A Cowboy's Claim

by Marin Thomas

  “My nephew doesn’t come from good stock.”

  Tanya left her chair and closed the distance between them. “You’re good stock, Vic.”

  “Don’t let my rodeo success color your judgment of me. I raised my share of hell running through the streets of Albuquerque. I did a lot of things I’m not proud of.”

  “But you made it out of there and now you’re a different man.”

  Vic thought he’d left his past behind him—until he’d gotten the call about Alex. “Maybe I should have stayed in Albuquerque.” Had he been a fool to believe each eight-second ride would carry him further and further from his past? It had taken just one phone call to rip away the thousands and thousands of miles he’d already covered chasing a title.

  “If you hadn’t left,” Tanya said, “you never would have pursued rodeo and you’d never be this close to winning a national title. And Alex wouldn’t have an uncle to look up to. You’re a walking, talking example of succeeding in spite of your past.”

  What Tanya said sounded pretty, but... “I’m no better than my sister or mother. I abandoned Alex, too, by keeping my distance from all of them.” But if he hadn’t turned his back on his hometown, he would have joined a gang and, who knew, maybe he’d have gotten himself killed by now. A dead uncle was no good to Alex.

  Vic thought back to the days he’d hung out with his best friends, Cruz and Alonso. Of the three of them Alonso Marquez had the brains to make something of himself and his life. Vic had nicknamed him the negotiator because he tried to talk guys down from fighting. Maybe if Alonso had been around on that fateful night years ago, Vic would never have carried out his plans. Until Vic’s sister had been raped by the leader of the Los Locos—the very gang Vic had been pledging—he’d hadn’t believed he was capable of violence. He’d demanded the jerk do right by Camila, and when the leader had laughed in his face, Vic had wanted to kill the bastard.

  Years of resentment toward his mother, the unfairness of life, struggling every day to stay alive in the barrio, watching other guys his age find a way out when he couldn’t had festered in him for years. That night his rage had exploded, scaring the crap out of Vic. If Cruz hadn’t wrestled the gun from his hand, Vic would have been the one thrown in prison.

  “Vic.”

  He blinked away the memory and focused on Tanya’s blue eyes.

  “You’re here now,” she said. “Taking care of your nephew when he needs you the most. That’s all that matters.”

  “I should have known my mother would abuse Alex. She’s been a drug user most of her life. By the time I left town there was nothing left of the mother I knew as a little kid.” Hell, if Vic had ever felt anything close to love for his mother, he couldn’t remember.

  “Try not to worry about Alex. He’s safe with us.”

  Safe for how long? The road was no place for a little boy, but neither was a group home. He tried to envision a future after rodeo. Where would he live? What would he do to support himself? But the biggest question that kept him awake at night... Would he be able to take care of Alex or would Alex be better off in a foster home with two parents?

  Tanya tugged his shirtsleeve. “I was wondering if we’d have time to swing by Fairlie, Texas, on Monday. They’re holding a free barrel-racing exhibition and I’d like to get in a couple of practice runs with Slingshot before we compete next weekend. But I understand if you’d rather just get to Oklahoma and rest a few days before the Will Rogers Memorial Rodeo.”

  Vic didn’t want to sit around a motel room and think about how Tanya was getting under his skin and how difficult it would be to part ways with Alex. He was already having trouble picturing the three of them eventually going their separate ways.

  “I think we can swing it.”

  “Thank you.” Tanya wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed his cheek. Before she pulled away, he turned his head and their lips met. He moved his mouth over hers slow and easy before sneaking his tongue inside, showing her without words how much he wanted her.

  Tanya pulled away first. “I better see if Alex is still sleeping.”

  Vic watched Tanya return to the room, wishing he could make time stand still.

  Chapter Eleven

  “This place is packed,” Vic said when he and Alex met up with Tanya in the parking lot of the outdoor arena in Fairlie, Texas.

  “Places like this draw big crowds that cater to people who love barrel racing but can’t afford to travel to the larger rodeos.”

