Page 70 of Cowboy of Convenience
EVELYN
SHE WAS DEFINITELY out of her mind.
But as it turned out, out of her mind was a pretty great place to be. Aside from it being on the back of a horse.
"You comfortable up there?" Larry stood beside her, sticking close like he was worried she might land on her ass again. She appreciated it, because she was also a little worried she might end up on her ass again. Luckily, Lula Bell seemed to have calmed down after their little run-in a few days ago, and the mare was leisurely picking at the vegetation lining the emergency room curb.
"I'm good." She looked over each side, making sure the cowboy boots Grady bought her were still securely hooked into the stirrups. "Are you sure she'll do what I say?"
Larry offered a smile, the strain of the past few days showing in his eyes. "She'll listen to you a hell of a lot better than Grady will, so I hope you know what you're getting yourself into."
Evelyn laughed, the sound loud and a little unhinged. "Maybe I should marry Lula Bell instead."
Larry met her gaze. "There's still time to change your mind. I’m happy to go tell everybody you came to your senses." Lifting a brow, he flashed her quick smile. "Course, a runaway bride on horseback is a pretty dramatic event, so you should be prepared to make the local news."
It was nice of him to offer her an out, but she didn't need one. Yes, she recognized this decision was bordering on impulsive, but so was her decision to leave New York. And her decision to start a yoga studio.
So far, her impulsive decisions had worked out way better than the well-laid plans she'd concocted over the years.
Evelyn took a deep breath, sitting up straighter in the saddle. "You don't have to worry about seeing me on television tonight." She gave him one more smile before gently tapping Lula Bell with her heels, ready to go find Grady.
But the horse didn't budge. She just continued munching on the grass and clover like they didn't have somewhere to be.
"Lula Bell." Evelyn nudged her again. "We need to go."
Lula Bell obviously didn't care one bit about their schedule because she took one half-assed step forward before nosing through a fresh patch of roughage.
"Here. I'll help you out." Larry swatted Lula Bell right on the rump, the smack surprisingly loud and hard enough to get Lula Bell moving.
Fast.
Evelyn held on for dear life as the horse took off, teeth and brains rattling around inside her head, struggling to remember the pointers Larry had given her less than five minutes ago. Unfortunately, every single one of them was gone. Probably knocked loose by the jarring slam of her ass into the saddle as Lula Bell hauled ass up the side of the hospital.
It probably looked beautiful from a spectator’s point of view. Her hair and the lacey fabric of her dress were both flying in the wind, creating an image of a princess majestically riding toward her Prince Charming.
Unless you got too close. Then you could hear her cussing Lula Bell up one side and down the other as her poor vagina took the worst pounding it had ever faced. And that was the worst part of the whole thing because she’d planned on using the hell out of it tonight.
When they reached the bend in the parking lot, Lula Bell turned, thankfully heading in the correct direction. Evelyn gripped the reins but didn't dare yank out of fear she would spook Lula Bell the same way Grady's mother had. And she had no intention of being unceremoniously dumped on her ass for a second time, this one covered in white lace and with a full audience.
A piercing whistle cut through the air and a second later Lula Bell danced to one side, halting her forward trajectory as she sidestepped. The clap of hooves against blacktop preceded Grady's appearance by seconds. He reached her side, grabbing Lula Bell’s reins as his horse blocked her path.
"Oh thank God." She shoved one hand under her dress, wedging it between her lady basement and the saddle, cupping the bruised and battered area. "I don't think my vagina could have handled much more."
Grady leaned to look Lula Bell in the eye, brows tight together. "What in the hell happened? I've never seen Lula Bell move that fast."
Evelyn shifted around, unsuccessfully trying to get comfortable. "I couldn't get her to move so Larry smacked her on the ass." She gave up looking for a less irritating position and decided to try sitting very still instead. "To be fair, I'd run if somebody spanked me like that too."
Grady's mouth pressed into a thin line as he glanced toward the corner of the hospital. "I don't know what in the hell he was thinking." Reaching for her, he whispered, "Come here," as he wrapped one arm around her waist, hauling her up and off Lula Bell and onto his lap. His hands smoothed down the curls of her hair before sliding over her bare arms. "You okay?"
She latched one hand into the front of his button up shirt, a little concerned she might slip over the edge. "Yes, but I think I would like to get wherever we're supposed to be so I can get the heck off the back of this horse."
Grady smiled, looking ridiculously handsome in blue jeans, a powder blue button up, and a suit jacket, eyes shaded by the brim of his perfectly pristine cowboy hat. "I think I like having an eager bride, Ev."
She yelped a little as he nudged his horse into action, leading Lula Bell along as they rode to the hospital entrance where the girls were waiting with Amelie, Troy, Gram-Gram, and Charlene. Everyone clapped as they arrived and snapped pictures with their phones since there was no time to hire an actual photographer. It was nothing like the formal, extravagant, self-indulgent wedding she always thought she'd have to suffer through. This was nothing more than a handful of the people they were closest to, a homemade cake, an off-the-rack dress, and a last-minute booking with the mayor.
It was perfect. Especially since she got to choose the man beside her.
Grady dismounted, strong hands coming up to help her down. He passed the horses off to Larry, who tipped his head before leading them to the trailer. It was a lot of work for such a small bit of time, but her grandmother was right—Having the horses was a perfect touch.
