The Bull Rider Wears Pink

by Jeanine McAdam

  “I can go, right,” Kevin demanded to know.

  Cassidy decided it was best to ignore the house comment and focus on Comic Con. “It’s a very expensive conference,” she replied trying to regain her footing in this conversation. She wasn’t sure if Kevin had any more verbal bombs he planned to drop. She glanced at John. He looked overwhelmed too. Poor man.

  Before Kevin walked into the kitchen John had been asking her about their sleeping arrangements. It seemed he wanted to sleep in the same bed with her. 'Without any damn kid around,' he said. He had needs and they needed to be fulfilled especially since he'd done the right thing concerning Mike Shannon.

  “Driving around the west and riding bulls,” Kevin told Cassidy bringing her attention back to his concerns.

  Jeez, both the men in her life wanted something and she wasn’t sure she could give it to them.

  “That’s very expensive,” Kevin continued, “especially when you're not winning.”

  Now that wasn’t a nice thing to say, Cassidy had only lost one round and then she had to forfeit, but she decided to ignore that comment too. Instead she glanced at John again. She could have used his help, but he still wasn't keeping up with the conversation.

  “It's been my dream,” Cassidy explained to her son, deciding since she was on her own, it was best to stick with honesty. “I've always wanted to ride bulls, since I was a little girl.”

  “Why the hell can't I have my dream?” Kevin demanded to know. “You've been moaning the entire time you've been back from L.A. about nobody respecting your dream but maybe you need to respect other people's dreams.” He shoved more spaghetti in his mouth.

  Holy moly, even though she didn't like the swear words he was using, Kevin had a point. But with the attitude he was dishing out, Cassidy wasn't ready to concede it.

  “Who do you know with a beach house in L.A.?” John asked after giving himself a little shake. He was ready to rejoin the conversation but he was using his official cop voice. Yes, the man was still recovering from the fact that he lost a year's worth of work in one night. Mary pressed charges and Mike Shannon went to jail for domestic abuse completely ruining any chance for John to continue the prescription drug investigation.

  Kevin looked even more put out, probably because of the way John was talking to him. “It's none of your business,” he snarled.

  Maybe a time out was needed. Cassidy opened the refrigerator. There were lots of fruit and veggies. Yikes, she was even more in love with Rachel Fox. Fan girl would be a good way to describe the feelings she was having for her sister-in-law. “Anyone up for a smoothie?” she asked brightly.

  “I tell you I have a dream,” Kevin fumed, “and you offer me a smoothie.”

  Oh God, she didn't mean it like that. Cassidy hustled over to the table and sat down across from Kevin. “You have a dream,” she whispered. She leaned toward him and reached over to squeeze his arm. “I don't mean to dismiss your dream. Everyone tried to stop mine but I won't let them do that to you.” She pushed a lock of hair off his forehead and tried to think of a way to indicate she cared. “What's your story about?” she finally asked.

  Kevin didn't reply. Instead he shrugged his shoulders.

  “Please tell me?” Her eyes searching his sulking face. “I’d like to know,” she added.

  Finally Kevin stopped being defensive. “Do you want to hear my one line elevator speech or my three minute pitch?” He shifted in his seat. He was actually sitting up straighter.

  Cassidy smiled at him. She didn't understand his need to write stories but she did understand a need to be listened to. She kept telling anyone who would lend her an ear, she wanted to ride bulls. She looked over at John. He was being unusually quiet as he watched both of them skeptically.

  “Start with the elevator speech, then give me the three minutes.” She folded her hands in front of her on the table. God, she was proud of Kevin. He'd come so far from the belligerent boy he'd been two years ago.

  “There's this cop,” Kevin said in a low voice.

  Cassidy glanced at John again. Not that Kevin knew what John did. Or at least she didn't think he knew. Kevin had been sleeping last night when all that happened with Mike Shannon at the motel—hadn't he? A thirteen year old couldn't fake sleep for that long—could he?

  John shifted in his chair. Intimidating was quickly trumping confusion in his demeanor. She didn't think he'd ask who Joss Wheaton was again. To try and get him back to being the frumpy preacher, she told him, “Joss Wheaton is a director and writer, he created Firefly.” She smiled awkwardly.