  Tanya had arrived an hour before Vic and Alex, and had already put Slingshot in a stall, where he was resting. “I race in a half hour.” She pointed to a concession stand. “I’ll have lunch after the race, but if you two are hungry go ahead and eat without me.”

  “We’ll grab a snack and wait to eat with you later,” Vic said.

  Tanya crouched in front of Alex. “Will you cheer for me and Slingshot?”

  He nodded.

  “I want to hear you shout Slingshot’s name really loud when we race around the barrels.” She tapped her finger against the end of his nose, then glanced up and caught Vic studying her, his eyes soft and dark. When he stared at her like that, she almost believed they were a couple—for real and not just until they found a home for Alex.

  “Be careful,” Vic said.

  “I always am.” She returned to the horse stalls beneath a covered section of the arena. The shade provided relief from the heat, but it was close to ninety-six degrees and Tanya’s Western blouse stuck to her sweaty back. “Hey, big guy.” She stepped into the stall and patted Slingshot’s rump. “You ready?” He nudged her shoulder with his nose and she scratched his ears.

  “I’m going to give you a lot of lead this afternoon, so don’t get cocky and cut the corners too sharp. I know you can beat fourteen seconds.” She rubbed the ache in her calf, then bent at the waist and stretched the muscle. She was beginning to feel the affects of traveling on the road day after day. The long hours behind the wheel were taking a toll on her leg, and the hot baths each night in the motel room no longer relieved the constant throb in her bones. She was pushing herself too hard—exactly what Mason and her mother feared would happen. But she wasn’t ready to quit—not yet. She’d stick with it until the pain made it impossible to compete or until Vic no longer needed her help with Alex. She backed Slingshot out of the stall and hitched him to the center post, then gave him a rubdown.

  Slingshot stamped his hoof. “Easy, big guy.” When she considered her motivation for returning to the circuit, she admitted that she’d felt as if Beau had robbed her of her career.

  After they’d been married a few months, he suggested that she quit the circuit and help Mason train horses. Money was tight and Beau needed her paycheck to cover his entry fees until he climbed out of his slump. She’d refused, claiming her career was as important as his, but in the back of her mind she wondered if he’d only married her hoping she’d support him financially. They’d gotten into a huge argument and had gone their separate ways on the circuit. Once she’d cooled down and could think straight, she’d come up with a compromise that would allow her to ride half the year and train horses for Mason the other half. She’d hoped that Beau would realize the sacrifice she’d been willing to make for him...for them. And he showed his appreciation by sleeping around behind her back. The night of her car accident Tanya had been more upset with herself than Beau. In the back of her mind, she’d always known Beau had been using her—she just hadn’t wanted to accept it until she was forced to when she found him in bed with a buckle bunny.

  You’re allowing Vic to use you like Beau did.

  The voice in her head startled Tanya. Yes, she was helping Vic take care of Alex, but she was receiving something in return. Vic was paying for her food, lodging, gas for her pickup and Slingshot’s entry fees and boarding. If anyone was getting the better end of the
deal, it was her. She shut the door on her thoughts. Today was all about preparing for next weekend when she had the best possible shot of landing in the money.

  She walked Slingshot to the alley, stopping in a patch of shade to check his tack, making sure the saddle was snug, and then they entered the line to wait for their turn. Several yards in front of them stood a black gelding whose saddle was adorned with enough bling to rival the afternoon sun.

  “You don’t care about fancy rhinestones, do you, boy?” she whispered in Slingshot’s ear. Once the cowgirl up ahead climbed onto her horse, Tanya turned her thoughts inward. Today she intended to give Slingshot permission to go as fast as he wanted when he approached the first barrel. She had to find out—maybe the hard way—if she could remain in the saddle. If she couldn’t, then she was back to square one with the stubborn horse.

  The black gelding took off down the alley and burst into the arena. From Tanya’s vantage point she saw her competitor navigate the turns and straightaways with ease and in no time at all the cowgirl and her rhinestone horse were making a sprint for the finish line. As soon as they broke the electronic barrier, Tanya glanced at the clock—an even fifteen seconds.

