The Bull Rider's Plan

by Jeannie Watt

  “Emma...you might be surprised at what I can do.”

  “I...uh... Right.”

  Davis winked at her, then headed for his truck, leaving Emma to wonder if she had any idea at all of what the true relationship was between her father and her stepmother.

  * * *

  THE SOUND OF boots on gravel coming up fast behind him made Jess glance over his shoulder.

  Tim LeClair. Tim was a decent guy and a gracious competitor. He was also behind Jess in the money. Despite having Emma on the brain and more often than not driving all night to make his next rodeo. Jess was on a winning streak. Emma had been gone for about a week, and he’d crammed in all the rodeos that he could—traveling to Idaho, as well as following the Montana circuit—and winning most of them. He’d decided to continue onto the next leg of the rodeo circuit instead of returning home to Gavin for few days, like he’d originally planned.

  “Nice ride.”

  Jess looked over his shoulder to see Tim LeClair a few yards behind him, chaps in one hand, gear bag in the other.

  “Thanks.” He waited for Tim to fall into step with him as they headed to the competitors’ lot, where they were parked side by side.

  Since Jess no longer had a driver to share road duties, he and Tim had tossed around the idea of traveling together, but hadn’t set up any kind of official plan. Mainly because Jess wasn’t yet certain he wanted to lose the freedom of having his own wheels—just in case he had the sudden urge to head back to Gavin. There was only one reason for him to do that, and that reason had yet to be in contact with him.

  Ty had called the previous evening and mentioned that she’d be watching the place while Skye spent her vacation days on tour with him. Ty appeared to assume that ranch-sitting was the reason Emma had returned home, and Jess did nothing to clue his twin in to the truth. Ty did dig a little, asking about how traveling with Em had been, and Jess had given what he hoped was a suitably casual answer. It’d been all right. He hated to lose his driver.

  He’d pretty much lied. There was nothing casual about his feelings toward Em.

  He and Tim continued to their rigs in silence, Tim limping a little and Jess holding his arm close to his bruised side. But they were both mobile and cognizant of their surroundings, which meant it had been a good day.

  They parted ways at the trucks and Jess climbed into his camper to make a quick sandwich before driving on that night. Emma hadn’t spent all that much time in the camper, so it shouldn’t feel unusually empty every time he went inside, but it did.

  There was a knock on the door and Jess called out that it was open. Tim stuck his head in.

  “Want to finalize some travel plans?”

  It only made sense. They were both heading to a large-purse rodeo in Wyoming to fill an empty niche in the schedule, passing though Gavin on the way.

  It was time.

  “Yeah, let’s do that.” The solitary driving was beginning to wear and he was spending too much time alone. In his head. Feeling both protective and helpless where Em was concerned.

  “My sister has a place near West Yellowstone,” Tim said. “We can stop there before heading into Wyoming, then drive north after the rodeo and pick things back up in Circle. The only question is, do we drop your rig in Gavin, or mine in West Yellowstone?”

  “I’ll drop mine. Your camper is bigger.” And newer. And it didn’t remind him of Em.

  * * *

  DURING THE WEEKS following her return home, Emma established a routine that kept her busy. Instead of driving from rodeo to rodeo, she drove from the Larkin Ranch to the café. She only had a part-time schedule to begin with, but she covered for people who needed extra time off, so she was there almost every day. When she wasn’t at the café, she hung out with Skye and learned the ranch routine so that she could care for the place while Skye was on the road. She liked living on the Larkin Ranch, liked caring for the livestock and helping in Skye’s garden. The trailer she rented was roomy enough that she didn’t feel cramped, and if she wanted company, Skye was there.

  The only sticking point was the fact that Skye’s husband was Jess’s twin, Tyler.

  But Tyler wasn’t there and had no plans to arrive anytime soon. Skye was due to fly out the following weekend to meet him in Texas, and Emma wasn’t sure about how she felt about having the ranch to herself. Too much alone time meant too much thinking time and at the moment, she was trying very hard not to think about Jess. Or the way she’d left him.

  Or him saying that he hadn’t intended to fall in love with her.

  No. She wasn’t going to think about those things. Wasn’t going to think about Jess. And for hours at a time she sometimes succeeded in that endeavor.

  Okay...more like half hours at a time.

  The guy was in her brain and under her skin.

  And as Emma left the barn after feeding the goose that lived there, he also appeared to be standing in the driveway next to the house. Emma almost dropped the feed bucket, before she realized she was staring at Tyler, not Jess.

  Tyler, who was supposed to be on the other side of the country.

  “Sorry about that,” he said when she got closer.

  Emma felt the color rise in her cheeks, wondering just how transparent her emotions had been. “What?”

  “You thought I was Jess.”

  Very transparent. “What if I did?”

  He narrowed his eyes at her. “It appeared to mean something to you...seeing my brother.”

  She moistened her lips, bought some time, then went with the truth. “He does mean something to me.”

  “Just not enough?”

  “Tyler!”

  They turned together to see Skye standing on the porch a few feet away, frowning at her husband. Emma didn’t know how much she’d heard, but it seemed as if she’d heard enough to feel as if she needed to rescue Em.

