Page 154 of Ride the Sky

Be a man. Be like my brothers. Say my shit and own it. Stand up for what I believe in.

And that’s Fallon McGraw. My wife.

“Yeah,” I say and take a steadying breath. “I love your daughter, sir. I’m in love with her. Have been for some time now.”

Stede blinks. Then he gives a wry laugh. “Love is a wild thing, son.”

With Fallon, it’s even wilder. Fiercer. Just the thought of her almost bends me over.

“Look, I’m doin’ this before I tell Fallon.” Nerves twist in my stomach. “I want permission to marry her. For real this time. Hell, to stay married to her.”

Inhaling a long breath, Stede glances at the window. Then he turns his face to look at me.

“You’ve got to want my daughter. You’ve got to want her all the way down to your bones.”

I meet his gaze, those eyes as shrewd as Fallon’s. “I do.” At the thought of her, I smile. “She’s trouble, but I’ll tell you right now, I love that girl.”

Stede lifts a brow. “And if she wants to roam?”

“I go with her. I follow her.” I lean in, my heart racing. “It ain’t always the cowboy who leaves, sir. Sometimes he stays when that somethin’ he’s been searchin’ for is found.”

“And that something is my daughter.”

“Yes, sir.” I look down at my calloused hands. Make a fist. Look back up. “I always knew I was cowboy. From the day I was born. It was like a built-in feeling. A belonging. Nothin’ ever compared to that feeling of being born for rodeo.” My throat squeezes. “But when I saidI doto Fallon in that Vegas chapel, that same feelin’ was there. That rush. That knowledge that she was made for me.” I swallow hard and say, “My heart and all my dreams are for Fallon. I won’t trap her or change her or hurt her. I love her with all my damn heart.”

Stede’s eyes are misty. “She feel the same way?”

“Ain’t sure yet. But I wanted your blessing before I go all fucking in.”

I’ve never heard the air get this quiet.

Stede sticks a hand out. “We’re good, son. You have my blessing.”

My blood sings in relief. I shake his hand. “Thank you.”

We say our goodbyes, Stede promising to give Fallon a call later today. I’m headed to my truck when my phone rings.

Davis’s name flashes across the screen.

“Hey,” I say when I pick up.

“Wyatt, where are you?”

My entire body goes on alert. My brother sounds grim as fuck. “In Dixon. Why? What happened?”

“It’s Fallon…”

That’s all I hear. My brain spirals. The world tunnels, sounds distort.

Fallon Fallon Fallon

I race for my truck, running down the sidewalk. I hop in and gun the engine, fishtailing wildly as I speed out of town. Guilt and helpless rage gut me from all sides.

I wasn’t there, I wasn’t there, I wasn’t there.

Twenty minutes feels like twenty years.

Finally, I’m on Fallon’s street. My stomach bottoms out at the scene. There’s a cop car in the driveway and an ambulance on the curb. Davis stands on the front lawn, talking to Sheriff Richter. I slam the breaks, cut the engine.

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