by Taylor Hart
Her heart raced. “I broke things off with Hale after I got back from Myrtle Beach. And I told my mother to shove the job.”
“After you wrote ‘The Lone Star Cowboy.’” He said it in a deep, John Wayne type of voice.
She smiled again. “I realized I’d been a fraud in so many ways.” She gently touched his face. “I’m sorry.”
He sucked in a breath and squeezed his eyes shut. “What am I going to do with you, Liberty Bell?”
It was strange to hear him call her that … but it felt right. She thought her father would probably like Texas Waters. “Kiss me, Lone Star Cowboy.” She said, running her hand down his jawline.
He dipped his head and their lips met.
It was everything: soft, passionate, and sweet. He pulled her closer and ran his hand through her hair.
She wrapped her arms around him, knowing there was nowhere else she ever wanted to be.
Out of the blue, there was a knock at the door.
She went completely still, worry filled her.
“I’ll get it.” Texas stood.
“Liberty! Liberty!” She heard through the door.
Rushing forward, she was next to Texas when he threw the door open.
“Mother?” Confusion filled her.
But she couldn’t get out another word before her mother threw her arms around her. “I thought I’d lost you!”
Shock filled her and she hugged her mother.
Her mother held her tighter, then yanked back, looking her up and down. “Oh, child, you are so infuriating.”
Liberty didn’t know what to say. She could not believe her mother had come.
Her mother took her hand. “I’m … sorry. Can you ever forgive me?”
She blinked and swallowed, completely speechless.
Her mother squeezed her hand tighter. “I never should have tried to force Hale on you and I never should have told you not to write what you love.” She shook her head. “I … I thought I was protecting you, trying to keep you from coming. But when you came … I realized I’d been trying to protect myself. And, I’ve pushed you away for so long.” Her face crumbled. “When they told me yesterday you had been taken, I just … I was terrified.” Tears spilled onto her cheeks.
“Mother.” Liberty reached for her.
“Wait.” Her mother put up her hand. “Hold on. I have one more thing to say.” She sucked in a breath. “I love you, Liberty. I told myself if you were somehow okay, I would be a better mother.”
Tears spilled onto Liberty’s cheeks.
“Will you let me try?”
“Yes.” Liberty pulled her in and both of them cried, then laughed. She couldn’t believe what her mother was saying. It felt so good to hold her mother and be held by her.
Pulling back, her mother turned to Texas. “Mr. Waters … thank you.”
Texas nodded. “Ma’am.”
Liberty looked between them. “Mother, the article about Texas.”
Her mother gave Texas an appraising look. “Mr. Waters, I hear you have a concert kick off in two days?” She flashed a smile and wiped beneath her eyes. “I’m happy to say the article my daughter wrote will be running today.” Tentatively, she reached out a hand and put it on his arm. “Thank you.”
He nodded. “Montana will be happy about that.”
Liberty stared at him, thinking he was much more humble then he gave himself credit for.
Texas let out a breath, then turned and went for his bag. “I better be going.” He bent and put on his shoes.
She didn’t want him to leave but knew he needed to get back to his tour. Nervously, she turned to her mother. “I told the reporters covering this conference I would help them with the details and different facts today. Want to stay with me?”
Her mother smiled. “I would be honored.”
Texas was next to them. “Well, I’ll be seeing you.” He looked like he didn’t know what to do.
Her mother put up both hands and moved further into the room. “I’ll let you say goodbye.”
Liberty didn’t care if her mother was there. Throwing her arms around his neck, she pulled him into her and gently kissed his lips. “Thank you.”
Letting out a light laugh, he slipped his arm around her waist and pulled her in tighter, whispering in her ear. “So much gratitude, princess.” He kissed her again.
Happiness surged through her. She was really in Texas’s arms, kissing him.
Texas pulled back, grinning down at her. “You’ll come find me when you get back, right?”
Her heart melted and she reached up and kissed him again. “There’s no getting rid of me now, Lone Star Groom.”
He turned for the door, then abruptly stopped, turning back to her. “Well, which is it … the cowboy or the groom?”
She laughed. “Well, I guess it depends on if you ask me or not.”
Chapter 30
Liberty looked around the concert stadium not expecting the crowd to be this huge. But she had nothing to compare it to because she’d never been to a country music concert before.
She’d wanted to come anonymously. Wanted to experience a Texas Water’s concert like a normal person. Her heart fluttered, and she laughed at the cowgirl costume she’d bought herself. Complete with tight jeans, red boots, a tight red shirt, and a hat. She felt a bit ridiculous but didn’t care. Smiling, she wondered if her plan would work. She held the poster tightly in her hands.
It had been two weeks since she’d seen Texas.
Of course, she’d talked to him on the phone and texted a million times.
She and her mother had ended up staying in Nigeria for another week together. It had been one of the best times in her life with her mother. Her mother had finally been fully engaged with Liberty, listening to her, helping her, using her resources to put together a piece about the refugee issue, as well as about the women being kidnapped. It was the best article Liberty had ever been part of. Liberty was pleased to learn that the Nigerian authorities with the help of the U.N. had raided the location where she had been taken and had freed the rest of the women.
