A Cowboy's Heart (Hitting Rocks Cowboys) (2 page)

BOOK: A Cowboy's Heart (Hitting Rocks Cowboys)
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Connor realized his life had been blessed with many gifts. It would ease some of his guilt to use his means to do something for Liz, who had incredible talent. He was proud of her for making it to the national pro finals in Las Vegas. That was where they were both headed, since their wins at the Dodge Ram finals for the U.S. circuit region winners in Oklahoma City.

His grandfather was betting on her to win. So was Connor. With Daniel Corkin out of the way, Connor had decided he wanted to make things easier for her in the only way he knew how.

“That’s very nice of both of you, but I’ve already made my arrangements. I’ll be driving my truck and trailer.”

Her answer sounded definitive. Connor figured she’d fight him at first, because she had spirit and was independent, like her folks, who were the salt of the earth. Connor had always liked the Hensons, too. But where Liz was concerned, it came to him that he’d have to fight fire with fire to get her to drive with him.

They’d been neighbors from birth, yet in all the intervening years he’d never spent time alone with her. In fact, he’d never seen her when she wasn’t wearing a cowboy hat and had a braid hanging down her back.

“If you don’t accept my offer, it’ll hurt my feelings.”

She chuckled. “Since when?”

“You think I don’t have any?”

Her brows formed a delicate frown. “I didn’t say that.”

“Good. It would mean a lot if you’ll drive with me. Over the past few years I’ve seen you at a lot of the events and thought it ridiculous we didn’t travel to them together. But because of Daniel’s ban against all Bannocks, including you, I never tried to arrange anything.”

“I’ll admit he was a scary man, but that’s over now.”

“Since you said it, why don’t you bury the proverbial hatchet and accept my offer. It’ll be nice to have the company. We’ll talk shop on the way down and celebrate our wins on the way back.”

He was pleasantly surprised when her eyes lit up. “I like the way you think.”

So far, so good. “I’ve made reservations at the RV park near the Mack Center. It has equestrian accommodations, and indoor and outdoor swimming pools. For the twelve days we’re there, you and I will live out of my trailer while we’re competing, whatever you want.” It was the least he could do for his neighbor, and hopefully, friend.

* * *

L
IVE
WITH
HIM
?
“I’m scheduled to stay at the Golden Nugget with the other barrel racers.”

“I know, but you might like to be away from the others after your nightly events. I learned early I prefer being alone so nothing else gets into my head.”

That was exactly the way she felt. The other competitors would be a distraction because they always wanted to go over the evening’s events with a fine-tooth comb. Not staying with them might seem antisocial, but Connor had read her mind and had just given her priceless advice she’d be a fool not to take. “I hardly know what to say.”

“Just say yes. But it’s up to you. In case you didn’t know, this is going to be my last event. After Las Vegas I’m through with competition.”

“Sadie told me as much.” Liz’s best friend was married to Connor’s brother and often confided in her.

“My new sister-in-law informed me this is going to be your last event, too.”

Looks as if the confiding went two ways.
“Yup. I’ve got to get serious about my career, but I have to admit I’m surprised about your decision.” She smiled. “There are more good years left in the king of the bulldoggers.”

“Those good years need to be spent doing more worthwhile things.”

“That’s an odd thing for you to say.”

“The fact is, I’ve lived a selfish life so far, Liz.”

She studied him for a moment, not understanding a comment like that. “What about Wade? You won’t have room for three of us.”

“Wade will be driving his horses down in his own trailer with his girlfriend, Kim. My traveling partners Shane and Travis will bring your second horse, Polly, and my other horse, Phantom, in my older rig with them. When they reach Las Vegas they’ll stall them at the Mack Center tent for the rodeo. The guys will be over to pick up Polly whenever you give the word. We all like our own space.”

He patted his horse’s neck. “Since we need to be in Las Vegas by the third to attend the welcome celebrations before the first event on the fifth, I’m leaving early the day after tomorrow. Please say yes, otherwise I’m going to think Daniel did permanent damage to the relationship between our families.”

He turned his horse to leave. When he reached the entrance, he looked over his shoulder at her. “I’ll be listening for your call tomorrow. Just phone the ranch and I’ll get back to you. Don’t disappointment me. I’d rather not be alone with my own thoughts during the drive down and back, let alone throughout the competition.” Without waiting for an answer, he left the arena.

Liz thought about his invitation all the rest of the day.

