BootsandPromises by MylaJackson Page A

metropolis that, as far as Ella could tell, had been nothing
but a disappointment to the Texas cowboy.
    Ella closed the box and held it to
her aching breast. She now knew what she had to do. She couldn’t let Jesse make
this big of a mistake. She loved him too much to let him sacrifice all his own
dreams and desires just to be with her. He deserved to find someone who would
happily live on the ranch and help him raise cows and horses...and babies.
    She gulped, swallowing back a wave
of longing so strong it nearly made her moan.
    Jesse needed a woman who didn't
long for a career in the performance arts and had to live in a metropolis the
size of New York City or Los Angeles to fulfill her dream.
    Her heart breaking into a million
pieces, Ella tucked the ring box back in his jeans and hung them exactly the
way she’d found them on the back of the door. Her chest hurt so badly she could
barely breathe past her constricted vocal chords.
    Careful not to disturb Jesse, she
slipped into bedroom and onto the bed, wanting only to get as close to him as
possible.
    As she lay on her side, facing away
from the man she cared so much about, she fought back tears. Ella didn’t want
him to see them. Didn’t want him to know how much she would hurt to say what
she had to say.
    He rolled over, his body spooning
hers, warming her backside.
    Ella wanted so badly to turn toward
him and hold him, make love to him, have him drive deep inside her. He was her
soul-mate, her love, her entire life. She couldn’t imagine loving any other
man. Ever. Nor could she imagine life without him.
    But she had to.
    Jesse had given up everything he’d
loved to follow her to New York, claiming he could make the situation work. He
was smart, hard-working and educated, but, as far as Ella could gather, no
matter how many doors he’d knocked on in the big Apple, he had yet to find work
that suited him.
    But then what work was there in NYC
for a man born, bred and raised a cowboy from a long line of ranchers in West
Texas? The man had cattle and horses in his blood. He loved the wide-open spaces
and working with animals.
    Yet, when Ella had chosen to follow
her dream to perform on Broadway, he’d followed.
    Tears welled and a giant lump
formed in her throat, making breathing difficult . Had she been too selfish?
All her life she’d trained to be a performer—dance classes, acting lessons, a degree
in drama from Julliard. She’d worked too hard to give up her dream. Now that
she’d gotten her break, she had to take advantage while she was still young and
pretty enough to make an impression on a casting director.
    Jesse had been a very supportive
lover. He’d driven her to the airport when she’d left for NYC for weeks at a
time, suffering through her disappointments and the endless auditions, even
coming along on several occasions.
    Now that Ella was realizing her
dream, Jesse had chosen to join her in NYC permanently. He couldn’t live
without her, he’d said.
    But Ella knew Jesse. For two months
he hadn’t said a word about Texas, his horse, Paddy, or his close-knit family.
He’d claimed being on his own would be a refreshing break , without his
brothers and sister constantly interfering in his life. NYC would be an
adventure.
    While Ella spent her days
practicing for the show, her nights performing, Jesse was left on his own to
find work, clean the apartment or watch television. He’d never faltered in his
commitment to be with her, never said anything about his disappointment on the
employment front. As far as Ella could tell, he hadn't found anything, but he'd
spend every day out of the apartment. Working on his plan , he'd
insisted.
    God, she loved him…
    That’s why she couldn’t marry him,
couldn’t even let him ask. She’d be too tempted to say yes. He’d never be happy
in a city, away from his family and his beloved ranch and horses. Texas was as
much a part of him as breathing.
    Ella had her work, the stage,
everything she’d worked