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The Rodeo

By: sexygirl76



Chapter 1: The beginning and the end.

Before he even opened the door Ray knew what he would find once he walked into the house. Her car was gone out of the driveway, that was a sure sign something was wrong. She was always there to meet him when he came in off the road. The last time they talked on the phone, she had told him it was either her or the rodeo. He told her he couldn't quit, not yet. He was to close to finally getting the brass ring. She had slammed the phone down on his ear and he had gone to get drunk.

Sighing deeply, he turned the key in the lock and opened the door. He barely stepped into the house and sighed again. It was empty except for the furniture he had when they met. She had taken everything else. He dropped his keys on the coffee table and walked down the small hallway to the bedroom they shared. The closet door was wide open and her clothes were gone. He checked the bathroom just to make sure but wasn't surprised to see his shaving stuff and toothbrush was there but her drawer was completely empty. Sighing once more he walked back into the bedroom and collapsed on the bed. "I should have come home." He said to the empty room.

She had loved it at first, traveling around the country with him, watching him ride the bulls. Even when he broke his leg that first time she had been right there in the hospital room with him telling him she would be with him through his recovery. Ray laughed sourly, hell, the rodeo was where they met. She had just turned 18 and was at the fair with some friends. She had always wanted to see a rodeo so they agreed to go. He was the third one and from what she told him later, she held her breath during his whole ride.

He remembered standing there in the middle of the ring after the 8 seconds were up. His eyes scanning the crowd looking for friends and stopping on her. She wasn't the most beautiful woman in the world, but there was something about her that made his blood boil with need. He knew he had to meet her somehow. She was in the second row dressed in a pair of cut off shorts and a tank top that did nothing to hide her full figured body. Her long, wheat colored hair was hanging down her back in a ponytail. He couldn't remember how many nights he would run his fingers through her hair and just hold it against his face. He loved how soft it was.

When his eyes met hers, she smiled shyly then leaned over to talk to a tall husky guy next to her. Ray later found out that was her older brother Jake. He was playing chaperone that night. Ray smiled at her then walked back inside getting ready for his second ride. By the time the rodeo was over, he was hard as a rock and knew he had to find the girl who was making his blood boil.

It took him an hour to finally find her. She was flirting with a carnie over at the dart throw. He didn't know what it was but the thought of her flirting with anybody but him just turned his blood to ice. Hell, he didn't even know her name, he just wanted her in his bed and in his life. Walking up he wrapped his arm around her shoulder. "Hey baby, I was looking for you."

Both the carnie and her looked at him strangely. "Um... Well I am right here." She said looking into his amber eyes.

Without a word, he kissed her softly on the lips. "Yeah, I see this."

He looked at the carnie who just stepped back and held his hands in the air. "Hey, we were just having a little bit of fun man. That's all."

Amber was dumbstruck. She had never been kissed before and now this guy she had been watching in the rodeo suddenly is acting like they were a couple. True, she thought he was hot watching him ride that bull, but she never expected him to notice her. No one ever noticed her. 

Growing up in a small town in Oregon, the big thing was the yearly rodeo in Pendleton. It was only an hour drive from her home and she had always wanted to go, but her parents thought she was too young. Her father had been a bull rider until he screwed up his knee during one of his rides and that ended his career. He had met her mother in a café just outside of town when they were heading back to his home in Wisconsin and he decided to stay in Aurora. They went to Wisconsin once a year to visit his family, but that was as far as it went. 

Amber looked around to see if her brother had seen this guy suddenly claiming her for his own. She relaxed when she saw him over with his girlfriend Amanda on the ferris wheel. She knew she had a few minutes at least of peace before he was hounding her again. He had been ever since they got here. She had told him she was 18 now, but he still acted like she was a little girl who needed her big brother to look after her. Amber wondered if Jake wasn't part of the reason why she never went to any school dance or ever had a boyfriend. 

