Roses and Rodeo (Rough and Ready) (14 page)

A nurse came out of Creed’s room and saw Danica. “Are you a family member?”

Danica nodded. “His fiancé.”

The cowboys looked at her with interest, but she didn’t care. She’d say whatever it took to see Creed, no matter who was there.

“How bad is he?” Danica asked.

“He has some broken ribs, a punctured lung, a broken arm, a concussion, and he’s beat up pretty good.” The nurse shook her head. “Crazy bull riders.”

The nurse let Danica into the room and she slowly moved to Creed’s bedside. She sucked in her breath. His head was bandaged, as was his chest, and one of his arms was in a sling. He looked a bit pale as his gaze met hers. But then he gave a little smile.

“So you’re talking to me again?” he said and winced like it hurt to talk. “What are you doing in New Mexico?”

Tears bit at the backs of her eyes. “I was so worried about you.” She swallowed. “I watched it all on TV and caught the first plane to Albuquerque.”

He studied her. “I’m glad to see you.”

“I’m glad to see you, too.” She shook her head. “But not like this.”

“I never cheated on you, Danica.” His gaze held hers.

She sank into the chair beside the bed. “Shhh. We can talk about that later.”

“I want to get it cleared up now.” He reached out his good arm toward her. She took his hand, which was warm and dry. “Teri is my cousin and I’m helping her through a rough time in her life.”

Danica paused a moment, feeling off balance. “I saw a picture of you kissing her. Or at least that’s what I thought it was.”

“A picture?” Creed looked confused and then a little angry. “You had me followed?”

Danica shook her head. “Barry did. I knew nothing about it until he showed me photographs of you and the woman—Teri.”

“Why didn’t you give me a chance to explain?” he asked.

“The pictures are pretty damning.” She sighed. “There were dated photographs with times of you two at dinner, and then you going into a hotel with her and coming out a couple of hours later.” She took a deep breath. “It didn’t look innocent.”

Creed studied Danica. “Teri has been going through drug and alcohol rehabilitation and her husband left her. My brothers and I are the only family she has left, and she and I are the closest out of all of us.”

“I’m sorry.” Danica looked at her hands before looking at Creed again. “I should have talked with you about it.”

“I get it.” He shifted in bed and grimaced. “I might have felt the same way.”

She lowered her head before looking back at him. “I don’t suppose you’ll forgive me?”

“Forgive you?” He squeezed her hand. “Don’t even worry your pretty little head about it. I’m just glad you’re here and you understand now.”

They held each other’s gazes as she spoke. “I care so much for you that I can’t even think straight about it.”

“I know.” He grinned. “Otherwise you wouldn’t have told the nurse you’re my fiancé.”

Her face warmed. “It was the only way I could see you.”

“You love me,” he said with clear confidence.

Her jaw dropped. “I—”

“Admit it.” He was still grinning. “You love me.”

Her mind whirled. Was what she felt love for him? And even if it was true, was she ready to admit it to him?

“You’re awfully arrogant and sure of yourself.” Her face wasn’t just warm now, it was burning.

“Yep.” He squeezed her hand. She’d forgotten he was holding it.

She closed her eyes for a moment and took a deep breath.

When she opened her eyes she met his gaze. “Yes, damn it. I love you, Creed.”

His expression changed to almost serious. “I fell for you the moment I saw you in that bar in Las Vegas. I watched you for a long time before I talked to you, and I knew that I had to make you mine. It’s like I’ve loved you as long as I can remember.”

The feelings whirling through her almost made her head spin. She was in love with Creed and he loved her.

He tugged on her hand. “Now come here and kiss me.”

She rose up from the chair and leaned over him. “I don’t want to hurt you.”

“My lips are the only thing that don’t hurt right now,” he said with a laugh.

She smiled and leaned down to kiss him. It was a soft, sweet kiss, and she felt his love flowing into her. She hoped that he could feel hers as it poured out of her.

When she drew back, he was smiling. “When I get out of here, I’m going to show you just how much I love you.”

