Road to Glory (24 page)

Mentally, he counted to himself.
One Mississippi, two Mississippi
, he only had six more seconds to go. Grave Digger leaped and sunfished sideways in an attempt to dislodge him. But Travis stayed put.
Four Mississippi
,
Five Mississippi
. Nearly there.
Don’t stop
. The bull paused, then in a flash whipped around the other direction. Travis’ heart stopped. He could feel the rope begin to pull from his hand.

The shouts of the cowboys began to come clearer. He clamped his thighs tight to the side of the bull.
Seven seconds, eight.
His ears strained to hear the sound of the buzzer as his body began to shift. Then, when he thought he was gone, he heard the deep brassy ring, and, loosening the rope in his hand, he slipped sideways somewhat awkwardly and rolled onto the ground.

Hitting the dirt hard, he felt the air swoosh from his lungs as his knees dug into the ground. Instantly he glanced around to make sure the bull wasn’t barreling in after him. But the riders stayed between him and the beast. He breathed in deep and pushed away from the earth. He’d done it.

****

Glory pulled back, tears stinging her eyes. The younger riders rushed from the rails to slap Travis on the back as the crowd roared their approval.

“Damn fine ride,” Parker piped up. “He definitely deserves another shot. If he can ride that well Saturday, I’ll send him to compete with Peterson.”

A part inside of her shriveled and died. Glancing in the view screen, she could see the radiant grin on his face. How could she stop him? This was his dream. If anyone knew about dreams and the drive to achieve them, it was she. “I’m sure he’ll jump at the chance, Mr. Parker. He’s a damn fine rider and a damn fine man.” Her voice wavered. She caught Parker’s curious stare and turned to the camera equipment. “I, um, I’d best get this over to Mickey.”

“Yes, of course.”

Glory pushed the stop button and began pulling the cords from their safety positions. Her mind churned as Parker walked away. She couldn’t ask Travis to stay; she just couldn’t. Looking up, she could see the men walking their newfound hero back to the chutes. There was no way she could compete against the draw of the rodeo. Jax had taught her that lesson. She turned her head and glanced over at Angel, who flashed a weak smile. It was all the reminder she needed.

With the cords packed and in the container, Glory pulled the strap of the bag over her shoulder. Together she and Angel walked to the end of the chutes. There they paused to watch the men talking to one another—Jax, Travis, and John Parker in the center.

“Hey, Glory.” Mickey came running up. “Did you get that on video?”

She plastered a sham of a smile on her face and pulled the bag that held the video equipment from her shoulder. “Sure did. Here you go.”

Mickey took the equipment from her. “That was something, wasn’t it?”

“Yeah, something.” Somehow she steeled herself not to show how it was tearing her up inside. “Well, um, Angel and I have some things to do back at the ranch. Looks like you got a celebration to take care of.”

“Huh?” Mickey glanced long and hard at her. “Glory, you all right?”

“Right as rain,” she lied. Looking across Mickey’s shoulder, she caught sight of Travis glancing in her direction. If only, she thought. If only they had had just a little more time, maybe then she could have told him she loved him. She needed to smile. Not for Travis, not for anyone other than herself, to prove she was strong enough. It was a test of will and took all her concentration, but she managed to pull the corners of her mouth upwards. “Have a great time, Mickey. Buy Travis one for me. He earned it.”

She felt his hand on her arm.

“Glory?”

Her mouth trembled. She shook off his touch and turned. Walking away was the hardest thing Glory had ever done in her life, but Travis’ career deserved it.

****

Travis watched as she turned away. What was wrong? He had thought Glory, of all people, would be thrilled that his courage had returned. Yet as he watched her move farther into the distance the satisfaction drained away, leaving a void in his soul. Pushing through the riders, he moved to Mickey, who placed the camera bag on the edge of the platform.

“Hey, where’s Glory going?”

Mickey turned and stared at her departing figure. An uncomfortable silence settled over them. The older cowboy lifted his hand and scratched his chin. “Said she had something to do.”

“Something to do?” Travis repeated. His anger rose. He wanted to celebrate, enjoy his win with her. “She should be here! Parker’s done nothing but talk about that damn bull. He’s earned her that contract. Why’d she leave?”

Mickey looked down at the ground. “Reckon she figured her work was done.”

