The Bull Rider's Secret--A Wholesome Western Romance

by Jill Lynn

  “You okay?”

  “Yep. I just lost it on that spin. How do I stop that from bucking me off?”

  “Keep your legs tight and shift the opposite way, but then you have to be ready and adjust for the next move or it will still toss you.”

  “Okay.” Mackenzie nodded and raised her arm. “Let’s go again.”

  The next ride was much better. Jace increased the difficulty as she went again and again, stretching her time, her skill. The woman was fierce. Every time she got thrown, she climbed back up immediately. There was no complaining. No lollygagging.

  “Keep your legs tight. It’s easy to focus on just the upper body, but your legs are where your strength is.”

  She stayed on the longest for the next ride. Just shy of eight seconds.

  “Argh! I was so close.” Mackenzie remounted. “Make sure you make it hard enough to count.”

  Jace was controlling the speed and variation of the mechanical bull. “Trust me, I have not been taking it easy on you.” He’d known she would never put up with that. Watching her get pummeled over and over again was torture, but at least she was getting better with each ride.

  At her nod, he started the machine again. The mechanical bull dipped forward, back, then spun, and Mackenzie shifted with each movement. She stayed balanced and up on her rope.

  “You’re almost there. Six, seven, eight.” Jace whooped in celebration just as Mackenzie went flying across the padding like a plastic bag caught in a gust of wind.

  That had been a hard hit. He switched the bull off and scrambled over to her. This time she didn’t get up immediately, didn’t make much noise at all.

  The glove she’d been wearing was five feet away from her, and she was flat on her back, with a hand over her forehead. Had it knocked her out?

  He moved her arm to her side. “Are you okay?”

  “That was amazing.” She sat up, eyes wide and bright. “Let’s do it again.”

  Jace crashed from his kneeling position to sitting on the mat. “You’re going to be the death of me, Kenzie Rae. I thought you’d gotten hurt, and I was kicking myself for letting you do this.”

  “Don’t kick yourself. This was a good thank-you gift.” Mackenzie looped arms around her bent knees. She was the kind of pretty that hollowed him out and made him want the life he’d given up for good. Jace might be leaving town again, but Kenzie Rae would always own a piece of him. There was just no one like her.

  “You’re welcome. I think.”

  “This isn’t the real thing, but it’s pretty addicting.”

  “It is. And the real thing is so much better.”

  “Huh. Crazy.” Her tone was dry. “That must be why I asked you for that.”

  “Maybe someday.” What? Absolutely not. This woman made him say yes to things that shouldn’t even be considered. “I take that back.”

  “Too late! You can’t take it back.”

  Jace tugged his baseball cap lower in lieu of digging an even bigger hole.

  “I can see how you’d have a hard time giving this up.” She nodded toward the mechanical bull. “If your concussion doesn’t improve... Well, I can’t imagine how awful that would be for you.”

  “It would kill me to give up riding.” Not that Jace was going to worry about that. His head would get better. Not competing wasn’t an option for him, so it had to. He wasn’t perfect yet, but he was improving with time, and that gave him hope.

  But with the way Mackenzie was talking... She knew he was going back no matter what, right? She’d asked him to be careful, and he’d said he would. Surely she didn’t think—

  “Ace!” Colby bellowed from the doorway as he strode their way. “Is she still alive?”

  “And kicking.” Mackenzie answered Colby, popping up as if she hadn’t just been beaten down by the machine numerous times. As if she hadn’t slept like a comatose woman the whole drive here.

  Adorable weirdo.

  “She did okay...” Jace pushed up from the mat, adopting the most serious face he could muster. “But she needs a lot of work.”

  “Hey! I did amazing!”

  “And she needs to tone down her overconfidence.”

  “Jace Hawke, you’re just upset that I did so well because you don’t want to let me ride a real bull.”

  True.

  “Let’s get some dinner in you two.”

  At Colby’s suggestion, Jace wiggled his fingers. “Sounds good. I could use a break. I’m getting sore from running the controls.”

