The Long Ride Home (Cowboys & Cowgirls) (3 page)

Chapter 4

“
E
lena, I’m so sorry about your father,” Joe Thomas said, coming up to them at the start of the funeral.

“Thank you.”

“Elena, I went to school with your father,” a man that Elena didn’t know came up to her and shook her hand. “He was a very good man.”

Elena smiled and nodded. “Thank you, he was.”

There were many condolences throughout the service, and many of them, like at her mother’s funeral, were from people that she had never met before. She hadn’t realized before how many people her father touched during his life. He was a good man, one that she was proud to call father.

After Pastor Mike gave the final prayer, she placed a white rose on his casket and they lowered it to the ground. She cried
and Holton held her and soothed her until the last person left the cemetery.

“I can’t stop thinking about what my father would want. I can’t stop thinking about my mother and when she died. My father, he wanted me to concentrate on going to school. She died my freshman year, just when I started, and now I’m in my final year and this happens to my father. I know what he would want.  I have to go back to school, Holton. I have next week. As soon as I’m finished on Friday, I’ll come back and figure out what I’m going to do with the house.”

“What are you talking about?”

“What do you think? I promised my parents I would finish college. I need to finish, I just don’t know what I am going to do for money. It’s either the house or…I don’t know. I only have one more year left.”

“You can’t…you aren’t selling the ranch.”

Elena looked up and shook her head. “No, I don’t want to. It has been in my dad’s family for years…you heard him. But I can’t let it go, either. I know next to nothing about ranching, Holton. I’m going to school for Nursing. I am not qualified to take care of it on my own.”

“Sell it to me,” he said, as he took her hand. Elena glanced up and saw the gleam in his eyes.

“What? No, I’m not—I don’t want—”

“Why not? You don’t want it, and your dad knew me… he wouldn’t
disapprove, Elena.”

“Yeah? You don’t think he would? You don’t think he would care that I sold what his family worked hard to build for hundreds of years? No, no big deal. And then what? Lose everything?” Elena looked devastated.

“You can have the house, Elena. I don’t need it. I have mine; you can live there and sell me the land. That way you will have the money that you need for college.”

“I can’t believe you just suggested that I do that! You told him we were married, you told him that you would take care of me!” she said, crying.

Holton’s eyes widened and he walked over to console her, but she turned away.

“I need you to leave now, Holton.”

“Elena!”

“Go,” she said, and then she walked to her bedroom and then shut the door.

A few minutes later, she heard Holton shut the door and start up his car. Her shoulders slumped, she couldn’t imagine Holton on her land, raising his kids with another woman. She didn’t think she could stand the thought of not being with him, but him with someone else and a family, was even harder.

***

The next day was mostly uneventful for Holton as he went through the business of doing his usual chores on the ranch, feeding the livestock, checking the fence lines and figuring out numbers and weight ratios for the upcoming auction. As he sat in the east field of his property that overlooked Elena’s, he thought of what she said last night and his promise to her father. He supposed it was inevitable, him tying himself to her in marriage. They had been in each other’s lives for years now; why not make it something more permanent. She could finish school, get the degree she had planned on getting and he could gain more land. Like her father said—a merger—something that made sense.

And maybe finally he could get over his hang-ups—the main one being him too old and not good enough for her.

Feeling happy, Holton made his way down the property line on Reiser, his horse, and took a shorter path to Elena’s, not seeing the car that was parked in the driveway.

Holton knocked twice and waited for her to come to the doorway. Excitement ran through his veins at the thought of marrying Elena and being able to expand his operation. He had never planned on getting married, but it would be something that Elena would need in order to get what she wanted.

Holton knocked on the door once more and waited, but nothing happened. All he could think of was how upset she was yesterday. What if she did something stupid—being so worried about her situation? With adrenaline in his veins, he opened the door and ran toward her bedroom and flung the door open and was shocked at what faced him.

“Holton!” Elena exclaimed.

Holton’s eyes rounded and then focused on the man that had his future wife wrapped up in his arms. He didn’t think; he walked right up to him and yanked him out of the bed by the collar. “Who the hell are you? And what the hell do you think you’re doing?” he roared. Elena flinched and the man that was just holding her went to move his arms, but was firmly planted against the wall now. “Answer me!”

