Love & Rodeo (15 page)

Mark put his arm around Levi. “Welcome to the club.”

About that time, John walked up. “What club?”

“
The ‘I’m in love’ club.”

John smiled. “Your Mama had me at hello,” John told his boys.

Mark distracted John while Levi chose a heart locket. He had their initials engraved on the front of the locket and on the inside. He had the jeweler put his picture on one side, and hers on the other. Once the gift was paid for, they headed back to the hotel.

Later that night, Levi helped Kallie get Blaze saddled. The girls ran first, so he wasn’t needed until later. He threw Blaze’s saddle on him and tightened the girth while Kallie put his bridle on. Once he was ready, he pinned her number on the back of her shirt. Turning around, she looked at him with her green eyes.

“
I got you something today,” Levi told her.

She smiled. “Well, what is it?”

He reached inside his rodeo bag that held his ropes and chaps and pulled out the long rectangular box.

“
Oh, Levi, this is too much,” Kallie told him.

“
You don’t even know what it is. Open it.”

He watched as she carefully opened the box and looked at the silver heart. “Oh, Levi. It’s beautiful.”

“
Open the locket.”

She did as she was told and looked at the pictures. She tore her eyes from his gift and hugged him.

“
I love it! Thank you.” She kissed him and then pulled the locket from the box. “Will you help me with it?” she asked.

He smiled, happy that she liked the gift so much. Pushing her long braid to the side, his large fingers worked at the clasp. Once it was together, he kissed the back of her neck.

“
I love you.”

“
I love you,” she said turning and hugging him.

“
All barrel racers to the warm-up arena please.” The announcer boomed from the speakers.

Kallie inhaled.

“
That’s me.”

“
Good luck.”

“
I don’t need it. I’ve got you,” she said as she climbed into the saddle.

He watched as she waved to him and walked off toward the warm-up arena, while he went to the gated area behind the bull chutes. He drew a bull that had only been rode once and that scared him a little, but if anyone could do it, it would be him. He looked up to see his parents standing for the National Anthem and watched as Cassidy carried the flag around the arena while riding her horse.

After the national anthem, each girl came out and was introduced. Once each girl had been introduced, the barrel racing began. Kallie ran ninth and she was on her game tonight. She came out of the arena with a 16.898. She led them until the last rider who ran at 16.885, which pushed her in to second, but it didn’t matter, she was still in the money.

The bull riders were next. Each rider was introduced and then they started. Levi watched as each guy rode. He was dead last. He watched Travis, Deuce, and Luke all ride their eight seconds. When it was his turn, he managed to stay on the full eight seconds and then some. He got the top score for the night, pushing him through to the following night.

When he found Kallie, he lifted and twirled her.

“
We’re in! We’re in!” he yelled to her.

She slid down his body catching his lips as she went. He wrapped his arms around her waist and held her tight against him. He couldn’t get enough of her. He carried her inside Blaze’s stall and pushed her against the wall, kissing her deeply as she wrapped her leg around him. He held her thigh with one hand and her breast with the other. She moaned as he pressed his hardness against her. He thrust his hips against hers once more. This time she froze.

“
What? What’s wrong?”

“
Is that your parents?”

He listened, and sure enough he heard his Mama and Emma. He rested his head against hers. He kissed her lips lightly and walked out the stall. Kallie followed him a minute later with flushed cheeks.

“
Congratulations! Both of you!” Each of his family members took turns hugging them.

“
Let’s go celebrate!” Mark suggested.

“
Emma has to go to bed, but you
youngins
are more than welcome. Don’t stay out too late,” Joan warned them.

“
Never, Mama,” Levi told her as he kissed her on the cheek.

“
Not fair! I’m not even tired,” Emma chimed in as she yawned.

Mark laughed at their sister. “Right little sister.”

They said goodbye to his parents and started for the strip. Levi watched as Jolie linked arms with Kallie and pulled her ahead of them, while he and Mark stayed a little ways back. He couldn’t take his eyes off of her, and every now and again Kallie would look back at him. His heart felt like it could burst in his chest. When he looked at her, she was all he saw. She was the most beautiful woman, and he wanted to make her his one and only.

Chapter Sixteen

The next morning, Levi woke to an empty bed. Kallie was already gone, taking care of Blaze. He threw on some clothes and called his brother. Twenty minutes later, he met him on the strip.

“
What’s up? Why’d you want to meet me here?” Mark gestured to the jewelry shop from the day before.

“
I need some help.”

“
With what?”

Levi exhaled. “Picking out a ring.”

Mark looked at him. “Are you sure? I mean, it hasn’t been that long.”

“
You and Jolie were only together for three months. Mark, I love her. I want to spend the rest of my life with her.”

Mark shook his head and smiled. “Then let’s pick out a ring, little brother.”

An hour later, they came out with a diamond solitaire ring on a white gold band. He shook as he looked at it.

“
My little brother is all grown up,” Mark said.

“
I’m twenty-four, Mark. I’ve been grown up for a while.”

“
Not like this, man. Not like this. So have you thought about when you’re going to ask her?”

“
I don’t know. Maybe tonight after the banquet.”

“
What if you guys don’t win?”