  Em turned back to Ty and met his appraising look with one of her own. It was unnerving seeing someone who looked so much like Jess, but wasn’t Jess. But if she’d been this close to Jess, her heart would have been beating faster, as it had during that split second she’d thought Ty was his twin.

  “Maybe you should mind your business, not your brother’s,” she finally said. “As tempting as it might be to fly in and protect him, he’s doing okay on his own.”

  A slow smile transformed Ty’s face as Skye came to stand beside him, linking her arm through his. He winced as she touched his side. “Easy, babe.”

  “Oh, yeah. You’re going to climb on a bull in a week and I need to be easy with you.”

  Emma grabbed the distraction Skye had offered with both hands. “Where are you competing?”

  Ty cocked an eyebrow at her, indicating that he knew she was sidestepping, before saying, “We’re off to Houston for a special Man vs. Bull event.”

  “However, my husband got himself mashed last night, so decided to fly home for a few days of rest and recuperation.” Skye couldn’t quite disguise the fact that she totally adored the guy, and Emma felt an odd pang of jealousy.

  “Sounds...fun.” She lifted the feed bucket. “I should finish the chores.”

  “You want to have dinner with us? I made a stew. There’s plenty.”

  Emma started shaking her head apologetically before Skye finished talking. She was not going to hang with Jess’s brother. It was simply too unsettling. Made her too aware of what felt very much like unfinished business. “I have some stuff I need to work on...and I’m gearing up for my big meeting with Selma tomorrow.”

  “Ah. The showdown.”

  Tyler frowned, but Emma didn’t feel like explaining. Skye could fill him in. “Tomorrow is the mutually agreed upon day.” She’d actually tried to meet a few days earlier, but Selma had been adamant that it had to be on Saturday. So Emma had waited for Satur
day. She figured she’d choose her battles and day of the week wasn’t one of them.

  “If you get hungry, the invitation stands.”

  Emma took care not to look at Tyler as she said, “Thank you. I’ll keep that in mind.”

  As it turned out, she didn’t need to take advantage of her invitation, because Skye knocked on the door to the trailer a little after sundown. When Emma opened it, Skye held out a covered dish.

  “I brought you stew. I thought you might need some hearty food as you prepare for battle.”

  Emma laughed and reached for the dish. Skye gave it to her, but she didn’t move. Something was up.

  “What?” Emma asked simply, holding the warm bowl with both hands.

  “Since you’re going to your ranch, and I’m pretty sure you’re going to notice when you drive by Jess’s trailer... He came back to drop his truck off at his place about a week ago.”

  “Oh.” The word came out sounding normal, but Emma was glad that she didn’t have to say much more. Jess had been back. Without so much as a call or a text.

  Of course, he was under no obligation to contact her. If he’d asked to see her, she would have said no. So what the heck? Why did it feel like a knife had just twisted inside of her?

  “He’s sharing a ride with another bull rider,” Skye said.

  Emma moistened her lips. “That makes sense. I’m glad to hear he’s sharing. I kind of left him hanging.”

  “Why did you do that?”

  The unasked question that had been hanging between them had suddenly been asked—in a gentle way, but asked all the same.

  “I...didn’t know what else to do.”

  Skye nodded. “I wish I had some amazing words of wisdom.”

  Emma smiled a little. “Me, too. But I don’t think there are any words. And, right now, I have to focus on establishing my independence where my stepmom is involved.”

  “One battle at a time.”

  “Exactly.” She sounded strong. In control. The opposite of what she felt.

  “I have to go in early tomorrow, so I’ll wish you luck now,” Skye said.

  “Thank you.” Emma held up the bowl of stew. “And thank you for dinner.”

  “The least I could do.”

  A few seconds later, Skye was gone, the door was closed and Emma was alone in her trailer. She placed the stew on the table and then hugged her arms around her as she dropped her head back to stare up at the ceiling.

  Jess had come back to Gavin. And he hadn’t told her.

  That spoke volumes. In her quest not to ruin a friendship, she’d done exactly that. Even if she hadn’t killed it outright, she’d dealt it a mortal blow.

  And it was killing her.

  Chapter Fifteen

  As Emma drove into the family ranch, she wondered yet again why Selma had been so accommodating about her request for some time before they met. Because that wasn’t the way Selma rolled, Emma had spent the last fourteen days ping-ponging back and forth between theories. She figured that maybe going on the road with Jess had finally convinced her stepmom that Emma was old enough to go her own way...or she was merely playing nice to lull her into a sense of false security before trying to take over again.

  When Emma pulled around the barn and headed for her usual parking spot, only to find it filled with a very familiar vehicle, she instantly realized why her stepmother had been so reasonable about setting up a meeting on a specific date.

  It had given her time to set up an ambush.

  Emma’s breath quickened as she parked next to Darion’s truck and turned off the engine, then she slammed the door a little too hard as she got out of her car.

  Really? He’d totally sidestepped any contact with her and now he was here, doing Selma’s bidding?

