by Lynn Collins
School was finally happening. It would be tough, but she’d planned out her curriculum and within three years—if she could fit in summer school during peak rental season—she’d have her degree. Once she’d passed the tests, she could be a CPA out of her house. She wouldn’t have to move JR away from the only home he’d ever known. Away from his grandpa and, now that Serena was buying a ranch nearby, two grandmothers.
A knock came at the front door. JR watched cartoons and made clay figures. A decision Lizzie already regretted. But cabin guests would have to deal with the fact that the innkeeper had a five-year-old son who could turn a clean room into a disaster in less time than it took for her to whip up a batch of cookies. She heard JR’s cry, “Gramma Serena.”
Eyeing what remained of her list, she went to greet James’s mother. Serena knew guests were arriving today. She’d be quick about her visit. Lizzie smiled down at her flour-covered clothes. Another item on her to add to her to do list: change clothes before the guests arrived.
When Lizzie walked into the living room where Serena and JR had their heads together, whispering. JR held a bag in his hand. “Please tell me you didn’t buy him another toy. Seriously, you don’t have to bring a gift every time you come. Your visit is a gift.”
Serena stood up and smiled, ruffling JR’s hair. “Just a little something I found in the shop. An outfit I couldn’t resist.” She pushed JR toward the stairs. “Honey, go upstairs and put that on while I talk to you mom for a minute.”
“Okay.” JR dodged around Lizzie and ran up the stairs.
“You don’t want to show me?” Lizzie called after him.
“Not yet Mom.” The answer echoed down the stairs and then his door slammed.
“Well, I guess that answers your question. How are you doing?” Serena put her arm around Lizzie and walked her toward the kitchen.
The lilac of Serena’s perfume swept over Lizzie, sweet and comforting at the same time. For all the pain it had caused while it happened, rodeo weekend had certainly caused wrought some wonderful changes—like bringing this wonderful woman into their lives.
“I’m swamped. All the cabins are rented for the weekend. The good thing is they declined the breakfast option. I guess I’ll get to ease into my new role as an innkeeper.” Lizzie slipped into one of the wooden chairs, stacking the pamphlets from the university into a pile. “Can I get you coffee or tea? I’ve got a jug of sun tea in the fridge.”
“That sounds divine. I wouldn’t stress too much about your guests. I’m sure they’ll be able to entertain themselves most of the time.” Serena perched on a chair and nodded toward the laundry room. “Pretty dress.”
“Pretty odd dress.” Lizzie poured the tea she’d had setting out in the sun all morning over two glasses filled with ice. The ice would melt quickly since the jar still felt warm. She sat the glass in front of Serena and moved the sugar bowl filled with cubes closer.
“I’m sweet enough, hun,” Serena said, waving the sugar away. “Don’t you like the dress?”
Lizzie glanced at it. She’d called Barb again that morning, this time leaving a short thank you when her friend’s phone went unanswered. She didn’t have time to play around today.
“I love the dress. I’d like to know why Barb thought I needed it. Church service up here is casual most weekends.” Lizzie watched Serena start digging in her purse, avoiding eye contact. “Wait. Serena? Did you send me the dress?”
Serena pulled out a tube of lipstick and mirror from her purse. She clicked open the mirror and freshened the color on her lips, even though it seemed bright enough to Lizzie. When she was done, she tucked the items back into her purse and finally answered Lizzie.
“No, I didn’t buy you the dress. I swear.” Serena lifted her right hand into a symbol. “Scouts honor.”
Lizzie laughed. “Were you ever a scout?”
“Of course. Well, a Brownie at least. Until the other mothers complained I put too much makeup on their little darlings.” Serena leaned closer. “Between you and me, those girls needed a little sprucing up. That brown uniform wasn’t fashion in anyone’s eyes.”
Lizzie laughed. Serena had been a pistol as a kid, too. Keeping her and JR in line when they were together would be a trial. She glanced at the stairs, JR still hadn’t come down from his room. Lizzie stood to go see what kind of trouble her son was getting into when she heard voices in the living room. Confused since she wasn’t expecting her guests to arrive before late afternoon, she called, “I’ll be right there.”
