by Mary Leo
“Are you always this reassuring?”
They were only inches apart and Zoe had the feeling he wanted to be even closer, much closer. She knew she should take a step back, but she didn’t. “My mother says I was born a cheerleader. She bought me my very own pom-poms for my third birthday. Most people get irritated with my chronic positive disposition.”
“I’m not one of them.”
He took a step in closer as her heart banged against her chest. She knew she needed to get away, but she could barely breathe let alone think how to move. His gaze lingered on her lips, then moved up to her eyes, and she felt herself falling into his intense gaze just as a woman’s voice echoed through the room. Instantly they split apart.
“You’re here! This is so fantastic. Nathan and Jason are the absolute best. I need to give them an award for getting you to commit.”
The woman, looking as if she was genuinely happy to see him, dashed over to Carson and gave him a tight hug.
“You look amazing,” she told him when they pulled apart. Then she turned to Zoe. “And you must be—”
“Zoe Smart, my...wedding planner,” Carson said, almost as if he wasn’t quite sure. “Zoe, this is Helen Granger.”
“I’ve heard a lot about you,” Zoe said, shaking Helen’s hand.
“And I’ve heard a lot about you,” Helen told her, a wide grin lighting up her face. Her ruby-colored hair was pulled back off her face while still caressing her shoulders. She wore tight jeans, tan boots and a long-sleeved black T-shirt that sported a cowgirl on horseback with the M & M logo emblazoned across her chest. “For a split second I thought you were his fiancée. I’ve never met her.” She cleared her throat. “But this is even better. Much better.” She shook Zoe’s hand a little more as if she was indeed pleased to meet her when clearly, if she had heard about Zoe, it couldn’t have been good.
“None of it is true,” Carson offered in Zoe’s defense.
Helen turned to him. “What isn’t true?”
“The rumors.”
“Honey, I’ve lived in this town long enough to know the difference between vicious gossip and the truth.” Then she returned to Zoe. “I was in the church when Kayla was a no-show. You took charge of that situation and eased poor suffering Jimmy out of there before he had to endure the embarrassment. You knew your priorities. And now you were able to get Carson out of his house, and back here. That’s someone I’d like to recommend to my cousin who’s getting married in May. Would you be available?”
Zoe didn’t know if she would still have a company by then, but she reacted the only way she knew how. “Yes, of course.”
A big bright smile spread across Carson’s face. “Now, if you two ladies have finished all your business, I’d like to get out there and wrangle up some of your students.”
“They’re waiting for you in the arena,” Helen said, then she grabbed her parka, placed her Western copper-colored hat on her head, and the three of them headed out the front door, with Zoe keeping her distance from Carson.
* * *
TEARS RUSHED TO Carson’s eyes as he entered the enclosed arena, saw the huge banner that hung on the far wall that read Welcome Back, Carson, and several hundred children and adults stood and cheered. He was filled with emotion by simply walking back into an arena, let alone seeing the sign. It had been way too long.
Looking around, he could see there wasn’t an empty seat in the house. Even all the standing room on both sides of the bleachers was filled. At first he didn’t understand the cheering and stopped in his tracks thinking the whoops and whistles must be for Helen, or someone already on the arena floor he simply couldn’t see. Then when he realized it was for him, raw emotion overtook him, and for a brief moment, he couldn’t control it.
“What is this?” he asked Helen as she was joined by her husband, Colt.
“It’s all for you,” Colt answered as he gave Carson a pat on the back. “Our students, plus half the town, wanted to officially welcome you back to the school.”
Colt Granger had become his friend over the past few years, and the two men shared a bond with the kids at the school, especially the disadvantaged kids who were the beneficiaries of Carson’s scholarships and didn’t have much access to horses other than at the M & M. Those young boys and girls always seemed to pull at their hearts, and without realizing it, they each worked harder to keep those kids in the program. Helen looked at all her students equally, and if one of them wasn’t pulling their weight, or they weren’t getting the hang of whatever she was teaching them, then their ability to advance suffered.
Passing her high standards kept both men on their toes when working with the kids.
Carson dragged his emotions together. “This is too much. I didn’t do anything to deserve all this.”
“You pulled through a horrible accident and everybody’s happy you did,” Helen said. “Just enjoy it, Carson. It’s well deserved. Plus, we have a little something to give you and some of the students have prepared a Christmas gala just for you.”
The old Carson, that egocentric guy before the accident, would have eaten this stuff up, then spit it out as if it was simply a matter of course. Nothing special. Of course his hometown would welcome him back like this. Maybe even give him a parade. He was their hero. The guy everyone admired and kids wanted to emulate.
But he knew the truth about the sport. He was no more a hero than any other rodeo star. The real heroes of the rodeo circuit were the bullfighters or rodeo clowns who put their lives on the line each and every time they approached that arena and stood between the rider and an animal that could potentially kill them at any moment. Those guys were the true heroes; everybody else was simply entertainment.
“Let’s give a warm welcome to our very own Carson Grant!” Mayor Sally Hickman’s voice echoed off the outer walls of the arena as she spoke into the microphone. She stood on a small stage hugging the wall opposite the cheering crowd. There were two other people standing on the stage with her, but she was blocking Carson’s view, so he couldn’t make out who they were.