  “Okay, big guy. No guts, no glory.” Tanya swung into the saddle and then checked the stands. It took her only a second to find Vic and Alex. Both waved at her. “Win for Alex, Slingshot.”

  She switched her attention to the man at the end of the alley. He signaled that the timers had been reset and she was cleared to take off. She leaned forward and tapped her heels. Slingshot bolted, his first strides more powerful than she’d experienced before and adrenaline made her heart pound. C’mon, Slingshot. You can do this. Beating fifteen seconds is nothing.

  As they raced toward the first barrel, Tanya pulled slightly on the reins, so Slingshot would approach at an angle. He didn’t respond to the signal. Instead he ran in a straight line, barely applying the brakes as he turned. Tanya slid in the saddle, but she hung on. Her hat flew off, however. Had this been a sanctioned barrel-racing event, she’d be fined twenty-five dollars for losing her hat.

  Slingshot took the second turn just as fast, and Tanya’s leg bumped the barrel. Luckily the drum wobbled but remained upright. A moment of panic hit her when Slingshot veered toward the third barrel. He was going too fast to make the turn. She braced for a collision, all the while wishing Alex wasn’t watching. At the last second Slingshot panicked and planted his left hoof less than a half inch from the barrel. Tanya’s body jerked forward and she dug her knees into the horse and clenched her abdominal muscles. The effort saved her from flying through the air. Slingshot raced for the alley with a final burst of energy as he passed through the electronic timer. Before Tanya pulled back on the reins, Slingshot was already slowing and a pit formed in her stomach.

  She hopped off his back and walked him behind the stands, where she could study his gait. He was stepping gingerly on the left front hoof. “You don’t know when to stop, do you?”

  Slingshot blew air from his nose. Despite coming up lame, the showoff knew he’d run a near perfect route. “Go ahead and gloat,” she said, keeping an eye on his leg. “But you’re going to pay a high price for not following my instructions.” She led him to his stall for a drink of water, then signaled a local vet, who remained on the premises during the rodeo.

  “What can I help you with?” The older man’s kind blue eyes squinted at Tanya.

  She introduced the vet to Slingshot and removed the horse’s saddle. “It’s the front left leg. He planted hard when he came around the barrel.”

  The vet took the reins. “Let’s put him in the corral where I can get a better look.”

  “I’ll be there in a minute.” Tanya dropped the saddle on the ground and rubbed her watering eyes.

  “What’s wrong?”

  She jumped at the sound of Vic’s voice. “Nothing.” She sighed. “Everything.” Pasting a smile on her face, she ruffled Alex’s hair. “What did you think of Slingshot? He was pretty fast today, wasn’t he?”

  Alex nodded, then looked up at Vic.

  “You want to tell her?” Vic said.

  “Tell me what?” Her gaze swung between the males.

  Vic nudged Alex. “How many seconds did I say?”

  “Thirteen.” Alex smiled.

  “And two-tenths. You’re in first place,” Vic said.

  Tanya swiped at a tear that escaped her eye. “Go figure Slingshot would run his best time ever, then come up lame.”

  Vic frowned. “What happened?”

  “He’s favoring his front leg. The vet’s in the corral with him right now.”

  Her gaze slid away from Vic’s. They both knew what this meant—she and Slingshot had come to the end of their road together.

  Vic straightened his shoulders. “Let’s see what the vet says.”

  * * *

  “I’M PRETTY CONFIDENT it’s a soft tissue injury, but an ultrasound will be needed to see if surgery is required to repair the flexor tendon.” The vet patted Slingshot’s neck.

  Vic curled his fingers into his palms as if making a fist could keep his panic from escaping his body.

  “I can give him medication to help with the swelling and a shot for the pain, which will make him more comfortable riding in the trailer.”

  Tanya’s lower lip trembled and Vic shoved aside his own worries. He put his arm around her shoulders. “He’s a strong horse. He’ll come back from this injury.” Maybe. It would take a lot of therapy, money and a good dose of luck to get Slingshot healthy enough to compete again.

