A Cowboy's Heart (Hitting Rocks Cowboys) (15 page)

“Tell her I’ll be right there.”

Sadie and Millie were embracing while he made his way over to Mac and shook his hand. “I hope you know she won this championship for her champion father.”

He wiped his eyes. “I was no champion, but Millie and I gave birth to one. Thank you for getting her here safe and sound. I believe it made all the difference. We’re so sorry about your accident.”

“I’d forgotten all about it.” It was the truth.

Avery hugged him on his good side. “Mac was right. Bringing Liz with you gave her the kind of confidence to put her over the top. You were always my hero, but you’ve outdone yourself this time.”

After she kissed his cheek, Zane shook his hand. “I’ve never been to a rodeo until tonight. To think you won five times in this arena is phenomenal.”

“I got lucky.”

He grinned. “Sure you did. I guess Liz just got lucky, too.”

Millie turned to him and gave him a gentle hug. “Bless you for taking such wonderful care of our daughter despite the terrible disappointment to yourself.”

His throat swelled. “I would have liked to be doing this for her a long time ago, but Daniel Corkin got in the way.” At that remark, her eyes flared in surprise. “Shall we go find her in the back before we drive over to the South Point?”

On their way out of the arena it occurred to him that Kyle might have been here the whole time helping Liz. It wasn’t a pleasant thought.

Wade intercepted him when they reached the stall area. “Sunflower got stall cast, but she’ll be fine.” Connor grimaced. He figured it might have been something like that. “My rig’s out in back. Why don’t I load Sunflower and Polly and drive them to the RV park for the night while you go on to the South Point with your family.”

“I owe you more than you’ll never know, Wade.”

His blue eyes smiled. “It works both ways, and you know it.”

Connor followed him but held back while he watched the crowd around Liz give her hugs and congratulations. He didn’t see another man around. What had happened to Kyle?

While Wade was leading her horses out of their stalls, she swung around to say something, but stopped when she saw Connor. Though her face shone with happiness, he glimpsed a shadow of sorrow in her eyes. Because Kyle wasn’t here?

He moved closer. “Well...shall we add up the earnings for the world-champion barrel racer? You’ve won over two hundred thousand dollars.”

“That last barrel should have toppled,” she said in a shaky voice.

“But it didn’t. Now you’ve got enough money to finish paying off your loans, buy yourself a new truck and car and still have money left over.”

A stillness enveloped them. “It was never about the money.”

“Like I told you a long time ago, you’re too good to be true.”

Her features hardened. “Yup. That’s me.”

“Where’s your favorite? The one who was flying down from Bozeman?”

If he wasn’t mistaken, those green eyes glittered. “At the last minute there was an emergency and he couldn’t make it. But we’ll see each other after I get back home. He’s going to help me pick out a new truck.”

The hell he was.

“Then why don’t we pile everyone in my truck and head on over to the casino where you’ll be royally feted. It’ll be a tight squeeze, but I’m pretty sure no one will mind. I’ll ask Jarod to drive us.”

* * *

L
IZ
COULDN
’
T
BELIEVE
it when Connor managed the seating arrangements so the two of them were in back with her parents. Since it was a bit of a squeeze, he told her it might be better if she sat on his left leg so his sore arm had more room. Jarod drove with Sadie and Zane up front.

It was like déjà vu
,
reminding her of the night at the swimming pool when he’d pulled her onto his lap. Only, at that particular time, they’d been alone, and for a few minutes he’d kissed her with such hunger she’d started devouring him back, unable to help herself.

The memory of those moments of abandon sent a wave of heat through her sensitized body. She needed to get off him, but Saturday night in Las Vegas at the culmination of the rodeo had made the traffic impossible. Crowds of people arriving at the hotel slowed their progress. Jarod dropped them off before going to find a parking place.

To neutralize her body’s reaction to their nearness, she phoned Ralph, who sounded completely overjoyed by her win. She shed tears for the love in his voice before they hung up. When she got out of the truck, she still reeled from the sensation of feeling Connor’s strong heartbeat against her back. Liz throbbed to her fingertips. That was the last time she would ever get physically close to him. Reva had first rights.

As soon as she flew back to the ranch with her family, she’d let Jarod know she planned to take the vet job on the reservation and rent a house there. It wouldn’t take her long to make the daily drive to the clinic in White Lodge. She’d make both jobs work if it killed her!

For the next hour she sat with the other world-championship winners behind the master of ceremonies. Her loved ones watched from one of the tables in the audience, but the only person she could see was Connor, dressed in jeans and his black shirt, and of course his white sling.