“You’re not making any sense,” Travis growled.

“Probably not, but then, I’m not a woman.”

If Mickey had grown two ears and the tail of a goat, Travis couldn’t have been more surprised. His jaw grew slack. He could do no more than stand and stare.

“Come on, let’s head over to the Hitchin’ Post,” Mickey yelled to the group. “I’d say the evenin’ meal is gonna be a long affair today on the Glory B tab.”

Chapter Eighteen

Glory shut the door to her truck and glanced over at Angel. “Look, I know you don’t want to talk to anyone right now, but Alma won’t tell your dad. She might fuss at the circumstances, but she’ll be there for you.”

Angel nodded. “You’ll come in with me, won’t you?”

“Sure. I told you, we’re family.”

Angel waited while Glory came around the front of the truck, and together they walked toward the house. On the porch, they could hear Alma humming. Glory peeked through the curtains and watched her swirl a knife laden with icing across the top of a two-tier cake. Opening the door, she stepped back and allowed Angel to enter first.

“Well, how did it go?” The smile on Alma’s face drifted away as her eyes searched the two forlorn faces. Putting down the knife, she wiped her hands on her apron. “Glory?” Her soft voice broke the silence.

“I’m getting some ginger ale. Split some with me?” she asked Angel.

“Sure.”

Head down, Angel moved toward the table and poured herself into the seat. Glory moved to the cabinets and pulled out two glasses. Behind her a second chair scooted across the floor.

“Angel, honey, you okay?”

Glory twisted the cap on the soda and heard the girl take a tearful breath. Between tears and questions, Angel confessed her problem to Alma.

“Don’t make no sense, a man disappointed ’cause of what he did. You sure didn’t get this way by yourself.” Alma harrumphed.

Glory carried both drinks to the table and placed one in front of Angel. Alma looked up.

“You know?”

“I found out today. I told her we’d support her. We’re family,” Glory answered.

“We sure are.” Alma nodded. “It’s just going to take him a wee bit to warm up to this fact.”

Leaving the two women to talk, Glory moved to the stairway. Once inside her room, she closed the door, placed her glass on the nightstand, and crawled into her bed. She turned on her side and reached for the pillow, pulling it tight against her body as she breathed deeply. The pillowcase still smelled like Travis’ aftershave.

Curling around it, as if to hold him close once again, Glory closed her eyes and tried to recall the pleasure her body had experienced just a few hours ago. How he’d held her so tight, his hands locked around her middle as if she’d been the most precious thing in the world. A single tear rolled down her cheek. That would be all she’d have, now.

Her mind numb, she just lay there. Her body, thank God, remembered to breath. What little bit of her heart was left still beat, but at a painful price. Glory didn’t know how long she’d lain in the quiet, staring at the walls, but a knock on the door brought her back to the present.

“Glory, you been up here all this time?” Alma chirped.

“I didn’t want to interrupt. Angel had a lot on her mind. She needed you,” she replied, sitting up as Alma switched on the light.

“That she did.” Alma sat down on the edge of the bed. “It’s going to be a hard row to hoe, as my momma would have said, but she’s strong. She’ll make it with or without that boy.” Her housekeeper shook her head. “I thought he might have grown up.”

“He’s chasing a dream, Alma.” Her voice grew wistful. “Sometimes a woman can’t stand in the way of progress.”

“Progress? I never heard of a child not being considered as progress. Not like a bull-riding ambition, for that matter. Humph,” she said. For a moment, they sat taking in the silence. “Well, best come down and help me red up the kitchen. Mickey called and said they were on their way home. They ate at the Hitching Post, he said, but if I had a cake he’s ready for a celebration. Says he’s got something for you to sign.” Alma rose and winked. “I bet it’s that paper from that rodeo man.” Her smile broadened. “You’re going to get your wish.”

“Yeah, my wish,” Glory repeated as she rose from the bed.

Alma’s hand found her chin, and she gave her a quizzical look. “Glory, is there something you’re not telling me?”

She wanted to shout, “A lot!” but didn’t. If she said Travis was leaving, it would make it a reality. “No, just tired. It was awfully hot out there today.”

“Yes,” Alma agreed and pulled her hand away. All the same, Glory was sure she didn’t believe her.

She’d just put the last plate on the table when they came waltzing in, Mickey grinning like a fool, followed by Travis and John Parker himself, all crowding into the kitchen.