  “Hawke! You’re a jerk.” Mackenzie poked him in the chest. “Just for that I want another go after dinner.”

  Great. He’d just started relaxing that she’d survived unscathed, and the woman wanted to get back up on the bull.

  But then again Jace couldn’t exactly blame her, since all he wanted to do—despite his uncooperative body—was exactly the same thing.

  Chapter Eleven

  “Who hasn’t had their makeup done yet?” Emma’s friend Abby scanned the cabin living room—currently being used as wedding-prep central for the women—hungry for her next victim.

  Mackenzie had been standing—okay, hiding—near the wall next to Emma’s bedroom. Leaning against it like the beams would crumble without her support. Praying she didn’t spill something on her rust-orange bridesmaid dress while snacking on the fruit and other appetizer items filling their small dining table. Laughing when it fitted. Smiling at the right parts. Generally trying to become one with the wall and avoid notice from The Primpers in the room.

  Emma had two friends helping out with hair and makeup—Abby and Kim. They’d been working tirelessly, and Mackenzie had been avoiding them with just as much effort.

  “Mackenzie!” Abby zeroed in on her.

  Avoid eye contact! Avoid!

  “I’ll go light on you. I promise.”

  Mackenzie’s noggin shook like a bobblehead on a car dash. “I’m good, really. I don’t think anyone is expecting me to wear makeup, when I never do.”

  Abby rounded the couch and curled a hand around her biceps, dragging her to the makeup-torture zone. “But that’s exactly why we should do it. At least a little. Just to highlight those gorgeous cheekbones. I’ve been dying to get my hands on you for years. You’re so naturally beautiful, you’ll hardly need a thing. Just a few touch-ups here and there. Trust me. This won’t hurt a bit.”

  Abby gave Mackenzie a slight nudge to get her to drop to the couch cushions, then sat on the coffee table, facing her. She picked up a fat makeup brush and went to work like some kind of master painter.

  What was wrong with her face the way it was? Mackenzie swallowed her protest. For Emma. I’m doing this for Emma. Not that Emma cared one iota what she looked like today. Her sister’s eyes would be on Gage and Hudson—with cartoon hearts spilling out, no doubt.

  Abby worked quickly—Mackenzie would give her that. Lip gloss, eye shadow, mascara. The items came at her like bullets.

  “Oh, I have the perfect idea for your hair!” Kim’s squeal came from behind the couch.

  Mackenzie winced. She’d been hoping to at least avoid the hair station.

  After Abby finished, Kim directed Mackenzie over to a dining room chair so that she had better access. Bobby pins scraped her scalp as the sound of women filled the room. Emma, being herself, had invited most of the women in the county to get ready with her.

  Okay, that might be a slight exaggeration. But with the photographer, and Gage’s mom and sister in the cabin, along with their mom, Cate, the twins, Ruby and The Primpers, things were crowded.

  Everly and Savannah didn’t mind though. They’d been passed around plenty and had slept through most of the commotion.

  The girls had been home from the hospital for nine days, but Mackenzie had only held each of them for a few sporadic minutes in that time. They were tiny rock s
tars and had a following of groupies—both friends and family—vying for their attention. Mackenzie had stayed back regarding that, too, because she wasn’t the baby-whispering type. But those moments connecting with her new nieces had still definitely been good.

  One day she’d take them out on rides like she did Ruby. Or they’d climb trees like she and Ruby had sneaked off to do this week, during the hubbub of the babies’ arrival. Usually Emma was the aunt who spent more time with Ruby, but she’d been busy with wedding prep lately, so Mackenzie had quietly stepped into that role. She’d made sure Ruby wasn’t forgotten, checking in on her, stealing her away when work allowed.

  And Mackenzie had enjoyed every second. Turns out her niece liked to adventure as much as she did.

  Another bobby pin tore off a chunk of her scalp. “Kim, I could probably do my own hair.” Since I’ve been managing it for the last twenty-five years. “I’m sure you have other people to help.” Please.

  “I don’t actually. You’re the last one!”

