Learning the Ropes

by T. J. Kline

  She leaned her arms over the fence, resting her chin on them. “He does have that effect on people,” she laughed. “Need some help?” She pushed herself from the fence and opened the gate.

  “I’m about finished, unless you want to grab a can of grain from the trailer?”

  “Sure,” she said, hurrying toward their trailer in front of the house.

  David couldn’t help but notice the way her full lips curved into a pretty smile making her dark eyes light up or the slight sway of her hips as she left. She was exactly the type of girl he was attracted to, a girl-next-door with natural beauty, even with her hair pulled back and no makeup. Chris knew it, too, damn him. But what he didn’t realize was that it only made him more driven to focus on winning so he could earn enough money to be able to settle down and have the things he wanted in his future—a wife, kids, his own ranch—like his brother.

  She returned with a coffee can of grain, shaking it. The horses jerked their heads up and whinnied their approval as she came near, drawing him out of his pointless daydreams, and she passed it to him over the fence.

  “Nice looking boys,” she commented, jerking her chin toward the animals. “You two are doing pretty well in the standings, at least for now.”

  David shrugged. “Not if I can’t keep Chris’s head in the game.”

  She gave him an understanding smile. “You guys have been roping together for almost five years, right? You know he’ll manage to pull it out in the end. I have no idea how he always seems to do it but he does. I wish I had that talent.”

  He caught her frown from the corner of his eye as he poured the grain over the flakes of hay and locked the pasture gate. “Let’s hope so,” David grumbled. “Personally, I’m tired of almost making it to the Finals. I want to be there this year and I’m not letting him lose focus.”

  She cocked her head at him, as if she was trying to read his thoughts, and he wondered if he’d said more than he should’ve. He didn’t normally let his mouth get ahead of his brain and good sense but for some reason this woman had him acting out of character, admitting things he wouldn’t under normal circumstances.

  “I mean . . .” He closed his mouth, wishing he’d just kept it shut from the beginning, and wondered again how she was able to get him to let his guard down so quickly.

  “I know what you mean,” she cut him off. “It’s hard to come so close over and over only to be disappointed, especially when it’s not your fault.” She glanced up at the back of the house. “I’m hoping to make it to Vegas, too. Even if other people do have a different opinion as to where I should be.”

  He stopped walking and stared at her, knowing there was far more she wasn’t saying. He arched a brow. “Maybe we have more in common than either of us thought.”

  She smiled at him, and the sadness he’d seen in her eyes disappeared for a moment. “Maybe we do,” she agreed.

  “So, tell me,” he began, looking around him at the various fenced pastures. “What’s up with this place?”

  “Dad’s run the day to day operations for the Diamond Bar for the last twenty-five years and Mom works for them in the house. I guess you could say it’s turned into a family affair.” The frown was back, marring her brow. “They’re nice people and they’ve been good to us.”

  “You’re sure it’s fine for the boys to be in the pasture?”

  “What?” She glanced at the horses quietly eating. “Oh, they’re fine. It’s not like you guys are staying long. It’s just dinner.”

  David felt a twinge of disappointment. She was different than he’d expected her to be. He’d assumed any woman Chris introduced him to would be shallow and, well, a floozy. Alicia wasn’t like that at all. He found himself interested in her and wanted to spend more time with her. He needed to stay focused, and keep Chris focused, but they obviously weren’t going to do any practicing tonight. Why not invite this pretty barrel racer to the dance tonight after all? If they weren’t going to work, maybe one night of fun with an attractive woman wouldn’t be such a horrible idea. If nothing else, it might get Chris to quit pestering him.

  “THE PLACE LOOKS great, Jessie. I like the new counters in the kitchen,” Chris said, reaching for another piece of garlic bread, wiping the excess butter from his hands on the paper towel beside his plate. “Did you have it professionally done?”

  “No, I did it myself.” Alicia shook her head as her mother blushed slightly at his compliment. “But, thank you.”

  Alicia caught Chris’s eye. “I think you have a little something right there.” She rubbed at the end of her nose. David choked back a laugh, covering his mouth with his napkin. Even her father laughed at the joke.

