They must've posted a goodtime.
Dan loosed his lasso as the rodeo clowns took over with the steer, releasing it and herding it out of thearena.
Heart causing an earthquake in his chest, he turned his horse not toward the exit but toward the fence in front of thecrowd.
Searching... there. Megan was just behind Julianne and Brady, wedged in next toCarrie.
He sidled up his horse in front of her. Still a couple yard away, but close enough to see she was crying, tears making silver tracks down hercheeks.
His gutplunged.
But he wasn't a stranger to doing hard things. And he was going to dothis.
He took off hishat.
Brady jumped out of his seat, Juliannefollowing.
"C'mon, Aunt Megan," Brady whispered when she didn'tmove.
That seemed to galvanize her. She stood, though she looked a bit shaky, and climbed over the front bleacher to stand next to the arena fence, just in front ofhim.
He handed her his hat. She might not know it, but a man's hat was a personal thing. He was basically giving her his heart, there for everyone tosee.
She took it, and he couldn't help the relieved grin that spread across his face. The way her eyes were shining up athim...
"What are you doing?" shewhispered.
"Making adeclaration."
Her face turned an adorable shade ofpink.
"These folks have seen me make a lot of mistakes over the years. Some big ones. I think it's about time they see me do something right, foronce."
Nate wolf-whistled from somewhere behind him. Dan’s smile turned wry. There were good things and bad things about having his best friendback.
"Megan, you've got my heart. And I don't want itback."
Another silver tear slipped down her cheek. Her smile was tremulous. "I'll take care of it.Promise."
He reached out forher.
She glanced at the arena fence. At his horse. At the crowd behind her. Somebody high up in the stands shouted, "Go forit!"
And he recognized the determined look that crossed herface.
She mashed his hat on her head and startedclimbing.
He edged his horse sideways to the fence and caught her as she wobbled on the top railing. Pulled her across the saddle onto hislap.
And kissedher.
The crowd went wild again, cheering andwhistling.
"All right, already," called a voice, interrupting the moment. One of the rodeo clowns was right there, waving Dan's hat. He hadn't realized he'd knocked it off, lost in the intensity of theirkiss.
"Can we get back to business here?" the clown asked. His grumpy voice was at odds with the wide red smile painted on hisface.
Megan giggled, hiding her face against hisshoulder.
