To Rodeo To Your Heart (COMPLETED)

Chapter 21

Gunner growls and bites his bottom lip as he pushes himself out of bed and grabs his crutches. Pain shoots up his leg as he rests his wrapped heel on the floor before propelling himself up with the help of his crutches. He takes a deep breath before beginning to move around the room collecting his things while being as quiet as possible. He puts his dirty clothes on one side of his suitcase, his shoes in the outside pocket and is about to place his comb in the inside zipper pocket when the door opens.

Dread fills him as he looks up and meets the surprised gaze of Caisson. As much as he hated the idea his plan had been to take the cowards way out and leave her only a note but now he was caught. Both caught taking the cowards way out and caught in the middle of his plan.

"What are you doing with all your things?" Her voice comes out shaky making the inside of him hurt even more than it already is.

He stares at his hands and swallows hard. "I, um, I was going to go to mom and dad's."

Puzzlement, disappointment and fear all flood her face. "Oh I see." When he doesn't say anything she can't keep the hurt and fear from taking over. "Well I guess you won't be needing the eggs and toast I made you!" Tears are now streaming down her face and she starts to leave the room, but turns back to add one more thing. "When were you planning to tell me anyway? Never mind don't answer that!"

He watches as the fiery ball of a woman spins from his view. The next thing he hears is the slam of the door and then dead silence. "Oh boy. I better start digging my grave now." He knows that her brother isn't going to be the only one upset with him, his parents too.

He can here rustling around and low talking but no foot steps coming his way. That should have given him a reason to relax a bit, but it did the direct opposite. It was like being eight years old and having to sit and wait till dad got home to give you the spanking that you knew was coming.

"She's a thinker." He hears Colton say. No doubt his parents were worried about her which came as no surprise to him. Once they approved of you you were considered family and as much as a scratch had mom calling the doctor.

Gunner shakes his head at his own stupid idea. Now what? Do you go ahead and face the trio of confused and mad people or wait for them to come to you? Neither option is very inviting. He takes a deep breath and pushes himself up standing tall with the help of his crutches. Just as he takes a swing towards the bedroom door his dad hollers his name.

"Yes sir, on my way!" He hollers back crutching to the door and down the hall. Yep here come the walk of shame to the spanking corner!

As he walks into the small cozy living room he notices canvases with verses and sayings hanging on the wall that he has never noticed before. He also is aware of the disapproving looks resting on his parents and Colton's face. Colton's fists are balled at his sides and he takes a step towards Gunner, but stops himself before he takes another.

As Gunner stands in front of them his dad is the first to speak. "What was said that has Caisson stirred up?"

Gunner takes a deep breath and lets his gaze rest on the cast on his leg. "I was going to go to y'alls house and I didn't tell her." With every word his voice holds more guilt and pain and becomes softer.

After a long pause of silence his mom starts to speak, "Finish what you were doing and your dad can drive you down." Everyone's eyes hold surprise as they stare at her. She looks around. "Go!"

As soon as Gunner is on his way back to his room his dad wheels on her. "What is that about?"

"You two need to catch up and he needs space. I will stay here and help poor Caisson with stuff and I will be home in a couple of days. Now Colton go see your sweet sister."

***

Caisson doesn't know what to think. She didn't give him time to explain himself, but that didn't matter to her at the moment. He is planning to leave and didn't plan on telling her. What does that even mean?

She finds herself in the barn with her horses and she sinks to the ground with her back against the gate leading to her supply of hay. Somewhere between the bucket loads of tears and now as she looks up into the concerned face of her brother she had drifted off into a light nap.

As Colton settles onto the ground beside her she rubs the sleep from her eyes while looking straight ahead. His arm coming around her shoulders is comforting and his voice as he begins to speak seems to calm her racing heart a bit. "Give him time sis. Us guys need time and space."

That's all he says as he continues to run his fingers up and down her arm. She knows he's right but in a way she doesn't think Gunner deserves time and space. He wasn't planning to tell me so why should I give him time to get himself together and come back to me? Is it worth the pain of waiting? Then again giving up doesn't look any less painful. She lays her head on Colton's shoulder and sighs. The last couple of days have been emotionally draining and she feels like an overly emotional teenage girl that just hit puberty.

After a long while of silence between the siblings that sit on the ground Caisson speaks up. "Colt, why is he doing this?"

Colton sits up a bit before taking a deep breath. "He's been crowded, Cate, ever since his accident everyone is babying him and crowding him in. He needs space. He needs room to breathe and come to terms that this may physically have to be the end of his career. The doctors, you, his family, and even the looks on peoples faces tells him the brutal truth and he doesn't want to face it, but knows he will have to."