by T. J. Kline
“But I’m not sure he’ll realize in time for us to still make the Finals.”
She could see the worry clouding his eyes as he set the bucket on the ground. Chris stood, reaching out and grabbing her by the waist, pulling her against him. The worry was quickly replaced by yearning. He leaned toward her ear, nibbling on the edge. “You have no idea how sexy you look on this horse.”
She relaxed into his embrace. This didn’t seem like he was tiring of her. Her fingers slid up his arm, wanting nothing more than to forget this entire rodeo and drag him into the trailer. When his lips trailed down her neck, she felt the heat circle in her belly, spreading to her limbs.
“I’m supposed to be focusing on my ride,” she reminded him. He sighed against her neck so dramatically she laughed. “Later, I promise.”
Chris captured her lips, scorching her with desire, leaving her wanting more. It took every ounce of control to step away from his arms.
“You,” she said, pointing at him, “are dangerous to my ride.”
He laughed. “Go grab something to drink. They’re just starting so you don’t have long.”
CHRIS SAT IN the header’s box, trying to get his head on straight as he watched the steer enter the chute. David still wasn’t speaking to him other than one word phrases about their run. It certainly wasn’t for lack of trying on his part. Ali had won her qualifying race, in spite of the turmoil around them, and now he needed to do the same. If for no other reason than to put this purse into their business. They could figure out the logistics once he convinced David to join them, and he would convince him. He couldn’t imagine trying to run the school without him. But right now, he had one thing to focus on—the two horns nudging the chute gate.
Gathering the reins, sliding them through the fingers of his left hand, Chris settled the loop on his rope and inhaled, letting it out slowly. He felt his gelding shift his weight against the back of the box and looked at David. As his chin jerked, Chris nodded and the chute opened, releasing the steer. His horse paused for a second until the barrier released and they shot out, like a bullet from a gun. He’d barely circled the rope twice when he let it fly over the steer’s horns, pulling his hand backward, tightening the rope and dallying quickly. With a sharp turn to the left, he watched David over his shoulder as he circled his loop over his head once before taking a blind throw.
David dallied his rope and Chris’s gelding spun, pulling the ropes taut on the steer and stopping the clock. Both of their heads turned toward the announcer’s booth, waiting for their time.
“Well, shut my mouth. We’re setting records all over the place tonight. That’s an arena record tonight with a 5.2 second run.”
The crowd erupted as David urged his horse forward, loosening the rope, and Chris led the steer to the back gate. They needed this to be a great run in order to put them in the average for the purse and higher into the standings for the National Finals. Not to mention that Chris was hoping this would remind David of how well they worked together.
“That was amazing, David,” Chris said, riding up beside him as he headed for his trailer.
“Not now, Chris.”
The wall was back up already. Couldn’t he just get past this? “Damn it, I didn’t know, David. We just made a great run. Can you forget about it for this weekend and just enjoy the win?”
“Life is not about having fun all of the time, Chris.”
“And it’s not about living up to your father’s unattainable expectations, either.”
David’s jaw clenched as the muscle in his cheekbone tightened. “Leave him out of this.” He dismounted at the trailer and slipped the gelding’s halter around his neck. “You don’t know anything.”
“I know he expects you to bail him out of his messes. I know he guilt trips you until you feel responsible for him but unworthy of him. I know he’s using you and your brother to support his gambling habits while you work your ass off trying to save the family name he’s destroying.”
“I’m going to give you three seconds to get the hell out of here before I yank you off that horse and beat the crap out of you.”
Chris saw a crowd starting to form around the trailer. How the hell did they go from working perfectly in unison five minutes ago to creating a scene? He saw Ali heading their direction, the worry creasing her forehead. This was the worst way to advertise their business or to prove their professionalism, or lack of.
“You need to grow up and face reality, David. When you do, Ali and I will be waiting to add you as a partner. Until then, you’re welcome to stay in the guest house.”
