(3 Book Box Set) "Cowgirl Desires" & "Last Chance Cowboy" & "Embracing Love Again"
Page 7
Under normal circumstances, Tad might have come up with an excuse for her, but given the pain he was enduring, it only seemed right that he just overlooked Sheila’s rude behavior. Carmen shook it off. She’d been around cowboys and their passion ran deep in their personal relationships. She got used to setting her feelings aside.
The hard part for her was going to be all the memories that came up about Fernando. A jealous girlfriend was easy to handle. This had been life changing and in many cases like in horrific rodeo falls the loved ones, especially fiancées or girlfriends didn’t stick around. The switch from being involved with a cowboy who traveled state to state every night to make some big bucks and rode raging bulls to one that had to be hoisted up onto a transfer lift to get him to a chair harmed many relationships.
Additionally, they often lost an emotional connection since the cowboy had to undergo so much himself, not just in sustaining the injury, but also in contradiction to all the glory he felt riding that might never be felt again. They lived for riding.
Chapter Three
Carmen was used to the rodeo ways. It was the life of a gypsy. She loved the time working at the rodeos and the time in between. Besides, she had Tad’s care to consider. He was recovering well. His spirits were higher.
Inside the hospital, there was a flurry of activity as usual and she passed the reception area and headed straight for Tad’s room. She figured she would work on several stretches, and get him educated on some of the equipment they would have sent to his house. Also, she wanted to address how to deal with all the changes.
She walked in quickly and greeted Tad. “Tad, you are looking great. It’s amazing to see how far you’ve come. I have a ton of good news for you today.” Then she stopped. He wasn’t alone. He had a visitor, someone she hadn’t met before. Maybe it was someone from the rodeo. He looked like a fellow cowboy.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to interrupt your conversation. Please, I can come back, continue.” She gestured that she was going to leave and Tad stopped her.
Tad exclaimed, “No wait! Carmen, meet my brother Cavanaugh. He’s my older brother. Cavanaugh, meet Carmen. She’s the woman who saved my life.”
Cavanaugh tipped his hat and bowed his head. He slowly looked up at Carmen and offered her one of his best sheepish grins, steeling himself because he wanted to give her a big cowboy hug, but figured it was pretty inappropriate as a first impression. Instead he put that hug into his words, “Ma’am… Carmen, I mean, I can’t tell you how grateful I am for everything, I mean everything you’ve ever done for my brother. He’s here breathing because of you.”
Carmen lost her breath. She was looking at one of the most attractive men she’d ever met. He wore a soft brown suede cowboy hat with x’s like kisses stitched all the way around the base of the crown. His brown hair curled a bit at the ends. He wore a tight grey plain t-shirt over bulging muscles. Carmen couldn’t get enough of his dark features. His brown eyes, red lips and enough peach fuzz on his face to make kissing a dangerous sport wowed her, but she figured he would lick the rough spots later in that case. Carmen wasn’t sure whether she needed to rip herself away or faint. Instead, she braced herself, and undoubtedly blushing a tad bit in the process. She saw she was going to have a restless night.
“Things get extreme. Everything is still attached. So Tad’s golden. His degree of toughness saved him. All he needs is a bag of ice.”
“Voice of reason, Doc,” said Cavanaugh. “Not your job to please them. It’s your job to sort it out. Thanks!”
Carmen said, “I better take off and give you boys some time to chat. I’ll come back tomorrow, Tad. It was nice to meet you Cavanaugh.”
“Likewise,” Cavanaugh said.
Carmen left without a complaint despite wishing she could stand there for a lot longer just taking in Cavanaugh.
***
It felt like she lived in her dusty car. She called ahead to the hospital to ask Tad if it was a good time to visit. It was at the time she called. However, the minute she walked into the hall where his room was, she saw things being wheeled around his room and lots of business. She asked the nurse where he had been transferred.
Her phone rang. She answered. It was Sally, Tad’s mother. “I meant to call you this morning as soon as Tad told me that he spoke to you and you were on your way, but please forgive me. I apologize. I meant to tell you; anyway they told us real early this morning that he could go home and we got so excited we hopped in the car. Just in case they changed their minds! We would love it if you would continue your care of Tad at the house and make sure the nurse does their job right. Could you visit sometime soon? Maybe today? We’re already at home.”
