Page 11 of Take Me Please, Cowboy
“Do you compete in a lot of rodeos?”
“Almost every weekend.”
“It’s what you do full-time?”She persisted, curious about him, more curious than she’d been about anyone in a long time.There was something mysterious about him, something that made her want to ask questions and discover who he was, and what secrets he kept.
*
“Monday through ThursdayI’m a roofer.Thursday afternoon I’m on the road heading to my next rodeo.”
She hid her surprise, thinking it sounded awful, as well as exhausting.“When do you rest?”
“Usually at night, when I’m in bed.”
Ansley grinned, amused.“Where is home?”
“Eureka.”His mouth quirked, correctly reading her blank expression.“It’s a small town on the border of Montana and Canada.”
“But it’s in Montana?”
“It is.”He stretched an arm along the back of the bench.“What about you?What do you do?”
“I’m staying with my uncle on his ranch in Paradise Valley.He’s a widower and doesn’t have any kids.I’m supposed to be taking care of him but as you can see, I’m not doing a very good job of that.”
“What happened?”
“He was dizzy last night when he went to bed, but he assured me he’d be fine in the morning.Yet, when he got up this morning to use the restroom, he fell.”Ansley felt another stab of guilt and remorse.“I really hope he didn’t break anything.I could barely get him to the car he was in so much pain.”
“You can’t blame yourself.These things happen as we age.”
“Then I don’t want to age!I don’t ever want to be dependent on others.”
Rye gave her a look that was impossible to decipher.“There are worse things.”
His voice was deep, rather flinty, and she sensed she’d touched a nerve.For a moment she didn’t know what to say, but then Rye filled in the silence.“Brothers, sisters?”he asked.
“Five older brothers.I’m the youngest.”
“Six of you,” he said.
“Yep.”
“And five big brothers?Wow.”
“It was a lot,” she agreed.“Most of them are gone now, but when they come home, they still act like they’re in charge.”
“Ranchers or farmers?”
“Two of them are.The other three do different things.But they’re all very alpha, and I pity their wives.”
“They’re married then?”
“No.Well, one was but he’s on his own now.”She was ready to take the focus off her family.Her brothers had always stolen the limelight, including her parents’ attention.They were smart and successful, and considered really good-looking, which didn’t help their egos.“What about you—any brothers or sisters?”
“There are four of us.I’m the oldest, then two sisters, and my brother Jasper is the youngest.”
“Do you get along with everyone?”
“We’re pretty close,” he admitted.
