Page 102 of Risking it for the Cowboy

Charlie’s brow furrowed. “What happened?”

“He didn’t tell you?”

Charlie shook her head as Faith wrestled with what to say.

“His band was hoping to make it big. And then, he got a huge chance. Got an appointment with Country Roads Records in Nashville. He hustled hard to save the money for that trip. Bought a suit and everything. And then he got screwed outta several grand after doing a huge gig in Austin by some band he’d partnered with. All that money he’d intended to roll into recording demos to take with him to his big meeting.” Faith was talking about Jason, and God, she hated Jason for what he’d done to others, how Jason used people for his own gain and burned bridges every chance he’d gotten. “He took that guy to court, but he’d needed that money then, not when the courts finally decided to deliberate his case. Country Roads slushed his file.

“He’d been living on the streets since sixteen. Dropped outta high school because he knew the admin would bust his balls about his residency and probably put him in foster care if they knew. I went toe to toe with our daddy about kicking him out. Patience flipped them off and moved out, never looked back and told ’em she was cutting ties until they brought him back home. He worked odd jobs for people, transient labor, anything to put some food in his stomach, and … he deserved that break.”

And yet, despite how he’d been screwed, he still took the stage with that megawatt smile, not letting the bad guys win, and her heart ached for the boy he’d once been.

“He was too ashamed to tell us for over a year and he spiraled alone. And then Charity up in New York and the fallout from that…” What had happened to Charity? “Something changed about him after that. He stopped giving a shit … until you.” Charlie’s eyes met Faith’s. “He talks about you with that same excitement he used to talk about his band in the early days, like you and that little girl have given him some sort of purpose again.”

Faith swallowed, watching T.R. through the window, neither of them getting out of the Rover as Thad led Daisy to the Silverado and pulled a rope from the truck bed. He proceeded to take Daisy between his arms from behind, showing her how to tie a lariat, repeating the over-under pattern of the knot and helping Daisy’s fingers figure it out. Like such a dad.

“Grades in school don’t always mean shit. Our parents could never see past that. But my sisses and I are the luckiest girls in the world with him as our brother. Not a lot of good has happened to him, Charlie. And yet, he’s always there for the people he loves.” Loves… “He told me about your ex,” Faith said, her face turning to stone, even if she smiled curiously. “It’s keeping him up at nights, worrying about you and Daisy.” Faith swallowed hard, as if swallowing shards of glass, and placed a hand on Charlie’s arm.

God, should she tell Thad about the letter from the attorney today? He’d blow a gasket, when all Charlie had ever wanted was to shield him from getting dragged into this drama.

“I get that you’re scared,” Faith said solemnly. “But don’t make him pay for another guy’s shortcoming. Don’t hurt him. Be there for him, too, okay.”

Charlie thought on that. Be there for him. His band needed a banjoist. And he’d asked her. She … could overcome this fear of being seen, put herself out there for the public to pick apart, for his sake. She could find a way to cope with the way the flirting and the chest flashing and the social media comments about him hurt. With Hunter quitting and without her, he didn’t have the dream anymore.

Thad walked Daisy around the dually.

A smile sprang to Faith’s face. “Come on, Charlie. You don’t wanna miss this secret delivery. For which this is part of the payment.” She held up the demo.

Charlie pushed out her door and walked side by side with Faith, just as Thad, still holding Daisy’s hand, opened up the horse trailer.

Charlie held her breath, Faith’s confession about him hitting hard, when she realized, what they were doing. He’d wanted this delivery to be a surprise. Charlie’s heart pounded. The only things delivered in horse trailers were…

“Ohmigosh!” Daisy squealed, staring at the horse inside, jumping up and down, yanking his arm. “You mean I get to pet ’im?”

“Naw, baby girl,” Thad said, chuckling at her bouncing on his arm. “You get to have him. He’s yours. I’m gonna teach you how to ride him.”

His eyes darted to Charlie’s, darted quickly away again. Baby girl. A dad’s endearment. How easily it rolled off his tongue, like it fit, and her eyes…

“Shh.” Thad chuckled under his breath and winked down at Daisy, as the horse shuffled and grunted. “You don’t wanna spook him. He’s an old unicorn.”

Charlie steepled her hands at her mouth. She blinked and yet, the misting wouldn’t abate.

He couldn’t be this wonderful.

Charlie gripped Faith’s arm, whispering, “He did not get her a horse…”

“He so got her a horse,” Faith whispered.

Thad glanced down at Daisy as he climbed up the trailer, clearly pleased with himself, when Daisy suddenly buried her face in her hands. His face dropped in horror and he jumped down, as Charlie hurried forth.

He squatted down, cupping Daisy’s cheek. “Hey, girlie. What’s wrong? I thought buying Unicorn off my sis would make you happy.”

He pried her hands down and swiped a thumb under her eye, concern twisting his brow, when Daisy sank forward into him and sobbed silently. T.R. embraced her, but glanced up at Charlie, alarmed, mouthing, What’d I do?

Charlie only shook her head at this beautiful man, who would treat a girl like gold and never raise a hand in anger, and hugged her arms around herself, her heart already tied up in knots twisting harder, tugging harder, as those roots he was sowing twisted against her armor, trying to penetrate.

“She’s the happiest girl in the world,” she whispered, reaching down to take one of his hands in hers, squeezing it.

His brow relaxed.