Hunter Hill University: Reaching Rose Part 48

"Just open it, half-pint."

"Oh my G.o.d." I lift the top off the Lucchese box. "Holy c.r.a.p."

I pull them out and just stare at them in my hands.

"They're not for your hands, half-pint. They're for your feet."

My hands are shaking too much, so Ben takes them from me, takes off my sneakers, and slips on my present.

A pair of red Mad Dog goat-leather cowboy boots now adorn my two feet.

"I got an eight so they wouldn't be snug on your left foot." Ben says, his smile reaching both ears.

"These are Lucchese boots, Ben. They're like mad expensive."

"Yeah, but you're worth it. Besides, I can afford it now."

"Still, I can't take these, Ben...they're..."

"Rose. Please. Since I've known you, what have I bought you? A six-pack of chocolate pudding, a trip to the movies, and a couple dinners? Between the two of us, this past year, we've spent more time in hospitals and rehabs than we did dating. Please let me give these to you."

I look at Ben and then I look down at my feet. "They are beautiful."

"Just like you." He takes my hand, and pulls me out of the living room. "Now come on, your parents are outside waiting for us. I got a horse to ride."

Outside, Daddy boosts me up onto a bareback Cloud and then helps Ben get up onto Sky, who's saddled. "Okay, Ben, I'm gonna go slow with you, so you don't have to worry 'bout nothin'. You're feeling well today, right? Because though my horses are gentle, it's still a b.u.mpy ride."

"I'm feeling great. No chemo this week, so I'm good."

"Good. Now put that d.a.m.n fancy new foot o' yours in the stirrup here, and do the same on the other side."

"I need a picture of them, Bruce," my mom says, standing in front of Cloud and me.

"Dang-it, Sam, I'm teachin' the boy here to ride."

"There's always time for a picture. Besides, I need a new one of Rosie." Mom looks at me and winks. My first picture since before the accident. "I want Ben in this picture too, so bring Sky to the right of Cloud. No to the left, my right. That's it," she says when my father reluctantly leads Ben and Sky toward my mom.

I reach over with my left hand to take Ben's.

"You sure I can let go of the horse?"

"Ben, you're worth millions, you think my girl there's gonna let you get hurt?"

"Daddy. That's not polite."

"It isn't, Bruce," my mom agrees.

"Well I'm sorry. I didn't think it was impolite."

"It's fine, Bruce. It's just money. Your girl here-" Ben looks at me, takes my outstretched hand, and smiles. "My girl. She's worth more than any amount of money I could ever make. Because she's absolutely priceless."

And that's when Mom snaps the picture.

The End.

Acknowledgements.

I'd like to start by thanking those of you who read my stories you allow me to continue to write my daydreams down on paper. Thank you.

A big thank you goes out to my editor, Sue Toth, whose input and advice help to make my stories what they are. And a big thank you for knowing the NCAA rules, otherwise I would have been awfully embarra.s.sed once someone caught on. Thank you so much.

And to the wonderful Murphy Rae your attention to detail is out of this world. Thank you for your amazing eye, and I look forward to working with you again.

To the very talented Heather LaViola thank you for spending hours taking photo after photo to get just the right one for my cover. And to Niina Cord, who did another awesome job making those photos into a fabulous cover. Isabella Freda and Joey Roccasanta thank you, thank you, thank you for modeling for me. You two were so unbelievably patient.

As always, I'd like to thank Kathleen Ball, Amber Dane, and Stefan Ellery for their daily inspirations that help me get through the writing day.

To my brother Carmen thank you for your baseball expertise. You were a wealth of information. Love you, baby brother.

And to my family my children and my husband thank you for your unending love and support. I love you guys with all my heart.

end.