She raised an eyebrow. “I don’t think you’re going to be doing much of anything for a while.”

“Then you don’t know me very well,” he said in a teasing voice.

She groaned. “There’s no keeping you down.”

“Nope.” He gripped her hand and drew her closer. “Now kiss me again.”

Chapter 19

Danica decided to take the bull by the horns—so to speak. It was Sunday and she’d just returned from New Mexico and she found herself on Barry’s doorstep, a manila envelope in her hand.

She pressed the doorbell and when there wasn’t an answer she pressed it again. Barry’s muffled but irritated voice came from the other side of the door.
“I’m coming.”

He jerked open the door and surprise registered on his face then pleasure. “Come in.” He stepped aside and she walked into his home. His home was elegant and beautiful. It was a home meant to show off his wealth and status—whatever that was.

When she faced him, his smile faded when he got a good look at her expression.

“What’s wrong?” He frowned. “Did that cowboy do something else to you?”

Danica raised the envelope, turned it upside down, and pieces of the photographs that he’d given her floated down. She’d put the photographs through her shredder and now they were scattered across his carpet.

“What the hell?” He raised his hands. “What are you doing?”

“These are the pictures you gave me.” She tossed the envelope onto the floor. “That was his cousin. He’s been helping her out.”

Barry sneered. “What an interesting relationship he has with his cousin.”

Anger that had been burning beneath the surface of her skin rose up inside her. She raised her hand and slapped him.

His head snapped to the side. His expression was one of surprise as he brought his hand to his cheek.

“I’ve had it, Barry. You stay away from me and you stay out of my life.” She pointed her finger at him. “I’m in love with Creed and I intend to marry him.” It didn’t matter that he hadn’t actually asked her, but Barry didn’t need to know that.

He looked at her in shock. “Danica—”

“No.” She shook her head. “You don’t get to talk. You listen.”

His mouth snapped shut.

“You come near me again and I’ll file a restraining order against you.” She stepped into his space. “I’ve tried to be nice, I’ve tried to remain friends. Obviously that hasn’t worked. So now just stay the hell away from me.”

His face flushed red. “When he screws you over, don’t come running to me.”

“You are the last person on earth that I would
ever
go running to about anything.” She tilted her chin and clenched her fists at her sides. “Good bye, Barry.”

She strode to the door, flung it open, and then slammed it shut behind her.

The anger that had been bubbling up inside her seemed to evaporate and float off in the breeze. That chapter in her life had finally come to a full close.

Chapter 20

Music throbbed in the air and the roar of the crowd filled the arena. Danica’s stomach turned as it always did when Creed competed.

Three months following Creed’s accident—“wreck”—with the bull, Danica and her entire family, along with Creed’s brothers and his cousin, Teri, were there. It made for sixteen of them having made it to Las Vegas for the bull riding world championship. Creed had remained in the lead for the world title, but needed a win tonight to secure the championship.

Creed had gone back to riding six weeks after his injuries, which had worried Danica to no end. Maybe she
was
a worrier—at least when it came to Creed.

She rubbed her arms with both hands to try and alleviate her nervousness. She was in the middle of their family mob.

The last three months had been up and down. It had been so difficult being away from Creed and only seeing him sporadically. They spent all the time they could together, but it wasn’t enough as far as either one of them was concerned.

Kelsey was doing much better and Darryl was still in jail. Danica had told Creed about what had happened and he’d been upset with her for talking to Darryl alone, concerned that Darryl could have hurt her, too.

Of course Darryl being in jail for battery had knocked him out of the running for the bull riding championship.

A hard knot lodged in Danica’s chest as she looked at the mammoth screen that announced Creed would be riding The Machine again. The same bull that had trampled him three months ago and put him into the hospital.

She clenched her hands into fists and bit her lower lip. This was crazy. What if it happened all over again?

“I don’t know how much more of this I can take.” Danica sucked in her breath and let it out in a slow exhale. “Always wondering if the bull is going to get the better of him again.”