  Mackenzie resisted another argument. Instead she closed her eyes, straining to find some peace in the midst of the attack on her skull.

  Hopefully Jace had been able to do the same after completing the guest turnover this afternoon. He’d been up late last night with another migraine and had been disgruntled about it this morning because it had been the first in a long while. Every time he thought he had them beat, another appeared out of nowhere to derail him. And the vertigo still plagued him at times, too.

  Despite those setbacks, he’d begun physical therapy once his spleen and ribs had healed, and now that his cast was off, the arm was included, too. He was obviously preparing to go back.

  But at the same time, he’d told her he wouldn’t do anything stupid. Which, in her mind, meant he’d heal fully before returning.

  So what did that mean?

  If his concussion hung around, would he retire? No one could fault him for that. He’d had a long, successful career. He could easily move on and do something else. Find a new passion. No one could ride bulls forever—their bodies would eventually give out.

  Would he stay if he didn’t get better? And if he did...what did that mean for them?

  Was there a “them”? Mackenzie wasn’t sure she was okay with that term popping into her brain. Though the man had certainly been sneaking into her thoughts and her world a lot lately. It was so easy to lapse back into old habits with him. To remember why she’d fallen for him the first time around.

  Mackenzie still didn’t know why Jace had left the way he had. And she still both wanted and didn’t want to know. Though the first option was gaining momentum.

  Oohs and aahs caused her to open her eyes.

  Emma had come out of her bedroom in her wedding dress. The living room of ladies highly approved, based on the exclamations and tears.

  Rightfully so.

  Emma’s dress had delicate spaghetti straps and flowers along the bodice that dripped onto the long, flowing skirt. She was a woodland creature with her hair curled and loosely pulled back on the sides, sprays of flowers tucked into the do.

  She was a vision. Striking and glowing and gorgeous.

  Mackenzie might not love all of the changes happening around Wilder Ranch, but seeing Emma so happy made the growing pains worthwhile. She couldn’t imagine a better match for her sister. Gage’s world revolved around Emma, and she’d brought him back from the land of cranky and stoic after his ex-wife had done a number on him. The two of them were a perfect pair.

  “Aunt Emma, does your dress twirl like mine?” Ruby was in a white flower-girl dress, and she spun in a circle, enthralled with the way the skirt flared.

  “Let’s see.” Emma’s eyes twinkled as she joined in. The moment was sweet, and the photographer must have agreed, because her camera sounded repeatedly as she captured each frame.

  Emma handled the attention that came with her wedding day like a fairy-tale princess, all calm and gracious. If Mackenzie were in her shoes, she’d need boots, first off, and then a large boulder to hide behind.

  If the right match existed for her, Mackenzie hoped her someday wedding wouldn’t include all of this...fussing.

  “All finished,” Kim announced.

  “Thank you.” Mackenzie forced the appreciation through clenched teeth and then slunk off to the bathroom to investigate the damage.

  “I don’t even look like myself.” She pressed over the sink, leaning close to the mirror. There she was...underneath all of the shiny, glimmery concoctions. With a tissue, she dabbed away some of the lip gloss, lightening it, then swabbed gently at the eye shadow—which, thankfully, was a soft color. Mackenzie didn’t want to mess anything up so much that she ended up back in the makeup hot seat, so she quit meddling. The slight adjustments helped. She used the small hand mirror to check her hair. It was actually cute—not that she would ever take the time to do it again. Waves were caught up at the nape of her neck, casual and stylish.

  She set the mirror down and met her reflection again. “It’s a wedding. You’re supposed to be dolled up. And this is all for Emma.” The affirmation made her mouth quirk. Hopefully no one could hear her crazy talk through the door. Mackenzie squared her shoulders. She could manage to wear the makeup and leave the hair through the wedding and reception. And then after she’d reward herself with a T-shirt, sweats, pizza and a Western with lots of gunfights.

  She exited the bathroom to find everyone getting ready to either walk or ride down the hill to the lodge.