“We’re coming back,” her dad’s voice boomed. Then Lizzie saw a bouquet of flowers carried through the doorway, followed by her Dad and Martha. He set the vase on the kitchen table. “Happy…day.”
“You brought me flowers?” Lizzie stared into the arrangement of roses, daisies and lilies.
“You don’t like the flowers?” Martha sent horrified glance back and forth from Lizzie to Bob Hudson. “I thought you said these were her favorites?”
Lizzie hugged Martha. Her new stepmother seemed a flustered. “They’re perfect. Thank you. You surprised me, that’s all.” She patted Martha’s back. “A very nice surprise.”
Bob grabbed two glasses and filled them with ice. “See, she likes them. I know my girl.” He poured tea over the ice and sat down. “Do you have another tea jar brewing?”
“I hadn’t planned on having company today. I have guests coming this evening. I was getting the cabins ready.” Lizzie hoped the not so subtle hint would get her visitors to leave. She went to the cabinet and pulled out a second gallon jar. Setting it in the sink, she ran water into the jar while she unwrapped the tea bags. When the water reached the top, her father jumped up.
“I’ll take it out.” He grabbed the jar and slipped out the screen door.
“What a beautiful dress.” Martha stood in the laundry room looking at the mystery dress.
“Lizzie and I were talking about the dress when you came in.” Serena went over to stand next to Martha. “She doesn’t know where it came from.”
“Not a clue?” A look passed between Martha and Serena. Then they both smiled at Lizzie.
“What?” Lizzie could swear they were hiding a secret. As impossible as that was since they’d only met once when Lizzie and Serena dropped off JR to go shopping last week.
“The cabins look great. You need to keep people off the new sod until the roots set.” Her father came through the screen door.
Lizzie turned toward her dad. “That’s why I have those sections roped off Dad.”
“I didn’t mean anything.” He glanced across the room. “Pretty dress.”
“So everyone keeps saying.” Lizzie sipped her iced tea, watching the circus of family surrounding her. Was this what it was going to be like from now on? Surprise visits from the parents, bearing gifts that didn’t make sense?
JR burst into the room. “Grampa. Gramma Martha. Gramma Serena. You’re all here.” He went from one to the next gathering hugs like candy.
Lizzie’s heart swelled watching her son. For him, she could deal with crazy relatives dropping in at all hours. Life would go on, but JR would remember one thing from moments like these: he had people in his life who loved him.
She got her hug last. Pulling him onto her lap, she realized he was dressed in a mini tuxedo. “What the heck?” She smoothed the fabric and looked at Serena. “You bought him a tuxedo?”
“Isn’t he cute?” Serena pulled out a camera and started snapping pictures.
“Yes, he’s adorable. But Serena, he’ll grow out of this in a few months. You can’t buy dress clothes for him, he has nowhere to wear this.”
JR hugged her. “Yes, I do Mom. I can wear it today.”
“Why on earth would you want to wear it today?” Lizzie leaned her head down to touch her son’s soft brown locks.
“I guess I should answer that,” a new voice said.
Lizzie’s jaw dropped. James stood in front of her in a tuxedo that matched the JR’s. “I thought you
were in South Dakota?”
“I made other plans.” James grinned, his blue eyes sparkling.
“What about Jesse?” Lizzie’s head spun. It had to be the scent of the flowers getting too her.
“What about me?” Jesse poked his head around the corner and dragged Barb into the crowded kitchen.
“Okay, I give up. What’s going on?”
“I think that’s my line, Lizzie,” James said huskily. “Because I haven’t known what’s going on since I left you. So I’m here to give up. I’m done fighting this feeling. I know where I belong.”
“Finally,” Jesse whispered loudly to Barb who giggled.
Bewildered, Lizzie looked around at them. James was there to give up—what, she wasn’t sure—after having no contact with her since demanding the paternity tests and telling her he wanted custody of JR. Jesse was there when he was supposed to be riding bulls in South Dakota. And Barb… God alone knew what Barb, Martha, her dad and Serena were doing.