  Ignoring Cassidy, John gestured toward Kevin. “Continue,” he suggested, his voice low. At least he didn't sound menacing, yet.

  “He goes to the rodeo,” Kevin explained, “and works undercover as a preacher to catch a drug dealer who happens to be a rodeo clown, also known as a bull fighter.” Kevin turned to John. “I'm not sure if I should add that bull fighter part at the end.” With the best poker face Cassidy had ever seen Kevin asked, “What do you think, maybe people already know it means a rodeo clown?”

  John's expression darkened. He knew he'd been called out but he wasn't going to come clean. Now he was just being stubborn. “I think the bull fighter bit helps to clarify things,” he replied evenly.

  Cassidy didn't think John ever had an entire investigation unearthed by a thirteen year old. On top of having to arrest Mike Shannon for domestic violence it had to be beyond disappointing to realize Kevin figured him out, but the man didn't react. Cassidy had to give him credit for the self-control. “If Mike Shannon ever finds out you were calling him a clown he'd probably kick your ass, even from jail,” John told Kevin. Then he asked, “What's the three minute pitch?”

  “Well,” Kevin told him, voice pitched high with excitement. “The preacher,” he put finger quotes around the word, “is also in love with a bull rider, so much so he lies about being a sex addict. But she's too busy worrying about her bulls and her son to notice him.” With the look of someone who'd just 'skinned the cat' Kevin leaned back in his chair. “However before the rodeo, when they were living together in L.A., they had something going on.” He stopped for a moment as he rubbed his chin. “That part of the story I need to flush out more,” He shrugged. “But it's back story and mostly minor.”

  Okay, this had to stop. “He knows,” Cassidy said to John, she turned her attention to her son. “I'm sorry, Kevin.” What specifically she was apologizing for, she wasn't sure. But she knew she had let him down, lied to him. Even though it was a lie by omission it was still a lie. “We should have been honest with you about John and me.” She added, “And John's job.”

  “How did you figure us out?” John asked, he leaned back and crossed an ankle over his knee. All pretense of being the Bible thumping preacher gone. There was even a hint of respect in his voice.

  “When I met Rachel,” Kevin started, “I was yelling, screaming, and acting out all over the place.” He looked at Cassidy. “I was angry at you for leaving me and mad at Caleb and Logan for trying to take your place.”

  “Rachel told me I acted that way because I felt powerless.” He smiled a little. “She talked about her protesting days and how she ran naked trying to create a stir with her body, but then she met Matt Dillinger and he showed her that by gathering intelligence and listening to what the bull owners needed she could make a difference. Working on the inside was the word he used.”

  Cassidy glanced at John. His eyes were wide. Like any good cop the man was listening closely, looking for inconsistencies in the story.

  “I told her if I was going to spy on people I wanted a laptop,” Kevin continued. “I have no idea how she convinced Logan to spend the money but she got me one. Then she showed me Firefly and Joss Wheaton inspired me to write.”

  Who would have thought a naked protester and a sci-fi western could change a kid’s life? If it were that easy, every parent of a troubled teen would be dragging their kids to PETA protests and Comic Con.

&nbs
p; “So when you took me out on the road,” Kevin told Cassidy, “I decided to shut up and fade into the background. The more you guys thought I wasn't listening the more you talked.” He glanced at John. “I've got an entire screen play here.” He held up his computer. “Thanks to you two.” He smiled coyly.

  “It's all written down?” John asked slowly.

  “Like I said,” Kevin explained. “I just don't have the back story.”

  “John and I were a couple in L.A. living to—” Cassidy started.

  Kevin put his hands up in the air. “And there's really no need to tell me about the kissy, kissy stuff,” he interrupted with a cringe, “I don't write romance.”

  “You know everything,” Cassidy suggested with regret. “Don’t you?”

  Kevin smiled smugly. “I even know you weren't a prostitute or a porn star.” He shook his head. “That rehab story was for Logan so you could work without him worrying about you.”

