A Cowboy's Heart (Hitting Rocks Cowboys) (11 page)

“Yeah,” he said without hesitation.
Oh, yeah.
“Thanks for the call, Jarod. Tell Grandpa I’ll phone him in the morning.”

“Will do. I have no doubts tomorrow night will bring another top score for you. But if you’re not happy with it, remember I’ll always be proud of my brother. Take care.”

“You, too.” They clicked off. Connor was glad he had work to keep him from going crazy until Liz got home.

Another hour and he had the horses put to bed in the barn at the RV park, safe and sound, as Liz put it. He showered and got ready for bed. After he’d climbed into the niche he heard the key in the lock and felt his pulse pick up speed. When she came inside, Connor sat up.

“Welcome home.”

Her head jerked around in his direction. “Hi!”

“I thought you wouldn’t be in for hours.”

“I’m not interested in Derrick and told him I wanted to get back to the trailer. No partying for me while I’m here.”

At that news Connor’s foul mood did a complete reversal. “Did he ask you out again?”

“He tried, but I told him I needed all my wits about me to concentrate on the rest of the competition. When he asked me to go out with him on the last night, I told him I already had plans with the man I’ve been seeing.”

“You mean Kyle.”

“Yes.”

He released the breath he’d been holding. If she was in love with Kyle, she wouldn’t have agreed to drive with Connor. “How did that go over with him?”

“Not well. He said he’s not giving up.”

“He’s a player. By the end of the rodeo he’ll have found someone else.”

“I hope. Partying takes too much energy out of me. I don’t know how everybody else does it.”

“Not everyone won the gold buckle tonight, that’s why.”

After hanging up her jacket, she took the box with the buckle out of her purse and put it on top of his box sitting on the table.

“That’s quite a centerpiece, Dr. Henson.”

“If you perform the way you did tonight, that pile is going to grow, Connor Bannock.”

“Shall we make a pact to win eighteen more and build a skyscraper?”

She flashed him a brilliant smile. “Why not? The dream to make it to the Dodge Ram and Wrangler Finals has come true for me. Now I have one buckle. Who says there aren’t more to be won?”

With a mysterious look in her eye, she reached into her purse and tossed him what looked like an oversize silver dollar. “After your fabulous performance I knew you’d be waiting for your treat, so I asked Derrick to stop at the Quick Mart.”

On another burst of adrenaline he unwrapped it and bit into the chocolate. His eyebrows lifted. “You know you’re stacking up points with me, right?”

“I hope so. I’m so deep in your debt already, I’ll never climb out.”

Good. That’s where I want you.

* * *

D
ERRICK
THE
PLAYER
was in for a huge disappointment, Connor mused, and smiled secretly as he lay back against the pillows. He listened while she showered. Soon she emerged from the bathroom and turned out the light before getting into the pullout bed. “Does Kyle have a truck and trailer?”

“Why do you ask?”

“So he can drive you and Sunflower home. That’s what he intends to do, right? But if he doesn’t have the equipment, I’ll be happy to trailer the horses back with me. Then you and Kyle can do what you want.”

“Thank you for being your generous self,” she said in a subdued tone of voice. “But to be honest, I haven’t made plans that far ahead yet.”

“Maybe he’s planning to surprise you and fly you home in his plane.”

“Whatever the case, it’s not your concern. You have your own plans to work out.”

With a frown, he moved over to the edge to look down at her. “Why do you say that?”

“Didn’t you tell me your ex-wife would be coming the last night? You may not want to go right back to Montana after finals are over. Fortunately, you and I both have enough of a support group that we don’t have to worry about our horses getting transported back home. In the meantime, all I want to do is concentrate on getting through the next nine nights. Now, if you don’t mind, I’m exhausted and need to go to sleep.”

On impulse he said, “You sound a little out of sorts.”

“I’m sorry. I told you I have a bad night now and then. Forgive me?”

“You ask that after what you’ve had to put up with me? Want to talk about it?”

“No, thank you.”

“Plan to sleep in. I’ll take care of the horses in the morning and fix us a big breakfast. When you’re up, we’ll take them for a ride. How does that sound?”

“Wonderful.” When he thought there wasn’t any more, she said, “Connor?”

