Page 57 of Unforgettable Cowboy
What had he done with her silver?Was there any way to get it back?
But that was something she’d deal with after Dakota Sunshine was somewhere far away.She was more concerned about the mare’s safety than she was about dollars and cents.
*
Hayes’s mind wasn’ton his upcoming ride.He was relieved that the Grand Entry didn’t include his Wranglers in a starring role that day, and Bailey seemed fairly at ease when he’d left her with Estelle, but he couldn’t shake the feeling that something was off.
He hadn’t seen Chance since the pancake breakfast, but that wasn’t unusual.He hadn’t seen Trev or Dylan either.The ropers warmed up in the slack area and he wasn’t likely to run into any of them until after their events.
Hayes’s attention went back to the arena where the rodeo royalty were finishing their final circuit, flags waving, before exiting through the main gate.As soon as his ride was done, he’d head home just in case Chance got any hare-brained ideas.Jordan had stayed on the ranch with Wade, but Hayes wanted to be there, too.Just in case things got weird.
Speaking of weird, all of this had come about because Bailey had helped her friend hide a horse.Those strange circumstances had brought her back into his life and he never wanted her to leave again.
Unfortunately, she was going to do just that—for the principle of the matter if nothing else.She was living her dream and wasn’t about to veer from her course.Not in the short term anyway.She had things to prove, and he had little choice but to wait until she’d settled matters with herself.No easy task.
Hayes pushed off the rail, glancing toward the vendor area before heading behind the chutes.A flash of red caught his eye, and he slowed at the sight of a distinctive red truck and trailer pulling out of the parking area.What.The.Hell.
Chance Meyers, who was leading the tie-down event, was taking off before his run.
Shit.
Things started to click into place, none of them good.
Of course he was taking off early.What was a small-town rodeo purse compared to a mare worth tens of thousands of dollars?And what better time to look for the mare than when everyone from the Tree Fork Ranch was at the rodeo?
Or so he thought.
*
Bailey’s phone chimedas the national anthem wound down and she pulled it out to read a text from Jenna giving the name of a campground near Livingston where she would take possession of her mare the next day, “if all goes well.” Meaning that Chance wasn’t tailing anyone.
Bailey let out a breath and tapped out an answer.
She’d done her part, and would do it again, but she was ready for the saga of Dakota Sunshine to be over.She sent a thumbs-up to Jenna then glanced up when Estelle gave her a subtle nudge to find a cowgirl with gorgeous long brown ringlets holding Bailey’s last belt buckle.
“I’d like to buy this, please.I’m giving it to my groom for a wedding present.”
“That’s lovely,” Bailey said to the woman, who was practically glowing with happiness.“When’s the wedding?”
The bride-to-be chatted about her plans as Bailey boxed up the gift and took the payment.Estelle let out a little sigh as the young woman walked away, cradling the box in one hand.“So sweet.”
Bailey smiled to herself.The tough little woman sitting next to her, who’d proven herself totally capable of handling Wade Matthews, was a softy inside.She only hoped Wade didn’t figure it out until after his convalescence.
Estelle turned to her.“Now tell me more about this dog you’re getting.”
“I have to wait until after the foster period to adopt, but she seemed like—” Bailey broke off as Hayes strode up to the table.“Shouldn’t you be stretching or doing Zen stuff or something?”She’d wait until they were alone to tell him about handing off the mare to Jenna.
“I’m heading back to the ranch.”
“Why?”
She could see that he didn’t want to tell her, but to his credit he did.“Chance just left.”
She stood, almost knocking her chair over.“Before his event?Mr.Competition?”
“Yeah.”
Bailey glanced at Estelle, who nodded.“Go.Please.”She cleared her throat.“Wade explained to me about the horse.”She waved her hand in a shooing motion.“Go.”