“Yoo-hoo!” she called to her mother when she got home from work.

“Is that you, honey?” Millie Henson always said that when Liz arrived.

“Who else?” she teased, and walked through the house to the kitchen.

“You’re late. Your dad and I had Zane over for dinner an hour ago.”

“I’m sorry.”

“I was afraid something might have happened to your truck in this snow.”

Liz stood at the sink to wash her hands. “I had to help with a birth at the Critchlow ranch. Mother and foal are doing well.”

“That’s good.”

She turned to kiss her mom’s cheek. “Something smells wonderful.”

“Sit down and I’ll serve you some roast chicken. I tried that new recipe with the lemon and garlic from the food channel. The men said it’s a winner.”

“That’s no surprise. You’ve never fixed a bad meal in your entire life.”

Her mother drank coffee at the table with Liz while she dug into her meal. “This really is delicious, Mom.”

“Thank you. Now, I want to talk to you about something serious. I’m worried about you driving all the way to Las Vegas in that old truck.”

“It has enough life in it to get me to Nevada and back before it dies. But what if I told you I could drive there in total comfort?”

When Connor had told Liz he’d rather not be alone with his own thoughts, the statement had sounded lonely, troubled even. Before that he’d snapped,
You think I don’t have feelings?

Those two unexpected revelations in their conversation had made her decide to take him up on his offer, but telling her mom would only escalate her motherly concern. Still, they always talked things over. No matter what, there was honesty between them. Might as well get this over with right now.

Her mother put down her coffee mug. “Is Kyle taking you?”

“No.”

“No?” She sounded disappointed. Her mom kept hoping Liz would meet the right man and settle down. “Then Sadie must have prevailed on Jarod to drive you.”

Sadie’s world had been transformed since she’d married Jarod Bannock six months ago. “They offered to take me, but I said no.”

“That leaves Dr. Rafferty. Did he offer you the loan of his truck?”

“Yes.”

“But you turned him down, too.”

“I don’t like being beholden to anyone.”

“So you decided to rent a new truck. That’s awfully expensive. I happen to know you’ve been saving your winnings to pay back your vet school loan.”

“No, Mom.” Liz put a hand on her mother’s arm. “Early this morning Connor came by the arena and asked me to drive with him.”

Like clockwork a shadow crossed over her mother’s face. “Connor...as in Connor Bannock.”

“Mom...”

Liz knew that came as a huge shock to her mother, who got up from the table. “You mean in his fancy hotel on wheels?”

“Unless he has to fly, it’s the way he’s been getting around for the past four years. It’s not nearly as luxurious as some you see at the events. His handlers will bring Polly and his second horse down in his older rig. He’s not a show-off, Mom, that much I do know about him.”

He was all cowboy, tough and daring to the point that she often chewed her nails watching him shoot out of the barrier on his horse. He was so fast, his event was over before you could blink. Any pictures the journalists got of Connor had to be taken while they ran after him, because he never hung around after the required autographing sessions and photo shoots for his Wrangler sponsor. She and Sadie had often commented that both Bannock brothers were the least vain cowboys they knew.

“After all these years, why would he suddenly ask you now?”

Liz wanted an answer to that same burning question, but she said, “Ralph put him up to it. You
know
he did.”

“I’m sure you’re right about that, honey.”

If Liz went with him, then she’d find out why he’d decided to honor his grandfather’s wishes, but she’d known this would be her mother’s reaction. Without hesitation she spent the next few minutes telling her the gist of their conversation at the arena. When she’d finished, Millie started to clear the dishes.

“Mom?” she prodded her.

“You’re a grown woman, honey, and don’t need my permission about anything.”

Picking up her water glass, Liz took it over to put in the dishwasher. “I wasn’t asking for permission,” she said quietly.

Her mom turned to her with a sober expression. “You want my approval, otherwise you would have let me find out after the fact. But I don’t want that responsibility. For years I watched you and Sadie grow up, both of you dying for love of the Bannock brothers. In Sadie’s case, her love was reciprocated, whereas—”

“Connor hardly knew I existed and married someone else,” Liz finished the sentence for her. Although they’d been neighbors, she’d never spent time alone with him, not even at the competitions. “Even having gone through a divorce, I doubt he’s ever stopped loving her. Wasn’t that what you were going to say?”

“Only that your infatuation with him has never ended,” her mother murmured.

