Page 84 of The Pieces We've Lost

“Okay, what’s up?”

“I’ve been wanting to say this for a while, but I—” Maybe the universe didn’t want me to tell her I was in love with her because, right on cue, a pickup horn blared and the boys pulled up in front of the house.

Ellison shot up, rushing over to the door as Reid, Mikey, Jake, and Hayden all piled out.

“You guys are back early!” She gave all of them hugs. Crazy to think a month ago, she was a stranger to all of them and now they accepted her like she was family.

“Yeah, surprising, huh?” Reid chuckled and flicked his eyes to Mikey. Usually, when we were on the road we were late getting back home and it was almost always because of Mikey.

“Glad to have you home, buddy.” I hugged him.Even though you ruined my moment with Ellison.

We ended up going into town to get lunch, and the boys told us about the rodeos they had gone to while they were on the road.

“The one in Arizona was fine,” Reid explained. “But the header I got paired with wasn’t the best.”

“Well, of course not, bud. The best was back here at home,” I joked with him, feeling more like myself every day.

Reid laughed with me but continued his story, telling us that he ended up placing third, which still won him money and would keep his standing in a good spot, luckily.

“Unfortunately, Kingsley and Marlow were at the one in New Mexico and they were talking shit.” He rolled his eyes before Mikey cut in.

“Yeah, I almost got in a fist fight with one of ’em over it, but you’d be proud of me, Carson, I held back.”

I had seen some of the interviews that Kingsley and Marlow had done. None of them were particularly friendly and most involved them making little digs about me not being tough enough to continue to compete. Ellison tried her best to prevent me from reading or watching them, but it was my reputation that they were talking about.

“I shouldn’t have to congratulate you on having self-control, buddy,” I said sarcastically, but I still had to chuckle.

“What did you get up to while you were home?” Hayden asked. He didn’t talk about himself much, or really talk much at all, but he was a great kid. Always cared about the people around him and checked up on everyone to make sure they were doing okay.

“I’m not sure if I want to know what those two were upto.” Mikey wiggled his eyebrows as he made the suggestive comment.

Ellison’s cheeks flushed as she pushed around her food. “We didn’t do much. Watched movies, went for rides.” Her voice trailed off a little as she realized how that might have given Mikey ammunition to poke fun at us.

I gave him a glare right as he opened his mouth to make a comment, and Ellison fired, “On horses, you jackass.”

A couple hours later, we were back at the house, sitting on the front lawn, drinking beers, and talking about life like we always did. It was our usual tradition, except it felt even better having Ellison sitting on my lap, listening to her banter and joke around with the guys like she’d always been a part of our lives.

CHAPTER FORTY-SEVEN

ellison

Colter had been cleared to compete in the Fourth of July rodeo, and the day had finally come.

We all drove to the arena the night before so Reid and Colter could get in some practice runs the next morning. He was nervous, I could tell. He was even more nervous when Dash Kingsley and Wayne Marlow pulled up.

“What the fuck are they doing all the way up here?” Reid grumbled, clearly not pleased that they were here.

The thing about the PRCA was that you could compete in rodeos anywhere. There were different circuits throughout the nation and while cowboys had to designate a home circuit, they weren’t restricted to only competing in those rodeos.

“I have no fucking idea. Probably to get in our heads.” Colter rolled his eyes.

Dash stepped out of his pickup truck, wearing too-tight jeans and a shirt that was probably worth more than me. He seemed like the type to flaunt his wealth and indulge in expensive things.

“Well, well, well, look who’s here.” His eyes flicked toColter as he talked to Wayne. “Looks like the golden boy decided to actually compete. Heard about your injury. What a shame you weren’t able to rope this last month. Leaving your roping partner high and dry, were you?” he taunted Colter, clearly looking for a reaction.

“He’s got that girl with him too, Dash.” Wayne ran his eyes up and down my body, and I gave him a look of disgust.

“Sugar, you can do so much better than this one.” Dash walked up to me. “Why don’t you come ride with the big guns, not some little cowboy from middle of nowhere Montana who can’t even toughen out a little head injury?”

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