Exciting as the awards ceremony turned out to be, it hurt that Jocko Mendez was getting the gold buckle meant for Connor. She couldn’t erase the tragedy from her mind, not even when it was her turn to say a few words before receiving the fabulous gold buckle she would always treasure.

“I’m reminded of a quote by Victor Hugo, one of my favorite authors. He said, ‘There is nothing like a dream to create the future.’ I’m here tonight living my future due to my two wonderful parents, Millie and Mac Henson, sitting out in this audience. They sacrificed everything for me and my dream. Will you please stand?”

She knew her modest parents wouldn’t like this part. “Mom and Dad, this buckle’s for you. My dad was a fabulous bull rider in his twenties and taught me everything I know, including about being on the back of a horse.”

When they got to their feet, the crowd clapped and cheered. After the noise quieted down, they regained their seats.

“There are many people to thank. First, my best friend Sadie Bannock, a horse lover who always believed in me. I also want to acknowledge my next-door neighbor from Montana who’s been my absolute inspiration for years. Neither he nor his grandfather, Ralph, another rodeo champion, would let me give up when I blew it at my first junior rodeo competition years ago. He’s my idea of the all-American cowboy, and he, along with his hazer, Wade Torney, got me and my horses safely here for this great rodeo. Connor Bannock, will you please stand?”

At the mention of his name, the place literally exploded. Everyone was on their feet chanting, “Connor, Connor,” before they gave him a thunderous ovation. Slowly he stood as the clapping went on and on.

“To this five-time world-champion bulldogger goes my heartfelt thanks.”

The second the awards were over, Liz slipped down to the table with her box and hugged everyone except Connor. He eyed her strangely. “
I’ve
been your inspiration?”

“Don’t be absurd, Connor. Of course you have!”

“Now she tells me.”

“Come on, everyone,” Jarod spoke up. “Let’s all head over to our hotel so we can party.”

Liz’s heart shriveled. It was the midnight hour. With her dream fulfilled, she now had to figure out her new life.

“Connor?” He stood a little distance off looking undeniably handsome. She walked over to him. “I don’t know what your plans are, but if it’s all right with you, I’ll go by the trailer in the morning and pack up my things. Wade said he and your handlers would trailer our horses home in their rigs.”

To her shock, he shook his head. “I’m taking Firebrand and Sunflower home in my trailer.”

“You mean Reva’s going to drive?” She thought she might die on the spot from pain.

“No.”

“I don’t understand.”

“Reva is out of the picture and has gone back to L.A. for good.”

Liz started to feel faint. “You’re not making sense. You were with her yesterday.”

He nodded. “After I left the hospital, I had a talk in private with her. She’d already checked in to another hotel, but we met in mine.”

She rubbed her palms against her hips nervously. “I see.”

“I doubt it. Reva wanted us to get back together again, but I told her that wasn’t possible because I wasn’t in love with her anymore. I haven’t been for a long time.”

The blood pounded in Liz’s ears. She didn’t know what to say and swallowed hard.

“But how can you take the horses back when you’re not supposed to drive?”

“I’ll get one of the guys to help me.”

“But if you fly, you won’t have so much discomfort to your arm and shoulder.”

“I despise flying unless I have to.”

What?
“I didn’t know that.”

“There are a lot of things you don’t know about me, but Wade’s waiting to drive me to the Venetian. I’ll meet you there. We can talk about this later. My only concern is for you, though it’s obvious you’ve got family to take care of you. But you should know by now I wanted to be the one to do the honors.”

Liz was dying inside. “You already did enough by driving me here.”

“Not nearly enough,” he muttered, “but that’s a conversation for another time.”

* * *

T
O
HER
ASTONISHMENT
,
he sought out his friends and they left the ballroom. Sadie and Jarod walked over to her. “Are you all right? You look dazed. What did Connor say to you?”

Liz stared at her friend. Tonight at the awards ceremony she’d talked about a dream that created the future, but Connor’s dream had taken several unexpected turns. She was afraid he was already sinking into a depression.

“I don’t know what to do. He insists on one of the guys driving him back to the ranch with the horses, but that wouldn’t be good for him.”

Sadie blinked. “What about Reva?”

“That’s what I asked him. He said it’s over. She’s gone back to Los Angeles for good.”

“For
now,
you mean, until she comes after him again. That’s been their pattern, and he continues to let it happen because he can’t seem to help himself.” Sadie looked at Jarod, who didn’t say anything.

As far as Liz was concerned, they’d both just verified her tortured thoughts. Despite the fact that he’d kissed Liz with passion, she couldn’t forget the way he’d looked at Reva when he’d seen her in the trailer. Liz hadn’t been able to handle it and had ducked into the bathroom.