“Hmm?”

“You’re too good to be true.”

“No one ever said that to me before.” It was the truth.

“If they didn’t, they
thought
it.”

Liz’s mood was different tonight. Something was bothering her. Too many guys on her plate wanting her? He recalled an earlier conversation with her.

Who’s the lucky guy in your life?

Dad says they’re all lucky.

All? Why aren’t you with your favorite?

They’re all my favorites for different reasons.

Connor pounded his pillow, but no matter how many times he did it, he couldn’t get comfortable. Hell, hell and hell.

Chapter Eight

On the seventh day of competition, Liz discovered they were running low on food again. For the past six days they’d enjoyed eating all their meals in the trailer between training sessions and doing laps in the swimming pool.

“Connor? Do you mind if I take the truck for a little while?” He’d just awakened. His tousled dark blond hair made him so handsome, she had trouble not staring at him.

“What’s up?”

“We need groceries. I’m going to run to the market so we can fix breakfast. Later on we’ll exercise the horses.”

“I’ll go with you.”

“But you don’t have to.”

He smiled. “What if I want to?”

“After winning another buckle last night, you deserve a long sleep in.” Three more boxes had been added to their centerpiece. Since the first night, Connor had won two more buckles and Liz had won her second.

Both of them were still among the top three finishers on the other nights, but the competition was tight and fierce. Jocko Mendez had copped two buckles since his disastrous first night. As for Dustine Hoffman, Liz’s competition, she’d also won two buckles.

He jumped down from the niche. “I’m up.”

“Once we leave the trailer, you run the risk of being besieged by your fans.”

“If you’ll protect me from the females, I’ll ride flank to protect you from all your new ardent male admirers.”

“You don’t ever run out of that sweet talk, do you, Connor?”

“You bring it out in me, sweetheart.”

Never in her wildest dreams had she imagined going grocery shopping with him. When they reached the supermarket, he grabbed a cart and they walked up and down the aisles together, choosing the items they wanted. His jokes provoked constant laughter from her. Shoppers could be forgiven for thinking they were romantically involved. If Liz wasn’t careful, she’d start to believe it.

Living together in semiseclusion had been working for them so far. By avoiding other people and the distractions of Las Vegas itself, they’d achieved an easy relationship and a schedule that was good for them and their horses. But in four more days this artificial world they’d created for themselves would end.

When she and Connor got back to the trailer to put the groceries away, nothing could have upset her more than to read Kyle’s text. He’d made arrangements to stay at the Luxor and had already purchased his ticket to watch the events on her last night of competition. He was prepared to rent a truck and horse trailer to drive her home—whatever she wanted.

No.
She didn’t want him to come. From the second she’d driven away from the ranch with Connor, the idea that, in time, she might grow to love the pilot had shriveled. It didn’t matter that Connor and Reva might be getting back together for good. Liz knew it was no use to go on seeing Kyle.

Until she found a man she could love with the intensity she loved her next-door neighbor, it wasn’t fair to mislead Kyle or any other man. Her dilemma was so severe, she needed to talk it over with Sadie before she answered his text.

After she’d fixed a late breakfast for them, Wade came over so he and Connor could put in another practice session. Liz begged off, saying she had some washing to do but would join them in a little while. For once she was relieved to find herself alone, and immediately phoned her friend.

“Sadie?”

“Liz! I’ve wanted to call, but was afraid it wouldn’t be the right time.”

“You never have to worry about that. How are you feeling?”

“Well enough with the medicine I’m taking, but forget me. Your scores are fabulous. You keep this up and your average will mean you come out the winner.”

“So far, my luck is holding.”

“It’s more than luck. Jarod says you’ll win the whole thing.”

“What did he do? Consult his uncle Charlo?” she teased.

“He doesn’t need to. It’s in Jarod’s blood to have visions, too. He’s had one about you, but told me I couldn’t tell you.”

Liz didn’t know whether to laugh or faint. “Did he have a vision about his brother?”

“I asked him the same thing. He said no.”

The way Sadie spoke sent a chill through Liz.

“I still have no advice for you about Connor.”

