cowboy

24

Lacey sat on the front porch of their house, she had a blanket wrapped around her and a cup of coffee in her hands as she looked at the mountains in front of her. Rip was inside getting ready for work, or at least that's what she assumed him to be doing. She took a sip of her coffee closing her eyes and letting out a sigh after she swallowed the coffee. She could hear Rips footsteps leaving the cabin and he leaned against the pole staring at her.

"You gonna talk to my dad today?" Lacey asks turning to Rip. She saw a smile form on his face and he nods his head walking over to her. He had to lean down to kiss her forehead but he didn't mind.

"I'll talk to him, I gotta get to work. I love you." Rip says gently before walking away. Lacey watches as her fiancé walks to the main area of the ranch, she couldn't hold back the smile on her face.

Her fiancé.

It's crazy really, they haven't even been together a year but it felt right, it felt right to call Rip her fiancé, to marry Rip. They've known each other for eighteen years before they got together, he's always been so important to her.

He is the most important person in her life.

*

"Rip I am wearing this into town. Pick who you want to stay at camp, we're going to the rodeo." John says starting to walk away. Rip didn't know how to bring up the conversation of marrying Lacey to John, but he knew if he didn't ask today Lacey would probably smack him.

"Actually sir, I was wondering if I could talk to you for a moment." Rip says and John turns to him while Jamie looks at Rip confused. John nods his head and nudges for Rip to follow him, and Rip does. When they were away from everyone else John sighs and turns to Rip.

"If my daughter is pregnant I am going to need you to run far away from me." John says and Rip chokes on air making him cough slightly.

"No sir, no she's not pregnant." Rip says after he gets his coughing under control.

"Is it one of the ranch hands?" John asks and Rip shakes his head trying to figure out how to word this politely and correctly in a way he won't get shot for.

"I love your daughter, very much sir. I know we haven't been together long but we've known each other for most of our lives." Rip starts trying hard not to stutter his words as he gets his speech out to the man he admires.

"I would like your blessing, to marry her." Rip finishes.

John didn't say anything, he just stared at Rip like he didn't hear what he had just asked him. Rip felt himself starting to become sweaty and was debating to start booking it so that John wouldn't shoot him.

"You have my blessing, you've had it the minute you've killed for her." John says and Rip let's out a small breath before thanking him.

"Do you have a ring yet?" John asks.

"No sir, not yet." Rip says and John nods his head.

"Don't buy one, I have something special that I think she will want."

"Yes sir." Rip says nodding his head. He knew Lacey didn't care what her ring would look like, she told him last night that he could buy a ring pop and she would marry him. John pats Rip shoulder before starting to walk away but he stopped and turned back to Rip.

"You might want to find yourself having this same conversation with Kayce if I were you." John says before turning back around leaving a paling Rip.

*

Lacey pulled up to their cabin letting out a sigh, she got off a shift and was ready for more coffee before finding Ryan and Colby somewhere on the ranch. She hopped out of the truck and walked inside the cabin, she stopped when she saw Rip taking off his shirt.

"Why are you home?" Lacey asks confused, she thought he would be working late tonight.

"Get dressed, I got a surprise for you." Rip says.

Lacey smiles widely quickly changing into a pair of blue jeans and a white tank top, she kept her hair up and she tugged on a pair of boots. When she was ready Rip handed her a granola bar before walking out to his truck.

"Where are we going?" Lacey asks following behind him.

"The rodeo." Rip says and Lacey squeals excitedly running past Rip and into the truck. Rip laughs shaking his head hopping into the truck as well.

"Jimmy riding tonight?" Lacey asks and Rip nods his head as he puts the truck in drive.

"Did you talk to me dad?" Lacey asks quickly turning her attention to Rip.

"Yeah." He says and she rose an eyebrow for him to continue talking and explain what he said.

"Well?" She asks.

"He gave me his blessing, said I should probably talk to Kayce too." Rip says and a small smile appeared on Lacey's face.

"I was gonna marry you even if my dad said no." She says and he looks at her shocked and she couldn't help but laugh.

"Does this mean I don't have to ask Kayce?" Rip asks.

"No baby, you don't have to ask my brother." Lacey says with a smile.

Lacey sat between Rip and Ryan on the bench. Jimmy, Jake, and Lloyd were down getting ready for him his ride. Rip held her hand bringing it up and kissing it gently making her smile at him, she hugged his arm leaning against him smiling. Ryan was teasing her making her kick him hard causing him to groan making Lacey laugh lightly. Kayce glanced over glaring at Rip slightly but Monica pushed him back so that Lacey could enjoy her time with Rip.

"Ryan how about we get you on one of those horses." Lacey says turning to her best friend holding back a laugh at his face.

"If I can train Jimmy, I can train you." Lacey says teasingly and Ryan rolls his eyes at her.

"No way in hell am i getting on a bucking horse, I ain't stupid." Ryan says.

"That's debatable." Kayce says making everyone laugh.

The sky started to get darker and Lacey sat up quickly as the riders started to go through their turns, totally ignoring anyone else's existence.

"At least you're not a rider, would've had a heart attack." John says quietly to Rip making Rip look at John with a head nod.

"It's like i dont even exist, watch." Rip says tapping Lacey's leg but she ignored him because Jimmys name was just called. Lacey bit her lip and she could hear Jimmy yell a quick no making her heart stop. The gates opened and Jimmy held on as long as he could but he got bucked off and a loud crack filled the air. Everyone went silent and Lacey felt her heart stop as her friend laid on the ground. Lloyd ran to him making Lacey get up quickly to run down as well.

"Don't move him! Lloyd don't touch him until paramedic gets here!" Lacey yells jumping into the arena over to Jimmy and Lloyd. Lloyd looks at Lacey worried as Lacey checks Jimmys pulse letting out a sigh of relief when she found one. She could hear the ambulance pull up and she quickly stabilized Jimmys neck her heart pounding in her chest.

"He's gonna be okay Lloyd." Lacey says noticing how the older man looked extremely worried. Lloyd nods his head and moves out of the way as the paramedics rushed over, Lacey quickly explained what happened and she helped get Jimmy onto the gurney.

"I'm going with." Lacey says to Lloyd and he nods his head as Lacey turns to follow after the paramedics and Jimmy.