  “Oh, Kevin,” Cassidy started, “I'm sorry you had to learn all this through—” It took her a moment to come up with the word, “hearsay.” She glanced at John. The man's face was unreadable. She returned her attention to Kevin, she would deal with the former undercover cop later. After this screw-up, John would never work in a Criminal Investigation Unit again and that reality was probably crashing down on him right now.

  “No worries,” Kevin told Cassidy. “I watched enough of that murder/mystery show Castle to understand why you couldn’t tell me.” He added, “You know the actor from Castle is the same guy who played Mal Reynolds on Firefly.”

  “No, I didn’t know that,” Cassidy whispered. On second thought maybe she wouldn’t try to cut back his television watching. “Thank you for understanding why I couldn’t tell you,” she added.

  “And now I'm going to say something no normal teenager says to his mother,” Kevin announced, he glanced at John who was staring at his laptop. “And I'm only going to say it once so listen up.” Kevin patted John on the knee and when he got the cop’s attention he pointed at Cassidy. “I'm proud of the work my mother did in L.A. even though she abandoned me with Logan and Caleb, it was the right thing to do.”

  Cassidy could feel herself blush and she couldn't control the smile breaking across her face. She jumped out of her chair and wrapped her arms around her son's neck. Then she kissed his head. “I'm proud of you too,” she cried pulling his head against her breasts.

  As Cassidy wiped the tears from her eyes, John started saying, “We've got to secure that laptop.” He reached for it but Kevin pulled it back. “Look, kid,” John continued, “you may have something here that can help me get Mike Shannon on more than a domestic abuse charge.”

  Kevin's eyes got wide, then he smiled a mischievous smile. “I've got a video,” he offered. “Mike Shannon passing something to Mrs. Goodwin.” He started pounding on the keyboard. “Maybe she knows who the kingpin is.”

  “You've got to be kidding me.” John leaned over and gave Kevin his own kiss on the head. “Can you find it? Show it to me?” John pulled a chair up to the table and sat next to Kevin. “I don’t think the pious registration lady is involved in any of this but maybe she’ll have a lead for me.”

  Just as fast as he started typing Kevin stopped. He leaned back in his seat and placed his foot on his knee. The same pose John had assumed a few minutes ago. “I will show you my video,” he told both of them sounding much older than his thirteen years. With his hands folded across his chest like Don Corleone he continued speaking. “But you have to tell Uncle Logan and Rachel this preacher thing is fake.” He turned to Cassidy. “You need to also tell them all that stuff you did in L.A. was part of the job.”

  “No,” John snapped. “I have a chance to salvage this operation.” He leaned forward, elbows on the table, energy flowing from every limb of his body.

  Kevin shook his head slowly. He wasn't going to be rattled by John. “Rachel hates you. She thinks you're even worse than Bret Bodner and she really hates him.” Kevin smiled a little. “She'll probably make you sleep in the barn tonight if she doesn’t know the truth.”

  While John digested those words about the sleeping arrangements, Kevin pointed at Cassidy. “And Logan's really broken up about you.” He jabbed his finger in the air. “When he gets drunk, he starts crying about his baby sister being a whore.”

  Oh jeez, now that broke Cassidy's heart.

  “You can't tell them,” John said in a low voice. “I know they're family but this case is officially off life support. With Mike Shannon in jail and unable to rat me out maybe I can find who I'm looking for after the authorities have a talk with Mrs. Goodwin.” John put his hands out flat on the table and rolled his shoulders. “Can you give me three days?”

  Kevin shook his head. “You've got to tell Logan,” he said to Cassidy again, “because in three days—”

  * * * *

  The kitchen door kicked open interrupting Kevin. Logan walked in holding the baby in one of those portable car seats, Rachel was on his heels carrying a black diaper bag with red trim. “Tell me what?” he asked.

  Holy shit, this was John's chance to redeem himself after all the lousy work he'd done on this case and Logan Cooper was going to mess it up. Logan Cooper always screwed things up with that larger than life personality of his. John eyed the guy suspiciously as Logan gave his sister a hug and ruffled Kevin's hair.

  “Our own personal petri dish,” Logan announced as he pounded on his nephew's back. “How you feeling, boy?”