“He and Reva will be getting together after finals, but he’s not the reason why I’m calling.” Connor had been having fun with Liz, saying and doing all the right things to make her feel good and desirable. She’d felt his passion, but their time together was almost up. “This is about Kyle.” She explained what was wrong. “If you were in my shoes, what would you do?” The silence went on for a long time. “Sadie?”

Her friend finally let out a sigh. “Since you didn’t want Kyle to drive with you to Las Vegas, I think you should tell him the truth. That this isn’t the time for you to get together with him. Surely if you explain about family coming and your responsibility to Connor and the horses, he’ll understand, even if he’s disappointed.

“Tell him you’d love to go out with him after you’re home. By then, all the stress of the rodeo will be over and you can find out if the two of you have a relationship worth pursuing. Maybe, when you see him after being with Connor, you’ll be pleasantly surprised. Maybe not. In any event, it’ll be easier to say goodbye to Kyle knowing you didn’t let him spend all that time and money to come be with you.”

“Agreed.” It was the advice she needed, because she’d been thinking with her hormones. “You’re right. Thanks for being the best friend I ever had.”

“Ditto.”

“Give Ralph my love.”

“You know I will. We’ll all be watching again tonight. Go knock ’em dead!”

After they hung up Liz made her daily call to her mom, who sounded happy. Whatever worry her parents might have because of her feelings for Connor, they could see her scores had never been better.
Connor had been good for her.
It was the rest of her life she had to worry about, but she refused to think of anything but finals right now.

Her next call wasn’t going to be so easy, but she had to do it. Kyle was a great guy who’d been trying to make plans with her. Maybe he would never want to see her again, but she knew herself too well. Better to disappoint him now than to pretend to be happy to see him after he flew in to Las Vegas. She couldn’t do that to him, not when she felt the way she did about Connor.

She answered his text with another one, asking if she could phone him in an hour about something very important. He said he’d be available in a half hour.

Once she put the phone away, she headed over to the barn and put Sunflower through a special routine to keep strengthening her hocks. Those precision turns required the greatest power and discipline from her horse. During the workout, Kyle called her back.

He was mostly silent after her explanation, but incredibly decent about it. She promised him she’d drive to Bozeman to see him as soon as she got back from Las Vegas. That was, if he wanted her to come. To her surprise, he assured her he would look forward to seeing her.

Why couldn’t she be in love with him?

After lunch, Connor watched while she got out her doctor bag and gave both horses a thorough medical exam. Liz had been doing this every other day. So far, her check for soft-tissue injuries, as well as hoof and teeth problems, had turned up nothing. Their horses’ hearts and lungs, their breathing and digestive noises sounded normal.

She nodded to Connor. “They’re in excellent shape. We’ve been lucky so far.”

“Thanks to you. I’ve never traveled with a vet before. Like I said earlier, if it hadn’t been for Daniel, we could have been doing this from the time you graduated from med school.”

Yup. That would have been about the time he got his divorce. But with his career in rodeo over in the next four days, it looked as though Connor would be getting a second chance to make his former marriage work.

She looked into his eyes. “I wonder how many times Jarod and Sadie have said those same words.”

He rubbed the back of his neck. “They went through hell. We all did, but that time is behind us,” he ground out. “What do you say we drive our children over to the center and put night number seven behind us?”

“I can’t believe we’re getting near the end.”

“I know what you mean. Our horses are lucky. They don’t think the way we do and have no idea when this whole business is going to end. Until it’s over, they just keep going.”

“That’s what we’ve got to do. Just keep going for four more nights.” Liz leaned over to pick up her medical bag. Her breath caught when she felt his hands slide up her arms to her shoulders. He squeezed them gently. His warm breath tickled her neck. “You’re going to win. I feel it in my bones.”

Jarod had predicted a win for her, but not for his brother. That alarmed her in the most profound way. She wished Sadie hadn’t said anything, and turned to Connor so he’d let go of her. Liz couldn’t handle his touch right now.

“I’ve already won by making it to the finals and traveling here with you. So far, the two buckles are simply a bonus.”

His expression sobered. “I don’t think you know how good you really are.” He always managed to say the right thing at the right time, denoting a selfless, generous nature she admired so much there were no words.

“I was just going to say the same thing to you.” With her medical bag in one hand, she caught hold of Sunflower’s reins with the other and started walking toward the parked trailer.

