COWBOY, INTERRUPTED

by MISSY HARPER

  “How about you take me to see my father, and I’ll go get him stitched up. Maybe have a little talk with him about sharin the TV with others.”

  “Thank you!” The worm over exaggerated.

  Bite me!

  Ethan caught himself smiling as he remembered Rylee’s jab from earlier. That one was for you, Runt. Damn it, he already missed her!

  Ethan watched Rory ride on television with his father that night. The kid had scored a ninety-two on his ride which put him in second place going into the final round on Saturday. All he had to do was stay on, and do it with a bit of style, then he’d walk away with a million bucks.

  Of course his father had narrated the entire ride, believing he was watching his son, and telling the orderly watching TV with him just how he’d trained his son to ride like that. Ethan had played along and pretended he was just the hired help there to spend time with the man and give the old guy someone to talk with.

  It still hurt like hell, but the pride in his father’s voice when he spoke about his son almost made it better. It was obvious how much his father loved him and how proud he was of his accomplishments. It was just damn sad that the man didn’t realize the guy he was speaking about was sitting right next to him. He stayed with his father until he fell asleep then considered leaving to catch a few hours of sleep himself. In the end, he stayed with his dad, holding his hand like a small child would.

  He’d no sooner gotten comfortable on the sofa in his father’s room when he heard his cell phone begin to ring. He looked at the display screen and felt a newfound warmth spread across him when he saw Rylee’s name on the screen.

  “Isn’t it past your bedtime, Runt?” He grumbled into the phone with a smile on his face.

  “Shut up, Ethan! How’s your dad?” Sweet as ever, Ethan thought with a smile. The only thing that could make it better would be to see the fire in her eyes. God, he loved to rile her up!

  “Ah, he needed six stitches in his head, but he’s fine now.” Ethan said, stretching out on his back as he settled in to talk with her. Something about her voice, even when she was snapping at him, made him feel like he was where he belonged.

  “What were they fighting about?” She asked in astonishment.

  “The remote.” Ethan answered with a chuckle, knowing that having three brothers she’d understand.

  “So you’re telling me there’s no hope my brother’s will ever learn to share the remote?”

  “Doesn’t look like it.” He chuckled in her ear. She was so damn precious.

  They talked for a few more minutes while she told him all about Rory’s ride as if he didn’t know anything about it. He let her talk and listened to her excitement and fear for her brother’s safety. He assured her everything would be alright, and then listened as she told him about all the wild things that were going on in Las Vegas before she finally said good night.

  Ethan tucked his hands behind his head and thought about the day that had just past. He’d enjoyed watching the competition with his father, even if the man didn’t know who he was and thought Rory was his son. It was interesting to find out how his father must have felt about him every time he’d watched him ride, when it actually was him riding. This disease was a real bitch most of the time, but every now and then it offered something he never would have been able to have without it. Tonight had been one of those times. He’d been allowed the privilege of hearing, and seeing, how his father felt about him and his career. That didn’t happen often between men like him and his father.

  As he lay there, his thoughts, as usual, worked themselves around to Rylee. He’d seen the whole family sitting in the VIP seats back behind the chutes. Rylee had stood out in the crowd. He wasn’t the only one that thought so either.

  Every time the camera man panned the crowd, he made it his business to stop and zoom in on Rylee! Each time he’d seen her smiling and laughing, or wringing her hands with worry while she was completely unaware the whole world was watching her. That is the whole world and all the damn cowboys surrounding her!

  There were so many cowboys hanging on the fence in front of the VIP section, it was a wonder that fence was still standing! In all his competitions combined, he’d never seen such a thing. He laid there worrying about whether or not her brothers were keeping a close enough eye on her. That kid could get herself into some serious trouble with any one of the cowboys he’d seen hanging on that fence.

  Unable to sleep, he picked up his cell phone and dialed Tanner’s number. Only after he knew she was safe in her parents hotel room did he drift off to sleep, but not before reaching back for his fathers hand again.