“Did you know anything about this?” Carson asked Zoe as he mugged for the audience, waving.
“If I had, I would have told you to wear your white hat. Much more hero-like.” She smiled and he somehow knew she was telling the truth.
His grin widened as he continued to wave as the audience continued to clap, whistle and hoot. They started chanting his name and he could feel his adrenaline racing through his body. He only hoped they weren’t expecting him to ride. Even with all this support and goodwill, frankly he still couldn’t picture himself on horseback.
“This was all Nathan and Jason’s idea. They helped pull most of it together,” Helen said over the roar of the crowd. “Colt and I did the rest, along with your sisters and Piper Hanson. She was a tremendous help. That woman is fantastic. We never could have done it without her.”
“I can’t believe Piper knew about this and didn’t tell you,” Carson said.
“I think she was paying me back for an old secret I’d kept from her,” Zoe answered.
“Did you two have to get even at my expense?”
“One-upmanship is part of what keeps us friends,” Zoe teased as she and Carson looked around for Piper, and sure enough there she was, standing with Sal, Betty and most of Carson’s family in the front row of the bleachers. When Carson locked eyes with Piper, she gave him a little wave. Then she blew them both kisses.
“You now know your best friend can’t be trusted,” Carson said as he slipped off his hat and did a little bow to his family. The audience went crazy shouting his name and whistling.
“Who said she was still my best friend?” Zoe teased, just as Mayor Hickman strode to the end of the stage to greet him. She wore her best pressed Western attire.
As soon as she came toward him, Carson spotted
who was up on that stage. His stomach instantly constricted and he could feel the blood drain from his face. Suddenly he couldn’t move, wouldn’t move closer to that stage, and had a hard time pulling in his next breath. His throat felt constricted, and his chest tightened.
“What the... How did he... I don’t want...” He knew he wasn’t making any sense but couldn’t quite get the words out.
“Colt flew his Cessna over to Boulder, Colorado, early this morning to pick up Barney and his wife, Judy,” Helen explained. “I didn’t even have to ask Barney if he’d like to come out. All I did was mention the tribute we were giving you, and he offered to get on a plane last night. Sounds like he’d do anything for you, Carson. We all would.”
Carson banked down the emotion that seemed to want to spill out of him.
Zoe slipped off her Santa gloves and took Carson’s hand in hers. Carson had already removed his silly gloves before he’d entered the arena, and at once he could feel her warmth and kindness. Just knowing she was there with him gave him the courage to face his friend Barney, who had almost died because of his stupid mistake.
“It’s time for me to fade into the crowd,” Zoe said. “This is your day with your town and your friends.”
He held fast. “You’re my friend, and I can’t do this without you. Whatever comes, I need you by my side.”
Zoe’s face went solemn and she tried to pull her hand away, but he wouldn’t let her. “There’s no room up on that stage for me. Besides, your fiancée is probably here. I don’t want her to get the wrong idea.”
“Believe me, she’s not here,” Carson said with absolute certainty. “Marilyn Rose was never one to share the limelight.”
“Maybe we just don’t see her and she’s waiting to pop out when the time is right.”
“Marilyn Rose won’t be popping out of anything. I can guarantee it.”
Carson knew for a fact that by now if his fiancée had been there, she would have been right up on that stage with the mayor. Marilyn Rose wasn’t the kind of woman to take a backseat to any man for any reason.
“But—”
“They’re waiting,” Helen said, disrupting Zoe’s apprehensions.
“They’re waiting,” he repeated to Zoe, who looked positively radiant standing in the sunlight that poured in through the surrounding windows. Just gazing at her made him brave enough to climb up on that stage and face the man who’d nearly died saving his life. The last time he’d seen Barney, they were airlifting him in a rescue chopper. Carson had been in constant contact with his wife and the doctors until he knew Barney was going to make it, but he had his own injuries to tend to that required his full attention. He’d sent Barney get-well gifts and cards from time to time after that, and they talked on the phone once or twice, but he hadn’t seen him in person since that terrible night.
“Then we better get on up there,” Zoe said, and they took off for the stage with Carson holding on tight.
Chapter Nine
Zoe took a seat directly behind Carson, next to Judy Lawson, Barney’s wife, who had quickly introduced herself. She seemed like a sweet woman. In her late thirties, she was dressed like a true cowgirl, adorned with turquoise and silver, a small pink flower pinned to her cream-colored hat. Her matching turquoise-colored boots set off the black jeans and paisley Western shirt. Barney had to be in his early forties, but his weathered face made him look much older. He didn’t wear the typical rodeo clown makeup, but his attire shouted his trade, with his wide red suspenders worn over a loose-fitting yellow shirt, a bright red cowboy hat, baggy jeans and colored scarves dangling from his belt. He’d already pulled out some rubber flowers for the mayor, fallen off the stage a couple times, getting roars of laughter from the kids in the audience, and tripped while walking up the stairs.
Zoe didn’t know what else Barney had in mind for the afternoon, but whatever it was, she and the audience were certainly ready for a good laugh.