  After Kevin said he was fine Logan turned to John. “For God's sake,” he cried out. “What's he doing here?” he asked Cassidy. His jaw got firm as he made meaningful eye contact with Rachel. She didn't look happy either.

  John had been socially rejected many times before and in many different ways. It came with the job. But for some reason Logan and Rachel's shunning hurt. He could feel his face getting red and his heart beating faster.

  “He helped me get Kevin home,” Cassidy explained. “He did most of the driving so I could take care of my son.” She put a hand on Logan's forearm. “He needs a place to stay.”

  After taking off her sweater Rachel picked the baby up. While juggling little Storm on her shoulder she crossed the kitchen. She lifted the tea kettle off the burner and filled it with water from the sink. She was unwilling to look at any of them as she returned to the stove and turned on the flame.

  John stood up and smiled. He'd try civility. “Good to see you, Logan,” he said. “Thanks for welcoming me into your home.” Not that the man had welcomed him, but John assumed it was going to happen. He put his hand out.

  With Rachel steaming just as much as that kettle, Logan wasn't sure what to do about John's hand but finally he gave John a quick shake. For a moment John thought about offering Rachel his hand, but she furrowed her brow and delivered another dirty look his way. Holy shit, those looks could make a man feel bad, real bad. Now, John was getting a better idea of why Kevin wanted full disclosure.

  But Jesus H. Christ, the woman had no right to still be mad at John for a few things he said to her a year ago. Rachel Fox Cooper had to realize she did run naked in front of ten thousand people and she was going to be on the receiving end of a little harassment after doing something like that. Yes, John may have gone overboard when he called her a harlot and implied she was a prostitute. But he had just arrived at the rodeo and was trying to establish his credentials as the preacher. He hadn't planned to do it on her back except she was an easy target.

  And the funny thing about it all, he agreed with her cause. At the time, chaffing was a real problem with the bull ropes. John had seen many red and raw animals. Rachel's work put an end to that.

  Logan picked up the empty spaghetti bowl. “Hey,” he said, “I was going to have this for dinner.” He smiled at Kevin. “Rachel,” he called to his wife. “The bottomless pit is back.”

  “When I want to be eaten out of house and home, Kevin is my favorite man for the job,” Rachel announced. She turne
d around, leaned over and gave the boy a kiss on the head. John decided the woman could be warm when she wanted but only if she wanted.

  John glanced at Cassidy. She smiled at her son too. “Even though he's sick,” she told the group. “He still ate a plate of eggs plus french toast for breakfast.” Cassidy reached over and gave her son's pox marked arm a squeeze. After using the calamine lotion for a day the marks were starting to dry up, most of them forming into scabs.

  “Now that you've gotten some food in your belly,” Logan suggested to Kevin. “Why don't you go fire up the PS3. There's a new Grand Theft Auto game with your name on it in the cabinet.”

  Kevin jumped up. “You bought me Grand Theft Auto Five,” he yelled. Then he did some kind of fancy hand shake, high-five with his uncle that ended in both of them spinning around. Another time in his life John would have found the entire thing ridiculous but not today. He was actually smiling.

  “Logan,” Cassidy said. “He hasn't played a video game in four weeks.” John knew Cassidy had worked hard to break Kevin's addiction to the controller. Her plan had been to work on television next. But he didn't think she'd be as successful especially since the kid wanted to make a career of it.

  “I want to talk to John without the kid around,” Logan told her.

  After putting the sleeping baby back into his seat and offering Cassidy a cup of tea, Rachel sat at the table. Her brows were still furrowed and jaw tight. John decided it was deliberate on her part to not offer him anything to drink. Rachel Fox wasn't a fool. She knew trouble was sitting at her kitchen table.

  “Look, I'll be honest with you,” Logan started, “I'm not happy with this.” He studied John first and then Cassidy. “When you two got together, at first I was shocked, then I thought it was a joke and now I'm just damn confused.” He shook his head. “This is not the natural order of things.”

  “Well, we're not really—” Cassidy started.

  “You're together,” Logan interrupted. “Don't give me that crap,” the cowboy told his sister. “The guy drove you and your contaminated kid home over five hundred miles. No fellow does that unless they are feeling something pretty damn close to love for a woman.”