Page 81 of The Wrong Ride Home

Someday, I wanted my own horses, my own breeding and training operation, my own stable.

Pipe dream, obviously. I’d been working my ass off for years, and all I had to show for it was tenthousand dollars in my bank account. Not even enough for a down payment on a half-decent colt, let alone to start a breeding and training operation. Can’t buy nothing for that kind of cash.

I handed Copper over to Ben at the stables so he could take him to his assigned stall and cool him down properly.

That was when the announcer’s voice boomed overhead, the speakers crackling as the words hit me square in the chest even though I knew we’d won. But hearing it was extra sweet, making it all the more real. It wasn’t my first win, but like every time, I felt pride surge through me.

Yeah, this was my achievement! Only mine!

“Your 2024 Wildflower Canyon Rodeo Reining Champion—Elena Rivera on Copperhead Canyon from Wilder Ranch.”

“Congratulations.” Ben was as excited as a kid on Halloween. “That was…something.”

“Thanks, Ben.”

A heavy hand clapped against my back. “Hell of a ride, Elena,” Hunt said proudly.

“You caught it?”

“Yeah, we all did.” Hunt thrust a bottle of water at me.

I was going to ask whowe allmeant, but that became obvious when I saw Duke. “Hell of a ride.”

I nodded in greeting and was grateful that I was drinking, so I didn’t have to say anything to him. He’d seen me. Did he see how good I was?

The need to get his attention, to have his affection, his respect, his love was still clawing inside me after all these years. You could take the man out of the canyon, but you couldn’t take him out of my heart, now, could you?

“Let’s go,” Hunt urged. “We gotta go see Jace.”

I nodded, capping the water bottle and falling into step beside him. The energy of the rodeo pulsed around us: boots kicked up dust, the scent of sweat and horses in the air, and voices raised in excitement.

Duke walked a few steps ahead, close to my left, and I was too damn aware of it. Of him. The broad set of his shoulders, the way he carried himself like he owned the ground he walked on. He didn’t look at me, but he didn’t have to. His presence wrapped around me like barbed wire—painful and impossible to ignore.

Hunt moved ahead, finding a place for us, leaving me alone with Duke. “You always this quiet after a win?” His voice was low.

I glanced at him, my pulse jumping. “I’m quiet in general.”

His lips twitched like he was fighting a smirk. “Not always.”

Was that an innuendo about the time when we had sex?

“You have to be quiet, Elena.” Duke licked my pussy. “Or people will wonder what’s goin’ on in the stables.”

“Duke, please.” My hips sought his mouth, his lips, release.

“I know, baby. I know. You’re so beautiful down here. I love eating you.”

I clamped a hand over my mouth when I exploded, small whimpers escaping me.

“I’m going to take you to the river tonight so you can scream my name.” He drove into me. “So, I can hear you come.”

I took another sip of water instead of answering himandto cool the fuck down. What was this man doing to me?

The bronc chute came into view ahead of us. The crowd had thickened, pressing against the rails, and anticipation humming through them like an electric current.

The air buzzed with energy. The grandstands were packed, the announcer’s voice booming over the speakers, riling up the crowd as Jace lowered himself onto a bronc in the chute.

“Next up in the ranch bronc riding, we got Jace Carter from Wilder Ranch, riding a feisty little mare calledWidowmaker!”

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