A Bull Rider's Pride Page 11

  He’d seen a handful of people roll past in wheelchairs, but he’d been the only person using a walker. Of course he was. Most people knew their own limitations. He had to push his limits daily. After the multiple sessions he’d had today both in hippotherapy and with Shane at the rodeo school, he was in no condition to walk around the county fairgrounds. “What the hell was I thinking? Sheila wouldn’t even want to be seen with me like this.”

  “Brady?” He turned to see Thomas holding a gigantic soda and a salted pretzel. What was with the guy and pretzels?

  “Hey, man. How are you doing?” Brady tried to keep it casual. His legs began to shake. “Please help me. I need to sit down.”

  Thomas sat his soda on the ground and ducked behind a vendor’s stand, returning with a folding chair. He flipped it open and placed it behind Brady. “What are you doing here? Sheila and I were just talking about planning an outing tomorrow or the next night and bringing everyone from Dance of Hope here.”

  Brady hadn’t been happier to sit in all his life. “You were?”

  “It was Sheila’s idea, but Gracie and I agreed to come along and help out. So did Sheila. We plan to talk to everybody about it in the morning.”

  Brady laughed. He would have come to the county fair with Sheila tomorrow, probably dropped off at the entrance, using the proper walker, and he wouldn’t be all hot, sweaty and disgusting. “That’s wonderful.”

  “Why are you using this walker? It’s not meant for this.” Thomas waved his hands in the air for emphasis. “Never mind. I know exactly what this is about. Let me get Sheila.”

  “Wait.” If Thomas suspected his feelings for Sheila then there was a good chance Gracie did too. He didn’t want to risk Sheila’s job. “This was a bad idea. A really bad idea.”

  Thomas squatted in front of him. “I think it was a sweet romantic gesture that she’ll definitely appreciate. And a really bad idea.”

  “I don’t want her to get in trouble.”

  “If you ever repeat this to anyone, I will deny it. My wife does not have to know you’re here. Give me a few minutes, and I’ll take care of it.” He reached for his soda and took a bite of his pretzel. “Just sit tight.”

  Before Brady had a chance to argue, Thomas disappeared into the throng of fairgoers. Brady looked around at the able-bodied men walking with their arms around their girlfriends. They had it so easy and they didn’t even realize it. Every step he ever took he’d taken for granted. He glanced down at his jeans and navy blue T-shirt. He didn’t have much of a selection at Dance of Hope. What he had served dual-purpose—both therapy and leisure. At least they had on-site laundry.

  He stretched out his legs, allowing himself to lean back against the metal chair. It wasn’t perfect, but it did quite nicely. He wished he could tuck his bright silver walker away somewhere.

  “I can’t believe my eyes.” Sheila’s hand flew to her chest. “I thought Thomas was kidding when he said you were here. Brady, what are you— How did you—”

  “Because I wanted to see you, and I hitched a ride.” There he’d said it. It was out in the open. No hiding. No denying it. “Tell me it was worth it.”

  Brady tucked his legs and stood. Sheila grabbed his elbow to support him. “I can’t believe you did this for me.”

  “I wanted to feel normal for a night. I don’t know what I expected. I knew you were with Gracie and Thomas and it’s not like we can walk around in public holding hands, I just wanted to see you somewhere other than Dance of Hope or the hospital.”

  Sheila wiped her eyes with the back of her hand. “You’re making me cry, Brady Sawyer—and nobody makes me cry.”

  “Aw, sugar, don’t shed a tear on my account.” Brady smiled down on her. “I should go and let you be with your friends. I’m sure there are other people here who know you and you shouldn’t be seen with me.”

  “I can’t let you leave. Then what would have been the point of your coming?” Her voice was soft and soothing. For a moment he thought she’d reach up and kiss him. If only she had. “I’d fail as your doctor if I just left you here. There are some bleachers two rows over—can you make it that far?”

  “I’ve had a little rest. I’ll be okay to walk over there. It was the walk across the parking lot that did me in.” The setting sun warmed the color of her skin. She appeared almost ethereal before him in a pair of khaki shorts and a thin ivory chemise. “You are so beautiful.”

