Page 35 of Roping the Rodeo Queen
"The Tampa Rodeo last year," I explain."She was competing in barrel racing, and I was in the bronc and bull riding events."
"Ooooh, love at first ride," Casey teases, wiggling her eyebrows.
Jo shoots her sister a withering look."It wasn't quite that simple."
"Never is with Jo," a deep voice adds as a tall man who could only be Jo's brother enters the kitchen.He extends his hand to me."I'm Levi, the oldest Callahan kid and chief wrangler of this bunch of yahoos."
Jo feigns a scowl."Speak for yourself."
Mae sets a glass of lemonade in front of me.I take my first sip, and I'm hit with a flavor so sweet it could probably dissolve a tooth on contact."Jo was absolutely determined to stay single forever after that horrible business with---"
"Mom," Jo interrupts."Can we not talk about Tyler?My ex-husband is off limits at family gatherings, remember?"
"Sorry, honey, I figured Clay ought to know."
Right then, a dozen or so more people start showing up---cousins, aunts, uncles, and what looks like half the county filing through the front door like they've been summoned by some invisible dinner bell.My eyes widen as the kitchen fills to capacity, and even more folks gather in the halls and living areas and who knows where else.
I give my fiancée a sideways glance, raising my brows briefly.
Her face cinches up, and she lifts her shoulders, spreading her hands in a "sorry" gesture.
I pat her thigh, smiling so she'll know I'm not upset.
"Word travels fast around here," Jo hisses under her breath."It's not usually like this, but everybody's thrilled to meet you."
"Clay McKendrick!"booms a voice from the doorway.A barrel-chested man with silver hair pushes through the crowd."I'll be damned.Watched you ride that devil bull in San Antonio two years back.Thought for sure you were gonna end up eating dirt, but you hung on."
I stand up to shake his hand, grateful for familiar territory."Thank you, sir, I remember meeting you in San Antonio.That bull was Widow Maker.Nearly broke my ribs, but it was worth it for the score."
"Uncle Pete runs the feed store in town," Jo explains quickly."He thinks he knows everything about everybody's business."
"Damn right I do!"Uncle Pete slaps me on the back---hard."Boy, you got yourself a real firecracker there.Jo's been breaking hearts and taking names since she was old enough to date."
"I have not been breaking hearts," Jo protests, her nostrils flaring like a bull's.
"What about that Henderson boy?And the preacher's son?And---"
"Uncle Pete, I swear I will put salt in your coffee tomorrow morning if you don't hush your mouth."
The old man chuckles and settles into a chair that creaks under his weight."She's feisty, this one.You gonna be able to handle her, son?"
I glance at Jo, who's glaring at her uncle like she's plotting his demise."I'm learning that handling Jo isn't as difficult as I expected."
She smacks my thigh, but her eyes glitter with humor.
More introductions follow in rapid succession.There's Aunt Birdie who insists on pinching my cheeks, Cousin Ray who wants to arm wrestle, and at least six kids whose names I lose track of immediately.Every single person seems genuinely excited to meet me, which only makes the knot in my stomach tighten further.
"Alright, everybody, give the man some air!"Mae calls out, wielding a wooden spoon like a weapon."Clay's not going anywhere, so you can all get your turns to interrogate him later.Right now, we're gonna eat."
The food is amazing, and the company is even better.We wind up dining outside where the Callahan clan sets up enough picnic tables to serve the entire United States Army.I learn that Jo's brother served in the Air Force for ten years, and that a distant cousin became a congressman.
Holy cow, this family is incredible.
After two more days with the Callahans, Jo and I say our goodbyes and drive straight to Montana and the McKendrick ranch.I've been looking forward to seeing my family again, and I can't wait to introduce them to Jolene.
Chapter Twenty
Going Home, Pt.2