“Jarod? Is it true your brother doesn’t like to fly?”

Once in a while he wore an inscrutable expression. “Is that what he told you?”

“He said he despised it.”

Sadie grasped his arm. “Then
you
can drive him, darling. I’ll fly back with Liz and the others tomorrow.”

Jarod looked down at his wife and gave her a kiss. “Since Connor didn’t ask me, I think we have to leave it up to him what he wants to do. Come on, mother of Little Sits in the Center.”

Sadie stared at him with a smile. “Little Sits in the Center?”

“That’s Connor’s name for our baby. Didn’t you know? Let’s go. Everyone’s waiting for us out at the truck.”

But on the way back to the Venetian with her family, Liz couldn’t shake off the feeling that Connor was in bad emotional shape. As soon as they’d all congregated in Jarod’s suite, she walked over to his brother, who was standing next to Avery.

She hugged Liz. “I’ve never been so proud of anyone, ever!”

“Thanks, Avery. That means the world coming from you.”

When Zane called to her, Liz was left alone with Connor for a minute.

“Connor? I’ve given this some thought. You shouldn’t plan to drive home with one of the guys. Then you’ll have to act all tough.”

“I’ll be all right.”

Liz took a deep breath, deciding to plunge in. “You’ll be a lot better if you let
me
drive us back. I’m the doctor, remember? Don’t forget, I have a supply of your favorite medicine on hand—chocolate. We’ll take it slow and easy to give you and the horses plenty of rest. You won’t have to pretend anything with me. After all you’ve done for me, it’s my turn to look after your needs.”

The second his brown eyes ignited, she knew she’d said the right thing. “Have you asked one of the guys yet?”

“No. And, frankly, I can’t wait to start back. I liked it better when it was just the two of us.”

“I did, too.”
It was heaven on earth.

Chapter Eleven

“Thanks, Wade! See you back home. We’ll settle up there.”

Connor waved off his friend, who’d hitched up Connor’s truck to the trailer and loaded the horses. Now it was time to head back to Montana with Liz at the wheel and no one else around....

If he thought he’d been nervous before he’d approached her at the arena prior to this trip to Vegas, that was nothing compared to his anxiety now. He’d allowed her to believe he was afraid to fly in order to gain her sympathy. It was a lie, although he actually did despise all the stuff you had to go through. Still, it didn’t hurt if she was worried he had a bit of a phobia and had offered to drive him. He needed to be alone with her.

Liz started the truck. After Wade pulled away in his own rig, she followed them onto the road that would lead out of the RV park to the main street. This morning she was wearing his favorite red-and-blue-plaid hombre shirt. Now that he wasn’t driving, he could stare at her profile and shape whenever he felt like it, which was all the time.

“How was Sunflower when you loaded her? Do you think she’s still suffering?”

“She seems in pretty good shape. Our horses were nickering when Wade and I put them in the trailer.”

Connor smiled. “I noticed. She was probably confiding her problems to Firebrand. You can tell they’re glad to be together.”

“I wouldn’t doubt it. Fortunately she wasn’t stall cast very long. We’ll make the same number of stops on the way home so they won’t get too tired.” She eyed him. “Before we leave Las Vegas, do you have enough antibiotic to get home on, or should we stop and get more?”

“My other doc ordered me a two-week prescription.”

He heard her chuckle over his little joke. “That’s good. You need to take all of it.”

“Yes, Dr. Henson.”

“Any time you get tired of sitting in the same position, I’ll pull over so you can get out and stretch your legs.”

“I’ll take my break with our children. Thanks for coming back to the trailer with me last night. I’m sure our families understood I wanted to get an early start this morning.”

“To be honest, I did, too. There’s nothing like a party when it’s over.”

“But it was a great party while it lasted, right? You’re the world champion.”

She darted him a searching glance. “So are you. Until your accident, it was the most wonderful experience of my life.”

“Accidents happen, Liz.”

He heard her deep sigh. “Did you ever see that old film,
An Affair to Remember?
”

“I did. That was one of my grandmother’s favorites. While she cried over the last scene, Jarod and I made faces at each other. We were too young at the time to appreciate it. Years later I saw it again.”

“Then you’ll understand what was in my heart when I saw you lying on that hospital bed after you came out of surgery. As the vulnerable hero said to the crippled heroine, ‘If anyone had to have an accident, why did it have to be you?’ That was exactly how I felt.”

His pulse sped up. “If the producers had made a sequel, we would have seen him helping her get back on her feet while she supported him in his fledgling career. That’s the power of true love. So, tell me, what are you going to do with your buckle? Wear it or display it?”

