December 3:

S: I was sweating it, but made the finals by like ten points.

H: My Hero. Are you at all nervous, considering what happened last year?

S: I’m more worried about bucking off everything.

H: It’s on TV, so we’ll be watching!

S: Even your dad?

H: Are you kidding? He wouldn’t miss the roping! Just kidding. Yeah, he’ll probably watch. I don’t know what you said to him on Thanksgiving, but he seems to have mellowed a bit where you’re concerned.

S: What can I say? To know me is to love me.

H: Ah, there’s that arrogant bull rider. Wondered where he’d been.

S: You know I’m kidding. Please. Don’t make me resort to emoji’s. I’m begging you.

H: ;) :p <3

S: You are hurting me. You know that, right?

H: Mom is planning for the food truck at Rodeo on the Rez. Have you heard back from that clown?

S: ‘That clown’ is THE Wiley Galt, only the best rodeo entertainer on dirt. And yes, he’s coming. I can’t believe in a month, this’ll be in the past. I’ve been advertising at every rodeo I’ve been to, and have put up notices on all the Facebook boards I’m on. The stock contractors are passing the word…hopefully we’ll earn a ton of money for the Rez.

H: You know you really are my hero, right?

S: Aw, shucks, Ma’am.

H: I was bummed about the sleeping arrangements on Thanksgiving. I lay awake most of the night, wanting to sneak into your room like a hormonal teenager.

S: I’d have turned you down. No way I’d diss your parents under their own roof.

H: I’m glad, but—sigh.

S: Ditto the sigh. But I’ll see you in less than a month.

H: I hate that I won’t see you over the Holidays.

S: But I’ll give you your Christmas present when I see you.

H: Well, I’ve got a big-old present for you, cowboy. But it’s going to cost you a hotel room.

S: Ditto the sigh.

Date: December 15

To: Rafe Hosa

From: Stead James

Subj: Rodeo on the Rez

Hey, kid. Hope you’re ready for Christmas. Got your list in to Santa? Yeah, I know you’re too old for that, but hey, you’re never too old for presents! I’ll bring you one when I see you in January. Nothing big, just something I think you can use.

But it’s gonna cost you. I need your help during the intermission at the rodeo. I can’t tell you what it is yet, but I’ll tell you a couple days before, okay?

Ace & I had a great time, teaching the roping clinic over Thanksgiving. Did I tell you? Ace is talking to Harp’s dad about buying one of his roping horses. Cool, huh?

Well gotta go tie Ace’s shoelaces for him. You be good, so you don’t get coal for Christmas!

* * *

Rodeo on the Rez -

As he expected, his bull riding sucked at the finals. But that was all that sucked. Ace had ended up in the top five. And Stead had the chance to end his Apology Tour with a bang. They brought him out on the dirt the last night to acknowledge his retirement. He had a chance to thank everyone who helped him, and apologize to anyone he’d wronged. He’d have thought it would be hard to do, but Zen studying paid off . . . he walked out of that arena all choked up, but lighter. Much lighter. When he’d finished his online plumbing course, he’d scanned the catalog, and signed up for a Philosophy course.

Who’da guessed a year ago, he’d be taking college classes? Lately, he’d been thinking about maybe trying for a degree, and—

“Jeez, you’re worse’n a girl. Will you get your ass out here? They’re about to start the break.” Ace yelled into the horse trailer he’d borrowed to change in.

Stead rubbed his boots on the back of his slacks, pulled up the turquoise stone slide on his bolo tie, and stepped out.

“Duuuude.” Ace smiled. “You’re as shiny as a wet eyeball. I may just have to kiss you myself.”

“Shut the hell up, and check the back of my collar, willya?” He shot the cuffs, to be sure the matching turquoise cufflinks would show. The black Western-cut suit, white shirt and dress boots, he’d been able to rent at an El Paso tux shop. The black dress hat with the colorful native-woven hatband, he’d bought. Ace fiddled with his collar. He fiddled with his hat and his nerves.

