Chapter 30
Rhett
Four months later
Iturn my head so my voice carries. “Still okay back there?”
“We’ve been walking for a bit now,” Carina says from behind me. “Where are you taking us?”
“You’ll see,” I say over my shoulder. “It’ll be worth it.”
She huffs. “I can’t wait to get there.”
“Why? Neither of us has to work. No point in rushing it.”
“That’s my point. The sooner we get to our destination, the sooner I can relax. All this walking under the hot sun isn’t relaxing.”
“As I said, it’ll be worth it.” I chuckle.
The last little while has been a whirlwind.
For someone who traveled to a handful of states to compete during my rodeo days, I’ve been all over this amazing country of ours. Photographers from coast to coast are clamoring for my attention.
When I was at the top of my game, I was lucky enough to land some pretty sizeable winning checks and a few incredible sponsorship deals—that’s how I was able to pay formy farmhouse without requiring a mortgage—but they pale in comparison to the money that’s been thrown at me lately.
After I stepped away from the limelight of being a rodeo star, I never thought I’d step under a new set of lights.
It’s been a good ride for my girl as well. Other than her cookbook deals and her YouTube channel, Food Network offered her a guess spot appearance as a judge on the show she won last season.
Life is good for both of us.
“It better be worth it, or else I’m asking for a refund.” Carina laughs.
“I can’t guarantee I’ll pay you back in cash.”
“Dirty man.”
“You knew that from day one, doll.”
We both laugh.
This is the first time in two months both of us have three consecutive days off. I intend to make the most of it.
I’d normally ride out to the Navarre River, but Carina isn’t comfortable on a horse yet. I want our time out here to be relaxed, so I decided on a road trip to beautiful Cross Timbers Hiking Trail.
After a little over an hour and a half long drive, I parked my truck a few miles back. We’ve been hiking for a bit on a trail through bushes near the river.
“As much as I’ve been grumbling about all this forced exercise, I must say the view is breathtaking,” Carina says.
“It is,” I say. “After visiting so many new cities, I still couldn’t live without being this close to rivers and all this greenery.”
My world starts and stops with the view of the big Texas sky.
“I couldn’t see you living anywhere else.”
She knows me well.
“Let’s take a right,” I say.