“Guys, I don’t have time for this. The cabin guests will be showing up any time.”
“We are your cabin guests.” Barb bounced up and down. “Surprise!”
James didn’t even look at her. “Quiet in the peanut gallery.”
He lifted JR off Lizzie’s lap. Kneeling in front of her, he pulled a small box from his tuxedo pocket. When he opened the box, a marquis cut diamond ring in what looked like a platinum setting sparkled at Lizzie.
She took a quick breath. Tears filled her eyes.
“I meant to do this years ago, Lizzie. Then time and stubbornness got away from me, from us. This question has been a long time coming. Lizzie Hudson, will you marry me?”
Lizzie’s ears rang. What? After all the stupidity was this really happening? Did she want it to? She pinched her leg. Pain seeped into her consciousness.
“I mean if you don’t want to, I’ll understand…” James searched her face. “I have to tell you though, I quit my job. You see before you an unemployed man.”
“Hold on cowboy, I think we can work out an arrangement,” Barb piped up.
“Shhh. Give them some space.” Jesse put his hand over Barb’s mouth. “This is their time.”
The adults in the room chuckled then turned back to watch James and Lizzie.
Lizzie realized she hadn’t said anything. James was here. He’d chosen her over Jesse. The thought echoed in her mind. The room was quiet. Everyone waited. James waited. For her.
She took the ring out of the box and slipped it onto her hand. It felt right. Glancing at James, she smiled. “Yes.”
She put her arms around him and he lifted her up into his arms and kissed her. Her lips were melding into his and she was where she wanted to be. With the man she’d always wanted.
However late he was.
She slipped out of his arms and back to the floor, but he kept a hold of her waist.
James grinned at JR. “She said yes.”
“Of course, she did, Daddy. She was just waiting for you.” JR jumped up and down like a jack in the box.
James released her to pick up JR.
Lizzie glanced around the room. The dress, the flowers, the unexpected visitors? It all made sense now. “You pulled this all together?”
James leaned into her. “Were you surprised?”
“Flabbergasted that it took you so long to get it right.” She reached up and kissed him one more time.
Everyone watched them, beaming. They wouldn’t be quiet long. This was their family. All of them together for the first time. She was home.
“Time’s a wasting kids. I’ve got to get on the road.” Jesse nudged Barb who flew into action.
“What, we’re doing this now?” Lizzie frowned.
“Before you change your mind or I do something stupid. Yes, we’re doing this now.” James glanced around the crowded kitchen. “Besides, everyone’s here now.”
Barbara grabbed Lizzie and ushered her and the dress upstairs to her bedroom. “You jump into the shower and I’ll get everything ready.”
Lizzie hugged her friend. “He finally asked.”
Barb laughed. “He did more than ask, he set this whole thing up. The preacher will be arriving with the county clerk in thirty minutes—we need to get you ready. You don’t want to miss your plane.”
“Plane?” Lizzie stripped off her shorts and tee shirt, turning on the water. “What plane?”
“Just hurry.”
Twenty minutes later, Lizzie stood in front of her oval mirror. The dress fit like a dream. Barb had curled and teased her hair, adding a tiara and short veil. Lizzie put on her mom’s gold cross necklace. She met Barb’s eyes in the mirror.
“She hated James.” Tears threatened to destroy the mascara Barb had layered on Lizzie’s lashes.
“Your mom hated what James did to you. She didn’t hate James.” Barb gently hugged her.
Fingering the cross, Lizzie realized Barb was right. Her mom had been doing what she would have done: protecting her baby. Music drifted in the room.
“That’s our signal, everything’s ready.”
“This is really happening.” Lizzie took a deep breath.
Out on the landing, her dad waited for her. “I get to give you away, I guess.”
She kissed him on the cheek. “Thanks Dad, for everything. JR and I couldn’t have made it without you.”
“If he hurts you again, I have my shotgun.” Her father settled her arm in the crook of his.
“I’ll tell him.”