  “I think you’re going to be the death of both of us.”

  He already felt like he was in heaven when she was near.

  Chapter Nine

  “How are you feeling?” Sheila still couldn’t believe Brady had walked all the way from the main road to the fairgrounds just so he could see her.

  “Renewed.” Brady checked his watch. “It’s almost ten thirty. I guess we should call it a night.”

  They’d been sitting on the bleachers talking for the past couple of hours. Sheila figured if anyone from the hospital spotted them together, it would appear platonic enough. She’d heard every story from his youth ranging from him falling out of a pecan tree in his parents’ backyard to competing in his first rodeo event. She’d shared a few stories of her own, but mostly she enjoyed listening to him. His rural Texas life had been much more exciting than her Colorado Rockies suburbia.

  “I have the next two days off from work,” Sheila said. “Unless you’re in a hurry to head home.”

  “Home.” Brady sighed. “I haven’t seen home in three and a half months, almost to the day.” He faced her. “How would you like to do me a humongous favor?”

  “That all depends.” Sheila felt anticipation begin to grow in her stomach. “What’s the favor?”

  “Take me home.”

  “Brady, I don’t—”

  “Please. Cherry Spring’s about fifteen minutes from here. I’ve asked my dad, I’ve asked Alice, and nobody will take me home. I just want to see and feel my things. I promise I’ll go straight back to Dance of Hope afterward.”

  Sheila didn’t see the harm in driving him to his house for a few minutes. She couldn’t understand why no one had done it sooner and wondered if there was something there he wasn’t supposed to see. She wished she had Alice’s or his father’s phone number to double-check with them before venturing out there, but those numbers were on file at the hospital. He was a grown man. He could face whatever was waiting for him, if there was anything to see.

  “On one condition,” Sheila warned. “You’re going to wait by the entrance while I pick up the car.”

  “That wouldn’t be very gentlemanly of me. I insist on walking with you. It’s late, it’s dark. If you don’t want to take me home because of that, so be it. I’ll take tomorrow off from physical therapy and take a cab. Hell, I’ll ride a horse if I have to.”

  Sheila rolled her eyes. There was no stopping him when he set his mind to something. “Okay, you win.” Sheila stood. “Let’s go.”

  “Will you do me another favor?”

  Sheila put her hands on her hips. “What now?”

  Brady laughed. “You’re so cute when you’re frustrated. I could just kiss you.”

  She held up her hands and backed away. “No kissing. If we go back to your place, there will be no kissing.”

  A couple next to them started giggling.

  “Do you see what she’s like?” Brady said to the couple. “I can’t get any lovin’.”

  Sheila swatted him. “You are such a liar.”

  Brady grabbed her wrist and pulled her toward him, their lips inches apart. “I’ll behave if you behave,” Brady whispered as he released her.

  “What’s your other favor, Mr. Sawyer?” She asked warily.

  “Ride the carousel with me.” Brady began to walk toward it, not bothering to wait for her to respond. “I have my reasons,
” he called over his shoulder. “I’ll tell you when we’re actually on it.”

  Curiosity got the best of her, and within minutes, she found herself bobbing up and down on a painted carousel horse.

  She held her hands out wide. “I haven’t ridden one of these since I was a little girl.” She looked over at Brady watching her with a big grin plastered across his face. “Okay, tell me why this was so important to you.”

  “When I was a kid, this was the one ride my mom would get on. She and I rode the carousel dozens of times whenever we went to a carnival or a county fair. It was our thing. She loved it. And I miss it—I miss her.” Brady turned away from her. “I just wanted a little piece of my old life tonight.”

  Sheila wanted to comfort him, but she wasn’t sure if that’s what he wanted. She hadn’t lost a parent or experienced half the things he had in his life. Throwing caution to the wind, she reached out for him, not caring who saw them. Sometimes you just had to give somebody a shoulder to lean on. Brady started to take her hand when the carousel slowed to a stop. Their ride was over.