She was brought back to the present when the guy from the rodeo suddenly grabbed her hand and entwined his fingers with her own. Amber didn't have small fingers, but in his hand they looked small. She looked up at him and he just smiled making her want to melt right there on the spot. "Ready to go look at the other booths babe?" He asked looking pointedly at the carnie once more.

"Um... yeah, sounds great." She took the stuffed teddy bear she had won from the carnie, then followed the mystery man away from the booth.

She waited until they were a couple of booths away before she stopped and pulled her hand out of his. "I'm sorry, I tend to like to know a man's name before they kiss me." She said crossing her arms over her chest.

Ray blushed as he looked at her. "I'm sorry darling. I have been watching you through both my rides and I wanted to know if your lips tasted as good as they looked."

Now it was her turn to blush. "So do they?"

Ray reached up and brushed his fingertip against her bottom lip. "I'm not sure, didn't get much of a taste. Mind if I try again?"

Amber looked behind her once more and froze as she saw her brother and his girlfriend walking towards them. Jake didn't look happy. "Um..."

Ray looked where she was looking and quickly took her hand in his. "Come on."

She let him lead her to a darkened area between two booths. When Jake walked by she sighed in relief. "He is going to be pissed when he catches up to me." She said looking at the strange man.

He looked at her, "he your boyfriend?"

Amber laughed so hard she had to grab her stomach. Ray didn't see what was so funny and waited until she calmed down to ask. "No..." She said her eyes still twinkling. "I've never had a boyfriend. That is my brother Jake and his girlfriend Amanda."

Ray looked at her in surprise. How could this hot thing have never had a boyfriend? "So how do I fill out an application?" He asked with a smile.

She giggled again. "Can I at least know your name?"

He looked deep into her eyes and said with a straight face. "I'm Ray, Ray Marks."

She nodded. "Amber, Amber McGee."

He nodded once then cupped her face with his hand making her breath catch in her throat. "It is nice to meet you Amber."

"L...likewise." She said softly as she was caught up in his eyes.

Ray didn't say another word, instead he just lowered his head and caught her lips with his own. If his first kiss had caught her by surprise, this kiss made her cling to him like she was dying of thirst. The kiss was strong but tender. When his tongue pressed lightly against her lips, she opened them and heard as well as felt his moan as he wrapped his arms tightly around her and deepened the kiss.

Amber didn't know when her arms went up around his neck or when she started pressing herself against him, all she knew was she loved the feel of his lips on hers and she didn't want it to end. When she felt his hand cup then squeeze her ass, she felt something between her legs she had never felt before. Pure desire. She wanted him and she wanted him bad. She tangled her fingers in his hair as he continued to kiss her. When he finally pulled back they were both breathing heavily.

"Wow..." 

Ray smiled at her. "I take it no one has ever kissed you like that before."

She shook her head. "I've never been kissed before."

Again he looked at her in surprise. "You sure could fool me with the way you kissed me back darling."

She blushed deeply. "I guess you could say I had a good teacher."

That made him chuckle and pull her back into his arms. "Now that I have you, I don't think I ever want to let you go."

She wasn't sure if he was serious or not, but got the impression he was by the look in his eyes. "My brother might have a complaint with that."

He looked around then nodded. "Okay, fair enough." He loosened his grip on her but kept his arm wrapped around her waist. "So how about for now you just walk through the midway with me, when we meet up with your brother, we will see how things go."

Amber knew that as soon as they met up with Jake, her fairy tale night would come to an end. Her brother would see her with Ray and drag her to the car before she could say anything. Of course, it was a big fair, maybe she would be able to enjoy spending some time with Ray before the clock struck midnight so to speak. "Sounds good to me."

The next two hours were some of the best times Amber could ever remember having. They stopped at all the game booths and Ray won her something at every one. Before he would give it to her he would demand a kiss in payment. By the time they finally met up with Jake and Amanda outside the beer gardens, Amber's arms were full of stuffed animals and mirrors and posters and she was laughing like a little school girl. "Uh oh, he doesn't look happy." She said spotting her brother.