“When I move out, I’ll give it to my folks and let them decide.”

His brows met in a frown. “What do you mean, move out?”

“I’ve decided I’m going to take that job on the reservation and rent a house there. Once I’ve talked it over with Dr. Rafferty, I’m sure I can make both jobs work.”

He ground his teeth. “Does this mean my job offer is out?”

“Connor—you weren’t really serious.”

“Now you’ve wounded me again. I think this is the third time.”

“If I have, please forgive me.”

“I might, with one provision.”

“What’s that?”

“That you reconsider and come to work for me. You’re the person who reminded me of an old dream and gave it a new twist. Something else you’re going to learn about me is that I’m deadly serious when I decide to go after something I want.”

Funny how she suddenly had to correct the steering.

Taking advantage of the palpable silence, he said, “Have you decided what kind of a truck you’re going to buy?”

“After winning at the Dodge Ram finals, I guess I’d better get one of their models.”

“That might be a good idea, considering you’re their reigning barrel champion. Think how the words
Bannock Feral Stud Farm
will look on a big black one, unless Kyle thinks you should pick out a white one. Personally, I think black makes a statement. I’ll have the same words put on this truck.”

He watched her hands grip the steering wheel tighter. “Assuming you’re not putting me on, how much would you pay me?”

“To work for me, one hundred thousand dollars to start, but it will be negotiable when the business starts to grow. I’ll pay for your insurance, too. Maybe you and Doc Rafferty can work something out for part time at the clinic, but the job on the reservation wouldn’t be possible. Jarod will have to understand.

“You can write off your new truck as a business expense. As soon as we get back to the ranch, I’ll be sitting down with my attorney.”

“You’re serious....” She sounded shaken.

“I don’t know what more to say to convince you. The ranch has plenty of land to erect an office, new barns with paddocks, breeding stalls, feed, everything I’ll require. The only thing I don’t have nailed down yet is the perfect vet. That’s you. I bet you already know more about ferals than most vets out of med school. What we don’t know we can learn together.”

“Connor—”

“Hold on,” he interrupted her. “All I ask is that you think about it while I sleep for a little while. The second you get tired, pull off the road. We’re in no hurry.”

He could tell she was getting ready to erupt in that endearing way of hers. “Is this the real reason you wanted to be alone with me?”

“It’s
one
of my real reasons. I need time to explain everything, and that’s what we’ve got while we’re on the road. Time and the kind of privacy I require to talk it all out.”

“So you’re not really afraid of flying?”

“No. I hardly ever lie, but in this case it was an emergency. Do you hate me?”

She let out a sound of exasperation. “You could have talked to me about it after we flew home.”

“But I was worried it might be too late and you wouldn’t listen to me, not if you’re excited to see Kyle. He might have other plans for you that could influence you one way or the other. How serious is it between the two of you?”

“Is this part of the job interview?”

“Yes. I need to know the truth. Are you going to get married on me just when I’m getting my business started, and then tell me you’re moving to Bozeman?”

Silence reigned in the cab. “We’re not that close. Though I like him a lot, I’ve decided I won’t be seeing him anymore.”

“But you let me believe that, about him helping you pick out a truck.”

She sucked in her breath. “I guess I did.”

“Can I assume you told him not to come to Las Vegas?”

“Yes, if you must know.”

“Thank you for being honest with me. Now that you’ve laid one of my fears to rest, what else would stand in the way of your accepting my offer?”

He could hear her mind working. “Let me think about it. Tonight we’ll be in Kemmerer. Before we go to bed, I’ll give you an answer one way or the other.”

“Promise?”

She darted him a frosty glance. “This time I’m not lying. Normally...I don’t,” she added.

“Anyone is capable of it, depending on the depth of their desperation.”

“Are you telling me you were so desperate to get me alone, you resorted to a lie?”

“I told you. I was afraid.” He laid his head back and closed his eyes. “Wake me up if you need me.”

Liz found herself glancing at him many times before they reached Kemmerer. He’d called ahead to reserve a place at the same RV park for them to spend the night. The lines around his eyes and mouth told her he was exhausted, and rightly so after all he’d been through and suffered.

He woke up when they stopped long enough for her to walk the horses and clean their stalls. After she fixed him snacks, he went back to sleep and they were once again underway. The weather was cooperating. Cold, but no snowstorms. It made for easy driving for her.

The hard part of this journey home was his question, and it had been torturing her all day.
What else would stand in the way of your accepting my offer?

Liz had one simple answer.

Reva.

Sadie had come right out and said it to Liz’s face,
in front of Jarod,
that Reva still had a stranglehold on him. Jarod hadn’t denied it. No one knew Connor better than his brother, so Liz knew what her answer would have to be.

