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Cassidy sat on the back porch in the early morning chill. The sun peeked up over the horizon and she forced a smile.
Today is another day and I will get through this one, too.
She strummed her guitar as Bandit laid his head on her booted foot. “That’s my boy. You and me.”
Once upon a time there was a cowgirl princess...
Her heart ached every time she thought of sweet Molly. She shook her head, trying to stop the well of tears from falling.
“I love your daddy, little girl.” Cassidy’s words floated into her heart. “Always did.”
Life without Ryder in it would always fill her with regrets, like it had for years now.
He’d been there in the early days, cheering her on, giving her confidence in her songs and her voice.
A voice she no longer had...
His belief in her stunned her at times, even now.
Her momma had tried to get Cassidy to see reason, telling her love was the very best dream of all—having it, giving it, and holding on to it.
But she hadn’t listened, thinking Ryder cast all his hopes aside for her. She couldn’t picture him giving up, not for her, and then one day wished he hadn’t thrown it all away. If he had, he’d wouldn’t have had the money to help his foster folks then and now.
She didn’t want either one of them to live with bitter disappointment—not like her daddy had confessed in that letter momma cried her heart over. He’d longed to be a country singer, but had to make a decent living, the only one he knew how to by being a solider at the time.
If only...
A part of Momma hated not agreeing to find a way for daddy, so she had for her only child.
Cassidy heard the clopping hooves. She stilled as Gramps and Sweet Potato came out all the way from the doorway and to the porch.
“Morning.” She tried to cover up her jumbled emotions as she sucked in a shaky, painful breath.
“Mighty fine one, don’t you think?”
“If you say so, Gramps.”
He sipped his mug of steaming coffee. “Glad to see you playing still. Surprising what we can survive, isn’t it, Cassidy?”
“Beat down and bounced around.” She sang softly—in a rough tone—as she strummed a few chords.
“Good one.” He chuckled.
She bit her lip. “I got a few tunes in my head.”
“Like the loving her daddy one?”
Her heartbeat stilled. “You heard.” A blast of heat burned her cheeks.
“If it’s about who I think it’s about, you need to tell both of them.”
“Matchmaking again?” She shot him a smile, hearing from his grandsons and their new wives what Gramps had done this last year to his own kin.
“Well, I wouldn’t say that exactly.” He shifted away from the post and then sat down in the rocker beside hers. “You’ve got a mind of your own. A heart, too. But you’re not using either right now.”
“Ouch! You know where to hit, don’t you?” Yeah, right there in that sore spot.
“Now, the way I see it is, you compromise some. Winnie and I did. She said what she wanted and I said all right let’s do it.”
Cassidy chuckled loud and long. Gramps and Grams were a fine couple to emulate, even if they teased and joked, they’d enjoyed the playful sparring and made everyone feel envious and want the same kind of relationship.
“We made a good team. Gosh, I sure do miss her something fierce.”
Something hard and sharp tugged at Cassidy’s heart. “You’d do it all over again.”
“That and more, if I could. My best friend. Who wouldn’t want that?”
“But you wanted the same things.”
“Eventually. I wanted to be a bachelor for life. But she made me see the error of my ways.”
“You, Gramps? I can’t see you ever wanting anything but your family.”
“Family first. The ranch after. Winnie taught me that.”
“See. Same path.”
He tipped back his cowboy hat and scratched his head. “You and Ryder want the same things, too. Molly’s happiness. That’s a good place to start. Figure out a way. Make it work. Fight like a McCall to get what you want ’cause there’s no one else who wants what you want and who will duke it out like you will in order to get it.”
“Hey, and that’s so easy.” Her middle plunged to her knees as if she were facing a mountain of critics again. But, he did strike a resounding chord when he spoke of Molly. She adored that little girl and her daddy, too.
“Nobody said it was. Life, Cass, is here today gone tomorrow. You want to end up on this porch forty or fifty years from now, thinking about what could have been?”
She gulped hard. “Not likely to be a part of this still...”
“You think? Honor is your adopted hometown. The McCall ranch is your home for the rest of your days, don’t you forget it, too.”
Tears prickled the backs of her eyes. “Thank you kindly.”
“No need to. Family is family. Now, that Ryder Hadley fella is good and decent and loves his little girl. He’ll raise her right, he will, you can bet on that. You want to miss out on Molly growing up?”