The whole experience, although horrifying, had been something that had powerfully brought she and her mother remarkably closer.
And she was grateful.
The story was going to be on the front page next Sunday. It would highlight the woman she’d met, Darla’s experience. The things that had happened to her, what she’d seen, and what changes needed to be made to provide more security and steps people needed to take to be safe and not have it happen to them.
Texas, of course, had refused to be the hero of the story. He said he’d had enough of that kind of coverage with her article … that it was making him look ‘too good’ and he needed his ‘bad boy’ image back. Which made her smile.
Considering all she knew about Texas, it didn’t really surprise her—he didn’t do things for the press. Even the music, really, was just for him. He did it because he loved it.
The opening band ended, and there was a lull in the audience.
Liberty made her way into the pit. The place she’d sworn she’d never go. The audience was chill, and she walked to the center, by the side but not too close to the front. She wanted him to be able to see the poster.
A couple of minutes later, the music started, and the lights went dark. Texas rose from beneath the stage, the music already pouring out over the audience.
To her astonishment, he sang the words he’d written after the night she’d sprained her ankle.
The day I first met you, well it certainly wasn’t my best,
Like fire and ice, it felt like nature was putting us to the test.
Then I saw you crying on that lazy summer night, and I knew my heart would never be the same.
As I watched you pour out all your pain.
You said—it’s been hard, but I’m doing it. Trying to live up to my dream,
It’s been hard, but I’m doing it, and I don’t care what you think.
I
had to smile and shake my head because it was like looking in a mirror—we’re all just trying to matter—in this crazy world of fear.
Her heart raced, and she couldn’t believe how good he looked. He wore jeans, a black, tight shirt. His facial hair had grown out to that perfectly sexy level. It was dark, and his blond hair was a stark contrast. He looked amazing.
The crowd listened, almost in a hypnotic state, to the song.
He ended and smiled, putting his hand up. “Hello, Vegas!” The crowd yelled back.
“I wanted to sing that tonight for a woman I can’t stop thinking about.”
The crowd cheered some more.
“I wish she was here, but since she’s not, we should get on with the rest of the show.”
His band started an upbeat tune. The audience went crazy, the energy was insane. She loved seeing him here in his element. She sang and danced with the crowd.
After the fifth song, he slowed it down and played a love ballad. She pulled out the poster.
It was funny how she could tell, exactly, when he saw it.
Chapter 31
When Texas saw the poster that read ‘I’m your biggest Groupie’ the words to the song just fell from his mind. The mic slipped from his fingers. “Liberty,” he whispered. She wore a hat and lots of make up and actually did look like a groupie. He rushed the side of the stage and reached out for her.
Dropping the poster, she went to him.
The music stopped. “Please, let the lady through.”
The crowd parted. It was surreal and movie like.
She winked at him as he pulled her up. “Thought I would get the full Lone Star Cowboy experience.”
Unable to believe she was here, he laughed and pulled her in. “You came?” Unable to stop himself, he kissed her.
The crowd erupted, and he felt her smile, then pull back.
Not ready to let her go just yet, he kept her close, deepening the kiss. He lifted a hand and gave the crowd a thumbs up.
The crowd roared with whooping and hollering.
After a few seconds, he pulled back and laughed, relief and love and wonder washing through him. “You really came to my concert.”
She glanced at the crowd and gave them a little wave.
They roared again.
“I told you. I had to be a groupie and get the whole experience.”
This made him laugh harder. He tugged her with him over to the microphone.
Excitement pulsed through her, it was a rush being up on the stage.
Texas looked out into the crowd. “Remember the woman I told ya’ll about at the beginning of this concert?”
The crowd yelled and clapped.
He turned to her, and she could feel herself blush.“This is her.”
Somehow, the crowd clapped and cheered even louder then before.
Feeling playful, she pulled the microphone to her and said. “He’s good, isn’t he?”
Texas stared at her and laughed, looking a bit embarrassed.
The crowd was definitely into it, and they yelled out some more.
“Well,” Texas said into the microphone. “Here we are.”
The moment turned intimate, and the crowd seemed to sense it, quieting down.
“Here we are.” She stared into his eyes and felt butterflies erupt inside of her.
“Did I tell ya, I made a decision.” His eyes were playful.
She felt her hand holding the microphone start to shake. “Okay.”
Abruptly, he was down on one knee. “I like the idea of being the Lone Star Groom a little better then the Lone Star Cowboy … so I thought we could remedy that.” He turned to the audience. “What do ya’ll think?” He stuck the microphone into the air.
The crowd went wild and Liberty was taken completely unawares. She had not expected this!
He held the microphone to his lips. “Will you marry me?”
Still in shock, she couldn’t believe he was doing this.
“Dang woman, yes or no?” He grinned up at her.
Moisture filled her eyes and she put her hand over her mouth.