“You done it, girl,” Mickey cried, waving the contract wildly in the air. “We got ourselves a contract.”

Glory looked to John Parker. “Is it true?”

He nodded. “I reviewed the tape. That’s one fine bull, Miss Beebe. We’d be honored to have him in the rotation. Your records are some of the best I’ve ever seen. Good clean animals. I’m impressed. I must admit, I thought old Travis here was joking.”

She looked from Parker’s face to Travis. His expression proved guarded. With his head down, she couldn’t tell what he was truly thinking. “What did ‘old Travis’ tell you?”

Parker glanced over to the cowboy. “That your livestock is clean, healthy, and some of the best bred in the state.”

Despite her heartache, she did give a small smile. “He’s right.”

Her answer produced a good laugh from the stock contractor. “Well, perhaps if you’ve got a few minutes, we could go over this?”

“Of course. How about we go into the living room. Alma, you won’t mind, will you?”

“Nope, not at all.”

Glory led the way into the living room at the front of the house. She and John Parker sat on the sofa, Mickey standing behind them as they went over the contract point by point. She was aware of the bull rider leaning against the archway, yet he said nothing. “Now, if you’ll just sign here.” Parker pulled a pen from his shirt pocket and pointed to the dotted line.

She took the pen he offered and looked at Mickey. He gave her a quick nod, and Glory signed. She’d done it. She’d fulfilled her father’s dream, yet in the process she’d lost her own.

“Wonderful.” Parker nodded and folded up the contract. “We’ll take possession of the bull right after Saturday’s events. Thank you, Mr. Davis, Miss Beebe.” He shook their hands as they rose to their feet. “I hope you’ll give us first choice of next year’s bulls.”

“Of course, Mr. Parker. You’re always welcome,” Glory heard herself murmur.

“Now, you’re about to taste the best cake a man ever put in his mouth,” Mickey declared, with a thump of his hand on Parker’s back.

Glory watched them walk through the archway and into the kitchen.

“Congratulations.” Travis spoke from where he still stood in the doorway. “You’ve got just what you wanted.”

“So did you.” She nodded. “You had a great ride today. I think the whole town will be talking about it.”

Travis pushed away from the wall and stared at his hands. “I wish I could have celebrated with you.”

Glory felt her mouth go dry. “The corral was a bit crowded.”

He looked at her. Glory felt her heartbeat quicken. Stand strong. Don’t let him see you cry. “I guess you heard I’m going back to the rodeo.”

“Yes. I-I hope you will have a great season.” She started to walk past, but he grabbed her arm.

“Why are you doing this, Glory? Why are you pushing me away? What we have is good.”

Glory looked at Travis. “What we had was extraordinary, but mine is a dream realized. Yours is a dream yet to be.”

“Glory,” he begged, and she silenced him with a finger.

“No, you have to go back and see. If you didn’t, you’d make the same mistake your father did by giving up something you love before you are ready.” She took a steadying breath. “What we had, I’ll cherish forever.”

“Would it help if I said…”

“Don’t.” This time anger replaced heartache. “Don’t say it when you aren’t sure. This is my home, Travis. I told you before, I’m tied to this ranch. If you were to cut my veins, I’d bleed Colorado topsoil. You need to go and follow your dream.” She pulled her arm away from him and walked toward the kitchen.

One foot in front of the other, now breathe. It was so much easier to tell herself what to do than think about how she had just walked away from the only man she would ever love. With each step she took, her heart twisted and died.

“Glory, would you bring some more napkins?”

She paused and stepped to the counter. Behind her, the scuff of Travis’ boots filled her ears.

“Alma, can I take a rain check? I’ve got to make a phone call home.”

“Everything all right?”

Glory held tight to the counter.

“Yes, I just need to talk to my dad. If you’ll excuse me?”

“I’ll keep some back for you,” Alma said.

“Sure.”

Glory listened as his footsteps retreated out the door, taking her heart with him.

****

It was the longest walk he’d ever made, from the main house to the mansion. Half of it, Travis didn’t remember. With each step his anger mounted. Why,
why
was she intent on pushing him away? Damn it, he loved her. Couldn’t she see it? Opening the front door, he stomped inside and, without turning on a light, swiped a can of soda from the fridge.