Galloping Hearts (Contemporary Cowboy Romance) (Texas Heat series: Book 2, Mitchell and Moira's story) (9 page)

Mitchell found himself pretty near scared out of his mind as he climbed into Moira’s car. This was the first time they were truly alone since getting news that his momma had died a few days previously. Now that no one was around, he wasn’t sure what his reaction would be and he was

As he put his seat belt on he thought to himself,
Will she get mad again now that we’re alone and she has the time on the road to start processing everything?

Pulling out of the parking lot, he watched Moira’s hand snake to the radio, turning it down. She didn’t glance over to him but spoke calmly. It didn’t sound controlled, just calm. He could handle that.

“So, should we handle the pink elephant in the car with us? That way we can enjoy the rest of the ride home?”

He nodded. “Yeah. I don’t like this gross feeling in my gut. I’ve never had anyone I’ve really pissed off before.”

Moira chuckled. “I was mad. I wanted to kick your ass but knew it’d be tacky to do it when you just found out about your momma.”

He laughed. “Well, at least it saved me an ass beating, then.”

She chuckled. “Yeah, then Grannie told me I was a big ol' disappointment for being mad.”

He was shocked. “What?”

“Well, see, she had a point. You didn’t really lie to me. You just didn’t tell me everything. She said she was sure there were things I left out for you too.”

He shook his head. “Well, that was kind of Grannie but I doubt your deep, dark secrets were the same.”

She laughed. “You’d be surprised. Did you know in seventh grade I cheated on my math test to get an A?”

He feigned dismayed surprise. “No! Not seventh grade math! That’s such an important class in the scheme of your life.”

She laughed. “It’s true. Anyway, what I’m getting at is everyone has secrets. I guess what got me was yours felt like
huge
secrets. I mean, how hard was it for you to sit there watching us all the time, knowing your momma was sick and you didn’t know what it was like to have a family?”

He shrugged, knowing he had to be honest. “It was hard at first. It felt like I was sitting at the table of another foster family at first. Kind of like, everyone around the table knows each other, knows who snores, who stutters, who doesn’t like peas – whatever – and then there was me. I didn’t know anyone and no one knew me either. Then it was weird as I began becoming close to everyone else. I felt like I belonged.”

He watched her brow crease. “And that was weird?”

He nodded. “Yeah, I don’t think I ever felt like I belonged anywhere. All the different families, all the different houses. All the things I wasn’t supposed to talk about, you know?”

She nodded, as though she was beginning to get it. “So, why didn’t you ever say anything? I mean, after we became … close….”

He shrugged. “Cause then I always thought it was too late or I’d have longer before I had to tell you. I don’t know. I mean, I didn’t like the idea of telling you my momma was too sick to take care of me proper but that she still loved me.”

He watched Moira shrug. “It doesn’t make either thing less true, though. She loved you, obviously a lot. That’s the one thing everyone’s said about her. She loved you and talked about you with everyone. Still, illness, whether in your mind or your body, can sometimes be more powerful than your love. It doesn’t make your love any less strong or real. I think that’s how it was with your momma.”

He nodded. “So, you really aren’t mad anymore?”

She shook her head. “Nah, not really. I still wish you would’ve told me sooner but I get it now. I mean, that isn’t something you really say to people when you first meet them – ‘my momma has schizophrenia and couldn’t take care of me, my name is Moira’ – you know?”

He laughed. “I really do.”

She then looked over to him. “So, do you forgive me for being a putz?”

He smiled, taking her hand. “Yes, if there was really anything to forgive. I get where you are coming from. I just wanted to have you be happy and safe. More importantly, I
really
wanted you to like me.”

It was her turn to chuckle. “Well, you succeeded.”

She turned the Austin country station back on before taking his hand.

The rest of their ride home was peaceful and quiet. He would lift their entwined hands occasionally to kiss her knuckles. When they finished pulling into the driveway, he felt like he was finally returning home.

******

Well
, Moira thought to herself.
That talk went smoother than I expected. Grannie was right. It was just a matter of making sure we talked. She was right about him just not knowing when or how to say something. Shoot. Part of me feels worse about getting angry now. Especially when he was so understanding about everything.