“I’m… I’m Brian Hadley!”

“Brian! I am so sorry,” Elena said, looking from Brian to Holton. “Holton, leave him alone!  Are you nuts?!”

Holton’s eyes looked like they were on fire. When he looked at Elena she visibly flinched. “I leave you for two seconds and you are all over this guy!”

“Two seconds! Are you kidding me? I told you to just go last night and now you are over here pulling Brian away from me!”

Brian smiled at Elena and then looked at the man that had him
by the collar. “I’m Brian, Susan’s…”

“I know who you are, B
rian,” Holton said irritably. “What Elena has failed to realize is how horrible of a boyfriend you are! Her father dies and you are just now deigning her with your presence! Where were you? I’ll tell you where you weren’t! You weren’t by her side when she was crying! You weren’t at the funeral! And now, all of a sudden, when she just had a will reading you are here by her side!” Holton yelled the last of it and then looked at Elena with disgust. “I assume you are just distraught, because I never took you to be a stupid woman, Elena...”

“That’s funny, up until last week you took me to be a little girl!” she yelled. Brian seemed to think the whole repartee was hilarious because he started to laugh. Holton looked at him curiously as Elena shot darts at him with her eyes.

“What’s your problem?” Holton asked Brian.

“Wow. Elena told me about the infamous Holton Dade, but I had no idea. As I was
saying before, I’m Susan’s brother. And, in case you couldn’t figure it out, I’m not Elena’s boyfriend. I already have a boyfriend, and his name is Edgar.”

Holton immediately let him go and stood back and then looked at Elena whom was looking the other way. Her face was red and she was shaking.
“I’m sorry, Brian. I thought you were…”

“It doesn’t matter what you thought!” Elena yelled. “You can’t just come into my house, let alone my bedroom and manhandle anyone you want! Like I told you yesterday, go!”

Holton looked down, embarrassed. “I need to talk to you, Elena.”

“
Well, I don’t want to talk to you!”

“
Well, I’m not leaving here until you talk to me.”

“
Well that’s too damned bad, because Brian and I were just getting ready to leave to go back to school. I have my exams tomorrow, remember?”

“I remember,” Holton said quietly. Brian stepped to the side and then walked around the two fighting.

“I’m going to go look around, Elena. It was nice meeting you, Holton.” Brian laughed and then walked out the door, leaving the two of them to themselves.

Holton shook his head. “What the hell, Elena? You told me that Brian…”

“I know what I told you, Jackass, okay? You don’t have to throw my
nonexistent love life in my face. I get it. No, I don’t have a boyfriend, and yes, I’m a virgin. Go ahead; continue making fun of me, everyone else does. Make fun of my hair, too. It’s wild and untamable, and I look like a crazy person.”

“
You are acting like a crazy person right now,” Holton mused, trying not to smile. He didn’t want to admit that knowing she didn’t have a boyfriend made him feel loads better. “Why did you lie to me?”

“Why do you think? You act like you are so damned better than me, Holt! And then all that business with Beth Ann. She and I went to school together, you idiot! It’s one thing to not be interested in me, but a whole other thing to just make up stupid excuses like our age difference!”

Holton turned red at the insinuation. “I’m sorry…”

“Yeah, okay. What did you want? I really don’t want to talk to you right now.”

Holton looked down at his scuffed up cowboy boots and then to his old Levis and flannel shirt. He couldn’t help but remember what she said about his ‘style’ a few weeks ago. He cringed, knowing that he probably should have taken more time to look better. She was right, Brian did have a style, and Holton looked nothing like him.

“What are you making that face for?”

“My clothes,” Holton replied, looking at her. “You’re right, I don’t dress that great.”

Elena frowned, not knowing what he was talking about. “What’s wrong with your clothes?”

“You mentioned that I dressed poorly.”

Elena smiled, remembering
the                                                 conversation. “That was just to put you in your place, Holton. You dress just fine.”

“You don’t think I look stupid?” he asked, feeling a little bit better about himself.