Carmen accepted the invitation. She told Sally she’d be there tomorrow.
The nurse said, “Well, I guess you don’t need me to tell you then. By the way, he left this little book, if you don’t mind bringing it to him. Have a good day!” The nurse handed her a small book “The Power of Positive Thinking and left the room.
Carmen decided to grab a quick bite to eat since she hadn’t had much time to sit down and catch her breath. She had to head to the rodeo and work for a while. She loved eating alone sometimes. It gave her a chance to look around and not deal with people’s aches and pains.
Chapter Four
Visiting him a few times every week for the past month at the hospital made a big difference for Tad. The next day, Carmen arrived at his house to show him how to use the new equipment. The equipment was for his legs and some slow physical therapy. He’d be wearing a protective brace so that his neck didn’t have to do any of the heavy lifting until it was strong enough.
The first time Carmen walked into Tad’s parents’ house, they welcomed her. They knew all rodeo workers could never discourage a cowboy from what he loved. Even so part of her wanted to lash out at anyone who came through the door that mention the rodeo or remind them of it after an accident.
On the wall in the foyer, Carmen saw a row of rodeo buckles, plates and hats with Tad’s name on them and dates for each of the rodeos. The apple of their eyes lay upstairs temporarily paralyzed. Greg and Sally saw Carmen notice the wall of trophies.
Sally said, “We were especially proud of Tad when he got that hat, the one to your right after he’d landed straight up on his feet on a bull named Empty. He ran on Empty and that bull looked tired afterwards.”
She continued, “He’s upstairs. Anything I can get you to drink or eat? He’s about to have his favorite, grilled cheese.”
“Sure, sounds wonderful whatever Tad is having,” Carmen said. She looked restless.
Sally offered gratefully, “I’ll take you up to see him. He’s upstairs. He’s real glad that you’re taking the time. I know he’s told us a few times that without the traveling sports medicine team, they couldn’t strive to keep at the top of their game since you know the history of each of these cowboys.”
Carmen nodded and stated, “That’s true, you can’t tell someone who loves the sport not to do it. It doesn’t work that way. From the looks of it he’s got a lot to show for it.”
Carmen and Sally walked up the stairs quietly, although she felt she could wager to guess what Sally was really feeling inside. The rodeo was in his blood. Carmen smiled to herself thinking about how he would have found any excuse to compete, just like Fernando.
Family photos and mostly photos of Tad with his ropes and saddles lined the walls before they reached his bedroom one photo stood out to Carmen. Tad lassoed a calf and he threw his hat up in celebration. The photo was a bit blurry, but the feeling made up for the lack of defining lines in the picture.
Right before Sally opened the door, she thanked Carmen for all of the information she sent to her on home care. “I didn’t even know where to start Carmen. You’ve really been a great help despite Tad’s condition. He’s still in shock.”
Carmen said, “It’s very possible he will be able to walk again.”
Sally opened the
door to Tad’s room and they both entered. Tad lay still until he noticed opened his eyes and saw Carmen. “Hello. Nice to see you again,” Carmen said.
He looked down for a moment and smiled sheepishly.
Sally left to go make the grilled cheese sandwiches.
Carmen grinned, “I brought you something.”
Tad said, “A new pair of legs?”
Carmen flashed, “Something like it.”
Tad quizzed, “Okay, where is it?”
“You left this at the hospital,” Carmen revealed. She handed him the book.
The nurse walked in. Jessica and Carmen discussed a few things about his care after introductions. Carmen’s help with Tad’s care relieved Jessica since Tad had already told Jessica of Carmen’s care since the rodeo accident.
Carmen went downstairs to grab the grilled cheese sandwiches and help Sally. On her way downstairs, she noticed Sally already coming up the stairs with the sandwiches. Sally indicated that she’d take the sandwiches up to Tad’s room. Carmen said she would be right there. She stopped and gazed at two pictures side by side for a moment. It was a picture of Tad and Cavanaugh as kid’s calf roping.
