Claire guided the truck over the rough field that served as a parking lot for the small-town rodeo. Alex breathed a prayer of thanks that she went slowly because of the children chasing one another amid the cars, trucks and horse trailers filling the lot.
“Judging from the number already here, I’d say they’re going to have a good crowd,” Claire said. “I know they’ve heard Travis is riding today. He comes every year. I wonder if it’s gotten out that he and Hank are joining up for team roping.”
Alex pointed to the entrance of the arena. “I think that answers your question.”
Under a weathered sign telling spectators they could watch “Travis Eden—World Champion Bull Rider and All-Around Cowboy,” hung a new banner that read: “See Hank Eden—Riding and Roping Again after Eight Years.”
Claire gave Alex a wry look as she killed the motor. “I should’ve known Mr. Spindel wouldn’t let it slip by. These small-town rodeos make a big deal out of having one big name. Having two will probably fill the arena. Which, of course, isn’t saying all that much. You ready to go find your date?”
Claire seemed certain this “date” meant Alex would stay on as cook, ignoring Alex when she insisted she was still going to San Francisco.
Alex took a deep breath. “I guess I’m as ready as I’ll ever be.”
“Let’s go.”
As they left the truck, Alex spied a coiled rope, partly braided, in Claire’s hands. “What’s that?”
She smiled as she held it up and started for the arena. “Our ticket behind the chutes.”
They made their way through the parked cars and people. Alex returned the smiles and nods of welcome. Several people called to Claire, but she didn’t stop to talk to anyone. Instead, she guided Alex to the back of the arena.
As they got closer, Alex recognized the pungent odors of earth and animals. They passed a low, flat-topped frame building with crude letters above a white door proclaiming it the rodeo office. Late-arriving cowboys and their families milled around the outside, looking over the program or catching up on the latest news and gossip.
Alex tried to hide her relief when the gray-haired cowpoke guarding the gate announced there was no entrance to anyone but paid participants. Claire showed the guard their “ticket” and pleaded with him to let her give her brother the favorite bull rope he had left at home by mistake. The guard was unmoved, even when Claire mentioned who her brothers were.
Alex took Claire by the arm. “We can see them after the rodeo.”
“We might not live much past that,” Claire told her miserably. “At least I won’t. This really is Travis’s favorite bull rope. I took it out of his trailer after they loaded up the horses.”
“Why would you do something like that?”
“I wanted Hank to see you before the rodeo.”
Alex closed her eyes and shook her head. “Claire, Claire, Claire.”
“Well, there are a lot of buckle chasers hanging around rodeos, and I wanted to remind him he already has a date.”
“Claire...”
“I want you to stay and be my sister,” she declared, her chin set.
Alex’s eyes widened. “Sister? How many times do I have to tell you? I’m going to San Francisco. Nothing is going to stop me.”
Claire shook her head as she scanned the people milling around the rodeo office. “I’ve never seen Hank act this way. He’ll stop you.”
“Claire!”
“So sue me.”
Alex let out a huff of frustration, then suggested. “Why don’t you give the rope to someone who has paid their entry fee so they can give it to Travis? You know enough people here, surely you can find someone.”
“That’s not the point. I—” Claire’s face suddenly brightened, and she ran forward, waving. “Mr. Spindel!”
Five minutes later the rodeo sponsor escorted them through the gate himself. Claire smiled prettily at the guard, who watched them go past with narrowed eyes.
“Now just ten minutes, Miss Claire,” Mr. Spindel told her. “It’s not safe back here with all the livestock being moved around.”
“Oh, yes, Mr. Spindel. We’ll be out quick as a wink! Thanks so much. You’ve saved my life!”
Alex shook her head. Claire knew cowboys well, especially how to twist them around her little finger. She’d be at home with the best Southern belles.
Claire led them through a maze of plank fencing, past rows of narrow pens, some filled with calves, some with horses, some with bulls, some empty.