  Chapter 15

  Ball Buster, Round Two

  Ethan spotted her as soon as he entered the VIP section. He also noted all the cowboys around her and the fact she looked as nervous as a long tailed cat in a room full of rocking chairs. Rylee’s hands were twisted together in her lap. Her denim covered thighs were bouncing up and down as her booted feet tapped on the floor beneath her. He took the seat above hers, without her noticing, and placed his hands on her shoulders. She just about jumped out of her skin, and he knew he’d pay for it, but his motive was two fold. He wanted to comfort her, but just as much, he wanted to rid her of all the damn horny cowboys hanging around!

  “Relax, Runt. You’re gonna tap a hole clean through the floor of the bleachers.” He teased as she glared over her shoulder at him.

  “Relax! How the hell am I supposed to relax when my brother is about to ride a two thousand pound bull that wants to kill him?” She asked as if he was the stupidest person in the world. Ethan chuckled and kissed the top of her head. Every cowboy within a mile was watching so he massaged her shoulders again, more for them than he did for her.

  “What bull did he draw?” He asked the group as he smirked at a few of the cowboys watching him, trying to figure out if she was with him or not. He sent them an undeniable bet your ass, boys look, and included his trademark grin for free.

  “Ball Buster.” Tanner supplied and both Ethan’s chuckle and hands stopped. Ball Buster was the bull that had nearly killed Ethan two years ago in this very arena.

  It had cost him the championship in the semi-final round and caused him to let Rylee down in a way he’d never even known until he’d returned home. Ethan felt a shiver go down his spine as he remembered the bull throwing him and then coming after him with a vengeance. That bastard had stomped and stomped on him until everything had gone black. He’d woke sometime later in a hospital emergency room with Rory standing beside his bed.

  To this day, Ball Buster had remained unridden. Rory not only faced getting bucked off, but getting killed if that bull had anything to say about it. He completely understood Rylee’s nervousness and nearly failed to resist the urge to tap his own boot heels.

  “He’ll be okay, Baby.” Ethan squeezed her shoulders again. “It’s time somebody rode that damn beast for all eight. I’m gonna see if I can get down there and give him a few pointers before he rides. That bastard likes to turn left and then flip back real fast to the right while he tries to buck his ass end back to the left high and hard. That’s how he tossed me. Doesn’t spin like most bulls do.” Ethan leaned down and kissed the top of her head while giving her shoulders a good squeeze once more. She reached up and squeezed his hands as he stood behind her. Only his bad memories and his concern for his friend stopped him from kissing her when she looked up with worried eyes and nibbled on her bottom lip.

  “I’ll go with you.” Tanner said as they walked off, headed for the chutes. If anyone could get close enough to Rory it would be Ethan. He still knew quite a few people working the chutes, and being last years champion didn’t hurt either.

  I want to propose a toast to my son, Rory Van der Brook… this years World Champion bull rider!” Thor thundered as he raised his glass to this youngest son.

  The crowd in the small bar across the street from the arena erupted into cheers and applause. Rory had done the impossible and then some
. He’d ridden Ball Buster for all eight seconds and then stayed on him for an additional eight seconds just to prove to that bull he wasn’t as rank as he thought. He’d dismounted with a score of ninety-seven and stripped all hope from the number one rider. After a ride like his, he was unbeatable!

  “I propose a toast, and a thank you, to my former travelin partner.” Ethan said as he raised his glass to the crowd in honor of his friend. “A toast to the World Champion… I taught him everything he knows!” Ethan boasted loudly with a grin from ear to ear. He couldn’t have been more proud of Rory. The crowd joined in on the teasing, and all sorts of stories were told about what else Ethan may have taught the young bull rider. Ethan struggled with the old stories from his glory days. He realized that all anyone seemed to remember were his exploits with easy women. For the first time, he felt truly ashamed of his past and never wanted anyone to hear about it again.

  “And thank you for ridin that bastard an extra eight for me! Now that’s a true friend, folks!” Ethan announced when the stories began to get the best of him. There were some things he was ashamed of, but there were others he never wanted Rylee or momma Gina to hear about.