In one of the pictures, one of the boys sat on a horse holding a long rope and the photographer caught the rope lassoing in the air as a calf ran ahead of the horse. Then, in the next photo the lasso was wound around the calf’s neck. Another little boy grabbed the lassoed calf and pushed him down to the ground, while the boy on the horse crouched alongside of him, tying up the calf’s legs.
She wondered who was who and then a smooth as silk voice said, “the one on the horse is me and that’s my little brother roping the calf. We named him Great on the Ranch, but they still didn’t let us keep him.”
Carmen jumped slightly and composed herself quickly. She said, “Hi Cavanaugh. I didn’t hear you walk up.”
Cavanaugh said appreciatively, “You were so lost in the picture. I know. I get lost in there sometimes too. We’ve been around this rodeo life all our lives and it still casts a spell on me. I can’t imagine anything better.”
“I’ve lived in Georgia all my life also,” Carmen admitted wistfully.
Cavanaugh pointed, “Now, that picture was in Georgia. You know the spot?”
“Yes, actually, I roped there as a kid too. It looks like the Blue Ridge Kiwanis Rodeo in the summer time,” Carmen recognized it.
Cavanaugh confirmed, “It is. I didn’t know you carried ropes too. I bet you got teased a bit if you were around any of the kids I hung out with.”
Carmen laughed, “Thin skins didn’t really work out from the beginning.”
Cavanaugh snickered, “I know. I got pretty toughened up early. Got pretty banged up. Me and Tad always had ourselves a ball roping. Every time you threw that lasso and you missed the calf in front of all those parents and people from around the area, you got humble pretty quick. There were a few times we wanted to run and hide, but that feeling went away after a few times.”
“People generally know that it’s not generally perfect like it is in the big leagues,” Carmen asserted.
Cavanaugh bragged, “We vied for the big leagues ever since I can remember.”
Carmen found herself tongue-tied. All she could imagine was how stirred up she felt; given any more time she might say something very inappropriate. Cavanaugh couldn’t have been caught up in the moment any less. A mutual attraction kept both of them staring at the photo to avoid making any quick motions, despite feeling an overwhelming desire to act on their urges. Lightheadedness transmitted itself between her and Cavanaugh that made standing there any longer impossible and from the looks of it neither of them really wanted the feeling to go away.
Carmen broke the silence first given it seemed the right thing to do in the moment. “I remember that festival arena like I was just there.” She turned toward Cavanaugh and looked into his chocolate eyes. He didn’t step away. They fed each other’s souls.
Cavanaugh abruptly thanked her, “Thanks again, for saving my brother’s life. He’d wanted to ride a bull like Nickeled and Dimed since roping Great on the Ranch. I wouldn’t know what to do without that kid.”
Carmen choked up a bit remembering Fernando. She turned away so that she could avoid giving Cavanaugh any clue about her emotional reasons for helping Tad. She looked back at the picture and said, “I don’t need any thanks. He deserved good care, that’s all.”
She walked back towards Tad room. Sally said, “You’re grilled cheese is cold by now.”
Carmen said circumspectly, “It’s the way I like it.”
Chapter Five
Given the kind of guy Cavanaugh was, it wasn’t surprising that he wondered how he might conquer every steer and every bull in his dreams nightly. These weren’t just temporary fads. Cavanaugh was competing again and he prepared himself. He woke up determined to win, just like every time he woke up ready for the rodeo.
He was set to ride Welcome Wagon. He didn’t think about all the boys he would compete with to psych himself out. Early morning sounds in Georgia gave him a time to appreciate the quiet and the animals that hid and darted around when you couldn’t even see them.
It was round one and he planned to advance to round two and hoped to make it to the shoot out.
“Frontiers Championship brings us more champions. Remember today’s rodeo we have champions from 6 prestigious rodeos competing for the prize money with a $20,000 pay out. The interesting factor is that you fans vote with a text message to choose which cowboy and what order your favorite cowboys will ride in the championship round.” The fans loved this particular announcer, because he always made it fun and interactive.
