My Cowboy Forever Bonus Scene

The fair always has certain scents associated with it. The scent of onion rings and hot dogs. The scent of sugar and cinnamon from the elephant ears. The lingering sweetness has already caused people to line up at the booth eagerly waiting to be served.

Laughter, bright lights, and noise from the rides cut through the October evening.

I take it all in as we hand over our tickets and pass through the gate. My hand tightens on Jude’s, fitting perfectly the way it has for eight years now.

“You’re still sure this is a good idea on a school night? The kids aren’t going to want to get up tomorrow.” Not long after we married, I became pregnant with our twins, Jenson and Jordana.

My handsome cowboy squeezes my hand in return and grins at me. I love the way he smiles. I love the way he laughs, and I love the way he loves me. Deeply. Passionately. Fiercely.

“I’ll handle getting them up for school. And I’ll make sure their homework and backpacks are ready. I’ll also pick them up in the afternoon so you can keep working on your project.”

I smile up at him. “My man never fails to impress me with how he handles things.”

 “I swear to always impress you with how I handle things. Especially your things.” He smiles back, but his smile is tinged with memories of long nights and heat between us.

“My things?” I ask, pretending not to understand. “I don’t remember you handling my things.”   

He stops walking and puts his hand on my hip, drawing me to him so our bodies fit together. Then he leans close, his warm breath brushing my ear. “We can let my folks take over from here.” He glances ahead where Gavin and Frances are walking with our kids.

“And why would we do that?” I ask.

 “So I can take you home and remind you how well I handle whatever my wife needs.”

Heat curls through my body the way it always does when Jude speaks to me in that low tone, his voice heavy with promise. All these years and I still want him the same way I did the first time.

“Mom!” Jordana races to us, her face flushed, excitement shining in her eyes. “Grandma says she’ll take me on the roller coaster!”

I love that my daughter lives her life full speed ahead. No fears. No hesitation. Just embracing life. It’s taken being married to Jude for me to learn to live the same way. And I learned to do that because I know someone is always there backing me up.

Jude will help me stand if I fall. He celebrates my successes and never fails to tell me that I can do anything, that my dreams are beautiful and within reach.

“Are you sure Grandma is okay with that?” I look over at my mother-in-law who doesn’t seem thrilled at the prospect of the roller coaster, but because she loves to spoil her grandkids, she’ll do anything they want.

Jordana turns toward Frances. “I’ll hold your hand and you won’t be scared, Grandma.”

“What if I take you instead?” Gavin offers.

“You’re supposed to go with me to the bumper cars,” Jenson protests.

“What if we all start with cotton candy?” Jude asks.

The kids immediately dismiss that idea in favor of the rides.

Jude crouches in front of them, speaking softly. “Your grandparents have a tougher time on some of the rides.”

My heart squeezes the way it does every time I see him with our children. The way he patiently explains things to them. The way he teaches them compassion. The way he leads them and still gives them the freedom to explore and make mistakes.

Our children shine brightly because he’s never once dimmed the stars they are.

“What if Mom and Dad go with you on the rides?” Jude offers.

The kids immediately dismiss that idea too and ask to go on the train ride, a tamer thrill that Gavin and Frances can handle better. Jude’s parents quickly agree.

We watch them walk off together, and I say, “Your parents are such good people. I’m so grateful for them.”

“Me, too.” He rises and locks his gaze on mine. “I want to get you alone. I have something to give you.”

My heart beats faster. “Meaning you want to go home?”

“I can give it to you here.”

“Jude! This is not the place,” I scold him.

He laughs softly. “You have that on the brain.”

“It’s your fault. If you weren’t so good at what you do, I wouldn’t be so addicted to you.”

“I’ll plead guilty to making you plead.”

I swat his arm at the reminder of how easily he can do that.

Jude leads me toward the back of the fairgrounds where the noise and lights aren’t as noticeable, then turns me to face him.

I move closer and lean my head against his chest. I love hearing the steady beat of his heart.

His arms close around me like the haven they’ve always been.

“It feels like it was just yesterday when you said yes to becoming my wife.”

I smile at the memory, my heart lurching as I think back to those days leading up to the best decision I ever made. “I know. The years pass so quickly, and you make every one of them better than the year before.”

He tips my chin up to face him, his warm gaze searching mine. “Thank you for trusting me with your heart.”

“Thank you for giving me a life that’s better than anything I could have imagined.” And it is better because of him. Jude is a man of quiet strength. A fortress in the storms I’ve faced. And a warrior when I’ve had to go to battle because of my family drama.

“Our anniversary is coming up,” he says.  

“I know. Best day of your life,” I tease.

“And the wedding night was the best night of your life,” he teases back.

I laugh.

“I want to give you an early gift,” he says, surprising me. “I even gift-wrapped it.”

I narrow my eyes. “You better not have gift-wrapped what I think you did.”

“That was one time, and it was funny as hell.”

I glance down at his belt buckle. “It wasn’t a gift since you already gave it to me before.”

He laughs. “But you still use it because it’s your favorite.”

I sigh, and his gaze drops to my mouth, his laughter fading.

“Seriously…I got you this. Hold out your hand.”  

Jude places a small box wrapped in white paper with a red string bow in my palm. I untie the bow, peel back the paper and open it. Then I gasp. “It’s beautiful!”

The ring is made of interlocking hearts outlined with diamonds.

Jude takes it from the box and slips it onto my finger.

“One side has your name and the other mine. They’re linked because that’s exactly where our hearts belong. I will always be your cowboy.”

I know that now. I didn’t used to because I didn’t believe in forever. But Jude has shown me that love, real love, doesn’t mean the kind of chaos and pain my life was before him.

Jude lowers his head and kisses me. And the kiss isn’t the same as it was when we first got together. That one was rooted in passion, not looking for a future. At least, that was my thinking.

Jude was always looking for a future with me. And I’m glad I stopped fighting my fears and myself and walked into that with him.

He lifts his head and strokes the side of my face. “Happy early anniversary, my beautiful Rainee.”

“Happy early anniversary right back at you, my forever cowboy.”

We share another kiss, longer and deeper, before we stroll back toward the main part of the fair. We almost reach the ring toss booth when we see the kids running toward us.

Jude smiles as he watches them. “We did good, Rainee.”

I blink back tears. “We did.”

“I loved making those kids,” he says.

I laugh because what he says is so unexpected. Then I nudge him. “I forgot to tell you, your mom offered to take the kids for the night. I’m thinking maybe that’s not a bad idea.”

Jude whips his head around to look at me. “Are you kidding? That’s a damn fantastic idea. I’ve got something to gift-wrap as soon as you and I are alone.”

I groan. “I’m not playing with you.”

“Yet,” he says with a wink. “But we’ve got all night.”