“I bet it’s hard,” Carly said from beside Danica. “I can’t imagine how I would feel if Dillon put his life in danger all of the time.” She glanced at her husband who sat on the other side of her. “I might have to kill him myself.”

A smile twitched at the corner of Dillon’s mouth. “And I was thinking about taking up bull riding, too.”

Carly slapped him on the shoulder. “Don’t even think about it.”

He laughed and Danica shook her head.

She looked back at the chute and saw Creed was now settling on the back of The Machine. The bull thrashed as much as it could in the narrow chute, knocking Creed around. When the bull had settled a little, Creed secured the bull rope around his hand, preparing for his ride.

Danica found herself holding her breath as Creed gave the signal that he was ready.

The gate swung open and The Machine flung itself into the arena. It twisted and bucked as if it was bent on dislodging its rider then killing him.

But this time, Creed rode him like he was on smooth water. His body fell into the rhythm of the ride and he matched every move the bull made.

Danica stood, her hands clasped, as the clock ticked each agonizing second down. When the horn sounded out at eight seconds, the crowd roared. Danica didn’t. She was too worried now about Creed getting
off
the bull. That was where things had gone terribly wrong the night the bull could have killed him.

Creed hopped off The Machine, landed on his feet, and jogged several feet away. The bullfighters kept the bull’s attention and Creed took off his hat and waved it at the crowd. He looked directly at Danica and she knew his smile was just for her.

“Ninety-five point five is Creed McBride’s score!” shouted one of the announcers. “The top score of the night by three points.”

Danica sat down in her seat and let her breath out in a huff. That was it. The end of the season and a reprieve from worrying about him for a while.

“Creed McBride has a special message for a special lady,” the announcer said.

The crowd started cheering and Danica’s gaze shot to the huge screen.

Danica, will you marry me?

Her heart started pounding and she held her hand to her chest as she stared at it. Her family and Creed’s cheered as they shouted to Danica words of congratulations.

A buzzing started in her ears and she almost couldn’t hear the announcer say, “Come on down, little lady.”

She felt like she was in a daydream as she made her way down the aisle, past family members patting her on the shoulder and the back.

The crowd chanted “
yes, yes, yes…”
as she made her way down to the arena.

She was helped through a gate and when she was at the top of the steps, Creed caught her by her waist, swung her down. She nearly lost her breath as he set her on the ground. He took her by the hand and led her to where an announcer was holding a microphone.

When they reached him, Creed got down on one knee and took a ring from the ring box that one of the bullfighters was holding for him.

Danica found herself shaking, her heart pounding like crazy. Creed was asking her to marry him in front of thousands and thousands of fans and who knew how many were watching on television.

Creed held up the ring. “Will you marry me, Danica?” His words went over the loudspeakers as the announcer held the mic close to him.

Danica found her voice as she looked into Creed’s hopeful gaze.

“Yes,” she said and her voice reverberated through the arena. “I will marry you.”

The crowd exploded with applause as Creed grinned and slipped the huge diamond ring on her finger.

He picked her up and whirled her around and she hung on with her arms clasped around his neck.

“All of those buckle bunnies out there now know that you’re off limits,” she said with a grin, her voice coming out over the loudspeakers.

“Damn straight,” Creed said and then kissed her hard enough to make her head feel like it was spinning.

When she drew back she smiled at him. “I love you, Creed McBride.”

He set his western hat on her head. “You’ve got my love, honey. Always and forever.”

* * * * *

After Creed was awarded his World Champion belt buckle, they took the next flight to Arizona and then drove to Prescott where Creed said he had a surprise for her.

As if being proposed to in front of the world wasn’t surprise enough.

The flight had seemed a little surreal. She couldn’t believe she was marrying Creed. Before he proposed, they hadn’t even discussed where they would live, their occupations, or anything else.

But that didn’t matter—they’d work things out. What she really cared about was Creed and spending the rest of her life with him.

After they arrived at Sky Harbor Airport in Phoenix, they picked up his truck from long term parking and headed off into the night. Once they were on their way to Prescott, Creed reached over and squeezed her hand where it rested on the console.