“Well, I didn’t say that,” she joked, and then shook her head no.

“
Because I don’t want to screw this up,” Holton said and he bent down on one knee. Elena looked at him for a moment and then realized what he was doing. Tears freed from her eyes and she gasped.

“
What?”

“Elena Rose, I’ve known you nearly my entire life…”

“Oh my God!” Brian exclaimed from behind Holton. He came around the corner and smiled at Elena and then looked at an embarrassed Holton.

“You don’t have to…”

“I made a promise, Elena, and I intend to honor that promise. I am going to take care of you, if you’ll let me. Will you marry me?”

Elena didn’t know what to say as she stood there, knowing that he was only doing this because of a deathbed promise to her father. But for some reason, even knowing that still didn’t take away from the lovely thought of marrying Holton Dade. She looked down into his eyes and smiled, trying to show him all the love she had for him. “Yes,” she said nodding, “Yes, I’ll marry you.”

Holton swallowed deeply. He knew Elena was infatuated with him, but at that moment, there was something else in that look, in her response, and his heart felt as if it was going to explode.

Chapter
5

I
t had been over a week since she had said yes to him, and he was anxious for her to return. Since then, he brought his mother’s ring to a local jeweler and worked around a setting that he knew she would love. After that, there were a few things around the ranch that needed changed that he had to work on. For one, his closet. Just the thought of being alone with Elena in the bedroom made the blood in his veins run hot.

Several times over the
week, he had wondered if proposing marriage to Elena was the right thing to do. He had to admit the thought excited him more than it ever made him worry, but he had known Elena for so long, so there was a comfortable feeling there. At noon, while he was in the east field overlooking her property, he saw dust fly up her gravel drive and knew that she had finally returned. Not wanting to waste any time, he mounted his horse and made his way toward her house.

“
What are you doing here?” she asked, miffed for some reason. Holton flinched at the tone of her voice.

“What’s happened? What’s wrong?”

“Oh, I don’t know. I leave for a week, and my so-called fiancé doesn’t bother calling me once. It’s not only embarrassing, but a sign for what’s to become a rather boring marriage!” she yelled, looking more like she was going to cry.

Holton closed his eyes and took a deep breath, not wanting to upset her more. “I’m sorry, Elena. Things have been busy here, and I just…well, I didn’t know you wanted me to call. I didn’t think.”

“Yeah, you didn’t think. That’s just it, Holton; you should want to call me.”

“Well, did you want to call me?” he asked, hopeful.

Irritated by this new line of questioning, she huffed and made her way toward the door. She had two suitcases in her hands and one overnight bag slung over her right shoulder. Holton dismounted his horse and came up quickly behind her to unload the burden.

“Just get out of here, Holton. The engagement’s off.”

“Hey, now wait a minute!” Holton said, turning her to face him. “Listen, I’m sorry, okay? I didn’t think about calling. I don’t…I haven’t… I’ve never been engaged before.”

“It’s common sense, Holton. I don’t want to be second or third or fourth to my fiancé.”

Holton swallowed knowing that he really was deep in it now. “Honey, I’m sorry. Let me make it up to you.”

Elena’s heart hammered in her chest at the endearment. She had only heard Holton call her that a few times and that was when her dad was in the hospital. It made her feel special. She looked into his eyes. “Okay.”

“That’s better,” Holton said, as he put his arm around her, dropping her overnight bag to the ground. “Come here,” he said. She went into his arms and he hugged her tightly. Blood pumped through his veins fast and he felt warm and good and lucky to have her there. He closed his eyes and let her surround him. She smelled like lilacs and she felt so soft in his arms. He sighed. Elena was home.

“
I did miss you,” she said quietly.

Holton could feel his heart racing. “I missed you, too. I’m sorry I didn’t call. I thought about you, though. Does that count?”

Elena laughed. The sound was beautiful to his ears. “I suppose I can let you off the hook this time.”

“I have something for you.”

“Really?” she asked giddily. “Where? What is it?”

He pulled back and smiled, taking note at the light in her eyes. “It’s at my house. Let’s go on over there and get it.”

