a damn when I’m away from you.”

He tugged at the rawhide chaps, ripping the material that held him encased. Unbuckling the waistband, he threw them on the ground. “I don’t need this.”

Whipping off his left glove, he tossed it aside. “Not the endless days of travel, the constant injuries, nor all the same old rodeos.” He removed the right glove, flipping it over his shoulder.

“I don’t even need the championship.” Next, he grabbed the number on his back, tore it off, and then flung it away. “What I need is you in my life, in my heart.”

He stopped at the wall, looking up at the sweet, angelic face, now filled with shock and disbelief. Stretching, he grabbed the bottom metal rail, hauling himself up. “I love you, Callie! I always have and I always will.”

He crested the top, and then vaulted over it. He landed two feet in front of her.

“Jake, have you lost your mind?” Her light green eyes shone with love, filling him with wonder. The dimple at the side of her mouth came and went as she fought back a smile.

“Yes, I’ve lost my head and my heart to you. Now, what are you going to do about it, honey?”

She gasped, and then said mischievously, “What exactly are you hoping I say?”

He chuckled. It came out low and husky. “How about you’ll marry me, for starters, and make all of us one big happy family?” He gestured to the boys standing around her. Stan nudged her forward.

“A real honest-to-goodness home?” Her voice held a wealth of hope and awe as she took a tentative step in Jake’s direction.

Reaching out, he pulled her the last few paces. He scooped her up, hugging her tightly. The crowd roared with approval, Flossie, Gus, and the boys loudest of all.

Bringing her to his level, he gazed at her with everything he felt inside, a mixture of the purest love and incredible amazement.

“Yes, CJ, a real honest-to-goodness home for a real honest-to-goodness fairy godmother.”

Four Years Later

“Ah hell, Callie, not again! Isn’t one set of twins enough?” Bracing one hand on the porch post, Jake gazed down at her as she rubbed her gently rounded belly affectionately.

Her sly, wicked smile sent jolts of desire clear to his toes. “Now, Jake, I’m not the only one in the family to have a very
potent
wand.”

He chuckled, sweeping her up in his arms. Kissing her soundly, he felt four little hands tugging on his pant legs. He glanced down to see two miniature replicas of himself, precious dark-haired, dark-eyed little boys. His heart overflowed with love and wonder.

How the hell did you ever get so lucky, Lassiter?

“Up, Daddy, up,” Jasper cried, jumping.

“Me, too. Up, Daddy, up!” Little Duke echoed his two-year-old identical twin.

Callie giggled, trailing kisses along Jake’s jaw, and then down his neck. Shivers of delight coursed through his veins. He growled, low and deep.

The twins shrieked, half afraid, half excited.

A sharp, shrill whistle cut the air, drawing Jake’s attention, along with his family’s, to the barn. Les, with his wife Sissy, led the boys’ brand new pony into the yard.

“Uncle Les, Aunt Sissy!” the twins cried in unison, and then clamored down the porch steps and raced to the pair. “Horsey ride,” his sons screamed, clapping their little hands.

“Thank heavens they don’t take after your cousins when it comes to horses, Jake. And they’re chatting non-stop about the old-fashioned trail ride next week. I just hope the two little ones to come will inherit the same love of ranch life.”

Gently putting Callie back on her feet, Jake stared at her. Her skin glowed and her eyes sparkled. Warmth stole over him. “Twins, huh?”

She nodded, the dimple at the side of her mouth deepening as she smiled fully. “I’m praying for girls this time.”

“Trying to even out the score, are you?” Tenderly, he reached up, brushing back a tendril of her honey-blonde hair the wind whipped across her eyes.

“Yes. It’s not easy living with six of the male species.”

He laughed, knowing she loved having everyone under the same roof and near her. “Promise me one thing. If we ever do have a little girl, don’t let Flossie get her hands on her. No daughter of mine will wear that crazy hairdo. Hot pink?”

Callie chuckled, warming his heart even more. “I promise.”

He leaned close, nibbling her earlobe. Her wildflower scent stirred him to a fever pitch as it always did. He felt the tremor that racked her body and he doubted if he could wait until nighttime for her. He’d never get enough of loving his precious wife. “Do you think we’ll ever get some privacy, Callie Jean Andrews?”

“Callie Jean Andrews
Lassiter
,” she corrected, pride coloring her words. “And yes, we will eventually have some time alone. The guys, along with the twins’ doting surrogate grandparents, promised to babysit this weekend.” She played with the buttons on his shirt. “Gus and Flossie will see everything runs smoothly. And we can sneak off to the line camp …”

He groaned. “That’s how you got in this condition in the first place.” He reached out, reverently caressing her belly. A sharp thrust had him rubbing the spot, and then bending and kissing it. “Stop kicking your mother or you’re grounded for life.”

Callie laughed, running her fingers through his hair. “You’ve taken to settling down on the ranch and fatherhood very well so far. No regrets?”

He straightened, capturing her gaze. “Not on your life, honey.” His voice rang with conviction; he’d never been happier, never been loved so thoroughly.