by Debra Kayn
“You did.” Cole cocked his head. “You made it.”
“Yes, but I’ve come to realize that I’m needed somewhere more important than in the circuit.” She laid her hand on his chest. “When Sarah was in the hospital, I found out making one little girl happy meant more than being a famous face on television. It made me realize what I really want to do is work one on one with other young girls. I know I could touch more lives on a smaller scale than I ever could being in the spotlight and having no time to talk with anyone face to face.”
“What are you saying?”
“What do you think about me opening a horse riding school for young girls? I want to teach them how to ride, to mentor them, and show them how to be independent adults.”
“I think that’s a wonderful idea,” he said.
“Then I only need to know one more thing before I give the board my answer.” She leaned closer. “Will you marry me?”
“You don’t need to choose between me and riding in the PBRA, darlin’.” He cupped her cheek with the palm of his hand.
She shook her head. “I’m not choosing. I thought I needed a fancy title behind my name to be a motivation to others, but Sarah showed me I needed to start small and be involved.”
“Are you sure?”
She laughed at the surprised look on his face. “There are a lot of things I need to learn to do, like how to make cookies for Sarah without setting off the fire alarm. I want to lie in a hammock on a sunny day and teach her how to braid lead ropes for all those horses you have on your ranch. I want to have your arms around me at night, and when I talk too much, I want you to kiss me until I shut—”
He claimed her lips. She laughed into his mouth. His urgency was contagious, and she parted her lips to deepen the kiss. New waves of desire awakened in her body. She had so many things to look forward to as she started a new path in life.
In the distance, someone clapped, and Cole finally broke the kiss. He touched his forehead gently against hers. “I love you,” he breathed.
“I love you, too.” Florentine turned back to the board. “Thank you, but I won’t be accepting the invitation to ride in the upcoming season. I’ve decided to officially retire from bull riding.”
Mr. Carlisle chuckled. “You’re a class act, Miss McDougal, a woman that will remain in our minds for a long, long, time. On behalf of the PBRA, we wish you well in your new life, and thank you.”
Florentine pressed her lips together, too overcome with emotion to speak. I did it.
While she wiped the corner of her eyes, the reporters stood and pressed forward. Cole grabbed her hand and escaped with her out the side door. She wrapped her arms around his waist and gazed up into his face.
“I want more than anything to go home with you.” Florentine smiled.
He raised her hand to his lips and kissed her knuckles. “Did you mean it when you said you wanted to be a part of our lives?”
“I want that more than anything.”
He dug in his front pocket. “In that case, let’s make this official.” He got down on his knee in front of her and held a ring up on his pinky finger. “Florentine Lace McDougal, I want nothing more than to marry you.”
“But… How…?” She cupped his whisker-rough cheek in her palm. “You bought a ring?”
Cole laughed. “The day after you won the finale, I went out and bought the ring, hoping to ask you after you made it into the PBRA. I wasn’t going to give you a chance to get away from me.”
She let him slip the ring on her finger and bent over to kiss him. “Hey, what would’ve happened if I failed to qualify?”
He kissed her cheek, and whispered in her ear, “I would’ve sponsored you until you came out on top and proved to everyone you’re the best bull rider in the world.”
She laughed. “I am the best. I sunk my spurs in you and held on, didn’t I?”
Author’s Note
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, more commonly known as Lou Gehrig’s disease, is a progressive motor neuron disease. More than five thousand people in the U.S. are diagnosed with ALS each year, cutting across race, gender and socioeconomic status. ALS usually strikes people between the ages of 40 and 70, and the life expectancy is 2-5 years. Currently, there is no cure for ALS.
As someone who has watched relatives fight, suffer and deal with the devastating outcome of ALS, my hopes and prayers are that someday scientists will find a cure.
For more information on ALS, visit www.alsa.org.
About the Author
Multipublished romance author, Debra Kayn, lives with her family in the coastal mountains of Oregon. She enjoys riding motorcycles, gardening, playing tennis, and fishing. A huge animal lover, she always has a dog under her desk when she writes and chickens standing at the front door looking for a treat.
Her love of family ties and laughter makes her a natural to write heartwarming contemporary stories to the delight of her readers. As someone who met her husband on a blind date when she was nineteen years old, she’s a believer of love at first sight and happily ever after.
