Read Online So I Tamed a Texan by Kimberly Lowe - Free Book Online Page A

and he was growing the slightest of a beard. He had the same sandy blond hair, and deep green eyes. He bent down and said, "Can't get away from me sweetheart. I aim to abduct you right here and now. C'mon honey, see what it feels like to be on a hay burner again." With that, he picked me up out of the car and leaned me over the saddle of the horse.
    "Randy, put me down!" I said ha lf-heartedly. This was the moment I had been dreaming about since I left the ranch. Soon, he let me sit up properly in the saddle and we rode for awhile. I noticed he was taking me to our special spot. It was the most beautiful little crook in the mountains. It was perfect to see both the sunset and sunrise. We hiked up to the spot and settled in. I turned around and saw Randy looking deeply into my eyes. I felt my knees go weak. "Randy, I... I dreamed about this moment all the time I was away at school. I thought it would never come." I realized that I felt so nervous around him.
    Randy shuffled his feet and stammered "You're just the same Mary. Maybe a bit older and purtier, but you ain't said yet how soon we can get hitched. I'm as anxious as an old cow b awling over her calf." He reached out and gathered me into his arms. He held me tightly and caressed my back. I leaned in and held him just as tight. I could smell the ranch on his clothes. That odd mix of livestock, dirt and sweat. But all of a sudden, I noticed something else. Something, I would not have noticed before. Randy was dirty and untidy and I found his speech grated my ears. His wonderful drawl that I had always thought was so charming, actually made me cringe!
    "What's wrong?" I thought, "All of a sudden, he seems so rough and uncouth. But he's the same Randy I always loved."
    He must have sensed the change in me because he pulled away from me and looked at me worried. "What's the matter Mary? Something I done or said?"
    "No Randy, of course not. It's just that Sam was telling me about Rustlers. What's that all about?"
    I w as trying to change the subject. I just hoped he wouldn't catch on to what I was doing. "Mustn’t let him know how I feel. Maybe it will pass" I thought. The question didn't seem to surprise him at all. "We got a little rustling on our hands all right. Sort of funny though, they only take a few cattle each time when they could talk a lot if they wanted. And always in the north range when you'd think they'd take 'em from the south range and run 'em into Mexico easy like!"
    That did puzzle me a lot, but I thought I would think it over when I got back home. We sat and watched the sunset on the rock and then got up to head home. We were silent as we rode to the range. He seemed to sense t hat something else was wrong. Finally, we came over the ridge and he whispered in my ear "Yonder she is Mary, your home. Reckon your dad will be home by now and wanting to see you."
    "Yes Randy, I hope so" I said.
    As we got closer to the house, I jumped off the horse and sped up the house. It looked just as I remembered it. The big front porch with the white rocking chairs. The blue shutters on each window. I raced into the door and saw my father. His hair was more grey than the last time I saw him. He was still strong and built but I could see the years catching up with him. I ran into his arms and hugged him tightly.
    "Dad. Oh, Daddy! It's so good to see you again. I missed you so much"
    "My little girl, home again. Welcome back to the circle bar, Mary" Dad said in his deep, husky voice. We had dinner and caught up on everything. I realized shortly after dinner that I was exhausted. It had been such a long day and I was ready to relax and think about my problems. I took my stuff up to my old room. I got ready for bed and laid in bed for the longest time. I finally drifted off to sleep.
     
    I avoided Randy for a few days while I sought to work out my terrible problem. I finally realized that Randy hadn't changed; I had. I finally got the courage to tell my father of my decision.