The cowboys milling about came in all sizes—short, medium, tall and kid-size. Nearly all had the same build: broad shoulders, narrow hips, strong legs. They all wore the same uniform: cowboy hat, boots and blue jeans. The only difference between them were their long-sleeved shirts, which varied in hue from soft neutrals to bright stripes to vivid solids appliquéed with various Western items like horseshoes or Indian feathers.
Most stood around in groups talking, but as they passed through, Alex saw a few sitting on their saddles, checking the length of the stirrups. One cowboy stood alone in an empty pen, going through the motions of riding. Still others threw lariats at handmade dummies of steers.
Regardless of what they were doing, however, all the cowboys stopped to watch Alex and Claire pass by.
Distracted by the attention they received, Alex bumped into Claire when she stopped suddenly and planted her hands on her hips. “I knew it.”
Alex followed her gaze to a group of cowgirls. In the middle, their height unable to hide them, stood Hank and Travis. “I thought women weren’t allowed back here.”
“They’re barrel racers,” Claire said in disgust. “I know a couple of them.”
Seeing Hank’s animated face smiling at the young women, Alex had a sudden urge to scratch the makeup off their pretty young faces.
A sick feeling of horror swept over her. She was jealous. Dear sweet—She was a lot farther gone than she’d thought. Damn Hank. She didn’t belong here. Not as his date. Not as anything.
She began her retreat a second before a bellow stopped her.
“Alex, wait!”
She turned to see Hank pushing his way through the passel of young admirers. As he came out, Claire started down the path he’d cleared to Travis. Alex made a grab for her, but missed.
Hank’s eyes didn’t miss an inch of her as he moved forward. His smile widened as he met her eyes. He stopped so close she had to crane her head to peer up at him. The brim of his hat shaded her face as well as his own.
“You look great,” he said quietly.
Alex looked pointedly away. “Thanks.”
He caught her chin and tilted her face back to his. “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing.” Alex tore her chin away and took a step back.
He stepped closer. “Damn it, Alex, you were fine this morning.”
“You weren’t surrounded by a bevy of young cowgirls this morning.” She regretted the words as soon as she said them. The last thing she wanted was for Hank to realize she was jealous.
He picked up on it immediately. She could tell by the way his intense blue eyes searched hers. Suddenly he grabbed her hand and pulled her into an empty pen. The gate closed behind them. He backed her up against the planks, leaned on one arm and ran his free hand along her cheek. “Thanks for coming to see me.”
He was so close, his soft, warm breath fanned her cheek. Alex gazed into his shadowed face. Feeling herself falling under his spell, she ducked away.
He caught her arm.
She glanced back. His hold on her arm wasn’t strong or confining. She could pull away anytime. But she didn’t. “Claire had to give Travis a bull rope.”
“He forgot it? That’s not like Travis.”
Alex shook her head. “Claire stole it out of his trailer.”
Hank smiled wryly. “Looks like we don’t have to worry about the family’s approval.”
“For what?”
“For anything we want to do,” he said softly.
Suddenly Alex found it hard to breathe. “I’d better go. Mr. Spindel gave us just ten minutes to find you.”
He slipped his hand down to hers and ran his thumb over her palm. “How about a kiss for luck?”
Alex caught her breath and glanced between the rails of the pen to the cowboys beyond. No one was paying them the slightest attention. It was as if they’d disappeared when the gate closed on the pen. She shouldn’t give in to Hank’s request. But his breathless words, the sensuous touch on her hand beguiled her, and—God help her—she wanted to taste him again.
“All right,” she said softly. “For luck.”
His face turned serious. He stepped closer and leaned down, his eyes holding hers until his mouth made contact. He used just the slightest pressure. The kiss was lingering, sweet. Still, her heart raced like Hank’s truck engine did under his heavy boot.
He pulled away and their eyes met. “Don’t look at me that way, or I’ll be kissing you the way we kissed the other night.”
Her eyes drifted down to his mouth. “I wouldn’t mind.”
