The Rancher's Daughter by Pamela Ladner Page A

wrapped the rope around his hand.  He scooted up on the rope and nodded his head.  Josey was on the edge of her seat.  He rode the full eight seconds but his hand got caught up in the rope. He flopped around like a rag doll as bull fighters struggled to cut him loose.  Josey held her breath her hand over her mouth to keep from screaming. 
                  She stood at the rail once more watching and waiting.  Finally, he was loose.  He went down on his knees to catch his breath and thank God, he was alive then he stood up waved his hat to the audience and blew her a kiss.  She ran to the back to find him and check on him.  He was getting his hand wrapped when she found him.  The sports therapist was giving him advice that she knew he wouldn’t listen to.  She waited until the therapist left then found her way to his side. 
                  “Let’s get out of here.” He said.  Josey nodded, “Ok.”  He took her hand in his and pulled her out the back way.  “Where’s your truck, I rode with one of the guys.” He said.  Josey led him out to the parking lot where her truck was, parked.  He reached for the keys and opened the passenger door for her.  Then he climbed behind the steering wheel and put the truck in gear.  Josey slid to the center of the seat and he rested his injured hand on her knee.  She wrapped her hands around his arm and rested her head on his shoulder. 
                  They drove around for a little while.  Josey started asking questions about where they were going and then he pulled up to a little white chapel. It was probably the first one he seen that looked normal.  He slid out of the truck and she slid out behind him.  He took her hand in his and led her to the front door.  He paid the chaplain to make it nice and they said their I do’s in a room of only four people. 
                  The chaplain took pictures of them as well for a little extra money.  Josey was suddenly glad she had chosen her little white dress.  She was now Mrs. Heath Jenkins.  She couldn’t be happier.  They went back to her hotel room and made love the rest of the night.  She awoke the next morning to a knock at the door.  Heath had called for room service and it smelled delicious.  She crawled out of bed and wrapped the robe around her, not bothering to put on her clothes. Heath pulled her down in his lap at the table and kissed her good morning.  She took a bite of toast and shivered when Heath’s cold hand grazed her nipple.  He’d pushed the robe aside and was now making a feast of her breast.  She dropped her toast onto the plate and wrapped her hands behind his head.  They made love twice more that morning, before finally eating their breakfast. 
                  Today was the last night of the finals for Heath.  She wanted to stay in bed all day with him but she knew he had to be at the arena by a certain time.  They dressed and sent for her truck.  The valet returned with it, she slid across the seat to the middle, and Heath slid in beside her.  She wore her best jeans and her best shirt, today.  Heath was still wearing his clothes from the night before.  She realized he hadn’t had a change of clothes, in her hotel room.
                  They drove to the hotel room where he’d been staying with friends and he let himself in to get his bags and change his shirt.  She waited in the truck for him.  When he returned he threw the bag in the passenger seat and slammed the door.  He climbed back behind the wheel but before putting the truck into gear, he pulled her into his arms and kissed her.  He shifted the truck into first and pulled out of the parking lot.  The hotel he’d been staying at was not like the one she’d been staying in.  It was run down and cheap. 
                  She rode beside him in silence.  This time she did not enter through the front door but through the