The Perfect Ride

Chapter 43

Today was it. The day that all this came to an end. Our last day of tour. December 12th. Phoenix, Arizona. Sweet little Ruby was six days old and already going to her first rodeo.

Currently, Roz was sitting in my dressing room with me. Jess and Cooper were with the guys.

"Her hair is already getting thicker" I say, rubbing my hand over her head full of auburn hair. It was so full, you could style it already.

"That part didn't come from me" Roz says.

"Speaking of that, has Cody even acknowledged her?" I ask. She nods.

"He did. He held her, said she was beautiful. Apologized for how he was before, but said Cooper would be a better father than he would" She tells me.

"Yeah, well. He probably will be" I say. She chuckled. "Auntie Sadie's sweet little girl doesn't need him". I go back to fawning over the baby. Soon enough, the door opens.

"Okay, where is she? Where's my little Ru?" Jess says. That's what he called her. He took her from my arms and went to walk away.

"Wait, where are you taking my daughter?" Roz asks.

"Coop and I wanna brag on her" He simply says. Roz smiled.

"Go on" She says. Jess disappeared.

"Look at that. He's already replaced me with her" I joke.

"Yeah, and just wait until he's holding your little girl" She says. I dreamed of that moment. Jess and I had been together for nine months, but I was so ready for a forever with him. I knew he would be my partner in this life for the rest if our lives.

"I absolutely cannot wait for that moment" I say.

"Hey, tomrrow we get back to Texas and...start the rest of our lives" She says.

"I know. Isn't it crazy? You and I met in a hotel room and went to a party the same night. You met a man and he got you pregnant, but then met another one who would give you the world" I say. "Then, a boy wearing a green button up and that old, black cowboy hat gave me his number and he is my entire life now".

"Funny how things have a way of working out" She says.

"I thought I'd come on this tour, party every weekend. Have fun" Roz says. "But then came along a six pound little peanut that rocked my world".

"But would you change it for the world?" I ask.

"Never" She says.

"Same" I agree. I look down and see the emerald promise ring on my finger. "I wouldn't change a single thing".

***
The last guy had ridden his bull. We were all lined up in the arena to circle the stadium one last time before the nights came on. As I sat on Buck and looked around me, I could see Jess, Roz, and Ruby in the stands. I wished they were about to circle with me, but like I said earlier, I wouldn't change anything about this tour for anything. I met my bestfriend, a boy who became like an older brother to me, and the most incredible guy I could've asked God to give to me. Plus, I became an Auntie to the sweetest baby girl. I honestly couldn't have asked for a better life. Truthfully, my life was just beginning. In the next couple days, I'd officially be moved to Texas with Jess, and he and I would start our life together. I honestly didn't care where we were. I knew as long as he was by my side, nothing else mattered. He was the most important thing in the world to me. I loved that man more than I'd ever loved anything else in this world. As long as I had him, I knew everything would be okay.

**
After our last circle, and the horses were put away, I went to find Jess. He scooped me into his arms.

"And...that's a wrap" He says before kissing me.

"Best nine months of my life" I say.

"Yeah, you had a good run" He says. I kiss him again.

"That's not why they've been the best nine months" I say. He smiled and pulled me into him.

"You, Sadie Rosen, are the most amazing person I have ever met" He says. "And I...am so lucky that you're mine".

"I am yours. I'm always yours" I say. He leaned down to kiss me again.

Our moment was interrupted by my phone ringing.

"Oh, it's Ell" I say.

"Answer".

S- hey, ell.

E- sadie.

S- are you crying? ellie, what's wrong?

E- it's daddy.

S- what happened?

E- he's in the hospital. it's bad.

S- o-okay. what happened.

E- please come home, sadie. we need you.

As soon as Ellie hung up the phone, I burst into tears.

"Baby, what?" Jess asks. I buried my head in his chest.

"It's my daddy. Something happened" I say through tears.

"Okay. Okay. What can we do?".

"I don't know" I say. Just then, Roz and Cooper join us.

"You guys ready to head to Texas?" Cooper asks, not seeing I was upset.

"Sadie, just tell me what we need to do" Jess says.

"I...I don't know" I say again.

"What happened?" Roz asks.

"It's her daddy. Somethings wrong, but I don't know what" He says.

"Well, I hate to state the obvious, but we gotta get going" Cooper says. I know he wasn't trying to be rude. I just look at Jess. He stares back at me.

"Jess, I-" I burst into tears. "I have to go home. I can't go to Texas right now". I sob into his chest. He held me tight. I just kept thinking to my self...I had to go back home. I needed to be in Montana.