Page 50 of Crashing the Altar
“Then pull him from competition.” She made it sound so simple.
I scoffed. “Yeah, and be the one to tell my father that I’ve put him in breach of contract?”
Sighing, she turned away from the arena to meet my eye. “What’s the alternative? I know you, Tripp. If someone gets seriously injured—or worse—from trying to ride Thunder, you’re going to blame yourself. So, fuck the contract. Facing your dad’s wrath is a small price to pay in order to live with a clear conscience, knowing you kept your friend safe.”
Closing my eyes, I pulled in a deep breath. Arms circled my waist and tightened, the pressure acting like a weighted blanket, offering comfort and allowing my mind to settle.
With my decision made, I pressed a kiss to the top of Penny’s head. “You’re right.”
“I usually am.” I could hear the smile in her voice.
Warmth settled in my chest when I pulled away from her embrace to find admiration shining in her brilliant green eyes. She was proud of me, and that was enough for all thoughts of the potential consequences of what I was about to do to fade away. Her respect mattered more to me than that of my father. Hands down, no contest.
“You okay alone here for a bit?”
She gave my bicep a squeeze before rising on her toes to press a quick kiss to my lips. “Go save some lives.”
“Be back soon.” And with that, I was off, hastening my steps in search of the event coordinator.
The staging area was madness; there were people and animals everywhere with the rodeo in full swing. Currently, the arena featured the roping competition, but the broncs would be fed into the chutes soon. I was running out of time.
Sweat soaked through my flannel as my rapidly rising chest tested the strength of the buttons holding it together. Head on a swivel, my eyes scanned the crowd for anyone who could help me put a stop to Tate and Thunder’s ride before it was too late.
Relief surged in my veins when I spotted a man wearing a branded denim button-up. Waving him down, I had to stop for a minute with my hands on my knees to catch my breath before asking, “Any idea where I can find Jerry?”
“Yeah, he was headed to the trailer to cut the checks for the barrel racers.” He hitched a thumb over his shoulder.
“Thanks.” I damn near sprinted toward the trailer that acted as an office, set on the far side of the arena.
Bursting through the door without warning caused the rodeo secretary seated behind a desk to let out a surprised yelp.
“Sorry,” I panted. “Need to talk to Jerry.”
The man in question raised an eyebrow. “What in the hell’s so damn important you couldn’t bother knocking?”
“Thunder. I need to pull him,” I explained.
Concern flickered over Jerry’s features. “He hurt?”
“No,but—”
“Then I don’t see the problem. The broncs are up next. It’s too late to make a change. That’s not fair to any of the men competing.”
A sound of pure disbelief flew past my lips. “You know what’s not fair? Letting one of them get killed because it was ‘inconvenient’ to swap out a horse.”
Jerry barely resisted rolling his eyes. “Don’t be dramatic. No one’s going to get killed.”
“Can you guarantee that?” I challenged. When he stood there silent, I answered my own question. “No, you can’t. That’s why every single rider signs a waiver that leaves you free and clear in the case of death and dismemberment out there in that arena.”
Folding both arms over his chest, he didn’t back down. “Those men know the risks. They choose to compete anyway.”
“Whether they have a death wish isn’t up for debate. That’s my animal, and I want him pulled. Now.”
“Listen, son.” Ooh, my teeth clenched together so hard at his condescending tone that I swore I heard a molar crack. “I don’t know who put a bee in your bonnet tonight, but I’ve got a crowd full of people out there who paid for a show, and that’s what I’m gonna give ’em.”
I gestured toward the window behind him. “You’re right. You do have a crowd. There are families with kids in those stands. How likely do you think it is that they will come back next year after their little ones witness a man getting trampled to death in your arena?”
Jerry cursed low under his breath. “Fine. I’ll call down to the pens and make sure they swap Thunder out with one of the alternates.”