Ray looked over at Jake and had to agree. At 6' and 160lbs, Ray didn't consider himself small. However, her brother made him feel small. Jake had to be at least 6'4" and 200lbs of pure muscle. He had a tattoo on his arm that said live and die with a motorcycle beneath it. "Um, does your brother ride a motorcycle by chance?" He asked as they slowly walked towards the couple.

Amber nodded as she tried to smile at her brother. "Yes he does, and he lives up to the biker image."

"I was afraid you were going to say that." He said right before they met up with Jake and Amanda.

Jake didn't say a word to Amber, he just looked straight at Ray. "Give me one reason not to knock your teeth down your throat." He said in a growl.

"Because he has been helping me have fun and protecting me from the carnie's and I like him." Amber said before Ray could say a word.

Jake looked over at Amber with a look that would make a grown man cry. She just stared him down until he looked away. "Where the hell have you been? I saw you when we got off the Ferris wheel, then you just disappeared." He looked at his watch then back at his sister. "I have been looking for you for two freaken hours."

Amber didn't back down, she handed her prizes to Ray then got right up against her brother. "I am 18 years old Jake. I'm not a little girl anymore. If I want to walk around the midway with Ray, you aren't going to stop me."

At that moment Ray wanted to be anywhere but there. He looked at the blonde girl with Jake and she smiled at him. "By the way, I'm Amanda, Amber's soon to be sister."

Ray nodded his head at her. "Ray Marks."

Amanda nodded, she noticed Amber and Jake were glaring at each other so she tried to keep the conversation going. "I saw you ride today. Great job with that bull."

Ray smiled. "Thanks, so far there hasn't been a bull I can't ride."

"Well you're not going to ride this one." Ray looked over at Jake. He had a hold of his sister's arm and she was trying to break his grip. "We're going home."

Amber looked at him pleadingly then looked over at her brother. "I don't want to go home. I am having fun. Mom and dad said I could come home whenever I wanted to." She finally broke the grip he had on her arm and moved over to stand next to Ray. "If you and Amanda want to go home, go, I will find my own way."

Ray knew he should say something. He had a rule to never come between family members. Especially with his family. His father had walked out when he was two leaving his mother to raise him and his brother on her own. His brother had been driving truck for the past few years and he didn't know where he was at. Ray had joined the rodeo at 18 and never looked back. Now 5 years later, he was one of the best bull riders in the business. At the same time though, he wasn't ready to let Amber leave yet. He had barely tasted her, he wanted her to stick around, he wanted her in his bed and in his life. "I..."

"If you are smart, you won't say a word." Jake said not looking at him but still glaring daggers at his sister. "It is an hour back to town. How you planning on getting home?"

"I'll take her." Ray could have kicked himself as soon as the words left his mouth but he knew he wasn't ready to say goodnight yet.

Amber and Jake both looked at him in surprise, while Amanda smiled and took Jake's arm. "Sounds good to me. Come on Jake, I'm hungry." Before anyone could say a word, she pulled Jake back onto the midway and wrapped her hand in his.

Amber looked after her brother and his girlfriend then turned to Jake. "Thank you, I think."

Ray smiled and put the things back in her arms. "No reason to say thank you darling. I'm not ready to say goodnight. Are you?"

He stood there tensely for a moment, he wondered if he should have said anything at all. Her words relaxed him though. "No... I meant what I said about having fun. I like hanging out with you Ray."

He smiled and kissed her nose. "I'm glad, cause I like hanging out with you too."

They spent the rest of the evening walking around the midway, he got her on the Ferris wheel and kissed her when they were at the top. Her brother and Amanda showed up and her brother gave her one last chance to come home with them. When she said no, he made Ray promise to take care of her before they left. He did and Jake was satisfied.

