Read Online Wishing on a Rodeo Moon (Women of Character) by Grace Brannigan - Free Book Online
Authors: Grace Brannigan
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you arrived yesterday the first thing on your mind was bolting. I
know I remind you of the accident, and that's got to be damned hard, hard
enough that it pulls at your gut, but maybe in a way it'll help the healing
process."
Tye bit
the inside of her cheek and didn't answer. Jake had pretty much hit the nail on
the head. She could never let him know about the acute, wrenching
disappointment she had felt. It caused a strange mixture of emotions learning
that the man whose image she had clung to had in actual fact been a real,
fallible human. A man who hadn’t believed in her enough to continue loving
a mixed-up teenager. Why, Jake, she cried
inside, why didn’t you come after me all those
years ago ? Tye held her breath, afraid for a moment she had said the
words aloud.
"Tye,
I'm sorry you got hurt. Sorry if it bothers you that I was there that day. At
some point you'll have to come to terms with your life, and all that it can be.
Not what it used to be." Jake stood up, an almost stern expression on his
face. "Despite what's happened, your life isn't over. You must realize
that."
"I
know that! I'm going to get better, then I'm going back to my old life,"
she said defiantly, crossing her arms.
Jake
lifted a brow. "You don't have to convince me. You always had more
determination than two people. I'm sure you’ll do it if that's what you
want."
"Of
course it is." Tye clenched her jaw, her eyes fixed on the water.
"Rodeo is my life."
"What
if what you're wishing for might not be what you want in the end?"
Tye
snapped her gaze up to meet Jake's. "Rodeo is what I've always wanted.
There's never been any doubt." Except for the brief period she had thought
she wanted kids and Jake as a husband. Tye dismissed that memory. It had been
long ago. Instead, she focused on her daddy’s words. Tylie girl, you can have the world at your feet.
She
needed to win, and win big. Somehow, the thought didn’t soothe her.
"You're
a survivor, Tye, but there's no rule book that says survivors have to go it
alone."
"What
are you suggesting ― that I shack up with you?" she asked
sarcastically. "That would be convenient. We could share the electric
bill, the newspaper and toothpaste, wedded life ad nauseam." Even as she
spoke, Tye felt a sick, twisting ache inside. She wanted to stop the terrible
words, but they spilled from her lips, a wealth of bitterness she’d kept
stored.
"Wow,
you’ve got a real active imagination."
Carefully,
Jake placed the now-dry prosthesis beside her.
"Believe
me, I’m not about to go down that road with you again."
"Well,
the whole institution of marriage is boring," Tye said rudely, trying to
pretend his words hadn’t stung. She felt as if she was being torn up
inside, but the words just kept coming. "I'm not cut out for sitting still
or putting down roots."
"Maybe.
Maybe not. I guess if you say it enough times you’ll take it as
gospel."
"What
makes you so smart? I don’t see anyone around here sharing your life. You
haven’t done anything about getting married or having kids."
Jake
went still, then he dipped his head in acknowledgment he turned and began to
walk away. "Point well taken."
Ashamed
of herself, Tye wondered for a moment if she had hurt him. With shaking
fingers, she reached for the leg, then muttered an almost desperate,
"Damn."
Jake
looked at her over his shoulder. She couldn't read the expression on his face,
but it seemed to be somewhere between indifference and mild curiosity.
"Need
something?" he drawled.
Taking a
deep breath, Tye realized she could hop all the way to her door or she could
ask for Jake’s help. She wasn't sure which bothered her more.
"Yes.
It's my socks ― the special socks for my leg. They're all wet. I need
some dry ones."
"Where
are they?"
"They’re
in the bathroom on a towel on the counter. They should be dry. I'll need two
pairs."
"I'll
be right back." Jake pushed his wet jeans down and stepped out of them.
Tye watched them fall to the deck,
know I remind you of the accident, and that's got to be damned hard, hard
enough that it pulls at your gut, but maybe in a way it'll help the healing
process."
Tye bit
the inside of her cheek and didn't answer. Jake had pretty much hit the nail on
the head. She could never let him know about the acute, wrenching
disappointment she had felt. It caused a strange mixture of emotions learning
that the man whose image she had clung to had in actual fact been a real,
fallible human. A man who hadn’t believed in her enough to continue loving
a mixed-up teenager. Why, Jake, she cried
inside, why didn’t you come after me all those
years ago ? Tye held her breath, afraid for a moment she had said the
words aloud.
"Tye,
I'm sorry you got hurt. Sorry if it bothers you that I was there that day. At
some point you'll have to come to terms with your life, and all that it can be.
Not what it used to be." Jake stood up, an almost stern expression on his
face. "Despite what's happened, your life isn't over. You must realize
that."
"I
know that! I'm going to get better, then I'm going back to my old life,"
she said defiantly, crossing her arms.
Jake
lifted a brow. "You don't have to convince me. You always had more
determination than two people. I'm sure you’ll do it if that's what you
want."
"Of
course it is." Tye clenched her jaw, her eyes fixed on the water.
"Rodeo is my life."
"What
if what you're wishing for might not be what you want in the end?"
Tye
snapped her gaze up to meet Jake's. "Rodeo is what I've always wanted.
There's never been any doubt." Except for the brief period she had thought
she wanted kids and Jake as a husband. Tye dismissed that memory. It had been
long ago. Instead, she focused on her daddy’s words. Tylie girl, you can have the world at your feet.
She
needed to win, and win big. Somehow, the thought didn’t soothe her.
"You're
a survivor, Tye, but there's no rule book that says survivors have to go it
alone."
"What
are you suggesting ― that I shack up with you?" she asked
sarcastically. "That would be convenient. We could share the electric
bill, the newspaper and toothpaste, wedded life ad nauseam." Even as she
spoke, Tye felt a sick, twisting ache inside. She wanted to stop the terrible
words, but they spilled from her lips, a wealth of bitterness she’d kept
stored.
"Wow,
you’ve got a real active imagination."
Carefully,
Jake placed the now-dry prosthesis beside her.
"Believe
me, I’m not about to go down that road with you again."
"Well,
the whole institution of marriage is boring," Tye said rudely, trying to
pretend his words hadn’t stung. She felt as if she was being torn up
inside, but the words just kept coming. "I'm not cut out for sitting still
or putting down roots."
"Maybe.
Maybe not. I guess if you say it enough times you’ll take it as
gospel."
"What
makes you so smart? I don’t see anyone around here sharing your life. You
haven’t done anything about getting married or having kids."
Jake
went still, then he dipped his head in acknowledgment he turned and began to
walk away. "Point well taken."
Ashamed
of herself, Tye wondered for a moment if she had hurt him. With shaking
fingers, she reached for the leg, then muttered an almost desperate,
"Damn."
Jake
looked at her over his shoulder. She couldn't read the expression on his face,
but it seemed to be somewhere between indifference and mild curiosity.
"Need
something?" he drawled.
Taking a
deep breath, Tye realized she could hop all the way to her door or she could
ask for Jake’s help. She wasn't sure which bothered her more.
"Yes.
It's my socks ― the special socks for my leg. They're all wet. I need
some dry ones."
"Where
are they?"
"They’re
in the bathroom on a towel on the counter. They should be dry. I'll need two
pairs."
"I'll
be right back." Jake pushed his wet jeans down and stepped out of them.
Tye watched them fall to the deck,
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