Pulling into the driveway, her thoughts continued.
Then he was so sweet on the way home. I don’t even know what to make about that. Too bad we only have a couple weeks here at the ranch before we head back to school. I want to ask him more about everything. It just feels right. I’m going to have to talk to Grannie about everything that’s happened the last twenty-four hours.

When she dropped Mitch back at his quarters, she went back to the house. She wanted to talk to Grannie and then collapse into bed. She was more relaxed than she’d been when she left the day before but was tired to the bone. She didn’t know how much of that was from the events of the few previous days or the mental stress associated with it.

Hanging her bag on the banister of the stairs, she went to the kitchen. The light was on and she knew Grannie would be there waiting for her because Billy had already come in. Sure enough, she was sitting in her spot with a glass of sweet tea, with another glass sitting in front of her spot on the table.

As she sat down, she looked at Grannie. The woman’s long, silver hair hung down her shoulders. As she took a sip of the tea, Grannie looked at her.

“So, how did it go?”

She shrugged, slumping back in the chair. “The service was small but it was pretty.”

Her grannie smiled. “Well, that’s nice. But that isn’t what I was talking about.”

She smiled. “I know. I was hoping to avoid that conversation until I was a little less tired.”

Grannie chuckled. “Yeah, but you’ll sleep more peacefully when there’s closure all around.”

She nodded. “True. Anyway, it went well. Everything was sorted out and we had our big talk on the way back home. I learned a lot more about his momma too. I also learned tons about how he grew up. I feel better about that stuff now. You were right, a lot of it was only him not knowing how to tell me.”

“See, I told you, Baby Girl. He’s a good boy.”

Her smile felt sincere. “I know. Like always, you’re right, Grannie.”

The old woman laughed. “Please. Don’t go that far. My ego will become entirely too big.”She shook her head, moving from the table. “I want to go take a shower and then rest my head. I’m plumb tuckered out.”

Grannie nodded. “See you in the morning. I sure hope Mitchell will be here for breakfast in the morning?”

She smiled. “I’ll make sure to text him before I lay down.”

“Good girl. I have some extra sausage and eggs to use up tomorrow anyway.”

She shook her head. Her grannie was just like Jack at the diner. Using the phrase
waste not, want not
as a way to feed people.

Mitchell wanted to surprise Moira on their last day at the ranch. He’d asked her to go for a final ride before they headed back to school the next day. He had two big surprises. He wasn’t sure which one would be bigger for someone like Moira but he had two. He’d had the help of her family to plan one
of the surprises and the other surprise relied on him and a horse.

Red had given him the day off, and Moira too, to relax at the ranch so he could do what he had planned. He smiled, as he saw the packed lunch Grannie had made for them. This time, there was a nice bottle of strawberry wine in there too. Apparently, the woman thought she knew what the answer would be.

He waited in the barn after breakfast, he already had both horses saddled and ready to go. He made sure that both were Moira’s two favorites. She claimed to not have favorites but everyone knew she did and they were Caliber and Misty.

Finally, Moira came strolling through the front of the barn. She always looked so at ease in the barn, like it was much a part of her as anything else. He supposed in some ways, that was the truth.

When she gave him a hug, she looked up. “Ready to get going? I’m looking forward to riding today.”

He nodded as he watched her go to mount Caliber. He chuckled. She was getting ready for surprise number one.

“Hey, sweetheart. Get on Misty for me, okay?”

She looked at him in surprise. “I know Caliber likes you more than Billy but I don’t know if you should ride him.”

He gave her a wink and smile. “Trust me on this.”

She looked disbelieving but backed away, waiting to see him be bucked by the horse. He went over and put his foot in the stirrup. He then hoisted himself up as Caliber huffed, lifting his head up in seeming approval. He gave the old man a sugar cube. Those cubes had been instrumental in this moment and he didn’t want to break it now.

He watched her jaw drop as he felt his smile broaden. “So, you going to mount up or are we going to have lunch in here?”