He groaned. “I wouldn’t either, darlin’. But if we do, I won’t be able to leave this pen for a while. My pants are tight enough already.”
Alex felt her cheeks sting as she realized what he meant.
“But I’ll take a rain check, if you don’t mind.” His eyes burned into hers. “Tonight when we get home.”
Alex felt the heat in her cheeks fill her entire body. Home. What a beguiling word. What would it be like to call the Garden her home, the Edens her family? To cover her longing, she stepped back and gave him an arch smile. “I’m not promising anything, Hank Eden. You stay away from those barrel racers, and we’ll talk.”
He grinned as she pushed open the gate. “What barrel racers?”
“Ladies and gentlemen! This is the moment we’ve all been waiting for! The legendary Eden brothers from right here in Wyoming are setting up as the fourth contestants in our team roping event. Buckaroos, this is a first not only for the Spindel rodeo, but for the world. Hank Eden is a Wyoming legend and Travis Eden is the current World Champion Bull Rider and All-Around Cowboy. They are teaming up for the first time ever for this event. We are proud to have them at our arena...”
Applause, cheers and whistles drowned the announcer’s voice as Hank and Travis rode into the arena. Hank spared a glance at Alex and Claire, whom he’d spotted in the crowd while waiting behind the chutes during the early events. Then he tuned out all the noise. His old competition habits were coming back. They were almost as good as when he’d shoved them into a closet in his mind eight years ago.
He glanced at Travis, who nodded, then he guided his horse into the header’s box. He turned the horse around and backed him into the far corner. On the other side of the chute, Travis mirrored his actions in the heeler’s box. Between them, the steer clanked into the chute. The Hereford-mix had leather sleeves wrapped around the base of its horns to protect them. They were wide and evenly curved, a good target.
With a deep breath to appease the adrenaline pounding through him, Hank mentally checked his gear—roping reins in left hand, nylon rope coiled on top, lariat tucked under right arm.
They had to beat a time of five-point-two seconds, so there could be no mistakes. They especially couldn’t afford the ten-second penalty for breaking the barrier string.
A glance told him the steer was square in the chute, eyes forward.
He nodded.
The steer broke from the chute and Hank spurred his horse. The neck of his horse broke the barrier string perfectly. Rising in the stirrups, he swung his lasso. His horse caught the steer’s left hip with two deep strides, hazing the animal to the right. His eyes beaded on the horns, Hank released the lariat. The loop bounced off the nose and caught on the horns. He grabbed the slack and pulled, dallying the rope around his saddle horn—thumb up, counter-clockwise—once, twice.
Hank pulled his horse to a stop, letting the animal take the brunt of the steer’s jerk straight-on. As soon as the steer reached the end of the rope, he turned the horse to the left, making an L across the arena, placing the steer in position for Travis’s toss.
Hank’s eyes never left the steer. One stride, two. Travis threw and caught both hind feet. As Travis dallied, Hank pulled his horse around. They faced one another, the steer stretched between them.
The field judge dropped his flag.
The crowd surged to their feet, cheering wildly.
“A perfect catch!” the announcer screamed.
A shrill whistle pierced through the applause, reminding him of Alex’s whistle the day he met her at the Whiskey Mountain Café. Was this whistle hers? His eyes cut to crowd. The brief glimpse showed her jumping up and down like crazy, with two unladylike fingers in her mouth.
Hank felt warmth flow over him like sunshine. That one whistle meant more to him than all the other cheers.
Their work done, Hank and Travis eased up on the steer. As Travis’s rope went slack, the steer hopped out of it. Hank headed for the holding pen with the steer, easing his rope free as the announcer got the time.
“Four point two seconds! A team roping record for Spindel rodeo! Ladies and gentlemen, the Eden brothers are in the money!”
“Did you enjoy our ride?”
Alex pulled her eyes from Claire, who was talking with several friends over by the gate. Travis approached her, stuffing his check into his shirt pocket. “I sure did. It was exciting, but over so quick.”