  “You hush,” her mother warned, playfully slapping at Alicia’s arm with her fingertips. “He can compliment my taste any time he wants to if it means he’ll come around more often.”

  Chris smirked at Alicia and turned toward her father. “Dad told me Bradley just sold one of his studs for $12,000. Was it the one you’ve been training?”

  “He was a great horse before I ever got my hands on him. I was just lucky to work with such a talented stud.”

  Alicia watched her father shake his head, lowering his eyes in humility. She hated that he wouldn’t take any credit for the work he did. He was an amazing trainer and was wasting time mucking stalls and grooming for someone else. He should be training and selling his own horses for that price. If only she was able to get the down payment for that property sooner . . . She looked down at her plate, suddenly losing her appetite.

  “That’s pretty impressive, Noah,” Chris commented. “You still afraid of them, Jessie?”

  Her mother laughed quietly. “Not afraid, just cautious. They’re so big! Did Alicia tell you she will probably be working with Noah soon?”

  “Really?” David asked as both cowboys turned to Alicia in surprise. He’d been quiet throughout the meal and Alicia glanced up at him.

  She set her napkin on the table and cleared her throat, unsure how to answer the question. She had no intention of taking Bradley Langdon up on his offer to train and show his horses. She wasn’t about to get trapped into the same life her parents had, working for a dream that wasn’t her own, but she hadn’t broken her decision to her parents yet. Until she could offer an alternative solution, or purchase the property she wanted, she’d been stalling.

  “Her riding prowess hasn’t gone unnoticed all these years and Bradley wants her to show his horses. Maybe even start training a few and giving lessons.”

  “That’s a big accomplishment,” David acknowledged, smiling at her.

  Her father looked at her proudly and her heart ached. He saw it as such a compliment and she saw it as a prison sentence. How could she ever make him understand?

  “I guess,” she agreed, hoping they would assume her hesitancy was discomfort and change the subject. “I still have to finish out this rodeo season,” she pointed out.

  Why was it that no one seemed to care that she wanted nothing to do with helping anyone else earn money from her work? If she ever quit rodeo to train, it was going to be to train her own barrel horses and give lessons on her own ranch. Why did everyone assume she would jump at the chance to train for the Diamond Bar.

  Chris frowned, his brows dipping low. “I think it’s a waste of talent.” Every set of eyes at the table spun to look at him. “I mean, Alicia is an amazing barrel racer, she always has been. Why quit to train cutting horses? Do you even want to show cutting horses?”

  She glanced at her father, biting her lower lip nervously. He turned to her expectantly, waiting for her answer. She couldn’t help but appreciate that Chris seemed to understand her desire to race, voicing her thoughts, but she could’ve kicked him when she saw the disappointment in her father’s eyes. “I don’t know. I never really thought about it before.”

  Chris sighed and rolled his eyes. “You’ve always talked about being a barrel racer and teaching other girls to run. I never once heard you say anything about sho
wing.” He wiped his mouth with his napkin and placed it in his plate. “In fact, I remember you laughing at the girls who went to horse shows.”

  She saw David’s body jerk to the side and Chris shot a glare at David. Alicia silently thanked him for shutting Chris up, even if it was with a kick under the table. This was something she needed to talk about with her parents privately. She didn’t need his help or, in this case, him instigating trouble.

  CHRIS RUBBED AT the knot forming on his shin and glowered at David.

  “Are you guys ready for dessert? Blackberry pie?” Jessie asked, looking at him pointedly. “If I remember right, that’s your favorite, isn’t it, Cristobel?”

  He gave her a grin. “I love your blackberry pie but you’ve stuffed me with lasagna and garlic bread.” He shot a sly look at David who was watching Alicia intently. “I guess I could have a small piece and then work it off dancing tonight.”

  “I thought you said you wanted to head out?” Chris didn’t miss David’s suspicious glance.

  “We should go to the dance and have some fun.” He nodded toward Alicia across the table. “I know how much this one likes to dance. Maybe she could teach you a thing or two. Your moves are pretty horrendous.”

  “I don’t know,” Alicia hemmed. “I have to be back down there early tomorrow for the next go-round.” She stood and started to clear the table.

