~Prolouge~

March 2006

"You know I have to go don't you?" Colten asked as he caressed Katie's cheek watching her intently.

"Yes," she whispers shutting her eyes willing for the tears not to fall, "But that doesn't mean I have to like this."

"I know Katie Bug, but I can't let this opportunity pass. It's not everyday a bull rider wins a PBR final and is asked to be in a movie. Think about what this will do for us, for our future."  Colten smiles wiping a single tear off her cheek.

Katie sighs. She knows that he's right, this is really the opportunity of a lifetime. Colten was too full of life and charisma to not be noticed. His stunning good looks helped him too in the arena and out of it. Finally someone from Hollywood had noticed him. This was his chance, his dream and Katie knew she wouldn't stand in his way. Looking at him, she brushed his auburn hair to the side staring intently into his emerald green eyes. Colten watched her closely, her cornflower blue eyes wet with tears.

"You promise we will still talk everyday, right?" Katie responds watching Colten grin slightly knowing he'd won the argument.

"Of course, Bug," he states giving her the impish smile she fell in love with her sophomore year of school. "I promise, I'd never forget my girl." And with that he took Katie into his arms and took everything she had to offer, including her heart.

*******************************************

May 2006

Katie knocked on the office door of the K Rocker Ranch and entered the room waiting for Justin to finish his paperwork . At 29, Justin Haynes was the opposite of his younger brother. While Colten was blessed with dark auburn hair and green eyes Justin had sandy blonde hair and hazel eyes that sparkled with laughter a sharp contrast to his often quiet and reserved nature. Both men had similar builds, although Justin was more muscular from working so hard on the ranch everyday. Justin sat his pencil down and grinned at his visitor.

"Katie!" Justin exclaimed coming out from behind his desk to give her a hug. "It's been almost two months since we've seen ya last, what have you been up to?"

Katie hung her head taking a few deep breaths, her eyes misting with tears. "Hey Justin," she responded quietly. He immediately noticed that she was thinner than when he'd last seen her. Her beautiful blue eyes had dark circles under them and he swore he felt her ribs when he hugged her.

"I take it this isn't a social call," Justin stated perching on the end of his desk watching her closely. "What's going on Katie?" He asked her in the same tone of voice she had heard him use when he was working with skittish horses. "Are you okay? You're not sick are you?"

Katie couldn't help the tears that rushed to her eyes. It had been almost two weeks since she'd been given the news that had changed her life. She was exhausted, having slept in her car these last four nights and she felt totally abandoned and alone. Her life was falling apart and Katie had fought to be strong. Justin's tone was her undoing. She shook her head as the tears started to fall. Deep sobs wracked her tiny frame and Justin sprang into action. He grabbed a tissue box and handed it to her before wrapping her fragile body in his strong arms, rocking her back and forth whispering words of nonsense while she sobbed.

After a few minutes, Katie dried her eyes and looked at Justin. The pain and heartache he saw broke his heart.

"Have you heard from Colt?" She whispered as she dabbed her eyes. "I can't get ahold of him and I've been trying for weeks."

"No," Justin answered watching her closely. "Katie what's going on? I've never seen you like this."

"I'm pregnant," Katie whispered more tears gathering in her blue eyes. Justin blinked. He knew that Colten was reckless and careless but he had seemingly changed when he'd introduced Justin to Katie. She was the daughter of the local Methodist preacher and was a good influence on Colten or so Justin thought.

Justin was only 18 when he and Colten's parents were killed in a car accident. He had set his dreams of being a rodeo star aside and stepped in taking over the ranch and raising his eight year old brother. He had fought to protect him and keep him normal while Colten rebelled at every turn. The only thing the brothers ever agreed on was their mutual love of bull riding. Justin trained Colten, watching as he made his mark on the local high school rodeo circuit until he was scouted by the PBR and eventually Hollywood.

The brothers love of bull riding was the only thing hey had in common. Justin was laid back and responsible while Colten was fun loving and wild. He really gave Justin a run for his money when he started high school, but all that changed when Katie came into Colten's life. When he was a junior in high school he met Katie, and Colten had finally started to calm down. Justin thought his brother had tamed his wild lifestyle down, but now it seemed he had left Katie with more than empty promises.