She shook her head, getting on Misty. When she came over by him Caliber whinnied. She shook her head again. “Alright, let’s go. If he’s going to throw you, I hope it’s close to the house.”

He laughed, not telling her he’d been practicing with Caliber for the last two weeks and he’d managed to get the horse to ride to the tree and back with no issue. He still worried it’d be a little different now that Moira was out here with him.

In agreement, he answered. “Here’s to hoping.”

He patted the horse’s neck, giving him a piece of apple. “You ready, buddy? Time to go to the tree again.”

She nearly screeched. “
Again
? How many times have you ridden him?”

“The rest won’t matter if he doesn’t let me today.”

When they reached the field, he broke open in a gallop with the horse. He wondered if that was part of why Caliber accepted him. Everyone else was so nervous around the horse, they rarely allowed him the chance to really enjoy the time of being ridden. He knew horses were smart creatures and also sensed stress. He’d made sure he stayed calm as can be once he mounted the horse.

When they
reached the first pasture, he broke Caliber from the gallop into a full out run. The horse made an approving sounding whinny as they took off. He loved the feel of the wind on his face, the way the horse’s mane flew back as they rode. It was amazing and it felt like they were moving as one through the fields.

Finally, they reached the tree. He’d had Billy set things up for them that morning, just after breakfast. There was the lunch basket, a blanket, and a couple sketch pads. That’s not to mention the water for the horses. He knew they planned to stay out there for most of the day.  He smiled as he looked. He’d have to thank Billy for setting it up and being willing to come back and get everything later on when they were done.

They dismounted and tied the horses to the trees. She looked from the tree to him in shock.

“How’d you do this?”

He shrugged. “I twitched my nose, all
Bewitched
style.”

She laughed. “Liar.”

He shrugged again. “Fine. I had my house elf set this stuff up.”

She thr
ew her head back in a fit of giggles “You still lie!”

He shrugged. “Actually, the house elf idea is closer to the truth.”

She arched an eyebrow. “So you going to tell me how?”

He shook his head. “Not right now. I like the surprise better. So, did you like riding Misty out here for a change?”

She nodded. “Yeah, but I liked watching you ride Caliber more. It was beautiful. He truly accepts you. How’d you do that?”

He shrugged. “Lots of bonding time. I spent a lot of time grooming and petting him, talking to him and saddling him up, just to take it off... all that kind of stuff. Well, that and lots of sugar cubes and apples.”

She laughed as she sat between his legs before leaning back. He wrapped his arms around her middle.
“Just so you know…we’re spending the day out here today. I have the go ahead from Red.”

She didn’t know what else he’d gotten permission for. He was going to ask her for her hand today. It’d only been a few months but he knew she was the one. They would wait to start talking about the wedding until they graduated, of course, but he knew he needed to have her by his side forever. Grandma Elaine had been the one who truly surprised him, though. When he’d begun talking about going to town to buy the engagement ring, she shook her head.

As they’d sat at the table, she looked him the eye. “Nonsense, boy. Normally, you would be right but I already have Moira’s engagement ring.”

He’d been even more surprised to find out that the ring had been in the family for a couple generations. It’d been her mother’s engagement ring. Apparently, Moira had always loved the ring since she was the kid. Grandma Elaine, always being the one to buck tradition, had promised the youngest daughter, instead of the oldest son or the oldest daughter, the family engagement ring when she got married. The ring was simple and beautiful. It was a tear drop shaped diamond with two tear drop emeralds on either side. Its beauty, and his anxiousness, were burning a hole in his front pocket. It’d taken all he had not to continually pat the pocket throughout the day. He wanted to look at the ring and make sure he’d kept it as safe as the woman he hoped agreed to wear it.

They both spent the morning drawing. Moira, as usual, drew her favorite landscape, horse and a picture of him. He worked on a different kind of picture. A picture of what he
wanted
to see. It was a picture of him on his knee, holding the ring out to her. Her mouth was covered by her hands in surprise. Her eyes bright but shiny from the unshed tears of happiness. He didn’t know if that was all presumptuous but it was what he wanted to see.

