The Bull Rider’s Return Read online

  “Would that change if there were more women in the sport?” Ella asked.

  “Haven’t a clue. They won’t let us guys in the girls’ shower block so we don’t see the bandages below the clothing.” He smiled to show he was joking. Then he added, “That CJ gal seems pretty tough.”

  “She’s awesome,” Ella agreed and checked her notepad for more questions. “Do you have an exit strategy for the day when you can’t ride any longer?”

  Cody gave her a narrow glance from below the brim of his hat. “You have to stay positive in this game. The moment you start thinking about exit strategies you might as well hang up your spurs.”

  They arrived at the tables where breakfast was in full swing. Cody glanced around but couldn’t see Kelly and Ricky anywhere. Maybe they’d gone back to their motel.

  “Is that all?” he asked Ella.

  “I have a few more questions if that’s okay.”

  He nodded. “I’ll get some food and meet you back here.”

  “I’ll get us coffee,” she said.

  When he returned to the spot there was a cup of coffee waiting for him. “Thanks. Nice rawhide,” he said, nodding at her bracelets made of fine strands of rawhide dyed and woven into intricate patterns. “I do a bit of that myself.”

  “Did you make that?” she asked, pointing her pen at the thin braided circle on his own wrist.

  “One of my early efforts.” It was basic but he liked it.

  Ella scribbled a few lines in her notebook then turned her phone recorder back on. “Any other hobbies?” When he shook his head, she went on. “That brings me to my next set of questions. I’d like to dig down into more personal information, if that’s all right, to give me an idea of the cowboys’ backgrounds. I’m trying to get a handle on what kind of man goes into rodeoing.”

  “You can ask,” he said warily. “Doesn’t mean I’ll answer.”

  While he plowed through a stack of pancakes and sausages, Ella led him through his birthplace, birthdate, the age he was when he first rode broncos and bulls, what drew him to the sport, et cetera. Cody relaxed and breathed easier. These were questions he didn’t mind answering. Anything to do with rodeo was of interest to him and to fans of the sport.

  Then Ella leaned in, her head tilted to one side. “This next question is a little more delicate. There’s been a lot of chat on social media and around town this weekend about you giving away your Reno prize money to that little boy for his heart operation.”

  Cody paused in the middle of raising his cup. “What does that have to do with rodeo?”

  “It was rodeo money that you gave away.” She shrugged at his skeptical eye roll. “Okay, I have to admit, that’s stretching it. Truth is, I’m just really curious. Although I do think your answers might shed some light on the type of personality that’s drawn to rodeo.”

  He sipped his coffee. “I doubt that very much.”

  “We’ll see.” Ella smiled encouragingly. “Did you know the boy or his mother before you gave them the money?”

  “It’s already common knowledge that I didn’t.” Cody felt a burst of irritation, wondering if she was going to make insinuations about his and Kelly’s relationship, too. “Ask me something you don’t know.”

  “I’m glad you said that. I’ve been doing some background research on you and…” She took a deep breath. “Did your gift to the little boy have anything to do with your girlfriend in high school losing your baby?”

  He set his cup down so sharply that coffee spilled over the side. “Who told you that? She wasn’t pregnant so there was nothing to lose.”

  “That’s not what I read on the Internet,” Ella said. “Apparently she miscarried at eight weeks.”

  “Not true at all,” he growled. “Look, my high school relationship is in the past. I don’t want you to write about it, out of respect for my ex-girlfriend.”

  “She’s the one blogging about it.” Ella called up a webpage on her phone and showed him, holding it in front of him. “See?”

  He whistled through his teeth, blown away by what must be a recent photo of Tegan. A thick fall of light brown hair covered half her face and only one green eye peeped out, heavy with mascara. But it was her all right. Memories and mixed emotions had him dragging a hand down his face. Their romance had been exciting, an exploration of new feelings, new sensations. It had been joyful—at least until she started pressuring him for more.

  Pushing those thoughts aside, he quickly read the blog post. It gave the basic facts of the timing and duration of their relationship and then a sad little story about how she’d miscarried his baby and they broke up but that she always thought they’d get back together. Good Lord, how could she even think that, much less write it in a public forum?

