Tied Up, Tied Down (Rough Riders #4)(79)

“He’s a good man. A great man. He’s the very best man in the whole world.”


“Glad someone finally recognizes that. Make him happy, Skylar.”


“I intend to.”


Chapter Twenty-seven


Kade didn’t pay attention when his brother’s pickup parked next to his along the fence. He looped another pass in the field, trying to stay awake. On his third round, he saw Skylar standing beside Kane’s truck. He snapped upright, half-afraid he’d fallen asleep and was dreaming of her.

Then the apparition waved.

Holy shit. That was Skylar.

In the south hayfield.

Why?

Sweet Jesus. Something bad must’ve happened.

His heart slammed into his throat as his brain raced through all the awful scenarios.

Kade managed to park the tractor next to the nearest the fence. After shutting it off, he hopped to the ground and sprinted across the stubbly field.

Skylar met him halfway.

He clamped his gloved hands over her shoulders. “What’s wrong? Are you okay?”


“Yes, I just—”


“Is Eliza all right?”


“She’s fine. She’s with your mom.”


“So the rest of my family is okay too?”


“Yes.”


“Then what…” He took a deep breath. Everything was fine. Thank God.

“Sweetheart, why are you here?”


She bit her lip and glanced away. A nervous gesture? From the always confident Skylar?

“What’s goin’ on?”


“Eliza rolled over today.”


He blinked with confusion and then he grinned. “She did?”


“Yeah, and little miss was mighty pleased with herself. You weren’t there to see it.

All I could think about was how you deserved to be there for every milestone in her life—big or small. And how badly I wanted you there for every damn one, not just for her, but for me, too.”


Sweet Lord, she looked like she was going to cry. “Hey, it’s all right.”


“It is now that I’m here with you.” Sky wrapped her arms around his waist, pressing against him as if she was trying to crawl inside his skin. “So I showed up because I missed you, Kade. I missed you so much. And I couldn’t wait another day to tell you that I love you. I love you like crazy. With all my heart, all my soul, with everything I am.

Please. I’ll do anything to make this right. Please come home.”


Kade closed his eyes and squeezed her tightly to make sure it wasn’t another dream.

“Say it again.”


“I love you. And I’m sorry, you were right about a lot of things. Not just the security stuff, which I have taken care of, much to my employee’s relief. What I accused you of was wrong. I panicked. Deep down I knew you wouldn’t take Eliza from me. Then you were gone and I didn’t know if it was for good. And I didn’t know how to make it right.

So all I can do is ask you to forgive me for being a pride-filled idiot, for not trusting you, or trusting in this.”


“If you’ve forgiven me for the Kane thing, I can forgive you.” He hooked a piece of flyaway hair behind her ear. “Skylar. I love you. I love you so damn much.” He just held her. Loving the way she fit him so perfectly in so many ways.

Finally, she said, “You aren’t going to leave me, ever, are you?”


“Nope.”


“How long would you have waited for me to realize that?”


“Oh, fifty years, give or take.”


She looked up and her eyes were so serious.

“What, sweetheart?”


“You really are a true gentleman cowboy. A good guy, honest, steadfast, loyal and true.”


“You’re makin’ me sound like a damn preacher or something. I am who I am, Sky.

Who I’ve always been.”


“I know. That’s who I want. That’s who I love. And I’m too damn practical, because I suck at this kind of romantic stuff. But I did try to make this be special and spontaneous and…” Skylar stripped off his gloves and grabbed his hand. “Dammit. Come here. I have something to show you.” She dragged him to where she’d spread out a yellow blanket on the flat spot of ground between the ditch and the fence line. A red cooler anchored one corner of the blanket. Centered on the plastic cooler lid was a bunch of wild flowers.

“Here’s our romantic celebration. You like it?”


The woman who claimed not to be a romantic…had picked flowers for him? “Yeah.

It’s great.”


“That wasn’t a very convincing great, Kade. Sit down.”


He shuffled his feet and sighed.

“What?”


“I don’t wanna to sit on your nice blanket.”


“Why not?”


“I’ll ruin it. If you hadn’t noticed, I’m covered in dust and grime.”


“Hmm.” Sky gave him a head to toe once over. “Then you’d better take off your dirty clothes.”