  Emma walked in through the back door, because Selma would have expected her to enter by the front. The back door was used only for coming and going during chores. She crossed the neat kitchen with its black-and-white tile floor, old, yet shiny appliances and large scarred-up family dining table. How many family fights had broken out at the table? And how many family celebrations and gatherings held there? Len’s wake popped into her head, but she pushed the thought aside. Families were complicated, and she was about to simplify her life.

  When she walked into the living room the first thing she saw was Darion sitting on the leather sofa, looking very much as if he wanted to be anywhere except for on the Sullivan family ranch. That worked because Emma was about to send him on his way before she and her stepmom got into things.

  Selma jumped to her feet as soon as Emma entered the room, her welcoming smile fading when she saw the fiery look on her stepdaughter’s face.

  Emma stopped dead center in the room, looking at first Selma and then Darion. “I don’t know what’s going on, but I’m not in the mood for a surprise attack.”

  Darion had the grace to go red, as did Selma, but not for the same reasons. Emma walked past her stepmother and stopped in front of Darion, who got to his feet.

  “Em—”

  She raised her hands in a warning gesture and he closed his mouth again. “I think you should go.”

  “But—” Selma started to speak, then stopped abruptly when Emma whirled on her.

  “No buts,” Emma said through clenched teeth. She turned back to Darion. “I’m sorry if you traveled far, but this is not the place where we are going to have our first post-breakup discussion.”

  “Yeah,” he said with a quick nod before shooting a dark look at Selma. “I agree.”

  Without another word, he headed for the front door, leaving Selma and Emma facing off. Neither said a word until they heard the truck door open and close and the engine start.

  “Well, now you’ve done it,” Selma muttered.

  Emma gaped at her. Gaped and grasped for the logic...and then she laughed. It was all so ridiculous.

  “It’s not funny,” Selma snapped. “He’s a good man.”

  “I know he is,” Emma said as she sank down in a floral upholstered chair. One thing Selma was good at was making a house seem like a home—and it was a good home, as long as a person was willing to play things her way. Or had the backbone to stand up to her. “But he’s not the man for me.”

  Selma took a few paces, then turned, her arms folded over her middle. “Why not?”

  They’d taken a few stabs at this conversation before, but matters had quickly degenerated into anger and defensiveness. The dress. The deposits. The fact that Emma was making poor choices for her future.

  Emma pulled in a long breath and took a moment to study the woman who had raised her. “Selma. Mom. The thing is...marrying me off doesn’t mean that you’ve successfully completed your task.”

  “What does that mean?”

  Emma gripped the arms of her chair. Even though Selma had the height advantage, she remained seated. “It means that’s what this whole thing has felt like.” And her conversation with her dad had verified her theory. “You aren’t paying attention to the fact that, good man or not, I don’t want to marry Darion. And he doesn’t want to marry me. Why would you persist in hounding us if it wasn’t for your own peace of mind.”

  Selma let out a tiny huff and threw up her hands. “Well, my peace of mind does play into it. Make no mistake there.”

  Emma frowned at her.

  Selma took a couple of paces then turned back. “I almost didn’t marry your father, you know.”

  Emma blinked at her. “No. I didn’t.”

  “Well, I came that close—” she held up her thumb and forefinger “—from making the biggest mistake of my life. Because I thought that maybe I wanted more than he could offer. I had nerves. Plain and simple. And so did you.”

  Emma rolled her eyes. “I did not have an attack of nerves. I had
an attack of reality. I’m glad you married Dad. But it’s not the same thing.”

  “How is it different?” Selma challenged.

  “Darion and I are friends. Were friends.” She didn’t know what they were now. “How did you get him here?”

  “It wasn’t easy,” Selma sniffed. “But I thought if the two of you were brought together. Had a chance to talk...”

  “I don’t want Darion.” She didn’t. She wasn’t even sure if she wanted him as a friend after this ambush...although, in his defense, Selma was hard to say no to.

  Selma turned on her. “Then what do you want?”

  Emma didn’t see where what she wanted was any of Selma’s business, but, in the name of ending her stepmom’s meddling, she said, “I want to be in control of my life. I want to answer to myself and only myself. I want to make choices for my life that only involve me.”

  A brittle silence followed her words and then Selma gave a snort. “Sounds pretty selfish to me.”

  It sounded selfish to Emma, too. And not even remotely true.

  She didn’t want to live her life alone. She’d spent so much time dodging Selma that it seemed as if that was what she wanted, but...was it really?

  She raised her eyes to her stepmom and said the words in her heart. “I don’t want to live under a microscope. I don’t want to be micromanaged. I don’t want to marry to escape grief or feel safe or to have an ally against you...sorry.” She pressed her lips together, but Selma only rolled her eyes. Okay. She hadn’t mortally wounded her stepmom.

  “I know I’m tough—”

  “And intrusive. I love you, but, Mom...give me some room to breathe.”

  Selma regarded the family photo on the wall above Emma’s head. “Room to breathe.”

  “Yes.”

  Selma gave her an appraising sidelong look. “Kind of dramatic, don’t you think?”

  “No. I don’t want my choices made for me.” Emma closed her eyes, tightened her lips. When her eyes came open again, she said, “If I’m about to step off a cliff, stop me, but otherwise, let me make my own mistakes.”