The only person missing in all of this was Marilyn Rose. Zoe didn’t quite understand why she continued to be a no-show, but there had been no time for anyone to answer that question. The strange part about her absence was that Carson didn’t seem to care, which begged the question Why not?
Zoe dwelled on countless reasons for her absence while several of the students demonstrated their riding techniques to much applause from the audience. She tried to come up with a decent scenario that might keep Marilyn Rose away as one student after another paid tribute to Carson in their own unique way, each wearing something festive, whether it was a red Western hat, twinkling lights on their saddle or a Santa hat. Christmas was definitely on everyone’s mind. There were even several older teens who demonstrated cowboy mounted shooting, an event that had put Helen and the riding school on the map, and popped red and green balloons. Zoe had read that Helen had won the national championship a few years back, right before she opened the school full-time.
The teens who did the shooting were two of the best in the country, having won several championships of their own, and Zoe marveled in how they could maneuver their steeds with just their legs and hips. Their hands were busy firing at their balloon targets using their single shot .45s loaded with black powder. Zoe knew all this because Helen had introduced the riders and explained the sport before they rode. Her horse, Tater, a honey-colored beauty, with a trimmed mane and a full blond tail, apparently loved competing in the sport, so one of the teen girls rode him. The audience seemed excited to see Tater and cheered him and the girl on at every turn.
Trick riding always kept Zoe on the edge of her seat, and the students didn’t disappoint, with one girl causing the audience to let out a collective sigh a time or two with her demonstrations of around-the-world or standing and riding two horses at once or dangling over the side of her horse while it pounded through the arena. She brought the loudest applause.
When the events ended, Mayor Hickman took center stage once again, and after thanking everyone for the spectacular event, she turned the microphone over to Barney, who had nothing but praise for Carson.
“It was a life-changin’ event for me, and if it wasn’t for Carson’s quick thinkin’ I might not be standin’ in this here spot right now.”
Carson shook his head and tried to take the microphone away from Barney, but Barney wouldn’t allow it.
“That’s not true,” Carson said, but no one in the audience could hear him.
“Yes, it’s true. I might’a come out to distract that horse and get him under control along with the wranglers, but you, my friend, put yourself between me and some kicking hooves and that saved my life. But that’s the kind of cowboy you are. Your generosity knows no bounds.
“Not only did you physically save my life, but you personally started a scholarship fund for this here school, and for several other schools across the West that open up a world of opportunities for kids everywhere. You give your time, your money and your expertise to these boys and girls, and I’m sure they’re more grateful than you know.”
More whoops and applause from the audience. Zoe caught his mom using a blue hankie to wipe her tears, while Henry gave her a tight shoulder hug and pulled her in close. Zoe marveled at how loving his parents were in public, while her own parents barely touched. They didn’t believe in any public displays of affection.
Carson seemed humbled, as if he hadn’t wanted anyone to know the facts. Zoe, for one, had no idea Carson was such a magnanimous man. All this time, she’d assumed he was in the rodeo game merely for his own glory.
Barney continued after the applause died down. “Therefore, it gives me a heap of pleasure to present you with the Professional Bronc Riders Award for All Around Cowboy.”
The arena erupted with applause as Carson reached for the brass statue of a cowboy on a bucking horse. He immediately made eye contact with Zoe, who could barely keep from crying. He looked genuinely
happy, and genuinely grateful. Everyone stood, and it was at that moment when Zoe saw the truly appreciative look on Carson’s face as he gazed around at the audience, then at Barney. She instinctively knew the next eight days would be impossible. She didn’t know where the heck Marilyn Rose was hiding, but if she didn’t show up soon, her all-around cowboy might just end up all around Zoe Smart.
* * *
THE DAY WOUND down to a point where Carson found himself alone in the stables with Barney, who wasted no time getting to the heart of the matter.
“You have the heart of an old dog, Carson Grant, and old dogs can’t learn new tricks,” Barney said while he paced in front of the stalls, checking out the horses. “You’re a born bronc rider and there ain’t nothin’ you can do to change that. So don’t even pretend that you’re not ever ridin’ again when I can tell this here stable is makin’ you as restless as a hornet caught in a cowboy’s hat.”
Carson paused in front of a stall that happened to house the stallion that he liked to ride whenever he visited the school. Big John, a black American Quarter Horse, kept nudging Carson, making it difficult to have a conversation.
“Never could pull the wool over your eyes,” Carson told Barney. “You always knew when a cowboy didn’t have his head on straight. Probably what saved both our lives.”
“Might be, but I haven’t had my head on straight for quite a spell. Ever since the accident, me and my woman been doin’ some soul searchin’. I made some big decisions, took a couple risks, and what do ya know, I’m an author now.”
Barney clicked his tongue to one of the mares, who promptly came over to him. Barney pulled a carrot out of his pocket and the dappled gray mare happily took it.
“An author? What kind of author?” Carson wasn’t quite certain what Barney was talking about but he was darn sure he wasn’t writing the kinds of books his sister Callie was busy writing: romance novels. How she could come up with those kinds of stories was certainly a mystery to Carson when everyone knew she had long since given up on finding love.
