Page 154 of Worth the Fall
What can I say? I’m really good at marketing, even if it means marketing myself.
I bought a little cottage a mile down the road from the Nash ranch and spent my time off riding horses with Colton, traveling the country for his rodeos, and being a part of the family.
I was right, though. Agri-Corp was now the nation’s number one agricultural equipment dealer in just one year of me being on their team.
Unfortunately, it meant I was on a plane to Chicago once a month to give a short presentation to the board to prove it was going well.
It was going so well that Agri-Corp didn’t need me anymore.
That was okay. I was in the middle of sorting through dozens of companies that were ready to hire me for their businesses.
I was in no rush for my next assignment.
I tucked my phone in the pocket of my Wranglers, flashing my all-access badge at the guard as I reached the edge of the arena.
The smell hit me–expensive leather, popcorn, rosin, dirt–and, it didn’t make my throat tighten in fear anymore.
It felt like home.
I looked toward the chutes.
Colton was there, buckling his chaps around his belt.
The bruises were long gone, now replaced with a tan earned from long afternoons on the ranch and the lean muscle of a man who had fought through twelve months of grueling physical therapy.
He was wearing the most expensive protective rodeo vest on the market. A custom, carbon-fiber piece that I had personally vetted with three different trauma surgeons. It was sleek, professional, and looked like armor.
He looked up, catching my eye. His face broke into the lopsided Nash smile that still made my heart do backflips. “Cuttin’ it close, darlin’,” he yelled over the crowd.
I jogged toward him, throwing my arms around his neck.
He caught my back and pressed his lips onto mine. “You look unbelievably sexy in that hat.”
I reached up to tap the brim of my white felt cowboy hat. Nothing had made me feel more comfortable in my life. “Thanks,” I said, pressing another dozen kisses on his face.
Colton was wearing my dad’s pearl snap, making me swell with pride. “I’ll see you after the ride?”
I nodded. “After you’re the best bareback rider in the world.”
“Damn straight!”
“You’ve got this,” I said with absolute certainty.
He grinned, nodding with me. “I couldn’t have made it here without you, Ally. Truly.”
I tossed my hair over my shoulder. “What can I say?”
He chuckled but shook his head. “I’m serious! Thank you for stickin’ by me through my recovery, through this season. I’m here today because of your support.”
After I finally let go and started trusting Colton could do this, watching him ride was a lot of fun. He had dominated this season, shattered records, and surprised no one when he qualified for the NFR for the second year in a row.
This year, he would finally get to ride in the finals.
“You can get all sappy and give me the credit after we win! I love you,” I said, not able to wipe the grin off my face. “Now, get on that horse!”
“Love you, cowgirl!” He kissed his glove and waved toward me as I ran back behind the fence.
I caught the eye of the entire Nash family, the boys, their wives, the kids that seemed to be vibrating with energy, and of course, Jo and Dennis.