“Okay, I’ll be over soon. Let me put this stuff away,” she said and then left the comfort of his arms and took her things into the house, leaving him on the porch devastated.

He was starting to have real feelings for Elena Winters
…again.

***

Thirty minutes later, Elena was knocking on Holton’s front door. It was weird, being engaged to someone and still having to knock. Elena laughed and smiled, feeling somewhat carefree since returning home. Holton had said he missed her and thought of her. She smiled and waited for the front door to open.

“Hey, come on in,” Holton said as he opened the door. “Sorry, I decided to get a shower while I waited.” Holton had a pair of jeans on, but nothing else.

“That’s okay,” Elena said smiling.

“You’re staring,” Holton said quietly as Elena went past him.

“Well, don’t answer the door that way,” she said jokingly.

Holton nodded and then led her into the living room. Everything was tidy.

“I see you haven’t changed things,” Elena said as she walked into the room. The living room was exactly the same since the last time she had been there—when his parents were alive.

“Yeah, I’m not much into decorating. Mom had a knack for it, I suppose.”

“Yeah, she did,” Elena said smiling. “I figured I would see lots of leather and a giant television in here.”

Holton laughed and shook his head. “No, nothing like that. I don’t have time for television most days. You know me and movies…but I haven’t been to one of those in a while either.”

“Yeah. So…”

“So,” Holton said nervously. “Well, I didn’t know what you would want, but I thought you should have something…if it’s not what you like, then we can go pick out something different.”

“What are you talking about?” Elena queried, almost laughing at the way he was behaving. “You act as though we’ve never met.”

“I’m just, well…here,” he said, holding out a black velvet box. Elena’s eyes widened and she looked into Holton’s eyes.

“Is this…”

Holton nodded, then opened the box. Inside, was a lovely diamond engagement ring, a solitaire in the middle with tiny diamonds encircling the band. It was perfect. It almost looked like a stone that she had wanted when she was a teenager.

“Oh, Holton!” Elena exclaimed. It’s…It’s…”

“You still want to marry me?” he asked, looking worried.

“Are y
ou kidding?” Elena chimed in, “My entire life.”

Holton took a deep breath and was dumbfounded by her excitement. “Really?”

“Oh, Holton, it’s so perfect. I love it, and I love you.” Her arms came around him quickly and she pulled him into her embrace. He could feel her heart pulse wildly against his chest and his arms came around her just as fast. Suddenly, she pulled back and then looked up into his eyes and, all of a sudden, the look of excitement changed into something else. She moved her hand up to the side of his face and pulled him down toward her lips.

He could feel the wetness of her tongue first as she moved to open his mouth to accept hers. And then he felt as if he was on fire.

“You taste so good, Holton,” Elena said seductively. “I’ve wanted to do that for a very long time.

Holton moaned and brought her lips back to his own. His hands were busy
, moving up and down her back, in her long, red hair, and lifting her sweater slowly up her skin. This kiss was much different than the one and only other time he kissed her.

“Mmm,” she moaned as she moved them slowly to his couch. He moved with her as if they were only one p
erson. Soon he was on top, and she was lying back on his cushions. She moved her hands down his chest and to the waistband of his jeans.

“No, no…”Holton said, sitting up. “Sorry, no.” He took a deep breath and ran a hand through his hair and sat on the edge of the couch while she sat up.

“What’s wrong?”

“Nothing…I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have…”

Elena laughed. “Holton, it’s okay. I totally attacked you, and why not? We’re getting married.”

Holton looked over at her. Her hair was rumpled and her clothes were wrinkled. He couldn’t believe he was just making out with Elena. “You’re not ready.”

Elena looked at him with an amused face. “Are you kidding me? I’m ready, Holton, really ready.”

“Okay, well… then I’m not ready.”

Elena laughed. “Are you serious?”

Holton nodded. Elena looked down and could see that he was more than ready.

“Really? Because it…”

“Trust me, it…let’s just…I’m sorry, Elena. We barely…let’s talk.”

“Okay,” she said, amused at the whole situation. She held out her hand and smiled. “Put that ring on my finger.”

