Page 55 of Unforgettable Cowboy
The cheering subsided as Bailey headed to the gate where Hayes would exit the arena.He gave her a dusty grin as he passed through the exit and then his knee buckled again.
“Hurts like hell,” he said in a remarkably cheerful voice as she put an arm behind his back.
“Let’s get you to my trailer.”
He stopped walking and leaned down to run a hand over his knee, wincing before he stood up again.“Just a little bump.”He gave her a wicked grin.“Not bad for an old guy.”
She tapped his chest with her finger.“Don’t get cocky,” she warned.“There’s still tomorrow.”
“I’ll slay tomorrow.”He started walking again, his gait uneven.“I just need some ice.”
Bailey shot him a sideways look.“Let me stop by the table to check with Estelle, then we’ll raid the mini freezer.”
“I might need to hit the concession stand.”
“I have zipper bags.”
The vendor area was nearly empty when they entered, with the exception of a few older folks wandering through.When Bailey thanked her, Estelle assured her that she’d sit the table anytime.“But I need to get back to the ranch after the rodeo to get dinner for Wade.I won’t be able to help with the after-rodeo rush.”
“That’s fine.I really appreciate your help.”
Estelle waved off her thanks, then turned to Hayes.“One of your roping friends stopped by.”
“Oh yeah?”he said politely.
“Yes.”She smiled before unknowingly dropping her bombshell: “He asked about a horse.”
*
“Estelle told himshe’d never seen a horse of that description,” Hayes said.
“She probably hasn’t unless she found time to explore behind the barn,” Wade said.
The Hayes brothers, along with Dylan and Wade, were gathered at the ranch house kitchen table while Hayes filled his uncle in on the latest developments in the saga of Dakota Sunshine.They’d agreed to miss the steak dinner in favor of keeping Wade company.
“But he’s suspicious.I don’t like it,” Trev said.“He also got fucking lucky today.”
Chance had indeed smoked the competition, coming in first in the tie-down roping with a ridiculous time of 5.6 seconds.
“What’s he going to do?”Wade asked.“What can he do?”
“If he’s smart, nothing,” Hayes said.
“He’s smart,” Dylan said, “but also vindictive, and sometimes vindictive trumps smart.”
“Tomorrow is the finals.”Hayes stated the obvious.“After the finals he needs to leave if he’s going to make it to Texas in time to compete on Thursday.”
“You’re saying—”
“I’m saying that there’s no guarantee he won’t be back here looking for the mare, but he won’t be doing it this weekend.And after this weekend, she’ll be gone.”
Trev smiled.“Maybe it’s good he suspects us.It’ll give Jenna some breathing room.”
Dylan nodded, studying the condensation on the outside of his beer can.He’d been thoughtfully quiet through most of the conversation.“Yeah,” was all he said.
“Bet you didn’t think you’d get suckered into intrigue when you signed up for the Copper Mountain,” Wade said to Dylan.
“He knew what he was getting into when he decided to partner with me.Adventure at every turn.”Trev grinned at his roping partner.“No regrets?”