They hung around the carnival until it closed then Ray took her to his trailer. His ford pickup was parked next to it. "I'll be honest, I want to take you inside and make love to you, but if you want me to take you home, I will."

She looked at him in surprise. "I... I've never."

He pressed a finger against her lips. "I know, I don't know what it is about you, but I want to be your first. I want to be your last. I want to bring you to my bed and never let you go."

He opened the door to the trailer then looked at her. "Do we go in here or do I take you home?"

Amber was scared, she wanted him to but she had always been told to save herself for marriage. She was afraid if she turned him down, she would never see him again, but at the same time, if she did let him make love to her, she was afraid he would forget her after wards. Ray didn't pressure her, he just stood there holding the door as she decided. Finally she looked at him, smiled and stepped into the trailer. With a smile, he stepped in behind her.

The trailer was small. Table, stove, small fridge. He showed her where the small bathroom was then led her into the bedroom. There was a queen size bed that took up most of the room. She barely started to look around when he gathered her in his arms once more and kissed her deeply. Amber moaned and pressed against him, then pressed even harder when he deepened the kiss and she felt his hands slide up over her back under her shirt. "God, I have wanted to feel you all night." He said with a soft sigh as he pulled his lips away but kept his hands on her back. "You feel so good darling."

She smiled at him. "So do you."

He chuckled as he released her and unbuttoned his shirt letting it slide off his shoulders. She marveled at his hairy chest and how it wove into a V down into his jeans. "Now how would you know that darling? You haven't touched me... Yet."

He took her hand and placed it against his chest. "Touch me baby, touch me like I'm touching you." He let his hands slide inside her shirt again, this time around the front. She moaned softly as his hands cupped her breasts and just held them. She let her fingers run over his stomach and chest and loved the fact that his hair was soft. "I love touching you." She said softly looking up into his eyes.

"I love touching you to." He said with a smile. He kissed her softly once more, then pulled back and gripped the bottom of her shirt. He figured she would pull away as he started to lift her shirt but when she lifted her arms so he could pull it over her head, his breath caught in his throat. 

She wasn't wearing a bra but in his opinion she didn't need one. She wasn't huge, only 38C, but he thought her breasts were beautiful. They were firm and pert. They hung away from her chest just as they should without sagging. Without a word, he cupped both breasts in his hands and squeezed them together as he leaned down and gently took one of her nipples into his mouth suckling softly on it. "Oh yes, that feels so good." She purred throwing her head back and running her fingers through his hair.

He suckled on one nipple until it was hard, then moved his mouth to the other one and gave it the same treatment. Amber ran her fingers through his hair and rested her hands on his shoulders as she pressed against him. "God Ray, please don't stop. That feels so good."

Ray nibbled on the hard flesh and heard her soft gasp as she moaned in delight. When he pulled away she whimpered in need. "Why did you stop?"

He chuckled as he brushed his fingers across her face. "Relax darling. I'm just getting started."

He led her over to the bed and stopped before she sat down. With deft fingers, he undid her jeans and worked them slowly down over her hips. Amber kicked off her flip flops and stepped out of the pants until she stood there in nothing but her g-string. "You are beautiful." He said admiring her.

"No, I'm not." She said looking down at the floor.

He cupped her chin in his fingers and lifted her eyes to his. "Yes you are. I don't care what anybody else says, I think you are beautiful. Understand."

She saw the truth in his eyes and nodded in amazement. No one had ever called her beautiful before. Not even her father. She melted against him as he kissed her once more and she felt the bed come up to meet her with Ray coming down over her. She hadn't noticed he had stripped out of his own jeans and she felt his cock pressing against her leg.

Amber wasn't sure if she should touch him but she wanted to. Without warning, she reached down between them and grasped his hardening cock in her hand. She heard his sharp intake of breath and almost let go when he covered her hand with his own. "No, don't let go. Please."

She looked up at him as she felt him pulsing in her hand. "I hurt you though."