  “Is there anything you would like to say?” Ella prompted sympathetically. “Will you be seeing her again?”

  “No comment.” He rose and gathered up his paper plates and plastic cutlery to dispose of them. “Now if you’ll excuse me, I have to go. I’m riding in the first event.”

  Blindly he tossed his rubbish in the bin and headed back across the footbridge at a fast pace, his stomach churning so much he wished he hadn’t just filled it. His hands clenched and unclenched. He made himself take deep breaths, and forced his steps to slow. He needed to calm down. Focus. Tegan could wait. Rodeo was his first priority.

  Then a thought turned his spine ice cold. If Kelly saw Tegan’s blog she would think he’d lied to her.

  *

  Something was wrong with Cody. Kelly knew it the moment he came out of the chute on the bareback bronco. He didn’t have the same confident air as yesterday. Watching him flap around on the bucking horse, slipping and sliding all over the place, she could tell his head—or his heart—wasn’t in it. She didn’t know what was going on with him but even a rodeo novice like her knew it wasn’t a good ride.

  When he fell off at five seconds the audience applauded politely but there was no enthusiasm. One of the stars of the rodeo had failed to shine and everyone was disappointed.

  None more so than Cody. Raising a listless hand to thank the crowd, he kept his head down and climbed over the rails to disappear among the waiting horses and cowboys.

  “I can’t believe Cody fell off,” Ricky said glumly. “I thought he would win for sure.”

  “Everyone has off days.” Kelly wondered if lack of sleep had contributed to Cody’s less than stellar performance in the arena. He certainly hadn’t lacked form in bed last night.

  She wasn’t only concerned about Cody, however. Against her better judgment she’d given in to Ricky’s pleading and Cody’s assurances and allowed Ricky to sign up for mutton bustin’ during intermission. Cody had promised he would be on hand at the chute to coach Ricky, and to pull him off quickly if it looked like he would get hurt.

  When the last event before the break was announced, Kelly took Ricky’s hand. “We’d better go down now.”

  They made their way down the stands to ground level to the sounds of cheers as the first team in the team roping event was introduced. Cody was leaning on the rail of the sheep pen, his expression forbidding. He hadn’t seen them yet. Nor had he dusted himself off from the fall in the ring, she noticed. A smattering of sawdust and dirt coated his butt and his right shoulder. He seemed preoccupied, worried. Whatever it was about, something was definitely not right for him.

  Ricky ran over and patted his arm to get his attention. “Hey, Cody.”

  The cowboy transformed into his usual jovial self and grinned down at the boy. “Hey, Ricky. I see you’re still wearing my buckle. You must be ready for some mutton bustin’.”

  “I guess so.” Now that the moment had arrived Ricky seemed less enthusiastic. He peered through the rails at the milling sheep.

  Kelly’s heart contracted. The sheep probably seemed as big as bulls to a small boy. “Have you changed your mind? It’s okay if you have.”

  “No,” he said bravely. “I want to do it.” He touched the
big silver buckle weighing down his belt like a talisman.

  Kelly went to stand next to Cody. Under the pretext of brushing off sawdust she gave him a reassuring stroke of her hand. “You took a tumble. Are you okay?”

  “I’m fine.” He didn’t meet her eyes. “Just one of those things.”

  Was he embarrassed at crashing out in the final? There was still the bull riding to go. Ricky said that meant more to Cody. Kelly hoped for his sake it would go better for him but this didn’t seem like the moment to bring that up.

  “I don’t have a helmet for Ricky,” she said.

  “I borrowed one for him,” Cody said.

  Hanging on a post was a child’s helmet and a padded vest. Kelly helped Ricky into them and Cody took the boy to join the other children waiting their turn near the small pen the sheep used instead of a chute. The boys and girls were each given a number to pin on their shirts. Ricky was fourth, right in the middle. Out in the arena, the final roping team was thundering around the ring on horses, lassoing steers and bringing them to the ground. Then it was over and the team exited the ring to clapping, cheers and whistles.

