Prairie Redemption: Cowboys of the Flint Hills

by Tessa Layne

  He landed and rolled, springing to his feet with a holler, and ripped off his helmet, tossing it high. “Yes,” he shouted pumping his fist. “Yes.” That was how Cody Hansen dominated a bull, let no one forget it. He turned, thanking the crowd with a wave, half afraid to look at the boxes.

  “Yes,” he shouted again, breaking into a run as he locked eyes with Carolina. “I knew it.” With a superhuman leap, he launched himself up the boards and pulled himself over the rail, climbing over empty seats and sweeping her into his arms. Before she could protest, he kissed her, hard and long and deep, and to his great joy, she kissed him back, running her fingers through his hair, and making that noise he loved so much. Even the cheers of the crowd couldn’t drown out that sound.

  “And that, ladies and gentlemen,” the announcer commented. “Is how a cowboy gets his girl. Give it up for an eighty-six point ride for Cody Hansen.”

  Eighty-six points.

  The crowd roared, and Cody waved, keeping an arm around Carolina. No way was he letting her go again. “Can you come with me?”

  Carolina exchanged glances with her sister, who sat beaming, holding Bubba in her lap. “Of course, she will,” Lydia answered. “Take all the time you need. Bubs and I are going to go check in at the hotel.”

  Lacing his fingers with Carolina’s he led her out of the stands and behind the chutes, stopping every few feet to accept congratulations for his ride.

  “What a comeback.”

  “Great ride.”

  “Must feel great to finish in the money.”

  What felt great, was Carolina next to him. “Wait here,” he said in front of the makeshift trailer that served as a dressing room for the riders. He pulled off his protective wear and shoved it in his duffel, not wanting to waste a second more than necessary.

  “You feel comfortable coming back to my hotel?” he asked from the top step of the trailer. “We’ve got lots of talkin’ to do, and it’s too damned hot to stay outside.” The late August sun beat down relentlessly. It must be one-oh-five, at least.

  She nodded mutely, and followed his lead behind the rough stock pens and to the far edge of the parking area. The wind blew hot and dry, kicking up dust and sending it spinning. They drove to the hotel in silence, but Cody was encouraged by the fact that she never let go of his hand. Surely, that was a good sign?

  He pulled in, killed the ignition and set the brake. “Stay here.” He hopped out and walked around front to open her door with a flourish. She accepted his hand, squeezing hard as they walked through the doors of the Wyatt Earp Inn. Never had the elevator moved so slowly. The hall seemed to grow longer as they made their way to his room on the top floor. He inserted the key card and pulled her inside, kicking the door shut and pinning her against it.

  Their eyes locked for a full second before they fell on each other, a tangle of limbs, mouths desperately seeking the other’s, groans and moans as clothing fell to the floor.

  “Cody, I’ve missed you so much,” she muttered between kisses, pressing her naked breasts to his chest.

  “Not half as much as I’ve missed you, darlin’.” He walked backward, mouth locked on hers, tongue demanding complete surrender, and fell onto the bed, bringing her down on top of him.

  She hitched up her hips and with a devilish smirk, took him in hand, slowly stroking the length of him, drawing her thumb across his engorged crown before licking him like a goddamned lollipop.

  Oh, mercy. If she did that again, he’d blow before they even got started, and that would not do. “I want to come in your mouth so bad, and all over your gorgeous tits, and your belly. But first, I want to come inside you. I need to feel you when you come.”

  She licked him again, the minx, before kissing her way up his chest, and nipping at the hollow of his throat. Then slowly, she slid onto his throbbing shaft.

  “Hell, yeah,” he grunted, squeezing her hips. “You feel damned, good, Carolina.”

  She raised her eyes, heat-filled and determined. “I love you, Cody. I know I’ve been difficult. And scared. But I want you in my life, however I can have you.”

  “I love you too, sweetheart. With a passion that won’t quit. But talk later.” He lifted his head and took her mouth in a slow sensuous kiss as they rocked together, giving her the friction and deep penetration he knew she craved.

