Publisher: Tule Publishing
âAll right.â Kelly wiped her fingers carefully and moved the soiled food containers out of the way. Then she reached into her tote bag and took out a folded article of clothing wrapped in tissue paper. âI hope it fits. I had to guess at your size.â
âItâs a lucky vest for you to wear when youâre bull riding,â Ricky spilled the beans excitedly. âMom made it to match your chaps, didnât you, Mom?â
âYes, but Ricky, you know he has to wear a protective padded vest when heâs riding, right?â She glanced at Cody. âUsually heâs telling me how rodeo works.â
âI forgot.â Rickyâs small shoulders slumped. âIf you canât wear it riding, it wonât bring you luck.â
âJust owning it will do that, little dude,â Cody said. He held up the tailored black leather vest. The western-style yoke was trimmed in black snakeskin and the front closing studded with buffalo and Indian head buttons. All hand stitched from the looks of it. He ran a hand over the soft leather. No one had ever made him anything like this before.
âThank you,â he said, incredibly touched. âI donât know what to say. This vest is so special Iâll save it to wear for good.â
âI know it doesnât begin to repayââ Kelly began.
Finally they were getting to the crux of her visit. Cody was shaking his head before she finished the sentence. âThat money I gave you was a gift, no strings, no expectations. Seeing Ricky looking so healthy is payment enough.â
Seeing her looking beautiful and carefree was a bonus.
âWell, thank you. Thank you from the bottom of my heart. Iâm not sure I said that at the time.â Her cheeks pink, she gestured to the vest. âTry it on.â
He pulled the vest on over his chambray shirt and buttoned it up. âIt fits like a glove.â
âPerfect,â Kelly agreed happily. âIâm so glad.â
âHonestly, you didnât have to,â Cody said.
âNeither did you.â Her smile was so sweet it pierced his heart.