  Rory and Ethan hugged each other tight in the manly way that always ends with incredibly hard slaps to the back. If the truth were to be known, Rory most likely had ridden that extra eight seconds for Ethan.

  He’d been with Ethan the night Ball Buster tried to kill him. He’d been the first bull rider over the fence when he’d realized Ethan was in trouble. Rylee had sat in their living room, panicked, as Rory had done everything in his power to draw the bull’s attention away from the man she loved. Rory had even ridden in the ambulance with Ethan and stayed with him until he was released from the hospital. That night had fused a bond between the two that was stronger than even the bond Ethan had with Tanner.

  “Hey, Baby Girl. I got a couple cowboy’s over here that think they can beat you in a game of pool.” Oliver said as he massaged his big hands into her shoulders, challenging Ethan with a grin.

  “Is that so?” Rylee asked with a raised eyebrow as she scoped out the group of eager cowboys standing beside Oliver.

  “Ya feelin lucky, pretty lady?” A tall cowboy, that Ethan knew to be a total player, asked as he grinned down at Rylee.

  How bout ya lick your lips and show her what you’re really after, Mike! Ethan glared at the bull rider and stepped a little closer to Rylee.

  “Well, I’m thinkin that it might be running in the family tonight, boys.” She said when she noticed the scowl on Ethan’s face. “You’re on Cowboy, but prepare yourself for defeat.” Rylee said with a smug grin of her own. Sometimes it was fun watching Ethan squirm.

  “I’ll be your third.” Ethan offered as he placed his hand possessively at Rylee’s waist and glared at Oliver as they headed for the back of the bar where the pool tables were located. Ethan knew this bastard could give a damn about playing pool with a woman like Rylee. He was just looking for the quickest way into her pants.

  “Well, I got bad news for ya, Buddy. I’m the biggest cock block you’ll ever encounter!” Ethan muttered to himself as he offered the other man an evil smile.

  They’d played two games, and had about as many drinks, when Regina came over to tell them they were all feeling lucky so everyone was headed over to the casino at the hotel.

  “Nope!” Rylee announced just a little bit tipsy. “I’ve got a few more balls to sink, and then this cowboy’s gonna have to eat every last one of those trash talkin words he’s been slingin all night. And let me tell you, that’s not something I’m plannin to walk away from.” Rylee picked up her pool stick, twirling it in the air as she glided toward the table with a feline gracefulness that had the attention of every man in the bar.

  “Stay with her!” Regina ordered as she pointed her finger at both Oliver and Ethan. “She’s already had enough.” Regina laughed as she turned to go. Normally she didn’t approve of her children drinking too much, but it was good to see Rylee finally letting loose a bit. She worried about her little girl working too hard and being too grown up.

  “Don’t worry, momma Gina. I ain’t lettin her out of my sight!” Ethan assured her. “If she goes to the ladies room… well, we’re gonna start some new rumors, cause she’s takin me with her.” Ethan grinned at her and then glanced at the cowboys vying for a spot closer to Rylee.

  “Alright, we’ll see you guys back at the hotel. Have a good time and try to keep her from getting into too much trouble.” She told the boys.

  “Give em hell, Baby Girl!” She shouted over to Rylee with a huge grin on her face and then a wicked smirk back at a grumbling Ethan and a chuckling Oliver.

  “Yes, ma’am!” Rylee twirled her pool stick again before she leaned over the table, aimed and sank another ball, making an I’m so good at this face to the groaning cowboys standing around.

  Chapter 16

  Girls Can Ride Bulls, Too!

  Rylee spent the next half hour taking money from the cowboys around her. Finally, they realized this tactic was getting them nowhere, so they decided it was time to change horses.

  Mike, the one Ethan had consistently had to remind to keep his hands off of Rylee’s hips, legs, arms… ya get the picture, decided to find out just how much of a dare devil she might be.

  “So, Rylee, your brother the only one in the family that rides bulls?” Ethan recognized the bait. He’d used it plenty of times in the past himself. Tonight he was having no part of it!