“You’re right. I’ve been thinking about that all day. Infatuation isn’t love. It’s a crush I never outgrew. After all these years of being haunted by him, I have an opportunity for the first time to get a real dose of him, one-on-one. I’m convinced that driving to Las Vegas with him will be a revelation and provide the cure I’ve been needing.”

“And if it isn’t?”

Liz took a deep breath. “If it isn’t, then I’ll have to take a serious look at my life and make changes.”

Her mother turned to look out the window. “That’s what has me worried. Bannocks never pull up roots. That means you’ll be the one who leaves us and move somewhere else.”

“You’re so sure of that? I’m thinking this will be my one and only chance to see who he really is and get over what has prevented me from moving on with another man.”

A sigh escaped Millie’s lips. “I only know one thing. I’m afraid to tell your father. He hasn’t wanted anything to distract you before the competition. When he hears about this...”

Liz hugged her mom for a long time. “I’ll talk to him and make him understand.”

Chapter Two

Connor’s black-and-silver horse trailer, hitched to his four-door black truck, contained everything you needed for comfortable living on the road. Two horse stalls with an extrawide floor and nonslip rubber matting, a niche with a bed and a sofa/pullout bed, a living/dining room, satellite TV, kitchen and bathroom, all in a nutmeg-colored wood with a ranch motif.

While Connor stashed her bags on board and showed her parents around, Liz took Sunflower’s temperature one more time, and checked her eyes and nose before putting her in bell boots for protection during the journey. Now that the horse was ready to travel, she led Sunflower from the barn and loaded her into the trailer stall next to Firebrand.

Liz threw light rugs over each of them. Who knew whether the big sorrel gelding loaded in the roadside stall would like Sunflower’s company or not? They were as unused to each other as Liz was to Connor. Despite the long journey ahead, Liz wasn’t nervous and couldn’t figure out why.

When she’d told her father she was going to drive with Connor, he’d been surprisingly supportive. “I’m glad you’ll be with someone who’s been hauling himself and his horse around for a long time. More snow is forecast over the whole intermountain region for the next few days. He’s got the kind of equipment you need to keep you and Sunflower safe and comfortable.”

Between the lines she read all the things he didn’t say or warn her about. He didn’t have to. She saw it in his eyes. Liz had the greatest parents on earth.

After she’d loaded her lightweight, high-horned saddle, she put the collapsible pop-up barrels she used for practice in the tack room of the trailer. She’d brought protein feed for her horse, wanting to keep a balance between forage and grain. Once she’d gathered her medical bag and stored it with everything, it was time to go.

She hugged her mom and then turned to her father. “I’m going to give it everything I’ve got to win, Dad. Thanks to you and Mom, and all your expert help, I think I have a chance.”

“I know you do, Lizzie girl. Since Connor wants to win, too, I think you two are the best kind of company for each other. You already know what it’s like to be in each other’s skin, so to speak. You’ll be able to offer each other the right sort of tips and comfort. Anyone not competing wouldn’t know what you’re facing, particularly when this competition will be the last for both of you.”

Her dad understood everything.

“I can’t believe this day is finally here.”

He gave her that endearing lopsided grin. “Either you’re growing up way too fast, or I’m getting too old.”

“You’re not getting old.” She hugged him hard.
Please don’t ever get old.

“Your mom and I will fly down on the fourteenth for the big night. Call us when you have a moment here and there.”

“I’ll call you when we get to Salt Lake tonight.”

Connor had been standing close by and shook his head. “If the weather forecast is correct, we’ll be lucky if we make it to the Utah border.”

Her mom grabbed her one more time. “We’ll be waiting to hear from you.”

“I promise to stay in close touch.”

“I love you, honey.”

Tears stung Liz’s eyelids. When she looked in her mother’s eyes, she saw a whole world of love, fear, concern and pride. “Not as much as I love you,” she whispered before climbing into the truck cab.

“I made some chili and rolls for you to enjoy on the way down. I put everything in the fridge.”

“Thanks, Millie. We’ll love it!” Connor called to her before she shut the door. His friends had already come to the barn to pick up Polly. Liz had given her a complete checkup first, and a treat, promising to see her soon. There was nothing left to be done.

Connor, wearing a green plaid shirt, jeans and well-worn boots, was already behind the wheel, ready to go. Minus the Stetson he’d tossed in the backseat, his hair had a disheveled look she’d seen often enough when he was wrestling a steer to the ground. That look suited him.