  It was time. Kelly hugged Ricky and told him not to be nervous but she was barely containing her own nerves.

  “I’ll be okay,” he said with only a slight tremor in his voice.

  “Don’t worry.” Cody placed a hand on each of their shoulders, warm and reassuring. “He really will be fine.”

  A sheep was let into the small pen. Two cowboys held the animal while the first contestant, a boy of about ten, climbed on the animal’s back. He nodded and another man opened the gate into the arena. The sheep darted away across the ring, the boy clinging to its back.

  “How long do they have to stay on?” Kelly asked.

  “There’s no minimum required time,” Cody explained. “The kids stay on as long as they can. The one who lasts the longest, wins.”

  None of the children stuck it out for more than ten seconds and some came off almost immediately. One tiny girl was pulled off by her dad as soon as the sheep was out of the gate. After seeing a few children ride, Kelly didn’t feel as worried for Ricky’s safety. The kids didn’t have far to fall and the landing was soft on inches-deep sawdust.

  Then it was Ricky’s turn. Kelly stayed close, ready to grab her boy in case he wanted out at the last minute. Cody and another man held the sheep in place. The animal was huge; the Baby Huey of the ovine world.

  “Do you need me to lift you on?” Kelly asked, hovering.

  “I got it, Mom.” Ricky threw his stomach over the sheep’s back and swung a leg over. With Cody’s help, he scrambled into position. The animal jerked and kicked its legs. Ricky gave a sharp cry, which he quickly stifled.

  “Dig your fingers deep in the wool and hang on with your legs,” Cody instructed. “Tell me when you’re ready.”

  Ricky dug in, his little face tight with nerves and anticipation. Kelly’s heart was in her mouth. The booming voice of the announcer told the audience that this was Ricky’s first time as a contestant. Ricky looked at Cody and nodded.

  Cody released the catch on the gate and his hold on the sheep at the same time. The sheep sprinted out of the pen. Kelly was glad she couldn’t see Ricky’s face. What she could see was bad enough. Her son, who only months ago had been recovering from a heart operation, was streaking across the arena, barely clinging to the animal’s back. Cody ran alongside, surprisingly fast and nimble, darting sideways when the sheep abruptly changed direction. Ricky slid halfway off and was hanging on to the side of the sheep, still determined to stay on. Kelly put her hands to her mouth, breath held, feeling every terrifying step that the sheep took with Ricky on its back. Now Ricky’s legs had fallen off and were dragging on the ground. Still he clung on.

  “Let go!” she screamed but her words were drowned out in the roar of the crowd cheering for the plucky boy.

  Finally his hands dropped away. Before he could hit the ground Cody snatched him up, flipped him upright and hoisted him high in the air. Ricky grinned from ear to ear and raised a tiny fist pump. The audience laughed and clapped him all the way out of the ring.

  Kelly’s smile of elation turned to a frown as she noted Cody’s grimace of pain as he lifted Ricky. Now that Ricky was on the ground again, Cody was holding his upper arm. Her son was fine but Cody was injured.

  She hurried over to Ricky and gave him a big hug. “You were amazing. Were you scared?”

  Ricky shook his head, still breathless from excitement. His hands trembled as he plucked at the strap on his helmet.

  “He didn’t have time to be scared,” Cody said.

  Kelly undid the catch on the helmet and pulled it off. Ricky’s blond hair stuck up in sweat-dampened wisps. “Go give that back to the woman at the table where you got your number.”

  The boy ran off. Kelly turned to Cody. “What happened to your arm?”

  His face went blank. “Nothing.”

  “Your shoulder then,” Kelly said. “Don’t tell me nothing because I saw the pain on your face when you picked up Ricky. Did you strain it?”

  “It’s an old injury. It’s fine.”

  “Is there a doctor here? You should get it looked at.”

  “I told you, I’m fine.” Scowling, he moved away from her and walked past the contestants getting ready for the saddle bronc event, into the open field.

  Kelly followed him. “Is this why you fell in the bareback?” she persisted. “How are you going to ride a bucking bull if picking up a child hurts? You should pull out.”