  “You’ll do fine, hon,” Noah chuckled. “Beast knows the pattern in his sleep.”

  Alicia rolled her eyes as she hurried to the sink with the plates, not wanting her father to see her irritation. She needed to focus on tomorrow’s run. If she came in first it would move her up in the standings, bump her above Delilah, and add a hefty chunk to her savings. She had to be at the top of her game, not exhausted from dancing with a couple of cowboys, no matter how ruggedly good looking they might be. Although, an ice cold beer and some loud music might curb the frustration building in her right now.

  “Come on, Ali.” Chris came up behind her with a stack of plates. “It’ll be like old times.” He cocked his head to the side and gave her the puppy dog eyes that used to get him his way with his sister.

  She glanced up at David, who followed Chris into the kitchen, bearing more dishes. He shrugged and looked resigned to Chris getting his way again. She wanted to be angry and shake him. Maybe if people told him no once in a while, he’d understand responsibility and that life wasn’t all about fun.

  Instead, she looked back at his pleading blue eyes and sighed. Her heart thumped in her chest as he took a step closer before lowering his voice.

  “Come on, Ali. You know you want to go.”

  She did and couldn’t fight it when her heart did a flip in her chest. Alicia sighed. “Fine.” How did he always manage to turn her brains to mush?

  Chapter Three

  * * *

  ALICIA FOUND HERSELF squished between two cowboys in David’s pickup truck on her way back to the rodeo grounds to attend a dance she hadn’t wanted to be at in the first place. The entire truck reeked of men’s cologne, and she wanted to beg Chris to open a window before she choked but kept silent, unsure which of them had taken a bath in the stuff. It practically made her eyes water. What in the world ever possessed her to agree to this?

  She tapped her heel on the floorboard nervously, feeling herself on edge but not sure why. Both men were oozing with charm and neither was hard on the eyes, as her mother had pointed out several times before they left, but seated between the two of them, she couldn’t help but feel awkward. Most women would kill to be in her position and she just wanted to get out of the truck and get back to her horses. She shifted nervously in the seat and Chris glanced her way, nudging her with his elbow and jerking his chin in a “watch” gesture.

  “First round is on David,” he declared.

  David turned his head toward them. “Why me?”

  Chris smiled broadly and Alicia fought to keep a straight face. Something about him pushed the constant chatter of worry in her head aside and drew out her playful side. “You’re the designated driver. It was my turn last time.”

  David rolled his eyes and looked out the windshield again. “Can’t you just go out and have a few beers? Aren’t we getting kinda old for this?”

  “Okay,” Chris laughed, deepening his voice to mock David. “It’s time to grow up and be serious, right? Fine. Since you’re so old and mature, you can be the designated driver at every rodeo.” He shook his head but smiled at his friend. “Can’t you loosen up and just have some fun?”

  Alicia didn’t want to be stuck in the middle of their banter, joking or not, and breathed a sigh of relief when David dropped the truck into park. She shoved Chris out of the passenger side door.

  “Easy, woman! Where’s the fire?” He moved to let her out.

  “I’m trying to breathe some fresh air. I almost died from the lack of oxygen and cologne poisoning. Did you use the entire bottle?” she teased, inhaling deeply the sweet, clean scent of straw in the air as they headed for the entrance gate.

  Alicia reached into her wallet to pull out the money for her entry when the girl at the table reached for her hand, connected a band around her wrist and stamped her hand. “Um, I need to pay.”

  “I’ve got it,” David said, his voice husky and deep.

  “Thank you.”

  Was this a date? Did he expect her to spend the entire evening with him or was he just the designated driver, as Chris said? She wasn’t sure what sort of idea he had about tonight and the lack of certainty made her nervous. She glanced up in time to see Chris heading toward the bar at the other end of the makeshift dance floor.

  “You know, you don’t have to babysit me. You’ll have your hands full keeping an eye on Chris.”

  David followed her gaze in time to see Chris throw an arm around a pretty brunette waiting in line behind him. He turned back to Alicia and chuckled jerking a thumb in Chris’s direction. “That’s the never-ending chore of a best friend, especially when it comes to that guy. However, I’d much rather hang with you. If you don’t mind?” he clarified.

