Page 28 of Unforgettable Cowboy
He nudged Spot closer to her mare, so close that their knees bumped.“There are a lot of guys my age still riding.”
“Then why did you retire?”
“Because I’m smarter than those guys.”
“Yet you’re on the day list for the Copper Mountain.”
“I didn’t say I didn’t have the occasional lapse of judgment.”
Bailey smiled without looking at him, focusing instead on the ranch on the far side of the pasture they were traversing.This man still made her nerves sing as did the memory of yesterday’s kiss.Had that been a hint of things to come?Or another lapse of judgment?
“Have we been at the same rodeos?”he asked, drawing her attention back to the here and now.
“One or two.You tended to compete at bigger rodeos than I could get into.”
“How do you choose where you go?”
“Price and availability of vending space.Sometimes you have to wait for years to get a space in the bigger venues, and they can be really spendy.You have to sell a lot just to break even.”
“But you’re in the big shows now?”
“Some.I’m on the waiting list for others.”She was quiet for a moment, then said, “I’m kind of living the dream right now.”Not stuck in an office, being her own boss, doing what she loved.“I don’t know how long it can last, but it’s a good life.”
“You’ve missed a bunch of rodeos this summer while working for Wade.”
“I didn’t mind taking a summer off.Most of my venues were smaller during July and August.Because of the time off, I’ve got a nice stock built up for the winter shows and Christmas.Plus, I have a friend who’ll sell my wares at the National Finals, so I’m ready for that, too.”
“And your other friend, Jenna, is supposed to pick up the mare…when?”
“After this rodeo.”
“And if she doesn’t?”
She sent him a look that said,“Don’t be a buzz kill.”
“I’ll cross that bridge when I come to it.”
“You’re kind of stuck,” he pointed out as they approached the final gate before the ranch.
“Thanks for clouding up a very nice day.”She glanced sideways before dismounting.It was her turn to open the gate.“I’m hoping to hear from her soon.We thought it best to go no-contact.We have no idea what lengths Chance will go to, to find Dakota.”
“Why is he so hot for the mare?”
“You’ve seen her.”
“Does he want to sell her?Breed her?Use her for roping?”
Bailey sighed.“I think he wants to use her to hurt Jenna to be honest.He wants to take the thing she loves most away from her.And she can’t afford to buy half from him.Dakota is probably worth thirty or forty thousand dollars with the training on her.”
“Did Chance train her?”
“Jenna did.She’s good.”
“Does she compete?”
Bailey shook her head.“Nope.But she can rope.”She met Hayes’s gaze.“Her dad is Pinto Walker.”
One of the roping greats who unfortunately also had an addiction to alcohol.
