Faith in the Cowboy (Taming the Cowboy) (10 page)

She almost got lost, she was so anxious. And Layla and Emily’s sullen silence didn’t help. As Layla predicted, the place was crowded, but Teresa managed to find a parking spot close to the slide.

After more coaxing, she got Emily to the swings, which she’d always loved. Layla hung back, arms crossed, judging Teresa’s every interaction with the child. But as Teresa pushed Emily on the swings and her laugh rang out, Teresa’s heart lifted.

And then she thought she saw Miguel out of the corner of her eye. When she pivoted, though, she didn’t see him. She took a deep breath the settle her nerves. Just what she needed, to see Miguel’s ghost every time she was with her daughter, when she knew he was still in jail. She was going to have to work through that, and soon, if she wanted her daughter back.

She was with her child, Emily was laughing, it was a beautiful day.

When she dropped Emily and Layla back at the house, Emily gave her a hug that she felt to her soul.

*****

Grace was waiting for Teresa when she returned to the ranch. The men had headed out that morning, and Kennedy had gone with them. Noah was bouncing off the walls, dressed in his cowboy gear, waiting to see his daddy ride.

“Don’t you get nervous, knowing he could get hurt?” Teresa asked, once she’d changed into jeans and a t-shirt, something she considered more rodeo-friendly—something that she thought West would like.

Grace laughed, guiding her car onto the highway. Liam had tried to buy her a new one, but she wouldn’t have it. She didn’t want anyone to think Liam she’d married him for anything but love.

“I’m not used to it, yet. It’s a strange feeling, you know, pride and hope and terror. He said it’s kind of the same feeling he has, riding.” Grace slid a look in her direction. “Are you in love with him? West?”

“It’s too soon.” Teresa shook her head, surprised the honest words came out when she was so good at hiding everything. “I mean, I’ve only known him a little more than a week. He’s heading out soon. We—there’s nothing.”

“You’re a terrible liar.” Grace looked in the rearview mirror at her son. “You’ve been with him every night. There has to be something.”

“It’s just—physical.”

“You can’t tell me just—getting laid,” she lowered her voice for the last two words, “is what’s putting the smile on your face, the bounce in your step.”

“He’s really good.”

“No doubt.”

“And it’s been awhile.” She twisted her ring, a silver one she wore to replace the empty feeling where her wedding band had been. “I never knew it could be so fun.”

Grace laughed. “Oh, yeah.” Another glance in the rearview, and a rueful look at Teresa, and she pulled into a drive-thru for a couple of drinks for the road.

*****

Liam had left them tickets for seats close to the chutes. The venue was small, according to Grace, an outdoor dirt arena. Grace had told Teresa about the national rodeo back in December, the big arena. Grace seemed a little disappointed at the rough venue, but for Teresa, everything was new. She sat on the bench and looked at the crowd around her, people of all ages, everybody excited to be here, beer and popcorn flowing, the salty smells blending together with the smell of animals and excitement.

She turned to the arena and scanned for West. She didn’t see any rodeo clowns among the cowboys that congregated near the chutes. Would she recognize him? If nothing else, she’d know him by his walk, that loose-limbed swagger that melted her defenses every time.

Grace waved down the beer guy and bought two plastic cups of beer. At those prices, they wouldn’t be getting drunk. But Teresa took a big swallow as the barrel racing competition began.

Though she had nothing invested in the event, her heart was in her throat as she watched the girls guide their horses around the barrels, catching her breath as the barrels wobbled, sometimes toppling, losing points for the young riders.

“I want to do that!” Noah said cheerfully, at the top of his lungs.

Grace hugged him against her side. “I’m sure your daddy would love to teach you.”

His daddy. Grace had raised the boy for two years by herself, without telling Liam. Now they were a sweet little family, and Noah and Liam adored each other, and Grace. It made Teresa warm just thinking about it.

And then she saw West. Her heart thudded, hard, even as giggles bubbled in her chest. He wore a loose shirt and baggy jeans cut off at the knees, high white socks and white athletic shoes. His hair was slicked from his face and clubbed at the back of his neck, and he had white paint around both eyes and down his cheeks, outlined in black, with what looked like tears painted beneath his eyes.

