Page 54 of Catch Me, Cowboy
“Hey,” he said when she answered. “Great run.”
“Thanks. And I probably don’t have to tell you that you were the best one here today.” She sounded almost too enthusiastic—like she was forcing it.
Cool. Something to talk about later. “Can we catch up after the rodeo?”
“I have to help Cassie with some prep work for tomorrow’s pancake breakfast. I don’t know how involved it is.”
“Then I guess I’ll see you at the ranch later?”
“Yeah. Maybe we can go to the steak dinner and street dance… or something?”
Ty liked the idea of “or something”, which would go a long way toward helping him forget about the shit his dad had just pulled in order to keep himself in the limelight.
Chapter Twelve
Ty drove backto the Forty-Six shortly after talking to Shelby, feeling nothing but relief as he left the rodeo grounds behind him. He’d eventually seek out his father, make peace, but right now he needed breathing room. Les came home while Ty was feeding, parking his old truck close to the haystack and stiffly easing himself to the ground. His knees really were bothering him.
“Shelby said to tell you that she and Cassie are still working on something for tomorrow’s breakfast,” Les offered. “She’ll see you at the street dance.”
“Thanks.”
Les stayed where he was, hands jammed awkwardly into his back pockets. “This isn’t easy to ask but… are you two going to make each other miserable again?”
“I hope not.” Ty spoke with utter sincerity.
“Me, too, because I kind of encouraged your suit with Shelby.” Ty blinked, but before he could say anything, Les said, “I saw your dad there today.”
“Yeah. He made the trip for me.” And for him.
Les gave a slow nod. “You’re going back on the circuit?”
“Yeah. I am.” He hooked a thumb in his belt loop, as he always did when trying to ground himself. “But if Shelby asked me to, I’d stay this time.”
“Why not just stay, even if she doesn’t ask”
Ty debated for a second, then did something he rarely did. He let one of his deeper fears hit the light of day. “Because if things start to go south, she’ll wonder if part of it is caused by my resentment at not getting one last crack at the championship.”
Les didn’t have an answer for that, and Ty didn’t expect him to. Some things were simply too true to argue with.
*
The town waspacked when Ty pulled in and he ended up parking a goodly distance from the blocked streets at the center of town. The band was just starting to play when he reached the main street with its banners, twinkly lights, and rodeo displays. He’d just started to work his way through the crowd toward the blocked off street corner where Shelby had texted him to meet her.
“Ty!”
He turned to see Tucker McTavish heading toward him in full-hug mode. She wrapped her arms around him, enveloping him in a lot of good smells. And she didn’t move that far back after releasing him. “Congratulations!”
“Thank you.” Before he could ask her how she’d been, where she’d been, how long she was back for, she took his hand and pulled him toward the street.
“I love this song. Dance with me.”
Ty allowed himself to be led forward. He liked Tucker and, unlike a lot of people, sensed her vulnerabilities. They’d had some good times before he’d hooked up with Shelby and they seemed to understand each other. All they’d expected of one another was companionship and good times. It had been comforting. Fun. Not enough.
Ty took Tucker’s hands and they danced an easy two-step as he scanned the crowd. No Shelby.
“Are you in town long?” he asked Tucker.
“Time will tell.” She moved closer to him. “I’m kind of letting things work themselves out.” She flashed her beautiful smile and executed a spin, then came into his embrace. He loosely wrapped his arms around her, then gave her an apologetic smile as the music ended.
