Page 21 of Roping the Rodeo Queen
One-point-five million.Holy shit.The number rings in my ears like a church bell on Sunday morning.That kind of money would save the ranch ten times over, with plenty left to modernize the place and expand our breeding program.Hell, I could finally build Dad that accessible cabin by the creek he's always wanted, where he could fish without struggling over rough terrain.
I steal another glance at Jo, whose face has gone carefully blank---her competition face.I bet she's already plotting a strategy to catapult us into the winner's circle.
"Applications are available at the PRCA tent," Crawford finishes with a wide smile."Good luck to all our competitors!"
The moment Crawford exits the arena, everyone around us suddenly starts chattering away, talking at once.I can practically feel the calculation happening in every cowboy and cowgirl's mind---who's dating whom, who might make a good partner, who has the best chance at that this fortune-changing opportunity.
"Clay," Jo says slowly, her voice barely audible over the crowd."We need to talk."
Aw, shit.Those are the words no man wants to hear from his girl.Yep, my happy balloon just burst.
Chapter Twelve
Broken Trust
My life had been going pretty damn good lately, especially at the Parker County events.I rode both a bronc and a bull to my best times ever.Jo had similar experiences, and I couldn't be prouder of her for nailing all her events.Brock and Maddie might've tried to ruin us both, but their efforts went down in flames.Today, I'm on my way to another arena---in Pretty Prairie, Kansas---but it won't involve me or any other men.The ladies will have their turn in a women's only rodeo.
Naturally, I'll be there to cheer on my "fake" fiancée.Our relationship doesn't feel phony to me.
I'm halfway to my destination when my phone bleeps, indicating a new message.I pull over onto the shoulder to open up the text---and everything inside me freezes.The photo on my phone screen might as well be a death sentence.
"Clay McKendrick and Jo Callahan's Fake Romance EXPOSED!"screams the headline splashed across the social media feed of Rodeo Dish Magazine, an outlet I've never heard of.Below that is a grainy image that seems to show me handing Jo money outside that honky-tonk in Durango a few months ago.The caption reads: "Sources confirm McKendrick paid Callahan for publicity stunt engagement.Audio recording reveals their scheme."
My blood turns to ice water as I scroll through the comments that are flooding in faster than I can read them.The rodeo community is tearing us apart like vultures pouncing on roadkill.
"Always knew something was fishy about those two."
"Poor Clay, getting used by that conniving bitch."
"Fake engagement for fake champions."
"What's next, fake babies?"
Every comment slams into me like a physical blow, but it's the damage already done to our reputations that has me gripping the steering wheel until my knuckles turn white.The PRCA campaign selection is in three days.This attempt to smear us both couldn't have come at a worse time.
My phone rings, making me jerk.Jo's name flashes on the screen.I answer before the first ring finishes."I saw it.Feel like hunting down the prick who wrote that slanderous article so I can wallop him until he's bloody."
"Clay, please don't do anything rash, at least until we figure out what's really going on.But I've heard the WPRA might investigate and possibly..."Jo's voice broke near the end, and that single syllable carried more pain than I've ever heard from her."They might bar me from competing in the Pretty Prairie event or any future events."
"What?"I snarl, glaring at the article that I still have displayed on my phone."Nobody will stop you from competing.I'll make sure of that.Whatever it takes."
"There are two different versions of the Rodeo Dish article that are circulating."Her breathing is uneven, like she's been running.Or crying."Someone's determined to turn us against each other.Clay, I swear to God, I didn't do this.I would never---"
"I know, I know."The words come out rougher than I intended, though gentler than my snarling a minute ago.Whatever complications we've had between us, Jo is not the type to stab someone in the back."This has Brock and Maddie's fingerprints all over it."
"There's allegedly a recording."Jo sniffles, her voice tight with panic."They claim to have audio of us discussing the fake engagement.How is that even possible?"
My mind races back to that day at the stables when Jo first announced our engagement to Sterling.Had someone been listening?Recording?These days, with AI and other shit like that, anything is possible.The thought makes my skin crawl.
"Could've been anybody with a phone, Jo."I set my phone on the dashboard so I can have both hands on the wheel as I back out of the gravel lot and onto the road.The women's rodeo suddenly feels a million miles away."Question is, how do we prove the image is an AI fake?"
"We can't," all but moans."By the time we find tech experts to analyze it, the damage will be done.The PRCA selection committee will have moved on to other couples."
I slam my palm against the steering wheel, the sharp pain grounding me for a moment."There's got to be something we can do.This is our shot, Jo.The prize money could change everything for both of us."
"You think I don't know that?"She blows her nose."I've been working toward something like this my entire career.And now it's all falling apart because of some doctored photos and bogus audio."
The line goes quiet except for the sound of her ragged breathing.I can picture her pacing, probably wearing a hole in whatever floor she's standing on.It's what she does when she's cornered.