She nudged Grace, who put her hand to her mouth.

“I never would have known him,” Grace said.

West saw her and grinned, blowing an exaggerated kiss in her direction. She blushed and touched her lips, and he disappeared behind the chutes.

Kennedy joined them in the bleachers just before the roping events, and then the steer-wrestling, which was Luke’s event.

Luke was a big guy who scared the hell out of her, but he was so gentle with his pregnant wife. As he sat on his horse in the chute, he looked like he could take on the world.

The calf burst free of the chute. Luke followed, his horse tearing up the dirt for a couple of lunges before he heaved himself out of the saddle and onto the poor little cow, gripping its horns and twisting until the animal was off its feet. Both of them went into the dirt, and Luke jumped to his feet, his attention on the clock.

“Is that good?” Teresa asked Kennedy, just as the crowd erupted and Luke lifted his arms in the air. “I guess so.”

The next event was bronc riding, and more people filled the seats. The first two riders hit the dirt in seconds, and then Liam was up. Grace pulled Noah onto her lap and held tight as the chute broke open and the horse launched himself off the ground.

Liam rode the animal like it was a rocking horse, even when it landed on four stiff legs, determined to jar him off. Teresa was torn between watching the clock—she knew enough about rodeos to know he had to stay on for eight seconds—and watching Liam, as if she could keep him in the saddle by pure will.

The timer went off, signaling that he had completed the required time. Two cowboys rode alongside, one releasing a strap from around the horse’s belly, the other giving a hand to Liam so he could slide onto the other horse’s rump, then off the other side to the ground. Liam unhooked his helmet and lifted it in a salute to Grace and Noah.

Grace was on her feet, Noah wrapped around her neck as she applauded and whistled her approval.

She dropped back to the bench, glowing with pride. “He didn’t used to wear the helmet, not until he knew he had Noah to take care of.” Grace reached over and patted her leg. “Don’t worry. West wears Kevlar.”

Like a cop. “But not a helmet.”

“He’ll be fine.” Grace squeezed her knee.

But as the time drew near for the bull riding event, Teresa grew more tense. Grace bought her another beer. She drank, and choked when she thought she saw Miguel in the crowd on the other side of the arena. She set the beer on her knee and clenched her fist until her nails dug into her palm as she scanned the crowd for him.

Grace nudged her and she turned toward the arena to see West walk in, raising his hands in greeting to the crowd. He took a few running steps and did a flip in mid-air, earning cheers from the stands, and sending a flash of heat through Teresa.
Wow.
Once on his feet, he strode over to the rail in front of Teresa and turned his back, wrapping his arms around himself, his fingers moving up and down his back in a preteen exaggerated pretense of making out. He turned his head and winked at her, then moved down the rail to entertain the crowd.

She was so enthralled with his performance, she didn’t realize the first bull had been loaded into the chute until she saw West tense and turn his attention to the animal. The clang of the opening chute rang through the arena, and the bull burst out, twisting and huffing so hard Teresa swore she could feel its breath.

She looked at West, who was focused on the bull, which rounded on his partner, on the other side of the arena. West ran forward, whistling through his teeth and waving a bandana to get the bull’s attention. The animal pivoted, and the rider went flying, but out of harm’s way.

West, however, was the new target as the bull lowered his head.

She saw then—through vision blurred because she was holding her breath—why he wore athletic shoes instead of boots. He raced for the bars of the arena and leapt onto them as the bull struck just below his feet. West made a show of it, then, sidling to one side and then the other, facing the bull, pissing him off, but eliciting bellows of laughter from Noah and other kids who enjoyed seeing the clown taunt the bull.

West kept the animal busy until the cowboys roped the bull and guided him away. Then West hopped off the rail and prepared himself for the next rider.

Teresa didn’t think she took a breath as he repeated the dance for five riders.

On the second-to-last bull, the rider got into trouble. Teresa didn’t see what happened exactly, since she’d been watching West. West went into action, as the cowboy tried to loosen his hand from the rope against the bull’s flank. The bull dragged him, tossing his head as he tried to hook the rider with a mean horn. West darted in front of the bull, waving a bandana in front of his face. The bull jerked toward West while another rodeo clown darted in to cut the rope.