"Oh Katie," Justin breathed out. "I haven't heard from him since he left." Katie nodded shaking her head.

"I don't know what to do Justin," Katie whispered sniffling. "Dad got really angry. He kicked me out. I guess it's bad for your reputation to have an unwed pregnant teenage daughter."

Justin gasped. "Where have you been staying?" He responded watching her closely. Katie was an open book easy to read. Her eyes looked empty, her body language suggesting she was carrying the weight of the world on her shoulders. Justin knew that feeling well.

"My car," she responded her voice cracking. "At least he let me keep that since I used part of my money to buy it."

"Oh Katie," Justin sighed grabbing the bridge of his nose and letting off a deep sigh. Standing up, Justin swept her small body into another hug and he held her close. He knew what he had to do. Once again he'd step in and clean the mess that Colten made.

********************************************

July 2006

"What do you mean he's not available to talk?" Justin all but screamed at Colten's agent. "I've been calling for months! This is important. He needs to call me!" Slamming the phone down Justin punched the top of his desk in anger. It took all he could do not to throw his phone against the wall.

No one had heard from Colten since he left Montana but his face was plastered in every Hollywood rag magazine and on every entertainment show almost weekly. Colten was seen out partying with a new Hollywood starlet every week really living the Hollywood dream. It was killing Katie and Justin knew it.

Katie had been living on the ranch as a housekeeper since May. She and Justin had developed an easy symbiotic relationship. She cooked and cleaned for him and he paid for her medical care. At almost five months her stomach was only slightly swollen and she was excited to see if the baby would be a boy or a girl. She never mentioned Colten anymore but Justin could hear her crying at night.

The phone's shrill ring brought Justin out of his angry thoughts.

"Justin," he heard his long lost brother say sounding more than a little intoxicated. "What's up man? Aaron said it was important. You got a sick cow or something?"

"Have you talked to Katie?" Justin responded trying to keep the anger from his tone.

"No man, why?" Colten responded in a flippant manner. Justin felt his anger mounting.

"She's pregnant Colt. She's been trying to call you for nearly five months." Justin responded in a controlled voice. Even Colten flinched at the tone his brother was using. Justin listened waiting for a response, somehow dreading Colten's answer knowing it wouldn't be the right one.

"It's not mine," Colten responded sounding bored. "Listen I've got to run. Maybe I'll see you at Christmas." And with that the conversation was over. Justin hung his head and sighed. This would kill Katie, but he had to tell her and he knew just how he'd do it. Justin would ask Katie to marry him. Once again he'd be the responsible brother. He knew they could make a marriage work. He just hoped he was doing the right thing by Katie and his niece or nephew.

********************************************

December 2006

"He's beautiful isn't he?" Katie asked snuggling the tiny baby in her arms glancing up at Justin who was setting a small Christmas tree up in the corner of the living room.

"Handsome Katie," Justin automatically replied grinning at her. "The Haynes men are handsome not beautiful. William is handsome."  Justin stopped what he was doing to watch her.

Before William had been born Justin told her about his conversation with Colten. Justin had been right, she was beyond devastated and had sunk into a deep depression.  Katie waited daily for Colten to call her, but the call never came.

After two months she finally started to rally and make plans to move on with her life. That was when Justin had suggested marriage. At first Katie was adamant that he needed to find someone he loved, but Justin insisted they would make it work. After a lot of soul searching and tears she agreed and the week before Thanksgiving and Katie's due date, they rode to the courthouse and got married.  On Thanksgiving they welcomed their son, William Alexander into the world. Justin had been shocked when she had suggested the baby's name but he was proud too. Katie named her son, their son after Justin and Colten's father.

"Right", Katie replied laughing at Justin. "He's a beautifully handsome baby" Katie grinned at Justin watching him throw his head back and laugh. Katie knew watching him that she had made the right choice in marrying him. They still had a lot to work out with regards to their lives together, but Katie felt peace that they would work it out. While a large part of her heart would always belong to Colten, she knew that she would have stability with Justin and right now, more than anything she knew she needed stability. Plus she thought maybe, just maybe she would grow to love Justin more than his wayward brother.