He chuckled as he tried to keep his need in check. "Only in a good way darling." Holding loosely to her hand, he guided her so she was running her hand up and down over him. "That's it baby, stroke that meat. Get me nice and hard to slide inside you."

Ray had lifted his body up a little so she could stroke him and she lowered her eyes to see what her hands felt. He was at least 9 inches long and about 2 inches thick. "That won't fit inside me." She said softly looking up into his eyes again.

"It will hurt a little at first, but I promise, I will make you feel really good." He said looking at her with a soft smile.

She nodded and continued slowly stroking him as he worked at her breasts with his mouth once more. "Oh god Ray, that feels so good." She lost her grip on his cock when he started working his way down her body until his face was above her hidden well. She held her breath as she watched him slide her thong down over her hips. No man or woman had ever looked at her down there and she was a bit ashamed at the fact that she shaved her pussy for a birthday present. Ray didn't seem to mind though, in fact, he seemed to love the fact that she was shaved. "I love a shaved pussy." He said with a soft growl as he leaned forward and spread her pussy lips open. When he leaned down and took a long taste, Amber almost jumped out of her skin. 


The Rodeo



"Oh my god." She whimpered pressing up against him as he tasted her again. When he started flicking her clit with his tongue, she purred and started whimpering as she pressed against him. "Oh god Ray, what are you doing to me?"

He lifted his head and looked at her. "I'm getting you ready for me darling. Just lay back and enjoy it."

Amber nodded as he went back to licking and nibbling at her flesh. When she was on the brink, she screamed. "Oh my god, I feel like I am about to explode."

"You are darling." Just then he slid a finger inside her and felt her body clamp down on it as she came for the very first time. He worked her through her orgasm, slowly fingering her as he worked on her clit with his mouth. By the time she had cum for the second time, she was begging for more and he had three fingers moving smoothly inside her. 

"Are you ready for me darling?" He asked moving up over her and pressing his hard cock against her entrance.

She looked at him through fire filled eyes. "Please Ray, I need you so bad."

He kissed her deeply as he slowly started to penetrate her, when he came to her blockage he stopped. "Why did you stop?" She asked reveling in how full she felt.

He looked at her seriously. "Just grab a hold of me and don't let go."

She did as he asked and screamed as he suddenly slammed his hips forward burying himself completely inside her. She felt like he had just torn something inside and her fingers dug into his back as she clung to him. "Oh fuck, it hurts."

Ray held himself tight inside her as he kissed away her tears. "Its okay baby, the pain will go away, I promise." He kissed her softly, then deeper as he felt her body start to relax. When he felt it was safe he pulled back a few inches the pressed back into her. Amber wrapped her legs around his waist as she tentatively started matching his strokes with strokes of her own. "That's it baby, fuck with me. Show me how much you love my dick inside you."

She met him stroke for stroke as she felt the pressure building up once more inside her. "Ray, oh god, yes, it feels so good. Don't stop."

Ray had no intention of stopping, her pussy was clinging to him and it was taking a lot of willpower not to just slam into her. "You ready love."

She looked at him in surprise when he called her love then smiled. "I'm ready for anything."

He smiled again then captured her lips with his own as he really started working inside her. He pulled out to the very tip then slammed back inside making her whimper and cry out for more. As he felt her getting closer and closer to going over the edge, he sped up his strokes, making each slam more powerful then the last.

"Ugh, oh fuck yes." She panted digging her nails into his back as she pressed her body up tightly against his. "Fuck me Ray, oh god, fuck me."

Ray did just that, he slammed his hips forward like a jackhammer and she met every powerful thrust until she couldn't hold back anymore .She screamed in pleasure as her body contracted around him. "Fuck, I'm cummminnnngggg." He growled forcing himself deep inside her once more as he let go and filled her with his seed.

When it was over, he rolled over onto his side and gathered her into his arms. She giggled as she kissed his arm. "I take it you're not taking me home tonight."

He looked at her with a smile, then his eyes got serious. "I just took your virginity little one. That is important to me." She looked at him seriously. 