They’d gotten into the habit of showing each other their finished pictures before moving onto the next. Finally, they both finished. She reached into the picnic basket to get them both a water bottle. He grabbed the ring from his pocket. When she came back over, she looked to him.

“Ready for today’s show and tell?”

He nodded. “Sure am. You first today.”

She nodded. The picture was simple, soft lines today. It was beautiful, he could almost feel the nostalgia dripping off it.

He nodded in approval. “Beautiful as usual.”

She smiled. “Your turn!”

He nodded but instead of holding the pad up like she had, he handed it to her. As she looked at it, her face took on a confused look.

Finally, she asked quietly. “What am I looking at, Mitchell?”

He climbed to his knee. “What I hope your reaction will be to my question.” He held up his hand, with the rocks pointing up. “Will you marry me, Moira?”

She sputtered for a moment in obvious shock. Her mouth flapped open and shut like a fish out of a pond. After a moment without a response, he started to become worried.He scratched his head. “Uh. Too soon?”

Finally, she squealed, throwing her arms around his neck. The relief that ran through his veins was as warm as the sun on a spring day. Warm and sweet but not scorching like the Texas summer. He had just been given all he’d ever wanted and thought he’d never have.

******

Moira had almost fallen off Misty just seeing Mitchell ride Caliber out to the field. All she could think when she saw Mitchell’s picture, and then the engagement ring her grannie had promised her as a child, was,
If I’d known about
this
, Caliber would’ve been nothing. In fact, I might have had a heart attack before we left the barn.

She was so shocked at seeing that ring in Mitchell’s hand, she hadn’t realized she didn’t give him an answer.

When he asked her, after clearing his throat, “uh, too soon?”, she all but jumped in his arms.

“Of course, you fool! How did you get Grannie to hand over that ring? We’ve only been dating for a few months and I never brought the ring up.”
He laughed. “I was talking about taking a day off to go into town to buy you a ring. She told me to hush my fool mouth because you already had one.”

She had to laugh in response. “That sounds like Grannie. So, you going to slap that thing on me or just hold it?”

He smiled as he gently took her left hand. He slipped the ring on her finger, where it fitted perfectly.

After a moment, she had a horrifying thought. “Wait, Grannie knew. Did Daddy?”

He nodded. “I asked him first. He’s the one who gave us the day off so we could celebrate… or for me to drown my sorrows if you said no.”

She slapped his arm. “Oh, hush, you! Come here and hug your fiancée.”

She was happy when he did what he was told. They spent some more time outside, enjoying their basket lunch. After a while, she looked to him.

“We should head in. Knowing Grannie and Billy, they’re waiting at the table for us to get back. They’re going to want to know everything.”

He chuckled. “Well, can you blame them? It was a very real possibility that you’d tell me no.”

She shook her head. “No, they’re just nosy.”

He laughed, getting up from the blanket. “Let’s go in then. Don’t want to run the risk of giving either of them a heart attack from the suspense of the wait. Leave the stuff, Billy said he’d bring his truck to pick it up later.”

She smiled, climbing onto Misty.

******

When they got into the house, Mitch found that Red had gathered at the table with Grannie and Billy. He shook his head. At least it was good news.

All three people had bright smiles on their faces once they took in
his fiancée’s
left hand. Red chuckled and gave him a shoulder slap.

“Congratulations, Mitchell, but good luck. As much as I love my baby, she’s a firecracker.”

He nodded in understanding. “That I know, sir.”
Billy shook his hand next. “Good job, man. You finally managed to tame her down some. I was wondering if anyone would.”

He smiled as he saw Moira showing the ring on her hand to Grannie.

His smile broadened as she told the lady. “This time, I ain’t playing dress up, Grannie!”
The woman smiled, pulling Moira in for a quick hug. “You surely aren’t, sugar. I’m so happy for you
both
.”

“Thank you, Grannie.”

He smiled as he realized that this time in a couple years, he would officially be part of this family. Still, he knew he already was in all the ways that mattered.