The microphone was still next to his mouth. “You can be my biggest groupie forever.” A mischievous smile played at his lips.
She fell into him, half-way laughing, half-way crying. “Yes!”
He stood and picked her up, spinning her around, dropping the mic again.
It didn’t matter. The audience went wild. They didn’t need to hear anymore. The band started playing the song he’d written for her.
When he stopped spinning, he put her down in front of him, still holding her. He kissed her ear and neck. “You’re mine now, and I don’t care how that sounds, I don’t ever plan on letting you go.”
Staring into those deep, blue eyes she kissed him. “You’re mine now too.”
Epilogue
Texas pushed his way beneath the Cougar 1968, loosening the oil pan, retrieving it, and pushing himself back out.
Liberty reached for it over her too-big tummy.
Their eyes connected, and Texas, once again, thought about how he’d never dreamed he’d love someone as much as her.
Her lips stretched into a smile, and she shook her head. “Why do you look at me that way?”
Unable to stop himself, he got up, and took her into his arms, loving the way the child she was growing, felt between them.
Putting his hands on her belly, he kept her close and bent and touched his lips with hers.
Cuddling into him, she rested her head on his chest.
Satisfaction. Fulfillment. A balm to all the pain in the world.
That was Liberty.
His own personal soothing balm.
Kissing her forehead, he took his hands from her belly and moved them to her lower back, pulling her in tighter.
“I feel huge. This baby needs to come soon, or I’ll get bigger than the house.”
Grinning down at her, he took one hand and moved a strand of blonde hair out of her face. “Hush now, the baby’s gonna come, and you’re not going to get bigger than the house. You’re perfect.”
Dipping his head, he kissed her again. The spark of fire that was always between them was instantly lit.
He felt her arms pull his neck closer, and he deepened the kiss.
For a few moments, they made out right there in the driveway.
She pulled back, keeping close to him. “How come I don’t think you even realize how atrocious I look at the moment? Swollen, fat, with oily skin.”
Bending to kiss her neck, he murmured, “Sexy, hot, curvaceous.” His hands trailed up her body.
She giggled. “Stop.”
He found her lips again and made quick work of them. He felt her softly moan, and all he wanted to do was pick her up and carry her to their bed.
Marriage had been better than he’d ever thought it could be. To be with a woman he loved and trusted was something he never thought he’d have.
Pulling back, he exhaled and rubbed their noses together in a cheesy Eskimo kiss. “No matter what I want to do to you at the moment, our mamas are coming for dinner, and I want to get this done.”
Liberty nodded, holding to him, but turning to look at the progress on the car. “You’ve done well.”
He scanned the car. “It’s almost done.”
His father had passed away three months ago, and it had been hard on him. It had felt like there was so much left undone. One day, after going to Liberty’s three-month appointment with her and seeing the ultrasound, he realized he needed to do something. He needed to deal with all this anger and pain and confusion in regards to his daddy.
It seemed like a good idea to start with the car. So he’d had it brought to their home up the street up from his mother on the beach.
He could feel Liberty watching him. He loved Liberty watching him. Loved watching her too. The past year had been so wonderful.
Taking her hand, he linked their fingers and pulled her into him, gently turning her hand up and kissing
her palm.
“I love you,” she said a bit breathlessly.
Their eyes met, and happiness and warmth filled him. She represented all good. All strength. All life. Everything. “I love you too.”
She blinked, and tears fell down her face.
Gently putting a finger beneath her chin, he pulled her head up, their eyes meeting again. “Why are you crying, princess?” It’d become his pet name for her.
They’d both gotten used to it. Of course, he didn’t use it in public. It was their private joke.
She shook her head. “I don’t know why I’m crying. I guess … I guess I just feel so much gratitude lately. That we met. That I was assigned to do that stupid article.” She rolled her eyes.
This made him smile. Wanting to play with her, he swept an arm beneath her knees and picked her up.
She giggled. “Texas.”
He didn’t even pause as he headed toward the house. “Maybe just a little break.” He grinned down at her. “After all, I’m the Lone Star Cowboy. Isn’t this what Cowboys do? Sweep women off their feet?”
“Not women.” Liberty pronounced the last word harshly. “Their wives.” She giggled again.
He laughed and opened the back door, rushing inside. “Only you, princess.”
She sighed dramatically. “My own personal knight in shining armor.”
He got to the bedroom and gently laid her down, falling next to her. He would be lying if he said he didn’t like being her hero. “Let’s forget the knight in shining armor thing.”
“Okay, the cowboy in shining armor.” She trailed kisses down his neck, “You’d fight a war for me, Texas. You already did.”
Gripping her tighter, he yanked her closer and began his own kisses down her neck. “How about we don’t go into war zones for a bit? How about we just stay here—love, fight, and raise a baby.”
“Uh-oh.” She kissed his lips. “Sounds like a song title.”
He grinned and kissed her back. “The best we’ve ever thought of.”
I hope you enjoyed The Lone Star Groom….if you haven’t gotten a chance to read Hail Mary continue reading to enjoy this sneak peak….