“
It doesn’t matter. I’ve got her, and she’s all I need.” He was sure that she was the only one he’d need.

Levi told his brother goodbye and then headed back to the trailer where Kallie was making eggs.

“
There you are.”

“
Oh, I went over to see my family.”

“
How are they?”

“
Fine.”

Levi ducked into the bedroom and put the ring inside his bag.

* * * *

“
Kallie Davis, you’re up.”

She heard her name and circled Blaze. Her heart thumped in her chest.

She patted Blaze and then kicked him. He took off toward the first barrel. She did as she always did and they went right around. They flew to the second barrel and Kallie didn’t feel like she was doing this on her own. She rounded the third and as she headed home something inside of her told her that her parents were with her tonight. She felt like she was flying as they crossed the invisible line.

“
Wow. You’re not going to believe this folks, but a record has just been broke today. The fastest time for the arena is 16.757. Kallie Davis’s time is 16.595. I don’t think anyone is going to touch that.”

Kallie cried as she tried to catch her breath. Her phone rang in her pocket. She pulled it out. It was Nora.

“
Nor?”

“
16.595!”

Kallie laughed. Her body felt heavy.

“
Oh my gosh!”

“
Thank you! I have to put Blaze away. I’ll call you back in a little bit.”

Kallie tucked her phone into her pocket just in time for Levi to pull her off of Blaze. She hugged him tight as she cried into his neck.

“
I’m so proud of you!” he told her and she looked at him.

It was something her Daddy would have said to her. She hugged him tighter as the last runner went out. He kissed her forehead, cheeks, nose, mouth, and eyes.

“
You’re amazing!” Levi told her.

Kallie watched the last rider come back.

“
17.495. That’s it, Ladies and Gentleman! We have our 2011 NBRA World Champion Barrel Racer.
Kallie Davis!
”

“
That’s you.”

“
I guess I’d better get out there then.”

Levi helped her onto Blaze. She walked out into the arena with her horse. He knew he’d done something great. He pranced and finally she let him go as they cantered around the arena. She waved as she rode by the crowd, catching a glimpse of Joan who looked like she had a tear in her eye. Kallie finished her trip around the arena and then headed to the center where a bouquet of roses was placed in her arms and one around Blaze’s neck. The announcer told her everything she was taking home with her, but she didn’t hear any of it. She smiled as pictures were taken and a trophy was handed to her. After about ten minutes of pictures, Kallie was ushered out of the arena to a press area where she answered questions for a half hour.

She hurried to put Blaze away and got back to the arena just in time to see Levi ride. He rode and lasted his eight seconds but was bucked off right after the horn sounded. His score was an eighty-eight. It wasn’t as high as normal, but it was high enough. Travis and Deuce were bucked off, leaving Luke, Levi, and another cowboy she didn’t know in the final round. She found a seat on the fence and watched as the cowboy she didn’t know rode his bull flawlessly, but just before the horn sounded he was bucked off.

That left Levi and Luke. Levi went next. He rode the bull and stayed center until the horn sounded. He jumped off and hurried to the gate. The bull charged him, his horn nearly piercing him, but Levi was up high enough that it didn’t make contact. Kallie’s heart raced in her chest as she thought about what that bull could have done to Levi. She pushed the thought from her head.

Luke was last. He rode perfectly, staying center and the bull bucked hard back and forth. The horn sounded and the announcer rang out ninety. It was two points higher than Levi’s. Luke won the NBRA World Championship. Levi was World Reserve. All she could do was watch on as Levi ran a hand through his hair and then shook Luke’s hand.

He shoved his ropes in his bag, took off his chaps and shoved them in as well. He was upset. He walked toward her and she offered him a weak smile.

“
Reserve is pretty amazing for a rookie.” She attempted to make him feel better.

“
It doesn’t matter.” He smiled, leaned in and kissed her.

“
Let’s go get ready for the banquet,” she said, wrapping her arm around his waist.

An hour later, she finished up her hair and was in her dress and the dress boots that Jolie insisted she buy. She took one last look in the mirror and when she was satisfied, Kallie walked out into the living area. Levi was tying his tie with his back to her.

“
I don’t understand why a tie is necessary.”

He turned and caught sight her. She watched as his mouth fall open.

“
You look… Wow, Kallie, you’re stunning.”

She smiled and shook her head at him. She crossed the small space between them and tied his tie for him. He slipped his arms around her waist as she worked.

“
How did I get so lucky? How did I get you?”

She bit her lip. In that moment, she was blissfully happy. In that moment, her future was unknown, but it could’ve been with him.

“
You saved me. You saved me from my grief. You helped me live again. I don’t know where I’d be without you.” Kallie kissed him, so very grateful for what he’d given to her.

When he pulled away, he rested his head against hers and they just stood there with one another.

“
We’d better get going.”

Reluctantly, he slipped on his jacket and they headed toward the Banquet.

“
Have I told you how great you look tonight?” Levi whispered in her ear as they waited to get into the Banquet. When they entered, they were given a bag with goodies in it. They found their seats and left their bags there while they moved around the room, talking to different people. Luke came up to them.

“
Congratulations, man!” Levi told him as he shook his hand.

“
I just won the world championship. You’ve got the top points. You really won.”