"What are you saying?"

He brushed her sweaty hair back from her face. "You're mine little one. I have you now and I am never letting you go."

He never did, until today. For the past five years they were inseparable. He took her home the next day and told her family that he wanted to be with her. Since she was an adult and wanted to be with him as well, they had no complaints. Two years later, they had a small ceremony in her parents' back yard and he made her his wife. For the past three years, they would travel around the country during rodeo season and when it was off season he worked as a carpenter. Everything was great, until a year ago when she had the miscarriage. She told him she didn't want to travel anymore, traveling was to hard on her body and she wanted to stay home and hopefully carry a child full term.

So she stayed home and he traveled. About a week ago, she begged him to come home, but it was the finals. One more bull and he would be number one for the season. He explained that to her but she got upset and hung up on him. Two days later he called and she told him if he didn't come home now, she would be gone by the time he did. He told her he wasn't ready to quit, they had extended the season. She said goodbye. He never expected it to be a complete farewell goodbye.

"I should have come home." He said leaning back against the pillows." It was then that he felt the note under his head. Sitting up her grabbed it and tears filled his eyes as he read.

"Ray;

I told you it was the rodeo or me. I want a family, I want a life. I won't divorce you but I can't live the kind of life you live anymore. It was great in the beginning, but now, it is just too hard. I have gone home. If you decide that you want to be with me instead of the road, you know where I am.

I still love you and always will.

Love Amber

He held the note in his hand. He wasn't ready to quit, not yet, he still needed the brass ring. He just hoped when he was ready to finally settle down, it wouldn't be too late.

 

Chapter 2 Five years later

23 year old Amber Marks looked at her four year old son with a sigh. It hadn't been easy raising him on her own but she had done it. A couple of months after she left Ray, she had discovered she was pregnant. She never told him though. She wanted him to come home on his own, not because he had a child waiting. She lived with her parents while she went to school and just last year bought a small two bedroom house down the street from them. She worked steady at the local travel agency and her mother loved playing grandma and babysitting while she worked.

As her son finished his dinner, she looked at the clock and sighed. She still couldn't believe she had let Jake talk her into going to the rodeo. Even though they were here in Aurora this time and not Pendleton, she had refused to go the last five years knowing that Ray would be there. She couldn't handle seeing him and knowing he wasn't hers anymore. He had never served her with divorce papers but she was sure he hadn't spent the last five years alone either. Unlike her, Ray was the first and only man to ever touch her. She played with herself from time to time, but it wasn't the same. She had to admit that Ray had his faults but he was a damn good lover.

"That's enough Jerry." She said taking the half eaten bowl of spaghetti away from him. He had been playing with it for almost an hour now not really eating. He knew his mother was upset and it was affecting him. "Is Tommy coming over?" The four year old asked as Amber cleaned him up.

Tommy Richards was about as close to a boyfriend as Amber had in the past five years. He was a good friend and worked with her at the travel agency. He had tried numerous times to get her in his bed but so far hadn't succeeded. Jerry had called him daddy a couple of times but stopped when Amber told him that he was not his father. "No honey, not tonight. He is out with some friends." Tommy had tried to get her to go to the rodeo with him but she told him that since Ray would more n likely be there it wasn't a good idea. He had kissed her on the cheek and told her he would see her Monday at work.

Suddenly the door bell rang. "Uncle Jake." Jerry said jumping out of his chair and running to the door. Amber stood there with the cloth still in her hand. 

"Yeah, Uncle Jake."

Jake smiled at her as he carried his own 6 month old daughter in his arms. "Hey sis, how you doing?"

She let him kiss her on the cheek and kissed her niece before she looked at her brother. "I can't believe I let you talk me into this." She threw the rag in the sink then smiled at Amanda. Her sister was 3 months pregnant with their second child and was beaming. 

Jake looked at her with a sad smile. "You have to face him sometime."

