The Rancher's Daughter (11 page)

             
She was a woman on a mission.  She marched into that arena with one thing on her mind.  She made her way to the back and was escorted behind the chutes where she found Heath, chatting with his friends.  All conversation stopped the second she walked up.  All eyes were on her and everyone made their excuses to leave.  She waited
till
they left then she inched toward Heath.  “I’m sorry,” she said.  “I’ve been such a fool.  Can you ever forgive me?”   Heath pushed himself off the wall and walked toward her.  He took her hand in his and kissed the palm of her hand then he pulled her into his arms and said, “Already forgiven, God help me woman, but I can’t live without you.”  “Does that mean, you love me?” she asked.  “It does.”  “Then say it, stupid.”  “I love you, but I am not stupid.” He grinned.  “Yeah, you are, but I love you anyway.” Josey said.   

             
The announcer started the rodeo the same way he had the night before.  Heath looked down into Josey’s eyes, kissed her on the nose and told her, “stick around, I’ve got some place I want to take you after this is over.”  Josey shook her head and pointed to the section she’d sat the night before.  “I’ll be right over there.”      

             
Josey, sat in her seat and watched the rodeo.  She searched constantly for a glimpse of Heath behind the chutes and each time she found him, he was looking her way.  They smiled at one another and Heath winked. 

             
She’d watched him in his first two events without fear but now that it was time for the
bull-riding
event,
she got nervous.  She knew from experience, just how dangerous bulls could be.  She grit her teeth and forced herself to watch him ride.  She watched him settle onto the bulls back and adjust his rope.  His friend pulled it tight, and Heath wrapped the rope around his hand.  He scooted up on the rope and nodded his head.  Josey was on the edge of her seat.  He rode the full eight seconds but his hand got caught up in the rope. He flopped around like a rag doll as bull fighters struggled to cut him loose.  Josey held her breath her hand over her mouth to keep from screaming. 

             
She stood at the rail once more watching and waiting.  Finally, he was loose.  He went down on his knees to catch his breath and thank
God,
he was alive then he stood up waved his hat to the audience and blew her a kiss.  She ran to the back to find him and check on him.  He was getting his hand wrapped when she found him.  The sports therapist was giving him advice that she knew he wouldn’t listen to.  She waited until the therapist left then found her way to his side. 

             
“Let’s get out of here.” He said.  Josey nodded, “Ok.”  He took her hand in his and pulled her out the back way.  “Where’s your truck, I rode with one of the guys.” He said.  Josey led him out to the parking lot where her truck was, parked.  He reached for the keys and opened the passenger door for her.  Then he climbed behind the steering wheel and put the truck in gear.  Josey slid to the center of the seat and he rested his injured hand on her knee.  She wrapped her hands around his arm and rested her head on his shoulder. 

             
They drove around for a little while.  Josey started asking questions about where they were going and then he pulled up to a little white chapel. It was probably the first one he seen that looked normal.  He slid out of the truck and she slid out behind him.  He took her hand in his and led her to the front door.  He paid the chaplain to make it nice and they said their I do’s in a room of only four people. 

             
The chaplain took pictures of them as well for a little extra money.  Josey was suddenly glad she had chosen her little white dress.  She was now Mrs. Heath Jenkins.  She couldn’t be happier.  They went back to her hotel room and made love the rest of the night.  She awoke the next morning to a knock at the door.  Heath had called for room service and it smelled delicious.  She crawled out of bed and wrapped the robe around her, not bothering to put on her clothes. Heath pulled her down in his lap at the table and kissed her good morning.  She took a bite of toast and shivered when Heath’s cold hand grazed her nipple.  He’d pushed the robe aside and was now making a feast of her breast.  She dropped her toast onto the plate and wrapped her hands behind his head.  They made love twice more that morning, before finally eating their breakfast. 

             
Today was the last night of the finals for Heath.  She wanted to stay in bed all day with him but she knew he had to be at the arena by a certain time.  They dressed and sent for her truck.  The valet returned with
it, she slid across the seat to the middle,
and Heath slid in beside her.  She wore her best jeans and her best shirt, today.  Heath was still wearing his clothes from the night before.  She realized he hadn’t had a change of clothes, in her hotel room.

             
They drove to the hotel room where he’d been staying with friends and he let himself in to get his bags and change his shirt.  She waited in the truck for him.  When he returned he threw the bag in the passenger seat and slammed the door.  He climbed back behind the wheel but before putting the truck into gear, he pulled her into his arms and kissed her.  He shifted the truck into first and pulled out of the parking lot.  The hotel he’d been staying at was not like the one she’d been staying in.  It was run down and cheap. 

             
She rode beside him in silence.  This time she did not enter through the front door but through the back where all the livestock were.  She kissed him and wished him good luck, then found her way to her seat. 

             
His friends teased him about where he’d spent the night but were thrown for a loop when he told them he spent the night with his wife.  They were all shocked to hear that Heath had indeed tied the knot in a little chapel in Vegas.  They all congratulated him and slapped him on the back.  The announcer went through his normal routine only this time he made the announcement, that congratulation’s were in order for Mr. and Mrs. Heath Jenkins.  The camera found Josey once more and she stood up and gave a little wave.  Then the camera found Heath and he smiled. 

             
It was the same as the night before, after that.  Everyone concentrated on the rodeo.  They applauded when someone rode, they gasped when someone got hurt and clapped when they walked away.  Little girls got excited when the barrel racers came out.  Little boys got excited over the bull riding.  The parents enjoyed watching the excitement too, but not as much as they enjoyed
watching,
their little ones get excited.