  The heat between them grew, reaching a fever pitch as she arched her back and bore down with a low guttural moan, pushing him over the edge as her pussy clenched and pulsed around him. His spine electrified, the intensity of his release making his eyelids wet. He pulled her down to his chest, stroking her back as their breathing returned to normal.

  By the door, his phone rang, but no way was he moving to get it. He wanted to savor this moment. The high from a great ride, the utter satisfaction of a woman in his arms - a woman he loved.

  “That wasn’t so bad, was it? Watchin’ me ride?”

  She lifted her head, eyes serious. “My heart was in my throat the whole time. Lyd will confirm. I watched through my fingers.”

  He deflated a little. “But I was okay. You saw I was okay.”

  She gave him a smile that set off alarm bells in his head. One that was more sad than happy. “I’m proud of you, Cody. How hard you’ve worked. And I can see you love what you do. More than ranching.”

  “But?” His heart kicked furiously.

  “I can’t just abandon my parents to become a camp follower. The ranch is everything to my dad. It’s his legacy, and I won’t turn my back on him, or our ranch. Not after all he’s done for our family.

  Cody’s chest twisted with longing. What would it be like, to feel that kind of devotion? His father’s life insurance policy had allowed his mom to pay cash for the modest home Park and Cassidy now occupied, and she’d insisted that both boys not worry about her. Of course, they had, but Peggy was fiercely independent, refusing to accept help from anyone. And now, it was a moot point, because she’d found love again, this time with a gazillionaire nine years her junior. He’d never grown up with the sense of family his cousins had. Or the Graces for that matter.

  He drew the back of a finger across her cheek. “Your dad was as much a father figure to me as anyone. With the money I make, I could hire him a whole crew of help. And I’ll give you even odds that was one of my former sponsors on the phone, sayin’ they’d like to get reacquainted.” He took a breath, chest pulling tight. “You wouldn’t have to work either. Unless you wanted,” he added.

  She tilted her head, giving him a funny look. “I love what I do. And I’m proud of my work. And I don’t think I’d make a very good housewife.”

  “Well, I could hire one of those, too.” That earned him a sock on the shoulder. “Okay, okay, you know what I mean,” he said with a laugh, ducking another gentle sock, and capturing her wrist. He kissed the spot where her pulse beat rapidly, desire stirring again. “We could continue this discussion later,” he suggested, kissing a path up her forearm.

  “Cody?”

  “Mmm-hmm?”

  “If we, if we… if we try and figure a solution, please promise me you’ll be careful?” She nestled her head into his neck. “I couldn’t bear to lose you.”

  Chapter Twenty-Five

  Kansas City

  “You really want to do this?” Ty Sloane asked as Cody paced the length of the locker room.

  Cody nodded. “Signed the contract this morning.”

  “Congratulations, man.” Colton clapped him on the shoulder. “You’re makin’ me think of retiring now. Lydia would be thrilled.”

  “Riding camp’s a good first step,” said Cody.

  “My sponsors think so. They’re hoping it’ll give them a chance to scout new talent before anyone else.”

  “You think Carolina will go for it?” She was the lynchpin in their plan to start a rough stock riding camp in Steamboat Springs. With a full-time physical therapist on site during camp, teaching proper injury recovery, plyometrics and flexibility exercises, they’d attra
ct the most promising young riders in the country.

  Colton smirked. “I think you can persuade her. Especially after today.”

  Cody turned to Ty. “I just have to thank you for everything. And especially for giving me a push last spring when I needed it. I don’t think I started to believe I could come back until you called.”

  Ty shook his hand, patting him on the shoulder. “Shucks, you always had it in you. Now you can thank me by going out there and giving them the best ride of your life.”

  Cody pulled on his glove and secured it with tape, brimming with expectation. He was a little sorry he couldn’t go out with one more world championship under his belt, but he’d won so much this year, so much more than money, he was at peace. “Let’s get ‘er done.” He grabbed his helmet and pushed through the door, Colton and Ty following. At the far end of the hall, a roar went up from the crowd. He could smell the adrenaline, the excitement, from where he was, and his body responded, every cell coming alive with anticipation.