He grinned and patted his pocket. “The quicker, the bigger the check.”
She peered around him. “Where’s Hank?”
“He’s in there chewing the fat with Spindel. He’ll be out in a minute.”
She studied Travis’s profile as he watched the crowd milling around the rodeo office. “You think a lot of Hank, don’t you?”
Travis stood on spread legs, balancing his weight on both feet. “He’s always been my hero, ever since I was little.”
Alex glanced back at the office door. “He’s a good choice for a hero.”
“Kinda sweet on him, aren’t you?” Travis asked. “He likes you, too. In fact, I’ve never seen him this sweet on anybody.”
Alex felt her cheeks flame. “Probably all the desserts I make him.”
He chuckled. “Maybe. But I think it’s more than that.”
She hadn’t straightened out her feelings for Hank in her own mind. She certainly wasn’t going to discuss them with Travis. “What about you? You don’t have a woman you’re sweet on?”
“Sure. Three. They’re waiting for me right now.”
“Where?”
He pointed towards the pens.
Alex slapped him playfully. “I didn’t mean your horses.”
He shrugged and his smile faded. “Life on the road is tough enough for a man alone. Hauling a family around makes it even tougher. Something always gives. Either the marriage fails or the cowboy loses his competitive edge. I’ve seen it happen too often.” He shook his head. “Cowboys serious about making it to the National Finals don’t have any business with a family.”
“Don’t you want a family?”
“Sure, someday. I just haven’t met a woman yet who made me want to give up competition.”
She placed her hand on his arm. “You will someday. And when you do, I pity the poor girl.”
He raised both brows. “Am I that bad?”
She sighed dramatically. “If you’re half as stubborn as your brother, she won’t stand a chance.”
As the last strains of the lively tune faded into the walls of the rodeo dance hall, Hank led Alex off the floor.
Her cheeks were flushed and her eyes sparkled as she lifted her face. “Dancing is fun. I should’ve tried it a long time ago.”
Hank squeezed her waist. He could dance all night—but only with Alex. “You couldn’t. You didn’t have me there to teach you.”
“As if someone else couldn’t have taught me?”
He bent hi
s head so his lips were next to her ear. “Not like I did.”
The red on her cheeks deepened at his reminder, and she stuck a playful elbow in his ribs.
“I’m thirsty,” he said. “You want a beer?”
She wrinkled her nose. “I’ve never acquired a taste for beer. But a soft drink would be nice.”
He nodded. “I’ll be back in a minute.”
He was stopped so many times to relive the four-second win and for congratulatory handshakes, it was twenty minutes before he made it back to Alex with two soft drinks. His frown chased away the two cowboys flirting with her, and he handed her a drink.
“I thought you were having beer,” she commented after taking a sip.
He shook his head. “Not if you don’t like the taste of it.”
“What does that have to—Oh.”
“Darlin’, you blush more than any woman I’ve ever seen,” he said for her ears alone.
She glared at him. “Only around you.”
He chuckled. Far from making him feel bad, her accusation made him feel warm deep inside. That, added to the high he’d ridden all day, had him looking down from the clouds. He’d forgotten how it felt to compete before a crowd...to win.
“Travis and Claire seem to be having fun,” Alex said in an obvious attempt to change the subject.
Hank’s eyes sought his brother and sister. Travis sat at a table with several other cowboys and even more women. The buckle chasers outnumbered the cowboys two to one. Claire was on the dance floor with a boy who played football for Dubois High School. She didn’t look all that interested in her partner, but he knew his sister loved to dance. “Yep.”
“I watched you give pointers to that bunch of boys over there,” Alex said. “I could tell it meant a lot to them.”
Hank shrugged. “I always take time for the little guys. I was a little guy once. I know how it felt when one of the winners took time to talk to me.”
“You really love the rodeo, don’t you?”
Home Is Where Hank Is (Cowboys To The Rescue 1) Page 12