Her heart twisted at never sharing that special time with the precious little girl. “No, sir.”
“And what about him? You want to miss out on him loving you like nobody’s business? ’Cause I see that. I see in him what was in me with my Winnie.”
Common sense or a bolt of lightning or both struck Cassidy.
“Gramps, I need your help.”
“Of course you do.” He leaned back and started whistling a jaunty tune.
“You got a plan?”
He tapped a finger to his temple.
“Mind telling me?”
Cassidy laughed, filling with hope. Could she pull this off? Could she compromise, bend without breaking?
A breeze picked up, tossing Cassidy’s hair about as she stood on the sidewalk in front of the town church, staring hard at the big, closed oak doors. She shivered at the chill sweeping over her.
Cold or nerves?
Lights glowed from every window. Surely, all the good people of Honor crammed the pews since the parking lot was filled and the numerous trucks and cars spilled over and lined the quiet streets.
The Christmas Eve play.
Her heart skipped for Molly, so dear and precious, and her wish to hand in a great performance tonight.
Glancing skyward for much needed help, Cassidy smiled at the steeple yawning up and, from here, looking like it sat among the twinkling stars.
Tiny white flakes fell in soft swirls from the sky.
She gasped. “Snow?” Cassidy held out her hand and chuckled.
Snow for Molly for Christmas.
Some wishes did come true. Now could Cassidy hope for more...
The hushed church greeted Cassidy as she entered through the large, wooden doors. She’d put on her one and only dress for this—white and flowy—along with her bright blue boots and denim jacket.
In her hand, she gripped the neck of her guitar. Bandit nudged her calf.
Yeah, boy, thanks for being here for me.
Slowly, she walked down the aisle of the packed pews. With heads bowed in prayer, she wondered if she should turn tail and wait a spell.
But something inside her urged her on.
The farther she and Bandit walked, the more attention they got—heads jerking up as they went by. Low murmurs followed.
Her insides shook with trepidation. And she refused to turn in either direction.
Nope, look straight ahead.
Cassidy began to shiver. Nerves. Stage fright. That’s all.
The whisper-soft rustle of her dress against her boots sounded like a strange swishing motion. Maybe she could use that in a song sometime.
She laughed at herself, knowing, no matter what, music in all forms would always be a part of her life, if she opened her mind and heart to whatever was to come.
The aisle ended all too soon. She halted at the bottom of the steps.
The pastor cleared his throat. “Excuse me, where do you think you’re going?”
Heat whooshed into her cheeks, leaving a burning sensation behind. “Howdy, Reverend.”
Chuckles from the pews reached her sensitive ears. Molly’s gasp and giggle were like music to her ears.
“Daddy, she’s here!”
“Go on now.” Gramps urged Cassidy.
She sucked in a sharp, painful breath and lifted her left foot and began to climb the stairs. Left. Right. Repeat. Bandit’s paws clicked on the steps, following close behind, reminding her she wasn’t truly alone. Yep, her trusty guard dog.
“We’re in the middle of a service. Then the children will put on their Christmas play.”
“Thank you kindly for the information. I’ll keep it quick then.” She nodded to the bewildered man of the cloth.
“This isn’t on the schedule.”
“Prayers aren’t?” Her knees wobbled as she grew closer to him.
“They are always welcome.”
“Mind if I say a few?”
“It’s highly unusual...”
Miss Peaches stood up. “Let her say her piece, Reverend. We’re all anxious to hear Cassidy.”
Her sister, Miss Clementine, rose. Her prim and proper look gave Cassidy some concern.
Would she boot her off?
“What Peaches said.” She smiled and nodded.
“As you wish.” The pastor sighed heavily into the mic and moved away, taking a seat nearby.
It was only this moment that Cassidy dared to face the entire congregation. She swept the churchgoers with a quick glance, giving them a shaky smile, and then a warmer one to her cousins all in a row near the front. They gave her encouraging nods and Gramps smiled the widest.
Putting the strap of her guitar over her head, she adjusted the instrument in front of her.
She swallowed hard when she allowed herself to look at Molly in her silky white angel gown with her pink wings and wand and the tiara sprouting a crooked halo. Cassidy giggled.
Then she searched and found Ryder staring back at her with a quizzical look.
Can’t breathe. Can’t think.
He’s my dream. Part of my new one.
Silence descended, quick and heavy.
