That’s how, two days later, I walked up on stage at the Harvest Festival after Sinclair introduced me. My knees were knocking and my hands were shaking as I looked out over the sea of people from Salvation waiting to hear Ryder’s band play.
I stood at the microphone, paralyzed as I scanned the audience. I looked to the right of the stage where Sinclair smiled, and gave me a thumbs up.
“I…ah…I’m here to introduce...Ryder…ah…”
“Ryder Simms is a traitor,” I heard from the audience.
Immediately my hackles went up and I scanned the crowd until they landed on Earl Nesbit.
“Is that you Earl?” I yelled out. “You have some nerve calling Ryder a traitor. Does your wife know you sit at Kelly Wheeler’s table at Salvation Station so you can ogle her ass each night you’re out drinking?”
A long and loud “ooh” came from the audience. Earl shrank as his wife glared at him.
I put my fists on my hips. “Anyone else have something negative to say about Ryder?” I looked over everyone again, daring them to speak badly of Ryder. They all stayed silent. “Good. Now.” I took another breath. “I know you all know how the deputy mayor and Wyatt Jones got married to join forces for the farmers. At the time of their first wedding, well…that was fake. Of course, it took no time at all to become real, but they had the gall to say that being fake married was hard. Can you believe it? I mean, you’ve seen them, right?”
Everyone nodded.
“So, me and Ryder told them they were full of sh—malarkey. Being fake married couldn’t be hard. They insisted it was and bet us that we couldn’t stay fake married for a month.”
“That’s crazy,” someone yelled.
“Being fake married to Ryder would be a piece of cake,” a woman called out.
I saw movement next to me and turned to see Ryder standing at the side of the stage near Sinclair. He looked so sexy in his faded jeans, black t-shirt, and guitar strung over his shoulder. His bandmates stood behind him.
With my gaze on his, I said, “You’re right. The truth is, being fake married to Ryder was really easy. And it was the happiest time of my life. The hard part has been being separated from him.”
He had a quick intake of breath.
“Didn’t he knock you up?” someone yelled.
Good lord, what was I doing up here? I turned back to the audience.
“Ryder Simms gave me love and a baby when I don’t deserve either.” I gave him another quick glance. “I hope to have a chance to earn both back again. Ladies and gentlemen, I give you Ryder and the Storm.”
The crowd clapped and Ryder sauntered on stage as his bandmates took their spots with their instruments.
I moved away from the mic as I clapped wishing I could fling myself in his arms. He studied me but I wasn’t sure what he was thinking. Had I made a fool of myself? Had I done too much damage to ever be forgiven?
I reached Sinclair at the side of the stage and she draped an arm around me. “You did awesome girl. I think you should do all my speeches from now on.”
“I think I’m going to be sick,” I said as I realized I’d just done the one thing I said I’d never do. “Do you think he’ll forgive me?”
“You faced your fear to tell him you loved him. A guy would have to be heartless not to be moved by that, and one thing we know about Ryder is that he’s got the biggest heart in Nebraska.”
29
Ryder
When I first saw Sinclair being all chummy with Trina at the Heritage Festival, I felt a tinge of anger. Trina ripped my heart out and stomped on it like it was a disgusting bug. But Trina was carrying my child and she needed someone to support her, and of course, Sinclair, who was the baby’s aunt, should be there. I was still angry and hurt, but I didn’t want Trina to
be alone and until I could forgive her and move on as friends, Sinclair was the best help for her.
I pushed them out of my head as I went behind the outdoor stage to tune my guitar and prepare for the set with my band. When I heard Sinclair talking, we stopped and walked over to the side of the stage to get ready to go on. I was shocked when she introduced Trina. Had Trina admitted to not finishing the bet and this was her payback?
“I…ah…I’m here to introduce...Ryder…ah…”
“Ryder Simms is a traitor,” a man called from the audience.