“You think I want your charity?” David spit out the word like it was poison. “I wouldn’t stay there if my life depended on it.”
Enough was enough. Chris understood David feeling betrayed that he’d purchased his father’s ranch. He understood the hurt of losing Ali. But did he want Chris to give up both as well? The thread holding back his temper snapped.
“Fine. Then be out when we close escrow in three weeks.”
“Chris.” Ali’s voice was pained and he knew he’d gone too far but he was tired of feeling like no matter what choice he made, it was the wrong one.
David took a step backward and scowled at him. He turned and looked at Ali before shaking his head sadly. “You know what? I think you need to find another roping partner. It might take a while to find one but I’m sure there’s at least one person around here you haven’t stabbed in the back yet.”
Chapter Twenty
* * *
UNLIKE BEAST WHO pranced and reared when he was excited, Boogie waited at the gate patiently for their turn. She was one of the final racers and the only thing that gave away his excitement for the event was the twitch he got in his shoulder. Alicia ran a hand over his neck and spoke to him softly. When the cowboy walked toward the gate, she gathered her reins into her hand, second-guessing whether she should have ridden Beast. He wasn’t always the fastest but he was consistent. It was too late to do anything but let Boogie run now.
As the gate opened she heard the announcer call her name and bumped Boogie’s side with her heels. He immediately responded, bursting through the gate at near full speed, his head already turned, looking for the first barrel. He ate the short distance with long strides, heading directly for the barrel until the last second when he slid around the turn, wrapping his muscular body around the barrel. She felt it barely brush her leg as his rear bunched under him before charging forward toward the next turn.
In her mind, everything was happening slowly. She could feel him change leads, shifting his weight to the outside before wrapping his body around the barrel and pressing on toward the final turn. The audience went wild and she thought she could hear Chris’s voice among the others but tried to tune out everything but Boogie.
“Come on, boy. You’ve got this. Go!”
As they rounded the final turn, she bumped his sides, yelling to spur him on but Boogie didn’t need any encouragement as he stretched his body out, laying his ears flat against his head. She was merely here for the ride. He was showing off for the crowd and she found herself laughing as they crossed the finish line. She couldn’t see her time but listened for the announcer.
“Ladies and gentlemen, we have another new arena record! That ride is going to be tough to beat.”
She leaned forward, slapping Boogie’s shoulder. “What a good boy!” she gushed as he slowed to a jog, prancing proudly with his head held high. She laughed at his antics as she headed for the warm up arena to cool him down.
“Nice run.”
She spun her head and saw David smiling at her, leaning against one of the metal panels where the steers were relaxing in the shade. She jumped off the saddle without thinking and threw her arms around his neck. Alicia realized her mistake as soon as he stiffened.
“I’m sorry, I—”
David shook his head. “It’s okay, Ali. I know about you and Chris.” He gave a sad chuckle. “I probably should have seen it all alon
g but I should have known the day we had coffee. My loss, I guess.” He shrugged. “Heading for the arena? I’ll walk with you if you want.”
He was trying to take the first steps to accepting the situation, to renew at least some semblance of a friendship, at least with her. Maybe she could help smooth things over between him and Chris. She smiled at him. “I’d love that.”
They walked down the dusty path toward the smaller arena in silence for a few moments, with only the soft clop of Boogie’s hooves in the packed dirt and the sound of the heavy metal music in the arena. David jammed his hands into his pockets before he broke the silence.
“Congratulations on getting the ranch.” He sounded defeated. “And the rodeo school.”
“David, I’m so sorry. I didn’t know it was your home.” She wasn’t sure what else she could say.
He gave her a sideways glance. “I know you didn’t.” He looked straight ahead. “But Chris did. I bet it was his idea for the rodeo school, too, wasn’t it?”
She eyed him. “Sort of. I was going to put an offer in but didn’t have enough for the down payment. He offered to buy in half. He didn’t know at the time it was your place I was putting an offer on.”