“I-I thank you kindly... for letting me speak.” She could barely whisper. “And for your hospitality. Lord knows—” Cassidy stopped short. “Oops!”
Chuckles rang out, easing her jumpy nerves some.
“Heaven knows, you’ve been put through some mighty strange things lately. Me, too.” She rested her shaky hand on the strings of her guitar. “Seems like someone had a different plan for me.”
Her heart filled with wonder at the big, bold truth.
If she hadn’t had the problems with her voice, she’d still be on the road, working too hard for too little, and getting fleeced even more by her ex manager. She wouldn’t have known or noticed, just put her head down and worked her tail off.
Another song. Another chart to climb.
“Yep. I guess I couldn’t stop chasing fame, so I’m mighty thankful for this chance to see things in a different way.”
She spoke to Ryder now, blocking out everything else. “A long time ago, I threw away the best thing in my life.” Her throat tightened up.
Tears blurred her vision and she blinked.
“A person so amazing he was willing to give up his dreams for me and mine. I-I said no. Silly me. I didn’t know sharing dreams would be even better.” She shook her head. Slowly, she strummed and sang, “Once upon a time there was a girl with a guitar... and, oh, how she wanted to live among the stars...”
Halting, Cassidy cleared her clogged throat.
“But, things have a way of turning back again or turning around, you could say. Music brought me home to Honor, to my family, and all of you.” She blew out an unsteady breath and picked up another line to the unfinished song. “Once upon a time a cowboy loved this gypsy girl... and she loved him back even more...” Her singing voice quavered.
“Ryder Hadley, I love you with all my heart. I always have. That’s why I let you go. That’s why I couldn’t ever forget you. That’s why I’m up here telling you and all of Honor what I fool I’ve been. I want to dream with you. Live a life with you. Help you train your horses and me write songs and raise sweet Molly together and maybe have a baby or two...”
She swiped away the fast-falling tears. Cassidy wanted it all. And, dang, if she wasn’t going to fight for it, too.
Molly squealed and then clapped. “We did it, Gramps!”
“That we did, little girl. That we did.” Gramps sighed, bringing another round of laughter.
Cassidy captured Ryder’s gaze again. “I never stopped loving you. Believe me.”
Ryder stood slowly, clutching the pew in front of him. “Gypsy girl, how?”
Staring into his gorgeous green eyes, her heart hitched.
“Together, Ryder. You and me and Molly. We’ll be a family.”
“There’s so many things...”
“No more touring.” Her voice came out clear as a bell. Gently, she lifted her guitar and the strap from around her neck and then propped it against the podium to her right.
“What?”
Gasps rushed through the church, first soft and then gathering momentum.
“Music. Songs. On my terms. Maybe even play a concert or two every now and then.” She shrugged, finally releasing the burden she’d been carrying for so long. “It’s what I want. It’s what I need. My songs sung my way.”
“You have to tour to reach the fans, to have them buy your music, to get the label to sign you again, and to get your songs out there.”
“No, Ryder. I don’t want that anymore. I don’t want to play that game of never doing enough or being enough. And I certainly don’t want the tabloids trailing me everywhere I go and take picture of everything I do any more.”
With such tenderness, he smiled the lazy smile that melted her heart and tugged at all the places inside her.
“Wait!” Molly reached into her backpack. Rustling sounds came next and then she unfurled a long banner. “Hold that end up, Daddy.”
He did, looking at it upside down and began to chuckle. “What this says, Cass.”
She read the homemade sign out loud.
“Will you marry us and be our Christmas Bride?”
Cassidy threw back her head and laughed, holding her arms up wide. “Yes!” She didn’t wait for the standing ovation to end or the cheers and whistles to stop or even for Molly to stop jumping up and down. Cassidy went to the edge of the stage, hopped down, walked a few feet, climbed on the front pew with the help of her cousins, and then—just like a certain cowboy had done only a few short weeks ago after a mighty crash—she hightailed it over the next pew until she stood tall in front of Ryder.
“Help me finish our song, cowboy.”
He laughed as he hugged her close, picking her up and cradling her to his chest.
Cassidy melted into him, feeling his warmth seep into all the cold places in her. I’m coming home. To Ryder.
“I love you, my gypsy girl.”
“Make that your Christmas bride—at midnight—and I’m all yours, cowboy...”
The End
