Page 61 of The Wedding Gift
“Hot and humid and the kids are loving every minute,” Rye answered.
Dalton leaned his back against the washer. “How about you?”
“I’d rather be ranching”—Rye chuckled—“but it’s not too bad. I love seeing the expressions on Austin and the kids’ faces, and the food is really good. Everything under control there?”
“Yep, and you’ll never guess what happened today. Big John broke through the fence…” He went on to tell Rye the whole story, ending with “And I couldn’t believe that Becca did that. She’s sitting in my kitchen now while her clothes are drying.”
“You’ve got a woman in your house?” Rye asked.
“I told you before you left that it was love at first sight,” Dalton said.
“I didn’t believe you,” Rye said. “I remember that feeling. I’ll just hope that you can convince her you’re ready to settle down. I can’t wait to tell Austin. Believe me, she’ll do all she can do to help you out. She and Becca have become good friends these past months.”
“Thanks,” Dalton told him. “Anything you want me to do more than what we’re doing?”
“Just be sure the rodeo stock gets down to Haskell on Friday. I’ll be home Sunday evening, so I’ll go pick them up on Monday,” Rye said.
“I might take Becca with me to control Big John,” Dalton said, chuckling.
“Tell her to take a couple of watermelons along.” Rye laughed. “It’s our turn to line up for a ride. Talk to you later. Austin says to tell Becca hello.”
The call ended, and Dalton headed back to the kitchen. “Austin says to tell you hello.”
“Are they having a good time?” Becca smiled up at him.
He refilled their coffee mugs and sat down. “Yep, but Rye says he’d rather be ranchin’.”
“I can understand that for sure,” Becca said. “Amusementparks are not my idea of a fun week. I’d rather stay home and make wine, or maybe go to a nice quiet beach and listen to the ocean waves coming in and going out.”
Damn! This girl was really after his heart in every way. “Me too, or maybe take a trip up into the mountains when there’s snow on the ground, build a roaring blaze in a fireplace, and just sit in front of it with a good cold beer.”
“That sounds pretty amazing too,” she agreed. “Put on some good slow country music in either one of those places, and I’d love it.”
He made a mental note to have music playing while they made cookies on Thursday evening. “Was it a cultural shock to come home after spending ten years in Nashville?”
“Not as much as it was going to Nashville after being raised in Ringgold,” she answered. “I got used to it after a while, and coming home, well…it’s home.” She raised a shoulder in half a shrug.
“Reckon you’ll sing at local events?” he asked.
“Maybe,” she answered. “Making the decision to give up on my dream wasn’t easy, but as time goes by, it’s becoming something of the past. Does that make sense?”
“More than you’ll ever know.” He nodded in agreement.
“What makes you say that?” she asked.
“I wanted to be a champion bull rider as well as a rancher.It took about eight years and a few broken bones for me to realize that I’m just not that good,” he said. “Not that I’m sayin’ you’re not good enough to make it in country music, but when I finally figured out that I wasn’t cut out to ride bulls, I put that dream behind me and put my all into ranchin’.”
“And chasin’ women?” She raised an eyebrow.
“Bull ridin’ gets more ladies than plain old ranchin’,” he replied. “I’ve sown my wild oats in both arenas—ranchin’ and rodeoin’. I’m lucky that I didn’t have to reap a harvest from that, but I’m thirty years old now, and I’m finding that all that glitters is not gold.”
“Seems like there was an old song that said that same thing,” she said.
Dalton nodded again. “Yep, and every word of it is true. The dryer just dinged.”
“I’ll get my things and get dressed.” She pushed back her chair and headed out of the kitchen.
His robe only came to her knees, and her hips curved out from her small waist where she’d roped the belt tightly. She whipped the towel from her hair, and just looking at her long legs, her bare feet, and all that tangled, damp hair made his heart throw in an extra beat. He’d love to untie that robe, watch it fall into a puddle at her feet, and then scoop her up in his arms and carry her to his bed.