  He wanted to be with her? This was David Greenly. His father and brother were both world champion rodeo cowboys. He could have his pick of any girl here, and there were several waiting in line from the glances being cast in their direction, and he wanted to be her date for the night? She rubbed her suddenly damp palms against the thighs of her well-worn jeans, the best she had in her closet. Maybe this was a pity date, something he promised Chris he’d do as a favor. She eyed him suspiciously. He didn’t seem like the type of guy to be dishonest. Quiet and perhaps reserved, but not conniving. Could he be for real?

  So far, she liked what she’d seen of David. He might not have Chris’s easygoing nature but he seemed mature, responsible, and ambitious. She could appreciate those traits and most cowboys didn’t seem inclined to cultivate them.

  “You want to dance?” He glanced at the couples already rocking to a quick country two-step as the band played. The steady beat of the drums and bass guitar gradually grew louder as they picked up the pace.

  She bit her lip. It had been a long time since she’d danced with anyone. These days, she headed straight home or back to her trailer instead of attending the extra rodeo events. Those she had attended with friends were meat-markets for the groupies who hung out behind the chutes all day waiting to rope their own cowboy. Most of the real cowgirls stayed near their trailers because once the sun went down and the music cued up, it was harder to tell the buckle bunnies from the real cowgirls. Especially once the cowboys had their beer-goggles on.

  “I promise, I won’t break your toes.” The corners of David’s mouth tipped up.

  It was the first real smile she’d seen from him yet and it was disarming. His dark eyes gleamed with mischief and she had to admit, David Greenly was an enigma. One minute he was serious and the next, teasing. She wasn’t sure what to make of him.

  “Sure.” He reached out for her hand, leading her to the dance
floor. “But it’s been a long time for me so I can’t promise I won’t break yours.”

  He gave her a grin. “I’m sure you can’t do too much damage. You can’t weigh more than the steer who stepped on my foot last week.”

  “Hey!” She slapped at his arm playfully as he spun her away from him before twirling her back into his arms and resting one hand at her waist.

  “I’m kidding,” he teased, his eyes glimmering from the lights surrounding the dance floor as they moved with the other dancers. “That was for the cologne comment.”

  Alicia rested her hand on his shoulder and looked up at him, apologetically. “I didn’t think you heard that.” Her eyes fell to the base of his throat and she watched him swallow. “And that was directed more at Chris than you.”

  “Uh huh.”

  He didn’t sound convinced and she wondered if she’d injured his male ego. She looked back up at him, mesmerized by his dark eyes and the way there was just enough five o’clock shadow on his jaw to give him a natural sex appeal. She inhaled and the scent of laundry detergent and the muskiness of the outdoors filled her senses. So, he hadn’t been the one wearing cologne after all. She liked the natural scent of him. His lips were close to hers as he spoke and she watched him form words but her brain wasn’t connecting the sound with anything familiar. Finally, he smiled and his voice broke through the haze surrounding her brain.

  “Do you want something to drink?”

  “What? Oh, sure.” She nodded slightly, bumping his chin with her forehead. “Oh, I’m sorry!” She pulled back from him as he chuckled.

  “I guess my toes were the least of my worries.” He rubbed his jaw. “You’ve got a hard head.” He led her to the stacked bales of hay people were using for seating. “I’ll be right back. Beer, water, or soda?”

  “Whatever you can get is fine.”

  David nodded and headed toward the end of the long line for the beer tent. For someone with such a quiet demeanor, he had a mischievous side to his personality she found surprisingly endearing. Her mother always warned her not to judge a book by its cover. Perhaps David’s subdued personality only seemed more so because of Chris’s boisterous nature, but with his dark good looks, he was every bit as attractive. David wasn’t quite as tall or muscular as Chris, a bit on the lean side, but if the muscles she’d felt under her hand were any indication, David was solid as a brick wall. Her eyes grazed over his form, still waiting in the slow-moving line and she bit her lip, wondering why she was even comparing David to Chris.