But as father and daughter walked down the stairs to James and the family, Lizzie knew James would never hurt her again. Because now, she was family. She’d seen it in his eyes when he’d asked her to marry him. Today’s vows would seal the deal, but the bargain had been struck in those few seconds in the kitchen.
To have and to hold from this day forward. A family.
Epilogue
A year later Lizzie sat on the same metal risers on rodeo weekend in Shawnee. The top of the stands not only had the best view for the parade, but she could lean into the metal rack, easing the pressure off her back. These things weren’t made for the comfort of pregnant women. Being seven months along wasn’t going to stop her from watching JR ride in his first parade. James and JR had been practicing for this day for months. Lizzie thought her body would rather be curled up on the couch watching a sappy movie, but she couldn’t miss this.
“Corndog and water for you.” Barb sidled up next to her and Lizzie a still warm mustard covered treat. “I can’t believe you can eat those things.”
“I’ve been craving one for weeks, ever since James and JR made plans to ride in the parade.” Lizzie took a bite of the steaming crunch dog. “Besides, James has me on a strict diet at home so this is heaven.”
“You better not get me in trouble. I like being in a partnership with your husband. He’s a freaking genius when it comes to scheduling. We’re working with four new riders this year and have more on a waiting list.” Barb grinned. She patted Lizzie’s stomach. “I can’t believe you’re so big.”
“Twins.” Lizzie ruefully smiled and rubbed her expanding stomach.
Barb squealed and hugged her friend. “When did you find out?”
“Last week. Now James goes around telling everyone I’m carrying an oversized load.” Lizzie polished off the corndog. “He thinks he’s funny.”
“What’s that son of mine done now?” Serena sat down on the other side of Lizzie and handed her a fresh corndog.
“Thanks.” Lizzie took a bite of the second dog, grinning at Barb who shook a finger at her. “He’s been making size comments again.”
“You’d think he’d learn.” Serena stood and called to Jesse, “Make sure you get lots of pictures of JR.”
Jesse waved to the three women, holding the camera up for Serena to see.
“Both those boys are more vinegar than sugar. I don’t know how you put up with them.” Serena patted Lizzie’s belly, leaning down to ask the growing babies, “You two will be s
ugar and sweet for your momma, won’t you?”
“I hope they sleep.” Lizzie admitted.
“Where’s your Dad and Martha?” Serena scanned the crowd growing on the street waiting for the parade.
“On a cruise. Can you believe it?” Lizzie smiled thinking about her dad on board a cruise ship. “They wanted to get away in plenty of time so they’d be back for the big day.”
“Here they come.” Serena pointed toward the first set of riders positioned behind the color guard with the flag. Serena and Barb pulled Lizzie up so she could stand while the flag passed by.
Then Lizzie saw them. The men who made her life complete. JR looking all grownup on a real horse. He hadn’t wanted a pony. And James, the doting father, watching over his son with a mixture of pride and love. She caught his glance and saw him say something to JR.
Her son turned and searched the stands until he saw her. Then his face lit up. He waved with his free hand.
A year ago, she’d been trying to keep a secret. Now, Lizzie realized it hadn’t been her secret to keep. The world had shifted, that was true. But she’d never been this happy. And her happiness revolved around the people in her life. A family she’d never imagined yet now, couldn’t let go.
One of the babies inside her kicked her. Lizzie reached down and rubbed the spot on her stomach.
Yes, sweetheart. You’re going to be part of this crazy life. Just wait. The future has lots of surprises for us all.
A note from the author
Dear Reader –
The Bull Rider’s Brother started as my love letter to Idaho. Building the community of Shawnee took a lot of different actual places in my home state. Lizzie’s hot springs cabin is an actual resort off the Middle Fork of the Boise River. Cash’s Pancake House exists (or did), in McCall off highway 55. And the rodeo where Jesse and JR ride? It’s the first weekend in Riggins.
James and Lizzie reconnect in this book, but there’s more love stories coming from the Shawnee Valley crew.
Check out Cash’s story in the upcoming novella, The Bull Rider’s Buddy, a reunion novella.
