Page 99 of Untamed

Dad turns toward Colter, who is now standing, extending his hand. A truce? Colter takes it firmly, shaking his hand. The tension between them is thick, but civil, and I smile. I know things are far from perfect, but it’s a start.

My attention shifts to my mom, who wraps her arm around my waist and whispers, “I think everything is going to work out just fine, Honey.”

EPILOGUE

Colter

One year later…

The bright lights in the arena beam down on me, the noise in the stadium deafening. Yet, all I can hear is the thundering beat of my heart. It’s the National Rodeo Finals in Las Vegas, where only the top riders stand a chance. With over one hundred and seventy thousand spectators, over ten days, and more than eleven million dollars in prize money, it’s the one we all want to win.

Gripping the rigging’s handle, anticipation courses through me as I wait for the chute gate to open in the bareback bronc event. I’m ready to get this over with. Ready to take this moment, claim the championship buckle, and bring home the prize money. If I win, even after Lincoln get his cut, I’ll still walk away with a decent chunk of money.

Money that’ll go toward the three-bedroom log cabin Mila and I are currently building on Oakridge Ranch.

It hasn’t been easy. My relationship with Lincoln is still rocky, but for Mila’s sake we’re amicable. I don’t think he’ll ever fully accept me, but as long as we can co-exist, and my woman is happy, I don’t care. Mila is what matters. And as long as she is smiling that sunshine smile, and content, I’ll take whatever bullshit Lincoln throws my way.

Glancing over to where she is sitting, a smirk curves my lips when I find her eyes already on me. Nova is talking animatedly beside her, but Mila’s attention is solely on me. She licks her lips as she watches me, and that small movement has my cock thickening in my pants. I should be focusing on the bronc beneath me, but in this moment, everything and everyone fades away. It’s just me and Mila. Always has been. Always will be.

“Ready,” one of the chute laborers’ shouts over the noise, breaking my gaze from her. My head jerks to him, and I nod curtly. Time to get my head back in the game.

The gate opens and the bronc shoots out so fast the breath is knocked from my lungs. I dig my heels in as it bucks, fighting with everything it’s got to unseat me, but I hang on. Just barely. Its only when the horn blares, and the crowd goes wild that I know I’ve beaten the clock.

Relaxing my muscles, I give the animal a couple of seconds before I let it unseat me. I hit the sand with a thud, the wind knocked from me. My body aches as I grunt, but I’m not focused on the pain. I hear the pick-up men’s shouts, the rush of congratulations as they pull me to my feet.

Dusting myself off, I glance up at the timer, smirking when I see the numbers. Fuck yes. The number one bareback rodeo champion in the country. My eyes close, emotion clogging my throat as I let it sink in. Last year I came close, but with everything that happened with Mila, I wasn’t in the right headspace. Now I’m standing here, the champion.

I owe Lincoln everything for giving me this second, third, fourth chance, even though I know he only keeps me around for Mila’s sake.

“And that folks, is how you do it.” The emcee’s voice booms through the arena. “Colter Grady is this year’s Bareback Rodeo Champion.”

The crowd explodes, chanting my name, but my attention flicks to the stands. Only Mila isn’t there. My brows furrow as I scan the arena. Then I spot her. She’s running full speed across the sand toward me.

My grin is wide as I open my arms just in time for her to jump into them. She laughs. I laugh. And then her legs are wrapping around my waist as she peppers kisses all over my face.

She pulls back to look at me, her smile so bright, it burns my chest. “I love you, Cowboy”

I smirk, brushing my lips against hers before I pull off my hat and place it on her head. “And I fucking love you, Sunshine.”

Her lips crash to mine once more, but this time, I pull away. There’s something else I want, something more important. She frowns in confusion, but I don’t make her wait long. Gently, I set her down on her feet, reaching into my pocket for the platinum and diamond ring I’ve been hiding and drop to one knee.

Mila gasps, her hand flying to her mouth and the crowd’s excitement grows louder. Flashes from cameras explode around us, the press capturing this moment. My heart races in my chest as I meet her eyes.

“Mila Becker, I love you more than life itself. You are my other half, the very soul of me. I didn’t ask your father’s permission because honestly, he would’ve said no, and I don’t need his approval to marry you anyway. However, I did tell him my plans, just so it wouldn’t send him off the deep end,” I add, making her laugh. “So will you marry me, Sunshine?”

She nods frantically, her unique eyes glossy with tears as her voice cracks. “Yes. Yes, of course I’ll marry you.”

Rising to my feet, I grab her left hand, and slide the ring on her finger, marking her mine for the whole world to see just as ChrisStapleton’s “Joy of My Life” begins to play through the speakers.

I hold out my hand for her to take. “Dance with me?”

Mila smirks. “You don’t dance.”

I grab her hand, pulling her into me, my mouth dropping to her ear. “For you, I do, Sunshine.”

EPILOGUE II

Mila

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