  By the time they reached the chutes, Cody was buzzing. He tuned out the noise, shutting his eyes to visualize his ride. Eight seconds of pure joy. He’d miss it, sure. But he had so much more to look forward to.

  “Time’s up.” Colton clapped him on the shoulder.

  “You pull the strap one last time?”

  Colton grinned. “Wouldn’t miss it.”

  The calls floated down to him.

  “Go get ‘em, Hansen.”

  “You’ve got this Cody.”

  “You show that bull who’s boss.”

  His friends and colleagues were up on the rails, calling out their encouragement, but he only had eyes for Carolina in the stands. He found her easily. It wasn’t too hard with half the town representing today. Her eyes were big and round, but she made a heart with her hands and blew him a kiss.

  Cody climbed over the rail and dropped onto Devil in High Heels.

  The announcer began. “Ladies and gentlemen, give it up for a hometown boy, from right down the road in Prairie, Kansas. Codyyyyyyyy Hannnnnsen.”

  The crowd roared, but all Cody could hear was the heavy breathing and snorting of the animal beneath him.

  The announcer continued. “This here’s a special ride for Cody. He’s made an impressive comeback from a run-in with a bull named Damnation. If he wanted, he could make a run for the finals, but Cody’s cashing out and today is his final ride.”

  The crowd gasped, but Cody kept his eyes on his hand. All he wanted was one last ride.

  “But don’t get out your Kleenex just yet, ladies and gents, because you’ll still see Cody Hansen at the PBR finals in Vegas in a few months. He’ll be up here with me, giving his two-cents and an insider’s view of the action.”

  What was Carolina thinking, right now? He risked a peek. Her eyes were like saucers. He flashed her a quick grin and a wink, then bent to talk to the bull. “You’re mine tonight, you hear? You can give me your worst, and I will still own you.”

  The announcer’s voice grew louder. “Get on your feet and let’s give Cody a farewell to remember. How loud can you get, Kansas City?”

  Cody raised his arm, and the gate swung open. Time slowed. For what seemed like a long moment, nothing happened, and his stomach dropped as the bull simply stood. But then he exploded like a rocket, kicking up and back, twisting and gyrating, trying to shake him off. But Cody was right with him, shifting his weight as the bull landed front feet first, then jumped left, twisting his hind legs in the air. Every movement the bull made, Cody responded to, as fluid and relaxed as if he were at a beach party.

  The sound was deafening as the buzzer sounded. Cody let the bull have one last twist before he pushed off in the opposite direction, landing with a tumble and leaping right to his feet.

  “Ninety-three-point-six,” the announcer yelled excitedly. “A record ride for Devil in High Heels, and a mighty fine way to say farewell. That score gives Cody Hansen our high score of the evening and makes him the winner of the PBR American Royal Edition. Let’s hear it for Cody.”

  Cody waved, pointing first to Carolina, then to his mom and Park, heart beginning to race, because the night wasn’t over yet. He had one more hurdle to cross. Fifteen minutes later, Tuff Woodson, current head of the PBR and one of the best bull riders in history, stood on the makeshift dais in the center of the arena with a cardboard check for eighty-seven thousand dollars. Cody raised it sky high, grinning for the cameras, then turned to Tuff.

  “How’d you feel about that last ride, Cody?” Tuff asked, turning the microphone to him.

  “I was pretty excited. My family’s here, and they don’t get to see me ride that often. I just wanted to give everyone a good show tonight.”

  “Well, I’d say you did that. Do you have plans for your earnings?”

  This was it, the moment he’d simultaneously been dreading and looking forward to all week. “I do, as a matter of fact.” He swallowed, mouth going dry. He just needed to spit this part out, get it over with and hope for the best. She wouldn’t say no, would she? She couldn’t. The crowd quieted, waiting for his next words. “If she’ll have me, I’d like to make my girlfriend Carolina, my wife, and tear down the bunkhouse I’ve been staying in and build her a proper cottage. And if he’ll let me, I’d like to hire my future father-in-law a foreman for his ranch, so he doesn’t have to work so hard.” He had to swallow again, this time because all the emotion in his body had somehow lodged right up under his Adam’s apple. Carolina was too far away to see clearly, so he snuck a peek at the jumbotron. Shit. She was crying. She wasn’t supposed to cry. She’d shed enough tears to last two lifetimes.

