The crowd got even louder. It was the highest score so far, and as each rider took his turn the rest of the night, no one could beat it.
Afterward, Merry Anna hung out in the box. Just like before, a group of girls flocked to the area where the cowboys came out. She was prepared for it this time.
Adam separated himself from the herd, raised a hand in her direction, and waved her over.
She met him halfway. “You were amazing. I about had a heart attack.”
“Well, don’t do that. We need the EMTs ready out here in the arena in case someone gets hurt.” He bumped her shoulder to shoulder. “Your prayers must’ve worked. No one got hurt. Thanks for those.”
“You bet.” It seemed she had a lot more to pray about since she’d arrived in Antler Creek.
On the walk back to his truck, she observed the other people leaving. There was a general atmosphere of fun in the air, but Adam seemed contemplative, probably coming down from the exhilaration of it all. They got into the truck and rode home, the radio taking the place of any conversation between them. When he pulled up in front of her house, he turned down the radio. “Glad you went?”
“I am.”
“I’m glad you did too. We’ll do it again sometime if you like.” He reached for her hat and gave it a slight tug down over her eyes. “You looked real pretty tonight. I meant it when I told you earlier.”
She lifted her face, hoping the hat might camouflage the blush that was certain to show she’d never been good with compliments. “I hope we will. I know you have a lot on your plate this year, and you need to stay focused on those goals.”
“Man, you are special. I’m riding nearby again next week. Maybe you can come with me then.”
“That would be nice.” She scooted out of the truck.“Congratulations on your win tonight.” She sensed him watching her. Spinning around to see, she took a couple of steps backward and waved to him.
Adam waited to leave until Merry Anna got inside. She turned on the porch light and waved again.
She watched as he rode off into the dark, but instead of being on a white horse, he was in a big Ford pickup truck. It was almost like a romance novel, the way it left her a little breathless.
15
Adam was in his workoutroom doing sit-ups, when it sounded like there was a knock at the front door. He hesitated, then dismissed it. He wasn’t expecting anyone.
He grunted out four more reps. Another knock, and this time there was no mistaking the sound.
“Hold your horses,” he mumbled. He’d gotten so he didn’t take kindly to people just dropping in unannounced, especially during his workouts. Normally, he’d ignore the interruption.
He finished the last two of his set, then laid the twenty-pound plate next to the workout bench and jumped to his feet.What if it’s Merry Anna?He mopped his brow with a towel and slung it back over his shoulder to the bench.
“Just a minute. I’m coming!” he yelled.
He opened the door, and a woman wearing a straw Charlie 1 Horse hat with a soft-pink band stood there looking down at the little girl clinging to her right hand.
He’d hoped it had been Merry Anna, because really no one came to the front door, but this was most certainly not her. “Hello?”
“Hi.” She lifted her face, the hat shadowing it still slightly,but the smile, those eyes—they were familiar. “Did I wake you?”
“No. I was up. Working out,” he said, suddenly aware of his sweat-drenched shirt. She just stood there, as if waiting for him to say something else.
She leaned away, her smile pulled into a tight line. “It’s me, Adam. Carly.”
Carly? Barrel racer from South Carolina.A wilder female version of himself. “Carly?” He ran a hand through his hair. “Wow. What’s it been? Years?”
“A long time.”
“How’ve you been?”
“A lot has happened. Some good. Some not so good.”
“Oh yeah, well, life’s like that. Had my share of ups and downs too. What are you doing here?” He didn’t remember her ever having been to the farm before, but here she was. Her eyes didn’t dance like they used to, but other than that, she looked the same. Memories of how her thick braid hung from beneath her hat as she raced through those barrels galloped through his mind. Her body would hug the horse, like an extension of it, the barrels and her legs flailing as they raced for the finish. No one could beat her, and then she just kind of disappeared from the circuit.