  They made their way across the parking lot together in the dark. Brady refused to allow her to walk alone and she respected him for that. It meant a lot to him and she reasoned he’d had quite a few things taken away from him over the past three and a half months.

  They rode in the silence of the car. Part of her wanted him to take her hand just as he’d done on the Fourth of July, but he kept to himself. That was good. At least one of them had some common sense. Her judgment was clearly off tonight. First hanging out with him at the fair, followed by a carousel ride and now driving him home. Each hour took her further down a road she shouldn’t travel. Such as the long dirt drive to his house. She didn’t know what to expect next.

  Brady leaned forward, almost on the edge of his seat, trying to see in the moonlight. She flicked on her high beams so they could both get a better view of his house and property. It was a small ranch, she guessed a handful of acres, but neat. The front yard was all grass and recently mowed. From what she could see of the pastures, they didn’t seem too overgrown. Nothing some grazing horses wouldn’t fix. Not that she knew a lot about grazing horses.

  She parked the car and turned off the engine. “Brady, is everything as you remember it? Has something changed?”

  Brady opened the car door and removed his walker from the backseat. “My house never looked this good before. That railing over there was broken.” He pointed to the front stairs. “And the shutter on that window above the door was hanging loose.” He walked closer to the house and ran his hand over the clapboard siding. “I don’t believe it.”

  “What? Brady, what’s going on?”

  “My dad fixed up my house and painted it. I’d been saving my money for months and my dad did it for me.”

  “Wow! That was nice of him.” Brady glared at her. “That wasn’t nice of him?” Sheila didn’t understand.

  Brady shook his head. “It was very generous of him, but I know my dad can’t afford it, and—” Brady removed his hat and raked his hand through his hair. “You’re going to think I’m the most ungrateful man on the face of the earth, but it meant so much to me to buy this house and be the one to fix it up. My dad has always done things for me. This was my project. He knew that.”

  “I’m sure he meant well, Brady.” Sheila turned off the headlights and joined him near the porch. “Your dad’s a good man.” She wasn’t sure what John’s motivation had been, but she could see the situation from both men’s point of view.

  “Yes he is, but it’s more than that, Sheila.” Brady rubbed his eyes. “My dad did this because he didn’t think I’d ever be able to do it myself. That’s why he and Alice didn’t want me to see my house all this time. Then I would have known they didn’t have faith in my recovery. I thought they believed in me.” Brady reached under the front porch step and removed a hidden key. “I’m almost afraid to see what they did inside.”

  So was she. She prayed they hadn’t gone through his house and made it wheelchair accessible. She’d heard of families doing that to patients without their permission and it wasn’t always welcomed. Having a physical disability didn’t mean a person couldn’t think for themselves any longer. Especially someone in Brady’s condition. Even at this point in his recovery, he’d most likely be able to get around his entire house on his own.

  Sheila placed her hand on his back as he unlocked the door. It opened silently and Brady mumbled something under his breath. “They lubricated my front door. I liked it squeaky. It gave it character.”

  He flipped the light switch on the wall and surveyed the living room. It was pretty sparse and Sheila feared John and Alice had removed much of his furniture. She chewed on her bottom lip, uncertain how he’d react.

  “At least they didn’t touch anything in here.” He trudged around the room.

  “Oh! It’s supposed to look like this?” Sheila quickly covered her mouth. “I’m sorry. I wasn’t disparaging it.”

  “Yes, you were. It’s okay. I’m a guy. This is what my house looks like.” Brady strode into the kitchen and turned on the lights. He returned satisfied. “I did have a few scatter rugs down that I don’t see, but I can live with that. Right now that’s probably for the best, especially with this clumsy thing.” Brady gestured to the walker.

  “Actually, I believe I have a cane in my trunk.” Sheila backed to the door. “Let me check. Be right back.”