“It wouldn’t have mattered if he did.” He shot a side-long glance at her. “Chris always gets his way.”
She could hear the disgust in his voice and stopped. “David, he’s torn up about this.”
“Sure he is. Let’s look at the facts, Ali.” He ticked the items off on his fingers. “He got the business, the ranch, and the girl. All three things I was trying to get.” He arched a brow at her. “So forgive me if I don’t feel much like congratulating him on his success.”
“You’re partners,” she pointed out. “Yes, he should have told me it was your dad’s place but he made a mistake.”
“No, I made the mistake. I trusted him.” She could read the pain in his eyes and see how much this hurt him. “I should have listened to my dad. I lost focus on the job that needed to be done.”
“I don’t see our friendship as a mistake.”
David’s mouth twisted to the side and he raised a hand like he was going reach for her but dropped it. She could read the hollow sadness in his eyes. “That’s because you ended up with everything you’ve always wanted. I ended up with nothing.”
“HOW COULD YOU say that to him? In front of everyone?”
It was the first chance Ali had to talk to Chris after his fight with David. David was hurting and said several things he shouldn’t have but she couldn’t comprehend Chris kicking him off his own property. Technically, it was their property but he and David been friends for years. She couldn’t understand either man letting this come between them.
“Me?” He threw his rope on the ground beside the trailer and went around to the side of his horse, tugging at the cinch strap. “I was just trying to talk to him. He’s the one who started this.”
She put her hands on her hips and stared at him, incredulous. “Are you listening to yourself? You sound like a two-year-old.” She reached for his arm. “You started this when you didn’t tell him about the property.”
He looked down at her hand on his arm and back at her face. “This isn’t about the property, Ali. It’s about you.”
“Me?”
“If this were about the property, he would have taken me up on the offer to buy into the school as a partner. It’s about the fact that I got you and he didn’t.”
She let go of his arm. “I’m not a horse for the two of you to fight over.”
“That’s not what I meant. I just mean that this wouldn’t have happened if not for our relationship.”
“So, this is my fault?” she asked. “This happened because you couldn’t decide what you wanted and you kept secrets, Chris. This is about you throwing away a five year friendship that you can never replace. You need to apologize to him, Chris.”
“I’m not saying anything.” He pulled the saddle and blankets from Jaeger’s back, setting them into the tack compartment. “I’m done talking to him.”
“You’re going to talk to him.” She climbed into the living quarters of the trailer. “And don’t come back until you have.” She slammed the door shut, flipping the lock.
“Ali,” he warned outside the door. “You better unlock that door.”
“Go talk to him, Chris,” she said through the closed door. “Or don’t come back tonight.”
CHRIS HADN’T EXPECTED her to lock him out but Ali had been good to her threat and left him to feed the horses and fend for himself to find a meal.
“This is ridiculous,” he muttered at the locked door. She was humiliating him in front of everyone who’d seen his fight with David. This wasn’t his first fight with David, but it was his first fight with Ali and he wasn’t sure how to best handle it.
He knocked on the door, jumping back in surprise when she opened the door and leaned toward him. “Did you talk to David or have you been moping out here all day?”
“No, I haven’t, and I told you, I’m not going to.” She might be stubborn but he could be just as obstinate as she was.
“Then you can sleep out there.” She started to close the door when he reached for it.
“This is my trailer, Ali.”
She smiled at him and he was taken aback by the feisty grin. “Actually, it says ‘AC Rodeo School’ so, according to our business agreement, it’s a business asset. That makes it just as much mine as yours. Now, go apologize.” She pushed him back from the doorway and slammed the door in his face.
Chris opened his mouth to argue and realized she’d beaten him, at least for tonight. He was regretting his suggestion to combine assets. “Son-of-a-bitch!” Chris slapped his hand against the trailer door.
“It’s pretty easy, Chris. It’s just two simple little words,” she yelled through the door.
“Not going to happen, Ali.”
