Page 46 of Worth the Fall
Colton itched the back of his neck, reddening at being the subject of our conversation. “Ah, yeah, my Gramps calls it the ‘Nash Tap.’ He was theAll-Around Cowboya few years in a row, a big deal in the rodeo world. He started it. Said if you’re lucky enough to stay on top of thousand pounds of bad attitude for eight seconds, you owe it to the folks in the stands to let ‘em know you’re still breathin’.”
I smiled at the legacy being carried on for generations. They had no idea the subtle impacts he was making in the rodeo world. “People go crazy for it.”
He shrugged. “It’s not really about howtheyfeel,” he said as he pulled off the exit, turning onto a two-lane road cutting through endless pastures. “It’s a salute. You salute with two fingers, one for the horse, thanking them for the ride, one for the man upstairs, thanking Him for the breath we breathe and the passion. Then you throw it to the people who make it all worth it.”
Genuine
That’s what Mr. Sterling….Craig had challenged me to find, and I had found a gold mine. Colton Nash didn’t care about what the crowds thought; he was a part of the rodeo because he truly loved it.
The town of Guthrie, Oklahoma looked like it came straight out of a Hallmark Christmas movie. Main Street was surrounded by 20th-century commercial architecture, simple and stunning.
“I like that. I would love to meet your grandfather. Does helive around your family?”
Colton shook his head. “Uh, no, he passed away about eight months ago.” The way he said it made it clear he was still hurting from the loss.
His hand was resting on the middle console, begging me to grab. “Oh, Colton, I’m sorry.”
His eyes drifted toward me. “Me too. He was in a lot of pain, so I’m glad he’s at peace now.” He straightened his back, shaking off the sore subject. “So, is your mom still in Texas?”
“Yeah, same house I graduated high school in,” I said dryly.
“What part of Texas?”
I was worried he was going to ask that. “Amarillo.”
He seemed excited about my answer. “Ah, Amarillo By Morning, you probably know every word, right?”
I laughed. “Played over the town speakersevery day!”
“Really?”
“Not quite, but we got a lot of tourists thanks to Mr. Strait.”
He laughed. “Mr. Strait plays over our speakers almost daily. You’ll fit in just fine with us.” He gave me an excitedlook. “Hey, we’ve got a rodeo in Amarillo coming up soon, right? Are you going to stay with your mom?”
“Uh…”
The truck turned off the asphalt, the tires crunching onto a long, manicured gravel drive that seemed to stretch toward the horizon. On either side, white pipe fencing carved the emerald pastures into perfect sections, where horses grazed with a stillness that felt like a painting.
Then I saw the house.
It was a sprawling Victorian farmhouse that commanded the landscape, but it wasn’t the weathered, peeling relic I had pictured. It was breathtakingly white, accented by a deep charcoal roof and a wraparound porch that would be perfect to watch the Oklahoma sunsets on. Huge, black-paned windows caught the afternoon sun, giving the vintage structure a sharp, modern edge. It looked like something out of a high-end architectural magazine that had been dropped into the heart of the prairie.
Massive oak trees, likely a century old, draped their heavy limbs over the lawn, providing pockets of deep shade against the heat.
“Oh my goodness,” I muttered. “This is…this is so beautiful.” I was truly at a loss for words.
Colton parked the truck in the driveway, eyeing the property with me. “It really is.” He shut the engine off and smiled at me, sliding his hat back on his messy hair. “You ready for the madness?”
I chuckled. “I’m ready.”
“You’re definitely not.” He hopped out of the truck and jogged to my side, pulling the door handle hard to let me out. “The door’s a little sticky,” he apologized.His hand was hovering in front of me, waiting for me to grab it.
I stared at it a little too long, noticing his slight quiver, and hesitatingly put my palm in his. It was like an electric shock. My eyes jumped to his.
He stared back at me. His soft eyes were swimming in mine, and his lips upturned in a small smile. “Ally, if we get a chance, I’d love to-”
“My stars almighty, Colt, could you have taken longer?” Alan was calling from the porch. “We’restarvin’!”