             
Josey was again on pins, and needles, when Heath’s name was called in the
bull-riding
event.  She rubbed her leg with the palm of her hand and sat on the edge of her seat.  She stood up and gripped the rail once more, ticking off the seconds in her head.  One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, she heard the buzzing sound and held her breath as Heath jumped off the bull.  He ran to the nearest railing for safety while the guys on horseback herded the bull out of the arena.  Heath kneeled down and thanked God for his ride, waved his hat in the air then crossed the arena to the rail where Josey stood.  He climbed up and kissed her again.  He knew he had just won big. He was full of excitement and didn’t care who knew it. 

             
Josey ran to meet him behind the chutes.  He was doing an interview, and she waited.  Once again the reporter, wanted to talk about his love life.  “So, Heath, I guess congratulations are truly in order.  You’ve just won big and you’re celebrating your marriage to one of barrel
racings
greatest.  What have you got to say for yourself?  I hope you know you just broke a lot of ladies, hearts.”  Heath laughed, then he pulled Josey in front of the camera with him.  “Well, all I know is I’m one lucky son of a gun.” He
wrapped his arm around Josey’s waist and the reporter laughed at his joke before cutting.  She congratulated them and Heath made his way to the winners circle with Josey in tow. 

             
The winners circle contained the winners and their whole families.  Some of them, holding their kids while others, stood by themselves.  Josey stood beside Heath as he accepted his buckle and his check.   The awards ceremony wound up being a lot of handshakes and smiles.  Pictures were taken so many times, Josey was sure she would go blind from all the flashing. 

             
When it was all over and done with, Heath took Josey back to the hotel and made sweet, sweet love to her.  They stayed in their room for two days without coming out.  When they got
hungry,
they ordered room service. 

             
A year
had passed since, Heath and Josey said
their I
do’s.  They were now expecting a baby girl.  Josey rubbed her back once more.  She had been having back pain all day and she could not get comfortable.  Her big protruding belly kept her from lying on her stomach, and nothing seemed to help.  Heath was hard at work on the ranch running things and J.W and Hilary had finally taken a vacation even if it was only to see Hilary’s crazy family. 

             
Josey was not due for two more weeks and everyone promised to be back for the delivery.  She  was working on the nursery in Sam’s old house.  They had moved into it since he’d moved in with his uncle.  Sam had retired and Heath now filled his father’s shoes.  He and Josey didn’t always agree on things, but they worked it out.  The ranch was their livelihood and it would become their
daughter’s
future. 

             
She grabbed her back as a sharp pain hit her so hard it put her to her knees.  She felt something wet between her legs and she panicked.  Her water had just broken and no one was around.  She reached for the phone and called up to Heath’s office.  It rang several times and no one answered.  She grabbed her bags, and put them by the door and called the office again.  This time someone picked up on the fifth ring but it was not Heath.  She asked him to get Heath and told him it was an emergency.  There was silence on the other end of the phone for a moment.  Then Heath was on the phone, breathing heavily.  “What is it?” 
He
breathed into the phone.  “Get down here now, my water just broke, we’ve got to go.”  She didn’t even finish the words before the phone hit the floor.  Heath was out the door running. 

             
He crashed through the front door and fell over the bags. 
Josey was standing in the hallway, clutching her belly and breathing heavily.  Sweat was dripping down her face.  Heath grabbed the bags and helped his wife to the truck.  He called ahead to the hospital to let them know they were coming.  As he
drove,
he made one phone call after another, letting everyone know that the baby was coming. 

             
Josey lay across the seat breathing heavily and grunting in pain.  Heath wiped sweat from her forehead and told her to breathe.  She concentrated on breathing the way they’d taught her in
lamas’
classes.  Then she told him to go to hell and continued to scream. 

             
They made it to the hospital in the
,
nick of time.  A wheelchair was
,
roll
ed out for her and a nurse took her
to labor and delivery.   
Heath stood b
y her side and held her hand as she screamed in pain.  W
hen it was all said and
done
it was worth it. 

             
They held their beautiful baby girl
for the first time.   Her hair was jet black and she was screaming loudly.  She was so precious.  Heath’s heart melted.  He sat on the bed and kissed his baby girl on the forehead then kissed his wife on the lips.

             
Sam was the first one to the hospital, followed by
Unc
, carrying a big stuffed
animal,
he must have bought downstairs at the gift shop. 
J.W and Hilary were on their way back from their vacation and All Hilary’s brothers were coming with them. 

             
Some of the ranch hands were w
aiting in the waiting room and S
heriff James came along too.  The phone was
ringing off the hook with well-
wishers.
  Heath took the baby and let
Josey
rest.  He decided to show her off to the
guys
in the waiting room.

             
Once visiting hours were over
Josey
was finally able to rest.  Heath took care of the baby so that she could sleep.  It was one of the only hospitals in the county
, which
left the baby with the parents instead of taking them to the nursery. 

             
Visiting hours began again at nine in the morning and there was a pile of people waiting outside the door once more.  Hilary and J.W had finally made it.  Sam was back and all of Hilary’s brothers were there too.
  Heath looked at J.W and Sam fighting over who was going to hold the baby.  He turned to
Josey
and whispered, “I think our daughter is going to be spoiled rotten.” 
Josey
laughed then said, “
not
if I can help it.”