“Suit yourself.” He heard her shuffling around inside and wondered what she was doing now. The door opened and he hurried toward it. “Here,” she said, thrusting the blanket he kept on the bed into his arms. “So you don’t get cold tonight sleeping outside.” The door slammed in his face for the second time in as many minutes.
CHRIS COULDN’T SEE straight. The entire world seemed to be spinning sideways. Luckily, several ropers took pity on him and invited him to join them at their fire pits for dinner, but a six-pack and several whiskey shots later, he was feeling frustrated and just wanted to go to bed. It didn’t come as any surprise to see several parties start up around the trailers but they didn’t usually get this rowdy and loud, nor did he drink this much, but with nowhere to go and no bed now that Ali locked him out, he was at a loss. Chris heard his name called and turned to see two fellow ropers making their way toward him.
“That run today was awesome. I’m Jeff Roberts and this is my partner Devlin.” The young cowboy slapped Chris’s shoulder, grasping his hand in greeting. “You’ve got to have a beer with us.”
They dragged him toward their trailer, putting a bottle in his hand and introducing him to several of their friends. He couldn’t keep track of the compliments he received from his peers but tried to thank them all. At least someone appreciated him.
Ali still wasn’t taking pity on him and David was no place to be seen, not that he could see anyone clearly at this point. He tried to convince himself he wasn’t looking for David but he knew he’d apologize if given the chance. He and David had been friends too long to let anything come between them. Not a business, not property, and not a woman, no matter how tempting and delicious she might be. He needed to dig himself out of this hole.
“There you are. I need your help, Chris.”
Chris turned, his head spinning from the abundance of alcohol and he dropped into a nearby lawn chair, trying to place the female voice since he couldn’t see her face clearly.
“Don’t pass out on me now, Chris. I need you. He keeps following me.”
Chris squinted, trying to make ou
t the face of the familiar voice in the flickering light from the portable fire pit. “Delilah?”
“Yes, now get up, please.” She tugged at his arm, trying to drag him from the chair. “Shit, there he is.”
“Who?” Chris could hear that he was slurring his words but pushed himself to standing as a cowboy approached. He reacted without thinking and moved Delilah behind him.
“You need to leave me alone,” she yelled as the cowboy walked closer. Her hands held onto Chris’s waist and he wondered if it was to help him stop swaying on his feet.
“Honey, you promised to show me a good time. It’s time to make good on the offer.”
Chris didn’t recognize the man but right now, that didn’t surprise him in the slightest. He probably wouldn’t recognize his own sister.
“The lady asked you to leave her alone. You should probably move on, cowboy.” Chris slid his hand to Delilah’s back and moved her toward the direction of her trailer. He wasn’t sure what was going on and he couldn’t stand Delilah but he wasn’t leaving her at the mercy of this guy.
The cowboy pushed the back of Chris’s shoulders, knocking his forward, stumbling into Delilah who caught him and pushed him upright. She grasped the front of his shirt. “Please, Chris. Just pretend that we’re together. Tell him you’re my boyfriend or something. I’m really afraid of what he’ll do.”
Chris wasn’t sure if she was really scared or just wanted the guy to go away. But, even drunk as he was, he knew he had to get her to her trailer and away from this man. He just prayed her trailer wasn’t as far away as it felt like it was. He squinted, looking for the garishly elaborate rig.
“Go,” he ordered, forcing her ahead of him. “Get into the trailer and lock the door.”
“What about you?”
“I’ll be fine,” he slurred. “Go!”
Delilah stumbled into the trailer, slamming the door shut behind her and he barely heard the click of a lock when he was shoved against the aluminum side. Did this asshole really just put his hands on him? Chris ducked faster than he’d realized he could in his state and heard the cowboy’s howl of pain as he slammed his fist into the side of her trailer. With a well-placed jab that somehow managed to land in the cowboy’s abdomen, Chris spit blood from his mouth onto the ground.
