To Rodeo To Your Heart (COMPLETED)

Chapter 24

A tap on Caisson's shoulder makes her eyes flutter and her vision change from nothing to blurry. She rubs her eyes with her fingers before sitting up and looking into Hope's gentle eyes. Her heart begins to flutter fast as she shoots her gaze to the small leather clock hanging above the fire place. Six o'clock. Taking a deep breath she relaxes back into the couch a bit. The small smile on her, maybe, boyfriend's mom's lips reminds her that she in fact was woken for a reason "Yes ma'am?"

Hope grins and holds Caisson's phone out to her. "It has been ringing of the wall. I just thought you might want to know."

Caisson nods and settles back into the couch while staring at her phone. The screen is lined with notifications for missed calls, voicemails and text messages. All from the one and only, Gunner Pate. "Thank you."

Hope smiles and nods before stepping back outside. The door clicks just as the ringing of her phone begins drowning out the other noises. The picture of Gunner with his charming smile on his face pops up and she gets lost in his soft eyes until her phone dings say that she has a voicemail. That snaps her out of her daze and she quickly unlocks her phone and dials his number.

In less than two rings his voice comes across the phone frantic as if he won't be able to talk if he doesn't get it out all in one giant breath, "Caisson! Pine cone I love you I'm sorry I made the cowards move and I'm sorry I haven't been myself thank you for sticking with me." With a sigh he waits for some sort of reply.

This makes her giggle. "First off, where did Pine Cone come from? Second, I am sorry that I was putting pressure on you. I didn't mean to make you feel that you have to be perfect because you are perfect to me no matter what happens."

Although he didn't really have an idea of what her reaction might be he definitely did not expect for it to be a giggle. However, the soft sound warms his heart and makes a smile appear on the face that has been downcast way too long. "Sweetheart, don't worry your pretty little mind over it. Now about Pine Cone. Well I was just thinking that I love the way you always smell piney and woody so I thought Pine Cone worked." He pulls his shoulders up in a shrug and chides himself for the mischief in his voice. This is suppose to be a serious conversation about how you messed up! Get it together, Gunner.

She giggles like a school girl again as a blush creeps up her neck and onto her cheeks. "I see."

He takes a deep breath. "I love you, I really do. If you don't mind I would like to come and stay at your house again."

A large smile lights up her face and a lump appears in her throat. She swallows the lump as she cuddles the blanket closer. "Gunner, you know I would love that. I love you too."
***

Colton encircles his arms around his little big sister. "I'm glad you two are working it out. Call me if you need anything."

"Thank you for coming, Colton," she says as she squeezes him tightly. "And I will. One of these days I'll get down to see y'all again."

"That would be good!" The siblings walk out to his pickup where he squeezes his sister tight before kissing the top of her head and climbing in his Dodge Duly.

As the engine rumbles to life she smiles and waves at him. The red taillights fade and an arm slips around her full hips. She smiles laying her head on the shoulder closest to her. "I love you," she whispers.

Using his crutches he turns so that he is in front of her. Then dropping the crutches cups her face in his hands. "I love you so much more than I can ever tell you. From your gentle eyes, to your piney scent, to your long legs you are perfect! I can't tell you how much I have thought about you since the day that I laid eyes on you, but especially in the past couple of days. Your little quirks about being independent and about the rodeo is what makes you, you. They are what made me fall in love with you."

Feeling tears of happiness threaten to fall Caisson closes the gap between their lips. Sure they haven't talked about a lot of stuff that needs to be talked about, but she knows that they will and no matter what they will work through any obstacle that they are faced with. "You are too sweet for your own good," she mumbles into his neck as she snuggles her head on his shoulder.

He wraps his arms around her a tad tighter. "No, sweetheart, I think you are too patient for your own good, but I am very happy you are." He feels her lips form a smile against his skin makes a deep chuckle escape his throat. All the worries of 'real' life slip away, for him, in moments like these. Moments where the two of them can get lost in the scent and touch of one another.

After a while the night air begins to cut through their, otherwise warm, coats. Caisson grabs his crutches for him and makes sure he is set before leading the way inside where the fire roars in the stone fire place and hot chocolate sits on the counter. She runs upstairs and grabs a pillow for him to rest his ankle on before eyeing him closely as he settles onto the couch. He smiles up at her and pats the empty space beside him. With a giggle she curls up next to him.

"Thank you mom, this is exactly what I was looking for," Gunner comments placing a quick kiss on Hope's cheek as she hands him a mug of steaming liquid.

She smiles, pleasantly surprised by his gesture. She's going to get more good out of him than I expected, she tells herself with a inward chuckle. "You're welcome, son." Standing in the kitchen she leans against the bar with a bright smile on her face. Gunner has his leg out resting it on the wooden coffee table that sits in front of the couch were Caisson is curled up with her head in his lap. His left hand strokes her long hair while his right is closed around the carmel colored coffee mug. Hope wipes a tear before it is able to run down her cheek. Her son has found his true love he just doesn't know it yet.