  Sheila needed a minute to gather her thoughts. The intimacy of being inside Brady’s home had caught her off guard. Visiting someone’s house was such a casual and normal thing to do, yet with Brady if felt like the beginning of something much bigger. And she wasn’t so sure she minded that idea. She should mind. She should wait for him out on the front porch and take him straight back to Dance of Hope. But that wasn’t what she wanted. She wanted to tempt fate. She wanted to see where tonight would lead, knowing full well whatever happened would have to end here. She could allow herself one evening alone with him, if only to get Brady Sawyer out of her system.

  She grabbed the cane from her car and bounded up the porch stairs, reining herself in just before she opened the screen door. “Here.” She breathlessly thrust the cane at him.

  Brady laughed. “Sweetheart, I desperately need a shower after my fairgrounds walkathon. Would you be terribly offended if I took one?”

  “No, go right ahead.” Sheila looked around. “Do you mind if I use your bathroom?”

  “Sure, it’s upstairs. I’ll show you.”

  Sheila was impressed with his ability to climb the narrow stairs to the second floor using only the banister for support. She’d always wondered how people got furniture upstairs in the olden days. The stairways didn’t seem wide enough. She excused herself to the bathroom, returning minutes later to find Brady standing in the doorway of a room down the hall. She padded its length, peeking under his arm. He stepped aside so she could see into the room.

  “Gunner’s?” It was decorated in red, white and blue, Texas flags and bull rider decals adorned every wall. It needed a good going-over. A child’s room should never be vacant for so long that it got dusty or grew cobwebs. She had a suspicion Brady was thinking the same thing.

  He held her face in his hands and tilted it up to him. “Thank you for bringing me here. This means the world to me.”

  Instead of kissing her on the mouth as she’d expected—wanted—he kissed her on the top of the head and then released her. Well, she’d asked him not to kiss her and he kept it platonic. Too platonic.

  Sheila started to head downstairs, then thought better of it. She didn’t want to be too far away in case he needed her. Now she felt like his father and Alice. He was capable of taking a shower by himself without her hovering. She still couldn’t bring herself to go down the stairs. Instead, she peeked into the other two bedrooms. One was completely empty.
The other she assumed was his. A double bed and a dresser, sparsely decorated with the exception of trophies and champion belt buckles.

  She picked up one of them, the metal cold and surprisingly heavy in her hand. She’d seen them on television and on people when she was out, but she’d never touched one before. There was something personal and intimate about handling Brady’s buckle. Too intimate. She placed it back on the dresser. She shouldn’t be snooping around his room. She turned off the light and stepped into the hallway just as he opened the bathroom door wearing nothing but a towel.

  “Oh my.” Sheila’s eyes traveled exactly there. The one spot they shouldn’t have landed.

  Brady tilted his head, trying to make eye contact. “Is there something I can help you with?”

  Sheila knew her cheeks were flaming red and there was no hiding it. She met his gaze and smiled. “I’m going to go downstairs.”

  Sheila couldn’t get downstairs fast enough. She ran over to the couch, buried her face in the pillow and screamed. She’d never wanted a man more in her entire life.

  * * *

  BRADY ENJOYED THE effect he’d just had on Sheila. At least he knew he still had it, scars and all. Maybe they’d work in his favor. Women always went crazy for pirates and war heroes. Many of them had scars. Maybe there was something to it.

  He pulled on a fresh pair of jeans and a clean T-shirt and joined her in the living room. Going down the stairs definitely wasn’t as easy as going up them. Going up he could pull himself along, going down he had the sensation he was about to land on his face at any moment.

  Sheila had managed to find two Cokes in the refrigerator and an unopened bag of chips in the pantry. “I made us a little party, hope you don’t mind.”

  “I don’t mind at all. Make yourself at home.” Brady took in the sight of Sheila in his living room. She fit. She seemed at ease kicked back on his couch with her soda and chips. The only other woman who’d ever been in his house was Alice and she had always appeared very awkward. Which was surprising considering they’d grown up together and had practically lived at each other’s houses most of their lives. But she’d always seemed tense here. Even before he made an offer, he’d brought her to get her opinion. Although she’d said that she liked the house, it wasn’t to her taste.