She wouldn’t describe Connor as handsome in the traditional sense.
Authentic male
was what came to mind when she looked at the arrangement of lines and angles making up his hard-boned features.

Striking when the sun blazed down on his tanned skin.

Beautiful in motion when he mounted his horse bareback for a run.

Unforgettable when he flashed a quick smile or broke out in laughter, usually from some remark his friend Wade murmured at the gate so no one else could hear.

The kaleidoscope of pictures stored in her mind was there for good. Hopefully on this trip she’d see what was on the inside, the intangible traits that truly mattered and shaped the inner man. Was his inner self equally worthy of such admiration? If the cover of the book was better than the story, now was the time to find out.

Deep in thought, she didn’t realize they’d pulled to a stop in front of the Bannock ranch house until Connor said, “Grandpa asked me if we’d come in so he could say goodbye and wish you luck.”

“How sweet of him. I’d love to.”

She jumped out into the snow and headed for the front porch. The temperature had to be close to thirty-two degrees. She zipped her parka all the way. It looked as though they’d be driving under an overcast sky most of the way today.

Connor opened the door and they headed for the den where they found his grandfather at his desk. The blaze from the fireplace gave out delicious warmth. The older man looked up with a smile and got to his feet. “Well, Liz.”

“Hi again, Ralph.” She hurried across the room to give him a hug. Liz had been here many times over the years.

“Connor told me you agreed to drive with him. Is he taking good care of you?”

“Of course. I’m a very lucky girl.”

“It pleases me that my two favorite champions will be together. I have a little gift for the two of you.” He pulled a small leather pouch out of his shirt pocket. “Avery picked it up for me on her way home from work yesterday.”

Avery was Connor’s sister. Liz couldn’t imagine what the pouch could hold.

Connor’s gaze shot to hers. “Go ahead and open it.”

From inside the pouch she pulled out what looked like a silver charm bracelet. “You hang it on the rearview mirror of the truck to bring you luck. I chose the charms myself for this red-letter moment in your lives. See that horseshoe? Both of you have beaten me at the game any number of times. The next charm is a boot for riding. There’s a cowboy hat. The others are a horse in motion, a bulldogger on his horse, a cowgirl barrel racing, and a heart with wings for love of country.”

Liz was so touched that, once again, her throat swelled. “This gift is priceless, Ralph.”

She noticed that Connor’s eyes took on a haunted look when he glanced at his grandfather.
Why?

“We’ll treasure it.”

“If Addie and your parents were here, son, they’d tell you and Liz to take it with our prayers and blessings. We’ve always been proud of both of you and know you’ll do your best at the competition. We’ll all be watching the Great American Country broadcast on cable. Whatever happens, come back safe. That’s all I ask.”

Full of emotion, Liz clutched the bracelet in her hand before reaching for him once more. “All we ask is that
you
stay well. I promised my folks we’d stay in close touch. We’ll make the same promise to you. Without your help, I would never have made it this far. Whenever I got discouraged, you would never let me stay down.”

“Ditto,” Connor said in a husky tone of voice, and gave his grandfather a bear hug.

The older man whispered, “Good luck,” to him, and a tear rolled down his cheek.

She waved to Ralph from the doorway. “See you soon.” Without waiting for Connor, she hurried out of the house to the truck. He needed a minute with his grandfather, and she needed to treasure this special moment in private. Both she and Sadie had always loved Ralph and Addie. Like her own parents, she thought they were just about perfect.

Carefully she undid the chain clasp so she could hang the bracelet. To make certain it was visible, she draped it over the mirror. The little charms tinkled as they dangled.

A minute later Connor strode toward the truck and climbed in behind the wheel. He fingered one of the charms, and then flicked his gaze to hers. “Grandpa thinks the world of you to have given you this.”

“Didn’t you notice it’s for both of us? Whenever he talks about you, his eyes light up.”

An odd silence followed her remark. She didn’t understand and wondered what he was thinking as he started the engine.

“Before we leave, is there anything you’ve forgotten?”

“If I have, it’s not important.”

“Bless you.” Spoken like a man. She chuckled before he said, “Let’s go.”

They drove away from the ranch to the highway, cleared of snow since the storm the other night. “I’d like to reach North Salt Lake by evening. I made a reservation at the RV park on the outskirts with easy access.”

“Sounds good to me. In case of more snow, I’d planned to drive as far as I could through Wyoming before finding a motel. I’m really grateful you asked me to come with you.”