She looked at her brother pleadingly. "Why? Ray has been in town every year for the past five years. He hasn't said a word to you or Amanda even though you both have gone to every rodeo. What makes you think things will be different?"

Jake shook his head. "I don't know, I just do."

"Come on sis, it will get you out of the house." Amanda said wiping drool off of Michelle's mouth. "You don't get out enough. I'll take care of the kids, you guys have fun."

Amber looked pleadingly at her sister for a minute then nodded. "Just let me grab a sweater.

Amber was dressed comfortably in a pair of shorts and a tank top. She was dressed pretty much the same way she had been that fateful night five years ago. As she sat in the passenger seat of her brother's truck, she knew he was right. Ray may not have acknowledged her brother or sister when they went to the rodeo, but she had a feeling she wasn't going to be so lucky.

Ray stood on the pillar between him and the bull and sighed. Tonight was his last ride. After the doctor told him he needed to quit or there was a chance he would never walk again, he knew it was time to give it up. He thought it was fitting that his last ride would be in the town where he knew Amber was. He didn't know how he knew, he just knew.

He leaned down about to grab the bridle and swing his leg over when he stopped and looked towards the stands. He couldn't believe his eyes, she was there in the stands and looked as beautiful as she did that first time he saw her. He had seen Amanda and Jake every year since she left but he never had the guts to speak to them. He knew he wouldn't get so lucky tonight.

Taking a deep breath, he closed his eyes, said a prayer that he came out of this alive and swung his leg over the bull.

"Our next competitor is no stranger to this circuit. He is a five time national champion. Let's hear it for Ray Marks." The announcer yelled as they opened the gates.

Amber's throat tightened and she lost her breath as she saw him come into the arena on the bucking bull. She had hated watching him ride, she was always afraid he would fall off and get trampled. Every time she watched him hang on for those 8 seconds and tonight was no different.

When time was up he jumped clear then smiled at the crowd. Except she didn't see anybody but him. He hadn't changed in the past five years, except he had let his hair grow out and it was down around his shoulders. When her eyes met his, her breath caught once more in her throat and she nodded. He motioned towards the gate and walked out of the arena.

Amber closed her eyes, sighed then looked at her brother. "I'll be back."

Jake didn't say a word as he watched her move through the stands. He knew where she was going and was glad he wasn't in her position. He watched her until she was out of site, then went back to watching the bull riders.

Ray was standing on the outside of the gate watching the other riders. When he heard her walk up he turned. "You are still as beautiful as you were that day." He said staring at her.

She smiled softly. "Thanks. I like your hair. I'm glad you let it grow out. I'm sure your girlfriend loves running her fingers through it." Amber wanted to kick herself as soon as the words left her mouth. She felt a fire run through her as she thought of him holding another woman but forced it down, she was the one who had walked away.

She looked at the ground and jumped when she felt his fingertips touch her chin. She hadn't heard him move. "Look at me Amber, please."

She felt tears fill her eyes and shook her head. "I can't." She turned to leave but he caught her arm. She turned back to look at him. "Why Ray? Why couldn't you let it go?"

He still had a hold of her arm but she didn't shake him off. Instead she saw the pain enter his eyes. "I couldn't. You don't understand. I had to prove something. I had to prove I wasn't a quitter like my old man."

She knew she would regret it but she couldn't stop her hand from reaching up and brushing against his face. "You're nothing like your father Ray. I've told you that, your mother has told you that."

"I know, but I had to prove it to myself."

She let her hand drop as she shook his hand off her arm. "I hope it was worth it."

She turned to walk away again but his words stopped her. "Tonight was my last ride."

She turned back to look at him in shock. "What did you say?"

"Tonight was my last ride. I was hoping you would be here. I wanted to tell you." He took his hat off and held it in his hands as he looked at her. "I love you Amber. I'm sorry I didn't realize it sooner. It has been a long five years, but I want my family back. I want you back."

