Love & Rodeo (10 page)

* * * *

The following morning, Kallie and Levi headed out, but not before she left Mark and Jolie a gift basket filled with items she’d gotten from the market. She also left a card thanking them for their hospitality. She’d never forget it.

Chapter Eleven

Over the next couple of weeks, Kallie and Levi traveled from rodeo to rodeo. Each of them always placing, putting them high on the point rankings in the race for the world title. Kallie was well on her way to a second world title and Levi his first. They were unstoppable together and Kallie was on top of the world.

She called home everyday to talk to her Grams and Nora. Nora kept asking Kallie when she was coming home. There was no reason for her not to return home now. She had more than enough money to adopt Nora. In the back of her mind she wanted to adopt her, but she didn’t want to leave Levi. For the first time since her parent’s death, she didn’t feel like the ground would crumble away beneath her.

When they weren’t focused on the rodeo, Levi would take her to famous landmarks, and together they’d explore the city, while exploring one another a little more. Levi always made sure she took pictures to document their travels. In the evening, they’d lay in one another’s arms looking over the images, laughing and talking about what they’d seen. Once, Levi was asleep, she’d just watch him, committing his face to her memory. She was in so much trouble.

* * * *

“
When you coming home?” Nora asked.

“
I don’t know. We’re heading to Tulsa now. Two more weeks and we’ll be at the world championship. I think I have a good chance at winning.”

“
You’ve already won that. I really miss you.”

“
I know, Nor. It’s only a couple more weeks. Hang in there, okay?”

“
Kallie!” Levi called from behind her.

“
Who is that?”

“
It’s no one. Look I gotta go. I’ll call you tomorrow.”

She hung up her phone and hurried to Levi.

“
Are you ready?”

Kallie nodded and got into the passenger seat.

She felt bad keeping Levi from her sister, but if Nora found out about Levi, she’d throw him in her face. If Grams knew that she was traveling with him, she’d encourage her to stay. Levi had already convinced her to stay this long. She couldn’t hurt Nora. She wouldn’t hurt her. She couldn’t handle it again. She felt Levi’s hand on her shoulder.

“
You okay?”

She bit her lip.

“
Yeah.”

“
You sure?”

“
Yeah. Just thinking about Nora.”

“
You miss her?”

“
So much.”

“
Well, I talked to Mama this morning. She wants us to stay at the ranch this week.”

Kallie looked at him.

“
What do you think?”

Levi searched her face. “I want you to meet my family. I mean, I think we’re at that place, aren’t we?”

“
Are we?”

“
If you don’t want to—”

“
Levi, I would love to meet your family,” Kallie told him.

She smiled and he squeezed her hand. “Are you sure you’re okay?”

Over the last couple of weeks Levi had gotten to know her too well. He could pick up on her moods and that worried her. Of course it was the other way around too. She could see he was excited and wouldn’t deny him that. She rested her head against his shoulder as they drove past the “Welcome to Tulsa” sign.

* * * *

An hour later, Levi pulled under a sign that read “Triple C Ranch.”

“
Triple C?”

“
Oh, one for each of the male Cavanaughs.” Levi smiled and pulled her tight to him. “It feels good to be home.”

She smiled at him and kissed his cheek. They were nearing the house now and the butterflies in Kallie’s stomach danced with nervousness. Levi pulled up and opened the door, helping Kallie out.

“
Levi
!”

Kallie heard a screen door slam and footsteps running across the gravel. She turned and moved just as the little girl jumped into Levi’s arms.

“
Emma Jean!” Levi spun with his little sister.

“
Shouldn’t you be at school?” Levi asked.

“
I just got home.”

“
It’s only one.”

“
Fair week.” Emma told him as she hugged him again.

Kallie heard the screen door slam again. She turned to see an older lady walking toward them. Levi set his sister down as his Mama hugged him tightly.

The jolly woman pulled away. “Let me get a good look at you. I can hardly believe it’s you.” She looked at him. “You look strong. Your Daddy’s been keeping his eye on the rodeo. He watches it when it’s on the television.” She turned her gaze to Kallie and smiled. “And you must be—”

“
This is Kallie Davis.” Levi put his arm around Kallie and pulled her forward.

Emma’s mouth fell open. “You’re Kallie Davis?”

Kallie smiled. “That’s me.”

Without warning Levi’s Mom wrapped Kallie in a warm hug. Lord, she missed her mom. A tear formed in Kallie’s eye. She pushed it away quickly, hoping no one saw it.

“
I’m Joan. It’s real nice to meet you.”

Kallie nodded. “Likewise,” Kallie said.

Emma was watching her. “You know you could win world again,” she said out of the blue.

Kallie laughed. Levi was right about Emma. She just said what she thought at any time.

“
Let me guess, you barrel race?”

“
I’m barrel racing at the fair tonight. You guys should come.”

Kallie looked at Levi.

“
The fair is sort of a big thing around here.”

“
I see that.”

“
What do you think?”

“
I think we can’t miss it,” Kallie said looking at Emma.

She lit up and started jumping.

“
Why don’t you guys come inside and I’ll make you some lunch,” Joan told them.

They followed Joan into the house where they sat and talked about the circuit, while Joan made them grill cheese.

“
Mama makes the best grill cheese.”