And then West went down, one foot going out from underneath him. He hit his knee, hard enough to make him wince, right in front of the bull, who lowered his head.

To charge him.

Teresa was on her feet, as if being on her feet would get him to his. Since she had nothing to hold on to, she wrapped her arms tightly about herself.

West rolled to the side and the bull followed. For an instant, she thought the bull had stepped on him, but then he was on his knees, then his feet, facing the bull. His partner got the cowboy free, so West was on his own. He didn’t run, which she would have done, instead angling toward the rail, luring the animal, who huffed and wagged its massive head, then charged.

West took advantage of the fact that the animal couldn’t turn sharply and ran down the bull’s left side, narrowly escaping a horn before jumping onto the rail, and over.

Only then did Teresa drop to the bench with a shuddering sigh of relief. Grace reached over and hugged her shoulders, but Teresa didn’t look away from West.

Her heart rate hadn’t lowered by the time the rodeo was over. Once the crowd thinned, he came up into the stands for her. She laughed when the people around them gave him a wide berth, eying his ridiculous outfit. He took her hand and brought her to her feet. She giggled a little at the make-up, now streaked beneath his sweat. He pulled her up onto the bench so she was taller than him, and dragged her forward so she leaned into him. Avoiding the make-up, she cupped his face in her hands and kissed him. His lips were warm and salty, and she couldn’t help licking at them.

“Did you like it?” he asked.

“I was scared.” She rested her hands against his ribcage, startled at first by the firmness beneath her hands, before she remembered Grace said he wore Kevlar to protect him from the bulls’ horns. It wouldn’t do a thing against the hooves, though.

“I’ve been doing this awhile. I know what I’m doing.” He let his hands rest above the waist of her jeans, at the small of her back. “Did you enjoy yourself?”

“I did.” She wouldn’t admit to the pride she’d felt in his bravery, in his agility and strength. “Except for the part where I thought you’d get trampled.”

His brows came together. “Which part was that?”

Was he serious? “When the cowboy got caught in the strap.”

“Happens more than you think. I got out of it okay.”

“You fell.”

“Yeah, that I didn’t plan.” He grinned. “Let’s get out of here.” He turned to Grace and Noah. “You two catching up with Liam?”

Teresa blushed. She’d forgotten they were nearby, would never have kissed him so thoroughly in front of Noah.

“I think we will,” Grace said with a wink, taking her boy’s hand.

“I’ll get Teresa home,” West promised, folding her hand in his. “We’re going dancing.”

“Sounds fun.” Grace’s eyes twinkled.

“Oh, I don’t dance!” Teresa protested as West led her down the steps and through the crowd.

“Doesn’t matter. I just want to hold you against me.”

She sent him an amused glance. “Are you going to wash that make-up off?”

“What, you don’t like it?” His grin was quick.

“You’re wearing more make-up than I am.”

He snorted. “I got us a room.”

The words sent a thrill through her. She’d known he hadn’t brought the RV, but had expected he’d drive back tonight.

He laughed. “Don’t get excited. It’s one of those courtyard deals, loud with all the cowboys staying in it.” He tugged her to his side. “But it’s got a bigger bed than the RV, and a bigger shower.”

She turned and wrapped her arms around his neck, pressing against him. “Let’s go there first.”

*****

He was right, the room definitely lacked in charm, everything brown—walls, carpet, comforter. But it did have a big bed. Teresa’s gaze riveted to it until West stripped off his shirt and headed toward the bathroom, toeing off his shoes on the way.

Curious, she followed him into the white tiled bathroom. Ugly it might be, but clean. West unfastened his pants and shoved them, his underwear and his socks down in one move. He looked over his shoulder and grinned, then reached a hand to her.

When he straightened, his cock was erect, and she moved into him, letting him rub against her belly as he cupped her face in his hands and bent his head to kiss her. This kiss was definitely more carnal than the one at the rodeo, his tongue sliding along hers in an unmistakable rhythm. He reached behind him to turn on the shower, without releasing her.

“We haven’t gotten to try this yet,” he said against her mouth.