“It’s a good bull. A ranch bull. He spins real fast. Cavanaugh hasn’t been on this bull ever, but he’s sliding forward. Getting set to go. Welcome Wagon and Cavanaugh. There it is. Look at THIS! Come ONNN Georgia.”
Cavanaugh rode out the chute on Welcome Wagon. The bull rounded left, really bucking and gave Cavanaugh the thrill of his life. He had a run of over 8 seconds.
“I smell a leader board change boys! How about 87.75. He’s heading to round two folks no if, and, or buts. Give it up for Cavanaugh…”
Carmen stood a distance away from the chute. She didn’t want to let Cavanaugh know she had watched or was even there. He had no idea of when or where he might see her at the rodeo, but Carmen strongly suspected that he figured that there might be a time he’d see her at one of them. She knew Cavanaugh was still taking in the crowd, and the energy in the arena was amazing. She knew how neat it was for Cavanaugh to walk around seeing all the other cowboys, known and lesser known, younger riders who’ve never ridden against a man they counted among their heroes.
Carmen saw a little boy dream in the bull riders of being the world champion. There wasn’t a single one of them that thought they’d be beat by the bull. Grabbing life by the horns, the cowboys that ran around those arenas left a mark on the soul of every one who watched. Their pride, their charisma, their desire to win crackled like a fireplace in their eyes.
This was the American dream. No one could take away the spirit that drove every one of them. Even when they fell to the rough dirt, not one of them figured it was forever. They brushed right off and that made every one of them a champion no matter the size of the buckle or the length of the rope. For trying, each cowboy grabbed a piece of the fans’ heart and never let it go. This made the rodeo the center of the universe without a doubt, the greatest place on earth. Not a circus, but something spectacular.
It resembled the feeling one got for wanting to be a champion and knowing full well that the risk was so great. The support however made the sport possible and without the crowd the arena would never roar. It would be silent like a dark dismal night, but the crowd made every single play, every single jump, every single fall, every single Hail Mary, every single win a memory of a lifetime.
Despite each person in that arena having very different limits to their capabilities, a cow
boy made them think that they have it in them. Because it wasn’t always in the win, more often than not it was just whether they could get back up again. If not, then what was the point of trying. The risk was too great to sit it out.
Carmen was there as a medic and she brought her best game, just like every cowboy who breathed fury, who breathed give me another, who breathed don’t try to change me, and get out of my way. That’s what filled the rodeo; the rodeo spirit was passed along to each soul that entered the arena.
Cavanaugh worked up to Round Two. This time he would ride Life-Long Dream. Cavanaugh got on Life-Long Dream. He was willing to bet that this bull wasn’t going to get the best of him. His gleaming calves pressed alongside the tensed bull waiting to buck the flank strap off and if it meant Cavanaugh too, so be it.
Carmen stood watching with nothing but total and complete attention on Cavanaugh. It was like the first moment that they met each other. Nothing could stop that electricity between them. She wanted him badly. His cowboy smirks didn’t help matters at all. She grabbed onto the fence post to steady herself. Moments later she wished she had jumped out in front of that chute and stopped Life-Long Dream.
The music started. “Is Cavanaugh going to be ten feet tall folks? Round Two Cavanaugh wants to make it to the shoot out where the top 4 compete for twenty grand. Life-Long Dream and Cavanaugh. Looks like he’s trying to make that dream his own, not a single day goes by that Cavanaugh doesn’t test that talent. Georgia, HAAAVE mercy! That boy has been doing this for years. Not just a SMALLLL town kid. Make some NOIIIISSEE right now as Cavanaugh gets ready to ride his Life-Long Dream.”
The playful announcer continued, “This bull has bucked off Ross Hammons, Tony Grams, and George Tahlop. Cavanaugh knew never sit on the rear end of Life-Long Dream like Ross did when he got knocked out in the chute. Blood trickled down the veteran Ross face; his face was an example of what happens in the chute when he seat on the rear end, rather than sliding forward. I have one question for you folks, are you enjoying yourself tonight on this hot Georgia night and please thank our sponsors.”