  “I’m not pulling out.” He stopped and turned to her but his expression didn’t soften. “I appreciate your concern but I’m used to this. It’s not a big deal.”

  What he was used to, she suspected, was covering up. From his impassive expression there was no way for her to tell whether he was telling the truth or not.

  “Okay,” she said, giving up. “Thanks for helping Ricky. He’s so pumped right now. I’d better go find him.” She started to leave when Cody stopped her.

  “If you should hear some things about me…” he began.

  Kelly gave him a lopsided smile. “I’ve already heard just about every bad thing I could imagine about you.”

  “Tegan’s saying she was pregnant and miscarried,” he blurted. “It’s not true. There was never a baby. If there had been, I wouldn’t have just left her.”

  “Why would she say that?” Kelly asked.

  “I don’t know.”

  “There’s only one way to find out,” she chided gently. “Call her.”

  Cody took her hand and rubbed a thumb over her knuckles. “I’m surprised you like me, the things you’ve heard about me.”

  “Well, I do.” She looked up at him beneath her lashes and teased, “Just a little bit.” Then she put her arms around his neck and kissed him lightly. “Do me a favor and get your shoulder looked at.”

  She wished the rodeo was over so he wouldn’t risk getting hurt even more than he already was. At the same time, she didn’t want to wish away her time with him. With every minute that passed the weekend was slipping away. Tomorrow morning, he would head home to Sweetheart. And she would return to Reno.

  She didn’t have to go back right away. She could spend a few days in Sweetheart, but only if Cody wanted her there. “How’s the fishing in Flathead Lake this time of year?”

  “It’s good any time of year.” He tilted his head on one side. “You thinking of stopping there?”

  “Maybe.” She watched his face carefully.

  “I’ll be there a week or so before I head off to Grand Falls.”

  She bit her lip. He was being as cautious as she was, not surprising given they’d only known each other a few days. But she didn’t want to say goodbye without finding out if what they had together was worth pursuing. They both had baggage from the past but how would they learn enough about each other to make a decision about a future unless they spent time together?

  “I might see you there,” s
he said.

  “That would be great.” He took her into his arms and held her, stroking her back.

  Kelly closed her eyes, her upturned face warmed by the sun, and let hope seep into her bones. She would not worry about his past behavior with Tegan. That was ten years ago. He wasn’t the same man.

  “Mom!” Ricky called. “Saddle bronc is on. Come on, we’re missing it.”

  Kelly eased out of Cody’s arms. “Good luck in your event. Is this like the theater, where I tell you to break a leg?”

  “That’s not something you say to a rodeo rider,” he said, laughing. Then he touched her cheek in parting. “See you afterward. We could get lunch. Talk.”

  “We’ll celebrate your win.” She tapped her forehead with two fingers. “Think positive.”

  “I always do.”

  Kelly hated to let Cody go, even for an hour, but she ended up being very glad Ricky dragged her back to watch saddle bronc. CJ, the female contestant, put in an awesome performance and scored high. When the buzzer went Kelly cheered loudly and clapped until her hands hurt. Riding a bucking bronc wasn’t something she would ever even contemplate but seeing a woman compete as an equal with the men made her proud.

  Then Dean Maynard was straddling the chute and her stomach churned, remembering his horrible, demeaning taunts. She hoped he got bucked off in the first second. Then she noticed something strange happening. People were standing up and turning around in their seats, facing away from the arena. No, not people—women. Women all around the stands were turning their backs on Dean Maynard. Wow. Talk about sending a message. Kelly surged to her feet and turned her back on the creep, her heart pounding hard with anger and excitement.

  “Mom, what are you doing?” Ricky demanded, tugging at her sleeve. “You’re going to miss the next ride.”

  “I don’t want to watch that man,” she said. “He’s not a nice person.”

  Her mind turned to Cody, so chivalrous and honorable by comparison, despite his bad-boy reputation. Her life had come good the day she’d met him and just kept getting better and better. With Ricky healthy now and soon going to school, she could study and work.