  “What do you say, Carolina?” Tuff asked. “You gonna make an honest man out of him?”

  She nodded vigorously. “Yes,” she hollered, starting to climb over seats and grinning from ear to ear. She jumped down off the rails and landed at a run.

  He ran to meet her, swinging her in a circle, a flood of relief and happiness coming out as laughter. “Yes? You’ll marry me?”

  “Yes, you big goof.” She kissed him full on the mouth.

  When they broke apart, he put her down, barely able to hear over the cheers from the crowd, and dug into his pocket. “I was terrified it was gonna fall out. Will you please wear it?” He held out a diamond ring he’d picked out earlier in the week.

  She stuck out a trembling hand. “Ohmygodit’sHUGE, Cody.”

  He slipped it on her finger. “Only the best for my girl. I want to make sure everyone knows who you belong to.”

  “To you, always and forever.”

  “Let’s seal that with a kiss.”

  Chapter Twenty-Six

  A knock sounded at the door. “Come in,” Carolina called from her mother’s vanity, where she was putting the finishing touches on her makeup. Her sisters were right on time.

  “Special delivery for the bride?” Cody’s low seductive voice rolled over her as he slipped in and shut the door behind him.

  “Cody,” she squealed, jumping up from the seat and clutching her robe shut. “You know it’s bad luck to see me.”

  “Don’t care.” He perused her slowly, eyes lingering at her breasts. He stepped closer, moving like a panther stalking its prey. “Maybe I just wanted to assure you that nothing’s going to go wrong today.” He closed the distance between them, hand settling at her hip. “Or maybe I couldn’t wait to see you.” He dropped his mouth to her neck, sending ripples of awareness straight to her core.

  “Yeah?” She breathed, unable to keep the smile from her face.

  “Yeah.” He kissed up the column of her throat.

  “You’ll muss my lipstick,” she uttered breathlessly.

  “Good.” He took her mouth slowly, teasing her lower lip with his tongue until she moaned and melted into him, no longer caring about protocol. “Just don’t mess my hair,” she murmured between kisses.

  “I intend to do just that,” he answered, weaving his fingers through the knot of hair at the base of her
neck.

  “Cody,” she giggled. “Everyone will know.”

  “I like you best when you look freshly fucked.” He nipped at her earlobe, pulling her flush against his erection.

  “Stop,” she squealed, not wanting him to in the least. “We are going to wait like civilized people.”

  “Civilized is overrated,” he growled, but stepped back after one more lusty kiss. He straightened her robe with a sigh and a look of pure regret. “Let’s get married right now.”

  “And disappoint our mothers? I don’t think so.” She ran a hand over his pecs, and down his belly to the top of his freshly pressed black denim jeans, standard Prairie wedding attire for grooms. She slipped her fingers inside the waistline and tugged, pulling him in for another kiss. “Don’t get me wrong, tonight can’t come fast enough.”

  “I have something for you.” He reached into his back pocket and pulled out a tiny white box.

  “What is this?” Taking it, she lifted the lid, gasping at the contents. A single opal on a delicate gold chain lay nestled on a bed of cotton. “Cody. It’s beautiful.”

  “My father gave this to my mother the day they married. Mom wanted me to give it to you.”

  She lifted it out of the box. “Help me put it on? My hands are shaking.”

  He took the necklace, looking even more delicate and fragile in his big hands. “Turn around.”

  He dropped the necklace in front of her and brought his hands to the base of her neck, latching the clasp. Then he turned her around and stepped back with an appreciative smile. “Perfect.”

  A rumble of thunder sounded in the distance. Carolina shot a worried look out the window. “Do you think the weather will hold?”

  Cody took her hands in his, bringing the backs to his mouth. “I’m marrying you today, rain or shine. Nothing’s going to stop this wedding from happening. Nothing.”