He swallowed the coffee that surged from his stomach. Wouldn’t do to get vomit-splash on this get-up. “God, PT from an MCL tear is easy, compared to this.”

“You’re a braver man than I, Kimosabe.” Ace thumped his shoulder with a heavy hand. “You know what they say, it’s easy to be brave from a safe distance.”

“Says the man who’ll be standing on the sidelines.”

“I didn’t say I was crazy.”

“Thanks, Partner.”

The blast from the arena speaker lasered through his jitters with a lightning bolt of fear. “Let’s bring down the woman who is responsible for all this. Harp Taylor, you come on out here.”

Stead rolled his shoulders in a vain attempt to loosen the tension, then strode for the back of the chutes as the applause of the huge crowd rolled past him.

“Thanks to the vision of this pretty lady, and your generosity, I’m proud to announce that we’ve raised over $75,000 for the after-school care and many other worthy charities on the Rez!”

The cowboys crowded at the gate parted when Stead walked up. He ignored the whistles and catcalls, focusing on Harper, who made her way to the center of the arena.

She wore a white, off the shoulder blouse, a colorful Mexican skirt, and cowgirl boots. Her hair was up, but as usual, was in revolt, with tendrils escaping to fall down her neck. He could see her blush from here, as she bent to the mic that Wiley held. The clown shot a look toward the in-gate and gave Stead a slight nod.

“I want to thank you all. I’m overwhelmed by the generosity of the rodeo community, and my home town. You’ve done a good thing here, today. I also want to thank the many volunteers. This takes more manpower than I’d have ever guessed, and not one of them took a dime for all their hard work. I’d also like to thank my parent, for the food. Ya’ll know that Taylor-Made is the best around, right?” She waited until the cheers died down. “But none of this would have happened without the tireless planning, begging, and hard work of one special cowboy—Steadman James.”

Wiley took back the mic. “Yeah, Stead. Where is that scruffy dogie? Just because you retired from bull riding doesn’t mean we’re not getting you in the arena. Get your butt out here.”

That was his cue. Still, he stood frozen, hand on the gate. What if it was too soon? What if she said no, in front of two thousand people?

Screw that—what if she flat didn’t want him?

Someone unlatched the gate and pushed it open.

“Get your raggedy ass out there, boy.” Ace nudged him from behind, then whispered, “This time, you’ll get chosen.”

Only one way to find out. He stepped out onto the dirt.

The crowd cheered.

The closer he got, the bigger Harper’s eyes got. Her mouth opened in a small O of surprise. Wiley extended the mic.

“Harper.” The crowd went silent when he dropped one knee to the dirt.

She put her hands over her mouth. They were shaking.

Was that good or bad?

“You’ve taught me a lot in the past months. But more than anything, you’ve taught me about the man I want to be. If you’d do me the honor, I swear to spend the rest of my life trying to live up to that.” He pulled a black velvet ring box from his pocket and opened it. The delicate Black Hills Gold band had raised roses around a not-to-big diamond. He saw it, and thought it looked like her; feminine and unique. “Harper, will you marry me?”

The crowd inhaled.

Harper didn’t move.

He dangled at the end of the drawn-out seconds.

“He’s got a job with me, if you’re worried about havin’ to live in a tent.” Greg Paredes, Leroy’s best friend and owner of El Paso’s biggest plumbing business, yelled from the sidelines.

“It’s okay, Harp. He’s a good guy!” A high strident voice cut through the silence. Stead cut his eyes to the side. His pen pal, Rafe grinned and gave him a thumbs up.

At the sound of a choking sob, he looked back at Harper, his hope, his future and his breakfast in his throat.

“I pick you, Steadman James.”

His heart beat like a manic squirrel, trying to get out of his chest. But omission of the truth was still lying. She had a right to know what she was getting into. “Even if I told you I’m half Comanche?”

Her smile was soft and a bit wobbly. “Especially then. Don’t you know by now? I love a renegade.”

He leapt to his feet, grabbed her and spun in a circle as the crowd went crazy.