“Did you have someone to drive with you if I hadn’t asked you?”

A vision of Kyle passed through her mind. She looked out the passenger window. “Yes. I had several offers from friends and family, but this is one trip I wanted to take alone. Knowing it’s my last one, I didn’t feel like sharing the experience with anyone else.”

He sat back in the seat. “So how come you came with me?”

“Honestly?” she answered with another question.

“Shoot.”

“Because you’re not anyone else. When I told Dad I was driving with you, he said we were the best kind of company for each other since we already know what it’s like to be in each other’s skin.”

“He was right.”

“You’ve been to nationals and have won back-to-back world championships five times. Now you’re trying for your sixth! This is my first time and you know exactly how vulnerable I’m feeling on the inside. I’m full of doubts and ambitions no else could understand, no one but someone like you, who’s already experienced all those emotions and triumphed.”

“That’s the problem,” he muttered. “No matter how many triumphs, you’re only as good as your last one.”

“I know. I find that out every time I compete at another rodeo.”

“If you know that already, then you know a hell of a lot more than ninety-nine percent of your competition who believe their own hype.”

His unexpected burst of emotion showed he felt as vulnerable as she did. Maybe more, because this would be his last competition. The need to prove himself one more time had to be testing his mettle in ways she couldn’t fathom. No one would ever suspect that of Connor Bannock, the picture of confidence personified.

“In all honesty, I’m afraid, Connor,” she admitted under her breath.

“Of failure?”

“A lot more than that. No matter what happens, I don’t know what the future’s going to be like without having a goal. I’ve been pursuing this dream for so long, it’s taken up the hours of my world, consciously and subconsciously for years. Of course, I have my career, but that’s different. I can’t imagine what it will be like to wake up on December 15, knowing it’s truly over...and the rest of my life is still ahead of me,” she whispered.

“Lady, you just said a mouthful.”

Liz turned her head toward him in surprise. “You
too?

“In spades.”

* * *

S
O
FAR
,
NO
snow had fallen, but it was coming. Connor felt the icy wind from a bleak sky while he and Liz walked their horses at their first roadside park stop. Two hours at a time was as much as their animals could handle riding in the trailer. Their muscles got tired of trying to maintain their footing and needed the rest.

With them tied up outside, he and Liz ate sandwiches and drank hot coffee in the trailer. Her earlier admission about thinking she’d be at a loss once the competition was over was so in tune with his own feelings, they seemed to have achieved a level of understanding that didn’t require a lot of conversation. He didn’t feel the need to fill the gaps of silence. Neither did she.

By late afternoon, they’d made their fourth stop to exercise the horses. Inside the trailer they both made calls. He checked with Ben, the ranch foreman. Connor had hired a new hand to keep all the equipment on the ranch in top shape. That had been Ned’s job. Ben sounded hopeful this new guy would work out. As they talked, Connor could hear Liz talking to Dr. Rafferty about a sick horse.

Once their phone business was done, they cleaned up the stall floor before watering the horses and replenishing their hay nets. Soon they’d brought the horses back inside and were on their way again.

Since his quickie divorce from Reva Stevens two years ago in Reno, he’d dated women, but he’d never taken any of them on the road with him. This was a first since the disastrous marriage in Las Vegas that had only lasted a year. His grandfather had never said anything, but Connor knew the older man hadn’t been happy about his impulsive marriage to the L.A. TV anchor.

They’d made their base at her condo in L.A. When he wasn’t spending time with her, he traveled the rodeo circuit and worked on the ranch. She stayed on the ranch with him for a week after their honeymoon, but ranch life didn’t hold her long. Both of them were too driven by ambition to put the other person first. The long separations took their toll, and divorce had seemed the only solution.

Though they hadn’t been able to make it work, Reva called him from time to time. He kept their conversations short. He missed her in his bed. That had never changed, but it was everything else.

Liz’s comment about being afraid of the future had resonated with him big-time.

Out of the corner of his eye he noticed her reading something on her iPad. “Anything interesting?”

“Yes. I’ve been checking stats. Dustine Hoffman just won the barrel-racing event at the Tom Thumb Texas Stampede in 13.71 seconds. She’s everyone’s competition.”

He whistled. “That arena gives you faster time than the one in Las Vegas with its special soil.”

BOOK: A Cowboy's Heart (Hitting Rocks Cowboys)
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