Connor had a cowboy’s heart.

There’d been a million songs written about the one woman a cowboy couldn’t forget. It was the way a cowboy was put together. You couldn’t fight it.

She’d wanted to see inside the cover. Now that the inside was exposed, it was time for her to move on. Her life depended on it.

After they’d parked for the night, she went into the trailer and pulled out the sofa bed so he could lie down. Once she’d made him comfortable and fed him, she checked on the horses and cleaned the stalls. With that task out of the way, she showered and put on her pajamas.

Flipping off the light switch, she used the ladder to reach the niche. But now the tables were turned, because she was exhausted and he was wide-awake, wanting to talk.

“You’ve had enough time to consider my offer. What’s it going to be?”

She’d prepared her speech. “I’m honored that you have enough faith in me as a vet to help get your business off the ground, but I’ve thought it over and want to work on the reservation. Once you advertise, you’ll find a great vet anxious to work with someone of your reputation. But not every vet wants to live on a reservation.

“I love it there and would like to think I could make a meaningful contribution. The Crow love their animals and understand things about them I’d like to learn. Between my work there and at the clinic, I know I’m going to find fulfillment now that my barrel-racing days are over.”

“In that case, before you go to sleep, there’s something I couldn’t give you in front of the others. If you’d come down for just a minute.”

“It can’t wait until morning?”

“I’m afraid not.”

Puzzled, she threw off the covers and lowered herself to the floor.

“Come over here.”

“I can hardly see you.” She made her way to the side of his bed. He reached for her with his good arm and pulled her down next to him.

“Hold out your hand.”

When Liz did his bidding, she heard a tinkling before he put the charm bracelet in her palm. She let out a cry of surprise. “What are you doing?”

“Since I can’t do it myself, I need you to put it on your wrist for me.”

“But Ralph gave this to both of us to keep in your cab for luck—”

“This bracelet
is
ours, and it did bring us luck, but instead of keeping it on the mirror, I want you to wear it. Put it on, please.”

Liz felt all jittery. It took her forever to fasten it. “Okay. It’s done.”

She felt his hand circle her wrist and feel for the individual charms. “Ah. There it is. I’ve found the heart. Grandpa said it meant love of country, but between you and me it represents
my
heart.”

A strangely warm shiver passed through her body.

“I lost it to you on the drive to Las Vegas. It happened that first magical night, while we were outside in the snow with our children wondering if they were enamored. Remember?”

“Yes.” Her voice shook. “How could I ever forget one second of our time together?”

“That’s when I realized I was enamored of
you.
The fact is, I’m so terribly in love with you, I can’t take another step without you. Wear this instead of an engagement ring until I can buy you one. If I thought you didn’t love me back, I’d never get over it. You do love me, don’t you?”

That trace of vulnerability in his voice got to her every time. “Oh, Connor—”

“Oh, Connor, yes? Or no?”

“You
know
I do. I love you more than life itself and have done from a distance since the time I was a teenager.”

“Now she tells me.” He let out a yelp of happiness.

She tried to breathe, but he was squeezing her with his good arm. “When you asked me to drive to Las Vegas with you, I thought I’d die for joy and leaped at the chance to be with you, even knowing about Reva.”

“I wanted you to drive with me and resorted to my first lie so you wouldn’t refuse me. Yes, I married Reva, but that was a time of life when I didn’t know who I was. Neither did she. It was a marriage that never took. Without substance, the physical side of it eventually fizzled. She’s my past.
You’re
my future, Liz Henson. Tell me you’ll marry me, or I won’t be able to handle it.”

“I can’t believe this is happening.”

“Say it,” he begged.

“Of course I’ll marry you!”

“And be my vet?”

She laughed. “Yes.”

“And be the mother of our children?”

The tears had started. “Yes.”

“And love me forever, the way I love you?”

“Oh, yes, darling, yes, yes, yes!” Her whole soul was crying for joy.

“Thank God. Lie down next to me. I need to feel your beautiful body against me. The night you came up to the niche and we ate the Snickers together, I wanted you so badly it terrified me.”

“I wanted you, too. Way too much.” Her voice trembled.

“You’re so beautiful, Liz. You have no idea.” He’d said those words to her in the hospital. It hadn’t been the drugs after all. “Come closer, sweetheart.”

“I’m afraid I’ll hurt your arm.”

“You’re the doc and know how to be careful. I’ll let you handle me. You’re the only one who can. But be warned that one day soon it’ll be my turn. For right now, just kiss me the way you kissed me in the pool. You lit a fire in me that’s never going to burn out. I love you and can’t wait to make you my wife.”