Page 50 of Catch Me, Cowboy
Gramps let out a disgusted breath. “I don’t need a chauffeur.”
“No. You need to go to a doctor. Maybe it’s just a matter of getting a brace for your knees.”
“Fine. I’ll see a doctor.”
Probably in six months, when he was due for a yearly physical with his behind-the-times doctor. Gramps had been raised in a family that only saw doctors when something was about to fall off their body, or they were prone and helpless, thus allowing someone to get them to the doctor. Obviously he wasn’t going to see the nurse practitioner.
“Do you want me to hook you up with a ride?”
“I’ll do it.”
Shelby gave a nod. “Rodeo starts at eleven.”
“I know.”
“See you there?”
“If not, I’ll see you when you get home.”
“Sounds good.” She picked up her coffee up and set it in the sink.
“I’ll do the dishes,” Gramps said gruffly. “Just leave them.”
“Thanks.” She went over to kiss the side of his head. “And thanks for agreeing to driving in with someone.”
“Yeah, yeah.” He waved his hand, but when Shelby started for the living room where she’d left her gear he said her name. She looked back. “Good luck today, kid. And remember, no matter what… you’re a winner to me.”
Shelby kept that thought in her head as she drove to Marietta and crossed the bridge to the rodeo parking. So what if she embarrassed herself again? In the big scheme, what did it matter?
It didn’t. But Ty’s ride did.
Open mind. Open mind.
“Ready?” Wyatt asked as she approached the trailer. Ginger was already saddled and ready to go.
“As I ever will be.” Shelby untied the horse, bridled him, and mounted. They headed to the warm up area and started trotting big circles, allowing the horses’ muscles to warm slowly. By the time they were finished, the announcer was heralding the grand entry.
Two events and they were up.
Three events and Ty was up.
*
Ty wasn’t nervousfor his ride. He rarely was. He was either ready or he wasn’t, and he knew he was ready. He’d had no practice rides, but he’d worked out diligently and muscle memory was a wonderful thing. He set his gear down behind the chutes and started stretching. The team roping was about to begin, followed by the mutton busting. He had time to warm up nice and slow.
He purposely ignored the team roping event when it started. Told himself he wasn’t going to watch—right up until the announcer called Wyatt and Shelby on deck. The he couldn’t help himself. He found a place at the rail and realized his heart was beating faster. He was nervous for her—more nervous than he was for his own ride. He knew what it was like to be in a bad place in one’s head. Knew how doubts could hamper natural ability.
The horse Shelby had borrowed from Wyatt walked calmly into position as she adjusted her loop, his ears pricked forward, ready to do the job he’d been bred to do with no unnecessary fuss. But of course Wyatt would have the best horses that money could buy. He was that good… and he’d retired a champion.
Doesn’t matter.
And the funny thing was that since making love with Shelby, the “doesn’t matter” feeling was growing stronger. The driving need to win it all one more time, to not be taken out of the game by a freak accident, wasn’t as strong as it’d been even forty-eight hours ago.
The team before Wyatt and Shelby roped, racking up a respectable time and then Shelby and Wyatt rode into the box on either side of the chute. The guys manning the chute nudged the steer to straighten his head so he was pointed forward, then the chute opened and the big animal lunged out. Wyatt was on him so quickly that Ty thought for certain he’d broken the barrier. If he had, then this loss would be on him instead of Shelby.
The loop dropped easily over the steer’s head and Wyatt dallied before the animal hit the end, swinging the steer’s high quarters around and giving Shelby access to the heels. Before Ty could blink she’d thrown and pulled her horse to a stop, dallying and stretching the steer. Double heel catch. No penalty unless Wyatt had broken the damned barrier.
The crowd cheered and for the first time since she rode toward the box, Shelby smiled as she eased her horse forward, taking the wraps off her saddle horn. The steer regained his feet when the rope loosened and stepped out of the loop. After Wyatt had shaken his loop off the animal’s neck, the steer loped to the gate at the opposite end of the arena. Shelby and Wyatt followed, coiling their ropes as they rode.
