“And the first-place ride goes to…” The anticipation inside the Las Vegas hotel reached fever pitch as the crowd waited to hear the identity of the new PBR champion. “Archie Wolznak from Quebec, Canada!”
The cheers erupted and Tyler held tight to the second-place buckle in his hand. He waited for the rush of disappointment, but it didn’t come.
The only thing he felt at that moment was a sense of excitement thanks to the woman standing next to him.
“I’m so sorry,” Brandy murmured, holding tight to his free hand. “It should have been you.”
“No, it shouldn’t have. I was a long shot. Reaching second place after being number thirty-five in the ranks? That in itself is a miracle.”
And how, he realized over the next few hours as the reporters came at him left and right. Everyone wanted a chance to talk to the dark horse who’d shocked the world by climbing the leader board to a solid second. Tyler McCall was the hottest interview ticket behind the scenes and it took several firm refusals to finally shut down the circus.
But Tyler was done talking about the past few hours. He wanted to think about the night to come and the woman standing next to him.
“What do you say we call it a night and head back to the hotel?”
“If I didn’t know better, I’d say my fiancé missed me these past few months.” Brandy and Tyler had been going back and forth since the ride in Cheyenne. She would join him on the circuit every other weekend, while he flew back to Rebel when he wasn’t riding.
It had been hectic and stressful, and the best three months of his life.
Because of her.
Because being with her was worth the plane rides, and the dread driving by the Happy Times Trailer Park. She made everything seem better. Doable.
Especially since she’d agreed to be his wife.
While she’d set up the groundwork with her declaration at the VFW Hall about wanting kids and a future enough to pop the question, he’d wanted to do things right. Traditional. And so he’d dropped down on one knee and popped the question smack-dab in the middle of a Saturday at the bakery.
Brandy had cried. The few customers had applauded. And the gossip had started. Another Sawyer tying the knot with another Tucker. Talk about shameful.
But Tyler didn’t give a lick what people said, and neither did Brandy. Just as her older sister had bucked tradition and married Brett Sawyer, Brandy was more than happy to face the critics and declare her love for the enemy.
Callie and Brett’s wedding had been the biggest event to hit Rebel in a long, long time and folks were still talking about how lavish and extravagant it was.
And they were still talking about Brandy and her elaborate cake creation. One that had landed her on the Home page of the Hill Country Happily Ever Afters wedding site and a steady stream of cake orders throughout the next year.
Brandy was in cake heaven, and Tyler was just in heaven. Despite the recent news that had just surfaced.
Sheriff Hunter DeMassi had just announced that he was officially reopening the investigation into Brandy’s grandfather’s murder based on new evidence that put him at Big Jimmy’s still just a few short nights before the explosion. And even more DNA confirmation that someone else had been at the scene of the explosion.
Big Jimmy’s DNA had turned up just outside the blast site and Sheriff DeMassi was busy trying to pin a murder rap on the man.
But there were still many unanswered questions, and so the investigation would continue.
The news had stirred even more questions about Brandy’s grandfather and her lack of relationship with him—all of which she’d shared with Tyler. And while he couldn’t change her past any more than he could change his own, he could make the future so bright it overshadowed everything else.
He loved her and he intended to spend the rest of his life making her happy.
“Has anyone ever told you that you look good in a cowboy hat?” he asked as he sat his on top of her head and stared into her brilliant green eyes.
“No, but I seem to recall someone who likes to see me in boots and little else.”
“Now, there’s an idea, sugar,” he murmured. “Only this time we’ll try it with the boots and the hat. I already had my ride.” His gaze caught and held hers. “It’s time for you to climb into the saddle.”
“Lead the way, cowboy. Lead the way.”