“Hey—what’s the hurry?”

“I want to walk Sunflower around and hang out by the alley without feeling the stress so she doesn’t build up too much tension about it. Then I have to leave for the Las Vegas Convention Center. Wrangler has set up my autograph time for six-thirty. I wasn’t allowed to pick it. Unfortunately, it means I probably won’t get back in time to watch your event.”

He grinned. “If you’ve seen it once, you’re not missing anything.”

“Don’t be absurd, Connor. No one knows how hard you work to get each ride perfect. Thank goodness I only have to do this once.”

“You have no vanity.”

Fire shot from her eyes. “I’ve got plenty, but not during
your
event! Promise you’ll phone me after you’ve finished and let me know how you did.”

* * *

T
HREE
HOURS
LATER
,
Liz’s words still resounded in Connor’s heart as he backed Firebrand into the corner of the box for his turn. On his right he caught sight of Wade mounted on his horse on the other side of the chute. He sent Connor a speaking glance, letting him know this steer was a wily one. It looked to be six hundred pounds or better. Connor had seen them all, from four hundred and fifty to six hundred and fifty pounds.

With an answering glance he acknowledged Wade’s message, then patted Firebrand’s neck. “This is it, buddy.”

Connor gave the official nod and the steer shot out, releasing the rope barrier. Firebrand took off. Connor rode low and leaned to the right, sliding down his horse to hook his right arm around the steer’s right horn. With his left hand he grasped the left horn to slow it down and braced himself with his feet. His body knew these maneuvers like the back of his hand.

But the steer unexpectedly bucked upward as Connor threw him to the ground, resulting in a sudden, powerful load on his chest muscle. It sent excruciating pain shooting through his chest and shoulder before running down his right arm.

In a flash he knew he’d sustained a serious injury.

Just like that,
he was finished.

The shock of the physical pain was bad enough. But the knowledge that the end of his career had been cut short four days early by an accident tore through his gut as if he’d been ripped open by one of those horns.

While the arena workers took care of the steer, the emergency staff came running to carry him out of the arena on a stretcher. Only the announcer’s voice commiserating over the injury sounded in the eerie quiet of the crowd who were on their feet waiting to know the outcome. Everything was surreal. He saw Wade’s ashen face loom over him.

“Don’t worry. I’ll take care of Firebrand,” he assured Connor.

“I know you will. Wade—” It was hard to breathe. “Wrangler set up a schedule for Fan Fest. Liz took the truck and is at the convention center right now signing autographs. Find her when she gets back here. She’ll have heard about the accident, so help her. She
has
to place again tonight. Do you hear me?” Connor muttered through clenched teeth.

“I’ll do whatever I can,” Wade promised before Connor was carted away in an ambulance. Once he’d been lifted inside, the last thing he remembered was someone sticking him with a needle.

* * *

W
ITH
HER
AUTOGRAPH
session finished, Liz pulled up in the parking area at the back of the Mack Center. Before she got out, she heard her cell ring. That was the call she’d been waiting for. Excited, she pulled the phone out of her purse. But her spirits plunged when she saw Derrick’s name on the caller ID. What on earth was he doing phoning her? She’d made it clear she didn’t want to see him again.

A strange feeling crept over her before she clicked on. “Derrick?”

“Liz? I just saw what happened to Connor and I can’t tell you how sorry I am.”

A cold, clammy sensation broke out on her skin. “What
did
happen?”

“Oh, hell—you don’t know?”

“Know what?” Her voice shook.

“He got injured during his event and was taken to the hospital.”

Her eyes shut tightly. “How badly was he hurt?”

“I don’t know. I thought you—”

“I’ve got to go.”

Blind with pain, she rummaged for her keys to drive to the nearest hospital, but suddenly her door was flung open. It was Wade. He reached in and put his arms around her.

She lifted tear-filled eyes to him. “Derrick just told me the news. Is Connor going to live, Wade?”

“Sure he is. He injured his chest and shoulder, but he’ll be fine.”

“Is that the truth?”

“I wouldn’t lie to you about this.”

“Oh, thank God,” she whispered before slumping against him. “I’ve got to go to him as soon as I finish my round.”