She wanted to believe him, she wanted to throw herself in his arms and cry out his name, but something held her back. "What about your flavor of the week? I think that is what they are called now a days."

He chuckled sourly. "There isn't anybody else. There hasn't been anybody since you."

She looked at him in surprise. "Why do I find that hard to believe?"

Just then another of the riders walked up and stopped when he saw Amber. "So this is the one you have turned all the other ones down for." 

Amber looked at the new man in surprise. Ray just chuckled. "Yup, this is her. Amber, this is my buddy Nick. Nick, my wife Amber."

Nick shook hands with her and smiled. "It is nice to finally meet you. I have tried numerous times over the past five years to get him hooked up with one gal or another, but he kept saying the only woman he wanted was you."

Amber looked at Ray and saw the pain in his eyes. "He is telling the truth Amber. There hasn't been anybody but you."

"I...I..." She felt the tears running down her cheeks. She wanted to believe him but she was so scared. "Tonight really was your last ride?"

He nodded and she lost all her reserve. She ran at him and threw herself into his arms. He wrapped his arms around her and just held her as she cried. "It's okay baby. I'm so sorry I hurt you. I'll never leave again."

Just then Jake walked up. "Well it's about damn time I saw that. That girl has been moping along for too long Ray."

Ray smiled at his brother. "Thanks for bringing her tonight Jake. I owe you."

Amber pulled away from Ray and looked at her brother. "You knew?"

Jake nodded. "Ray called me about a week ago. Told me tonight was his last ride and asked me to bring you."

Amber looked back at Ray and wanted to punch him. "You set me up."

Ray just tightened his arms around her. "I knew if I called you, you wouldn't come. I had to talk to you. I had to know if I still had a chance."

She looked at him softly. "You always had a chance Ray. I meant what I put in that note. I was just waiting for you to decide it was time to come home."

He kissed her softly. "I am home baby. I am home."

 

Epilogue: A new beginning

After the rodeo Jake and Amber helped Ray clean out his trailer, said goodbye to Nick then Jake followed them back to the house while Amber rode with Ray. "Um... there is something I need to tell you." Amber said as they got to the house. "Before we go in." 

Ray looked at her in fear. Was there someone waiting for her? Whoever it was, was just going to have to accept that her husband had come home. "What is it baby? Is there someone waiting for you?"

Amber looked towards the house and watched her brother walk inside before turning back to Ray. "In a sense yes."

Ray looked at her with a steel glint in his eyes. "Well, whoever it is will have to leave. Your husband doesn't share his woman with anyone."

Amber wanted to laugh at the jealousy she saw in his face. "Why don't you meet him before you kick him to the curb." She got out of the truck before he could respond.

Ray watched her climb out of the truck dumbfounded. Obviously she had another man and actually wanted him to share her. Well he would put a stop to that. That was for sure.

He followed her to the house but when he stepped inside, all he saw was Amanda, Jake and two kids. "So where is this guy you want me to meet?" He looked around wondering if maybe the dude was in the bathroom or something.

Amber picked up her son and walked over to Ray. "He is right here."

Ray looked at her in surprise. "Here?" He looked at the little boy in her arms and knew without her saying a word that he was his son. "I have a son?"

Amber nodded as tears filled her eyes. "Jerry, say hello to your daddy."

Jerry looked at his mom then at the strange man who had walked into the house. "Daddy?" He asked looking at Ray.

Ray was choked with emotion and could only nod. He held his arms out to his son and smiled when Jerry leaned out for him. He took him into his arms holding him tight as he looked at Amber. "I... I never knew."

Amber nodded. "I know. I wanted you to come home because you wanted to. Not because you felt like you had to."

As Ray looked from the woman he loved to the child in his arms, he knew his wild days were done. It was time to settle down and raise his family. He wasn't going to be like his father and run at the first sign of trouble. He knew it was time to be a man. As he kissed Amber softly the words he spoke earlier rang true. He was finally HOME!!!!!!