Levi sat at the table as he took a big bite out of a sandwich. Kallie laughed. There was something warm about Levi this way. There was something warm about Levi period, but seeing him here, with his mom and sister warmed her heart. He was a good man. He wasn’t like the other cowboys on the rodeo. He was a family man and she liked that. She watched as he took another bite. He stared at her and smiled before he looked at her grill cheese. He wanted her to eat, so she bit into the grill cheese. It was pure bliss. It had been a while since she’d had a home-cooked meal. Even if it was just grill cheese. She sighed.

“
Mmm,” she said.

“
Thank you.” Joan laughed at her as she sat down at the table. She watched them eat for a minute before she cleared her throat demanding their attention.

“
Did Levi explain the sleeping arrangements to you?”

Kallie shook her head and looked at Levi. “I plan on staying in my trailer.”

“
Oh, nonsense, Kallie! Now I know you guys sleep together in that trailer out there, but Levi you’re home, and I won’t have any kanoodling going on under my roof.”

Kallie felt her face flush. She looked at Joan. “I assure you, Levi has been nothing but a gentleman in that area.”

Joan looked surprised. It took her a moment to wipe it from her face. “Well either way, Kallie, you’ll sleep in Mark’s old room while you’re here.”

“
Thank you, ma’am.”

“
Call me Joan.”

Joan smiled warmly at her and Kallie smiled back. She finished her grill cheese and washed her plate in the sink before heading out to her trailer. Levi came out soon after. He pulled her to him and wrapped his arms around her waist.

“
Emma really likes you. After you walked out, all she talked about was your barrel times.”

Kallie smiled and he leaned in to kiss her. His lips were soft, gentle and invited her in for more. About that time the trailer door swung open and Joan walked in.

“
There’s no time for any of that.” She looked around. “Oh this is nice. I understand why you didn’t stay in the hotel now.”

“
Thank you. I won it last year at the National Barrel Racer and Bull Riders World Championship.”

Joan looked around a little more before turning her attention back to Kallie and Levi. “Where’s your laundry? I know you have some.”

Kallie looked at Levi. He moved past her to the bedroom. “What are you standing there for? Go get your laundry!”

“
Oh, Joan. I’ll do my own laundry.”

She felt Levi at her back. “You better do as she says,” Levi told her.

Without questioning, she went to the bedroom and grabbed her laundry. When she returned Levi and Joan were standing outside. She handed Joan her laundry bag.

“
All right. Well, you better tend to your horse.” Joan started for the door.

“
His name is Blaze, Mama!” Emma yelled to her mom.

Kallie laughed, and about that time Emma shot off asking question after question as Levi unloaded Blaze.

“
Emma, we’ll be here all week. Ease up on the questions,” Levi told his sister.

Kallie laughed and took Blaze from Levi.

“
Just one more question.”

“
Okay.”

“
Who trained Blaze for you?”

Kallie tensed. “Um, me and my Daddy actually.”

“
Oh.” Emma quieted after that.

Kallie looked back at Levi. “Where to?”

Emma cleared her throat. “Kallie, I’m sorry for asking that.”

“
What? No. Don’t be sorry. I like talking about my Daddy. He taught me everything. Well, him and my Mama.”

“
So you trained Blaze with your Daddy?”

“
Yep. Blaze’s mom was a brood mare on our ranch in Houston, so I’ve had him ever since he was a baby.”

“
That’s so cool.”

“
Yep. You want to ride him to his stall?” Kallie asked.

“
Could I?”

“
Sure.”

Kallie gave her a leg up and she was sitting on top of Blaze. Her smile stretched from ear to ear and she reminded Kallie of herself at that age.

Levi fell in beside Kallie. “She loves you already,” he told her as they walked.

They made it to the end of the barn aisle and Emma slid off. Kallie walked Blaze into the stall where water and hay were already waiting.

“
Daddy and Doug got the stall ready this morning,” Emma told her.

Kallie closed the door and watched as Blaze took a big bite of hay. He was at home already.

Levi spent the next thirty minutes giving her a tour of the ranch. There were four large barns in total. One was for boarders, while the other was used to house horses that were being trained. The third barn was the hay barn. It held all the hay for the animals on the property. There was hay stocked in the top of the barns as well. The remaining barn was an indoor riding arena. The last stop on their tour was the outdoor riding arena, where an older man was riding a horse in circles. He stopped when he saw them.

“
Daddy look who I found!” Emma called to him.

He dismounted and walked over to them. He hugged Levi tightly.

“
Oh, son.”

He pulled away and looked at him.

“
Look at you. Rookie circuit point leader.” He smiled proudly.

When his father finally released him, Levi stepped back and put his arm around Kallie. “Daddy, I’d like you to meet Kallie Davis.”

He looked at her. “I know who she is. It’s nice to meet you. I’m John Cavanaugh.” He reached out and shook her hand.

“
It’s nice to meet you.”

He looked at her and then Levi and smiled. He turned toward the horse tied in the middle of the arena.

“
Well, what do you think?”

“
How old is he?” Levi asked.

“
Four,” John answered.

Before Kallie could respond she was walking toward the bay horse. She reached him and rubbed his head. She worked her hands to his neck and down his legs. She lifted his hoof and looked at it. She rubbed his back, down to his behind before turning to John.