  “I can walk.” She volunteered to let some of the others hop in vehicles, since she was wearing cowboy boots with her dress—thank you, Emma, for that saving grace.

  “I’ll go with you,” Mom said, also taking Ruby’s hand. “Come with us, kiddo, but let’s lift up your dress while we walk, so it doesn’t get dirty.”

  The perfect summer-evening temperature drifted along Mackenzie’s skin as they strolled, and Ruby chattered excitedly about her “fruffy” dress and light-pink-painted fingernails. Scents of grass and dirt and ranch swirled, comforting. The wedding had been scheduled for after dinner because they’d needed time to set up and get ready, but that meant a cooler temperature and twinkle lights—Emma’s favorite. Both wins.

  When Ruby spied Luc near the entrance to the lodge, she dropped the skirt of her dress and took off at a run.

  “So much for keeping the hem clean.” Mom’s wry comment was spiked with humor, taking years off her already young-looking features. Her hair was a shade darker than Mackenzie’s—more of a light brown—but it held some of the same wave. If not for her mother’s autoimmune disease that flared in Colorado’s fluctuating climate, Mackenzie had no doubt that her parents would still be living here, running Wilder Ranch. “Reminds me of another little girl I once knew.”

  “Except I would have thrown a fit about the dress.”

  “True. I didn’t know how amazing grandbabies were. Didn’t realize what I was missing until Ruby and Hudson came along. And now we have the twins, too.”

  And none from me. Not that Mackenzie was overly maternal. She wasn’t. And maybe that was why no one thought she had that ache inside her, too—for a husband, for kids, for a family of her own.

  But she did. It was dull and distant, but there. And ever since Jace’s reappearance, that dull, distant ache had been making itself known with troublesome throbs and sharp, shooting pains.

  * * *

  Jace slipped into a seat for the ceremony at the last second. He and the other staff had handled the turnover today so that the Wilders could prepare for the wedding. A few small issues had sprung up throughout the day, leaving him running behind. But they’d figured things out and managed not to bother any of the Wilder clan.

  Thirty minutes ago he’d hustled over to the guys’ lodging to get ready. He’d jumped in the shower and then thrown on his best jeans and a short-sleeved button-up shirt
. His hair—too long and in need of a cut—was still slightly damp.

  Emma had made it clear that the wedding was to be casual, and he’d taken advantage.

  Music started, and Jace swiveled with the rest of the crowd, toward the back of the grass aisle. Sweet mercy. His windpipe closed off so fast, he barely managed not to hack and cough, and cause a scene.

  There was most definitely nothing casual about Kenzie Rae.

  She walked down the aisle with Luc, confident and relaxed, stunning times a million. The color-of-changing-leaves orange dress she wore accentuated slight curves, and her muscular legs tapered into cowboy boots. She turned at the front, a small batch of flowers in her hands, and watched for Emma.

  Mackenzie had on makeup. The effect sent Jace bumping into the back of his chair. She was a knockout. And yet...he was partial to the girl underneath all of that sparkle and shine.

  The one who rode faster than him and could probably beat him at most anything. The one who managed to siphon the oxygen from his body with just a glance.

  Tuck away her jaw-dropping beauty, and Mackenzie was still a force to be reckoned with—strong and funny, vulnerable and loyal.

  And Jace was the idiot who’d let her go. The same idiot who planned to repeat his actions all over again soon.

  Not that Mackenzie was anywhere near his this time around.

  Ruby came down the aisle next. She paused to wave at Jace, and he winked at her. She’d quickly wormed her way into his heart. There was something about Ruby and her bubbly personality that drew people in. Jace had only lasted a few days at Wilder Ranch before joining her fan club.

  She took her time heading down the aisle, doling out precisely three flower petals to each row. When she finally reached the front, she high-fived Mackenzie. When the guests laughed at the gesture, Ruby took a bow.

  Charmer.

  Next came Emma on her dad’s arm.

  He must have said something to Mackenzie after releasing Emma’s hand, because she looked like she was fighting amusement.