Holton smiled nervously. “Are you sure you like it?”

“I think we both know I like it, Holton! Why are you so nervous?”

“Holton!” a voice called from the front of the house. “Baby, I’m here! Now, let’s get you naked!”

Elena looked over at Holton and was instantly pissed. “Are you kidding me?” she mouthed and then moved her hand to his. He looked up and his face was almost comical, if it were a different situation. Just then, Beth Ann walked in.

“Baby, I…
what’s this?” Beth Ann said as she saw Holton and Elena on the couch, hands entwined and Holton missing a shirt. Elena smiled and Beth Ann narrowed her eyes.

“Uh…well, I…this…you remember Elena.”

“Elena, yes, I heard about your father. My condolences.”

“Thank you.”

“So… what’s going on here, honey? Are we going to the movies tonight or what?”

Holton looked at Beth
Ann and then at Elena. “Elena, could you…”

“No,” Elena said, smiling. “I’ll wait right here…with you.”

Beth Ann looked at Elena and sneered. “Holton?”

“Beth Ann, I’m afraid Holton can’t make it to the movies tonight.”

“And why is that?” Beth Ann said, visibly irritated. Holton just sat there, unmoving.

“Because I don’t like to share.”

Beth Ann’s head moved quickly to the left, glaring at Holton. “What is she talking about?”

“Well…”

“How about I show you,” Elena said as she held her left hand out. Beth Ann’s eyes widened.

“Is that?”

“Yes it is. We just got engaged…well, technically we were engaged last week, but I just got the ring a little bit ago…” she looked at Holton and hinted at the interruption. Beth Ann’s face reddened.

“This has to be a joke!” Beth Ann seethed. “In fact, I know it’s a joke because Holton told me that he loved me.”

Elena gasped and stood, feeling foolish all the more she was there. “Well, I think I’ll let you two figure this out.” She was afraid if she tried to say anything else she wouldn’t be able to stop the tears from leaking out. He was only marrying her because of her father. What if she ruined something for someone else—ruined a marriage that was meant to be because she was selfish. “I’m getting tired anyway. It was a long drive back tonight. I didn’t want to be away for a minute longer, I’m sure you can understand,” Elena said, and then she walked out.

***

An hour later, Holton stood on the other side of Elena’s door feeling like a total ass. He spent the better half of thirty minutes trying to figure out what to say to her. He didn’t expect the impromptu visit of Beth Ann, nor did he expect to feel the power behind Elena’s kiss—it nearly knocked him for six. He couldn’t help but think if he didn’t stop what Beth Ann would have walked in on.

Just before he knocked on the door it opened and revealed a tea
r-streaked Elena.

“Baby, I’m sorry,” Holton apologized. Elena looked at him and then walked into his open arms.

“Is it true?” she asked, mumbling into his chest.

“Is what true?”

“Do you love her?”

Holton took a deep breath and shook his head no. “I never told her that, Elena. She was just fighting back—she was embarrassed. I should have talked to
her before I proposed to you; instead I just let the relationship go, thinking it was over in the first place. It really wasn’t much with her. She expected us to get married, but I never wanted to marry her.” He left out that he never wanted to get married to anyone.

He could feel Elena’s breath extinguish and her
body tremble. “Good. I know you don’t want to marry me, Holton. But, I think once we get married I can make you very happy.”

Holton could barely breathe. “
What do you mean?”

“You were just doing your part—like you promised…I know you, Holton. You are still scared. You never wanted to get married to anyone, you told me that once before.”

“Then why would you marry me?” She knew…

“I’m selfish. I’ve wanted to marry you since I was eight years old. There has been nobody but you, Holton. Nobody since and nobody before, and there will never be anyone ever again that I want. You are it. I’m selfish, Holton; I could never be like you, doing something for someone else—for a promise. I’m doing this for me, so I can have you.”

Holton could feel his heart hammer in his chest as he pulled back to look at Elena. Words weren’t needed. He moved his hands down to cup her bottom and bring her legs up and around his hips and then he pushed her back up against the wall and proceeded to show her how much he wanted her. It was like sliding into Oblivion.