  “Where’s home?” the vet asked.

  “Longmont, Colorado.” Tanya’s voice broke.

  Alex hugged Tanya’s leg when tears spilled from her eyes.

  Vic felt helpless, wishing he knew how to make her feel better and how to stop the dread pumping through his bloodstream. He should never have agreed to this practice run today, but Tanya had been so excited and he’d wanted to make her happy. If they’d driven straight to Oklahoma, Slingshot wouldn’t have gotten injured and the three of them would continue to travel together.

  The vet handed Tanya a plastic prescription bottle. “Give him two every six to eight hours during the trip home.”

  Home. The word pierced Vic like a bullet between the eyes. He didn’t have a home. But Tanya did and her people were waiting for her return.

  What about Alex?

  Vic stared at the top of his nephew’s head and thought his chest might explode from the churning emotion trapped inside. Images of his childhood flashed before his eyes; only it was Alex’s face he saw, not his own. He couldn’t let Alex return to Albuquerque and live in the group home.

  Maybe he couldn’t let him go at all.

  The thought jarred Vic, but after the initial shock he realized he’d been preparing for this moment from the first time he met his nephew. No one would look out for Alex the way Vic would. And there was no teacher back in the barrio like Maria Fitzgerald to take Alex under her wing and help him escape the gangs. Vic was Alex’s only way out.

  The circuit was no place to raise a kid. Vic had seen his competitors try to take their families on the road year-round. Living out of a motor home and homeschooling children could be as stressful as dodging trouble in the barrio. But unless Vic had a nine-to-five job and a decent place for Alex to lay his head every night, social services wouldn’t grant Vic custody of his nephew.

  The only way Vic could find permanent work and settle down was if he retired from rodeo. And right now retiring was out of the question. “Tanya, let the doc take care of Slingshot while we discuss what to do next.”

  Tanya took Alex’s hand and walked across the parking lot to Vic’s pickup. Vic remained behind. “Doc,” he said. “I’m taking care of the bill.”

  The vet nodded. “It’s best to get this horse o
ff the road as soon as possible so the injury doesn’t get any worse.”

  That meant Vic and Tanya would have to part ways today. And damned if he was ready to say goodbye to her. He caught up with the pair and then drove to Don’s Hot Dogs and parked next to the play area for kids in front of the restaurant. “You and Alex grab a table by the swings and I’ll order our food.”

  A million thoughts raced through Vic’s head as he stood in line at the order window. What kind of goodbye would this be with Tanya—a forever goodbye or a see-you-down-the-road goodbye? He needed time to figure out if what he felt for her was real or all twisted up with sexual attraction and gratitude for her help with Alex.

  Tanya was the first woman ever who’d made him ponder the future. Until he and Tanya had made love, Vic had never allowed himself the luxury of planning a future after rodeo. All these years he’d focused on his next ride and then the one after that and the one after that. He’d dedicated his life to chasing a trophy and nothing else had mattered.

  “Three dogs, a diet cola, a root beer and...do you have milk?”

  The pimple-faced teenager shook his head. “A bottle of water, then.”

  “That it?”

  “For now.” Vic pulled his wallet out of his pocket.

  “Twenty-one sixty-two.”

  He took his change and stepped away from the window while he waited for his order. He had a clear view of the playground where Tanya was pushing Alex on the swing. The kid must have said something out loud, because Tanya laughed. She was a strong woman and Vic admired her for putting on a brave face for Alex when he knew she was still crying inside about Slingshot’s injury. He gave Tanya most of the credit for helping Alex come out of his shell and worried that the boy would shut down again if she left them.

  Vic wanted to believe Alex would be fine if left alone with him, but what if the boy wasn’t? Alex had just begun talking a little—what if he clammed up again. Talk or no talk, returning Alex to Albuquerque was out of the question. No matter that his sister was trying to get her act together, he didn’t trust Natalia to take good care of her son and Alex was too young, too vulnerable to stand up to anyone who mistreated him. As much as he wished his sister would make Alex a priority in her life, Vic knew it would never happen.