  “No, they’re all stupid.” She said as she raised her flirty little eyebrow at him. It was so strange to witness Rylee flirting with someone other than him. It was new, and he didn’t like it one little bit. “They’ve all ridden at some point or another.” She said as she turned her attention back to the final pool game.

  “Leave it alone, Mike.” Ethan warned, but the man just grinned at him.

  “How ’bout you? You ever taken the wild ride, Rylee?” He asked suggestively.

  “Mike!” Ethan warned with narrowed eyes and a scary smile on his face.

  “I was just askin if the lady had ever been on the back of a bull, Ethan.” He defended his question with a big knowing grin on his face.

  “Right.” Ethan grumbled as he took the pool stick from Rylee and leaned into the table to make his own shot.

  “No, I haven’t!” Rylee pouted and glared at Ethan and Oliver. “Back when I was still stupid enough to try it, none of them would ever let me ride! They made me watch them all the time, but never would let me get on.” She tattled to the grinning cowboy. “They even ratted on me when they caught me riding my horse bareback! Got me in all kinda trouble with daddy!”

  “Is that so?” Mike asked as if it were the worst thing a brother could have done to his little sister.

  “They’ve always been mean to me, it’s why I’m such a bitch today.” Rylee self-righteously announced. “And they were sexist, too!” Rylee went on, falling right into the trap Mike was laying for her. The man was reeling her in, sure and steady. His poor little Runt was too drunk and too innocent to even realize it.

  Ethan looked up at her from over his pool stick and motioned with his head for Oliver to get over there next to her. She was just drunk enough to not realize how flirty she sounded. A woman should never mention any form of the word sex in the midst of a bunch of cowboys. He knew this from personal experience. He’d utilized a situation such as this a few thousand times. That fact soured his stomach now.

  “Ya know, Rylee. We might be able to help ya out with this little problem of yours.” Mike said as he closed in on a smiling Rylee. She was so far out of her league with this guy. It made ice cold chills run up and down Ethan’s back to see him closing in on his sweet little Runt like that. If he touched her, he was a dead man!

  “Really? Could you beat up all three of my brothers and Ethan, too?” Rylee asked with her big tiger striped eyes glowing at the man who wanted nothing more than a few minutes of pleasure from her. She didn’t matter to t
he guy anymore than the woman he was with last night did or tomorrow night’s would. He ought to know. How many shameful times had he pulled this same trick on a girl. Take her to ride a bull, celebratory drinks after, then anything he damn well pleased from her. He couldn’t think of a word bad enough to describe the man he’d allowed himself to become.

  “No, Sweetness, I’m not the violent type, but there’s a mechanical bull at a club about two blocks from here. I’m pretty sure we could get you a ride on it… if you’d be into something like that. It’s not for everybody, ya know?” Mike used charm and challenge to get to her. Smart little bastard!

  “Cool…”

  “I don’t think so, Runt.” Ethan cut her off as he came to stand behind her and placed both of his hands on her shoulders. That is he placed his hands on her shoulders after he removed Mike’s hands from her hips!

  “Why not?” Rylee quickly turned to face off with Ethan.

  “Because you’ve told me a thousand times it’s stupid, remember?” He threw her own words back at her hoping she’d see reason and back down.

  “No, it’s stupid to get on one that’s trying to kill your dumb ass. It’s not stupid to ride one that can actually be con-troll-ed.” She dragged out the last word and looked at him like he was stupid.

  “The answer’s no, Rylee.” He looked down at her hard and tossed a few bucks onto the pool table.

  “That aught to cover the drinks boys. I think it’s best if we call it a night.” Oliver said as Ethan looked over at the three bull riders and turned Rylee’s shoulders in the direction of the door.

  “I disagree… again, and I don’t remember anyone asking you to go anywhere anyway!” Rylee narrowed her eyes at Ethan as she turned on him, again ready to fight to the death if she had to. Ethan heard the cowboys behind him begin to snicker.