Holding You (Love Wanted in Texas 3)

Looking at him with a confused face I asked, “You’re glad to hear what?”

Scott laughed. “That you love my daughter. I’m guessing you didn’t mean to say it out loud.”

“Um . . . well I . . . I mean I do love her and well—” For the love of all things, Colt, stop talking.

Scott laughed as he slapped my back but continued to look out the window. “You know, Colt, you proved something very big to me this afternoon. Two things actually.”

Scott started to make his way to the back door. “Walk with me, son.”

Following him out of the house, I waited for him to continue talking. A light breeze was blowing and I inhaled a deep breath to relax myself. There was nothing I loved more than to smell horses, hay, dirt, and just good ole horseshit.

Nodding his head, he smiled and let out a gruff laugh. “Lauren is my entire life, Colt. In my eyes, no man was ever going to be good enough for her. He would never love her like I loved her. I was wrong about that though and you showed me that today.”

My heart dropped to my stomach as I swallowed hard. “Sir, I’m afraid I don’t know what I did.”

Scott walked up to the fence of the small arena outside the main barn where a mare had just been brought up. Reaching down he grabbed a handful hay from a bale that was sitting there and gave it to the mare.

“You arranged to have Mighty Mike ran this morning before Lauren saw him. Why?”

Looking back at the barn, I saw Mr. Betrim talking to one of the stable hands. I knew he would report everything I did with Mighty Mike back to Scott.

Clearing my throat as I ran my hand down the neck of the mare, I said, “Well, I knew the first thing Lauren would want to do is jump up on Mike. I’ve come to know that horse the last few days. He likes to run and usually it’s the first thing he wants to do. I figured if I had Betrim run Mike for a bit this morning, it would get it out of his system that way when Lauren got up on him he wouldn’t be so damn high strung.”

Grinning like a fool, Scott looked at me. “That’s what I thought. That girl is like her mother. Stubborn and wants to do everything her way. Remember that.”

Chuckling, I said, “I will, sir.”

Turning and leaning against the fence, Scott scanned the area. Pushing my hand over my head, I wasn’t sure why I was so damn nervous.

“The second thing you showed me is your respect for my daughter and your belief in what she is capable of doing. Something I wasn’t doing until you and I had that little talk.” Glancing at me, Scott’s face was serious. “You sat there and let her take control of the conversation. You showed her that you would stand by her side no matter what and I respect the shit out of you for that, Colt. Your daddy is a fine man. One of the best men I’ve ever had the privilege of calling a friend. I have to tell you that . . .” Scott’s voice cracked as he shook his head and cleared his throat. “I have to tell you, Colt. Your daddy should be damn proud to see the man he and your mother have raised. I’d be honored . . . um . . . I’d be . . . hell this is so damn hard to say.”

Trying to get a grip on my emotions, I had no idea what Scott was going to say. I had approached him yesterday morning and asked for Lauren’s hand in marriage. I wasn’t sure when I was going to ask her, but I wanted to make sure I had Scott and Jessie’s blessings. Scott had stood up and walked out of the room, leaving me standing there wondering why he left. Jessie had said it was hard for Scott to think of his little girl growing up and getting married. She told me to give him some more time.

“Scott, if I did something wrong with the stallion then—”

Scott lifted his hand and laughed. “No, Colt. You’re doing everything right, son, don’t stop what you’re doing.” Placing his hands on his knees he began taking in deep breaths.

“Um, do you have asthma Scott? Is everything okay?” I asked as I tried to figure why Scott suddenly went pale and was trying to take in deep breaths.

Holding up his hand and motioning for me to stop talking, I just stood there. Taking a look around, I saw Jessie standing on the back porch with a smile on her face.

Scott stood up and jogged in place. “I’ve got this. I can do it.” Cracking his head from side to side I just stood there, trying to figure out what in the hell he was going to say.

Turning to me, Scott looked right into my eyes. “Colt, I’d be honored to have you ask for Lauren’s hand in marriage. I see the two of you together and I know there is no other man that would make my little girl happier than you.”

I bit down on the inside of my cheek to keep my tears at bay. What the hell was wrong with me? I’m acting like a pussy. I’m not going to cry. I’m not. I’m not a pussy. Don’t you dare cry, Colt Mathews.

Reaching deep down inside, I pulled out the memory of seeing Luke naked that one time. My body shuddered at the memory and the tears quickly vanished.

Reaching my hand out to shake Scott’s, I smiled. “Thank you, sir. That means the world to me to have your blessing.”

Scott nodded, shook my hand fast and hard before dropping it. “Right. Okay then. That’s done.” Turning, he made his way back to the house. Jessie wiped a tear away as she watched Scott walk toward her. It wasn’t lost on me the motion of Scott’s hand coming up to his face and wiping a tear away.

Glancing back at the barn, I watched as the love of my life came walking out with Mia on the end of the reins as she told Mr. Betrim what her plans were.

Leaning against the fence I took it all in. The way the sun was shining on her hair, the smile that she wore that seemed to brighten the area around her. The way she laughed when Mia got excited about heading out. Everything about this moment was perfect.

Beyond perfect.