Long Hard Ride (10 page)

events of pro rodeo were squeaky clean. Musical horse trailers seemed to be the game of choice to stave off boredom.

As Tara Reynolds, reigning barrel racing circuit champ, cemented her first place in the standings by an 11.9 run, Channing tried to recall whether she’d heard gossip about Colby or Trevor taking Tara and her tiara for a tumble.

Finally, the bull fighters came out and loud rock music blared from the speakers. The excitement of the crowd increased, beer vendors zipped through the stands more frequently. And from where she sat, it appeared more guys hung out by the chutes.

The bulls shut out the first ten competitors. Colby was up and he’d drawn Black Bart, a nasty bull, who’d gone unridden in the last seventeen outs. Channing remembered Jared getting tossed on his head right out of the gate when he’d tried to ride Black Bart. She leaned closer, not realizing she was chewing her lip until she tasted blood.

She had to calm down. The rodeo season was long and injuries were plenty. She had to trust Colby knew what he was doing.

Trevor was behind the chute helping Colby get situated on the bull, holding the bullrope while Colby rosined up his glove. Trevor’s foot came over the barrier and he pressed down on the bull’s hind end in an effort to get him to stand up. It must’ve worked because Colby’s free arm gripped the metal bar. A couple of solid shifts on the bull’s back, he nodded his head rapidly at the gate man and the gate flew open.

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Man and bull burst out in a cloud of dust. Black Bart spun hard to the left, then countered with a spin to the right. Colby bumped along, his free arm high above him, but on the last switchback, Black Bart’s hips canted to the right and Colby slid over sideways, catching air as he sailed from the bull’s back.

He hit the ground hard on his shoulder, spun around to his feet to see where the bull was, and raced pell-mell to the fence as Black Bart charged him, weaving around the bull fighters, horns down, aiming for Colby.

But realizing his prey was gone, Black Bart stopped abruptly. His balls and jowls shook with anger and long streams of white snot flew from his nose as he trotted over to the livestock pen.

Colby reached out for his bullrope and watched his ride on the big screen. The clock had stopped at 5.2 seconds. He climbed over the railing and disappeared.

She wondered if he was commiserating with other riders who’d eaten dirt? Was he having his shoulder checked out in the medical tent?

Now they just had to wait for the payouts. Then they’d be on the road headed to Greeley for the two-day event there.

Channing didn’t know if she was supposed to head back to the horse trailer or wait in the stands. Jared had never wanted her around his rodeo pals or sponsors, now she knew why.

But things were different with Colby and Trevor at least. Except the devil on her shoulder whispered maybe they’d prefer she’d stay in the background, too. After all, she was scarcely above buckle-bunny status.

As she debated, Cash Big Crow spotted her and lumbered up to where she stood.

“
Hoka hey
. How come you’re up here by yourself, pretty lady?”

She laughed. “Where else am I supposed to be? What are you doing?”

“Nothing much.”

“Nice ride, by the way. Did you finish in the money?”

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He scratched his head. “I think so, that’s why I’m hangin’ around.”

He peered over her shoulder to the commotion in the parking lot behind her. “You know who Gemma Jansen is?” Channing nodded. “Have you seen her lately?”

“Yesterday. She was headed home.”

Cash’s eyes narrowed. “Home? Why?”

“She said something about her foreman not doing his job at her place. Then I think she planned on taking bucking horses to Cody before she headed to Valentine.”

“Alone? Goddamn her. That woman’s got no business travelin’ all over half the damn country by herself—”

“Unlike you. You’re perfectly entitled to do whatever the hell you want, right?”

He grinned guiltily. “Sorry. I really ain’t a chauvinist. It’s just she’s so damn stubborn she won’t ask for help from nobody.”

“Channing!”

She whirled around and saw Trevor hanging on the fence.

“Colby’s been lookin’ everywhere for you. Time to go, girl.”

“Be right there.” She smiled at Cash. “See you in Greeley.”

Colby paced back and forth. Grumbling to himself. Would it be too goddamn much for her to be around when he needed her?

“Colby? What’s wrong?”

He slowed his angry breathing as he stalked to where Channing had paused by the contestants’ entry gate.

“You have a pained look on your face. Are you hurt?”

“No. Where the hell have you been?”

She frowned. “In the stands watching the rodeo.”

“Just off enjoyin’ yourself?”

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“Yes. Why? Isn’t that what I’m supposed to do?”

“No.”

“No? What’s the matter with you?”

Colby grabbed her arm and bent down until they were nose to nose.

“Why weren’t you in the spectator stands with the other wives and girlfriends
enjoyin’
the rodeo from there?”

“What? Because I-I—”

“I searched for you after every goddammed event. You should’ve been there. That’s were I expect to see you from now on, do you understand?”

Channing threw off his hand. “Then maybe you should’ve given me a ticket, because I sat by myself on the other side of the arena like I always do.”

“Always?”

“Yeah, always. What’s the big deal?”

“The big deal is me wonderin’ why don’t you want to sit where you’re supposed—”

“Supposed to what?” She speared a finger into his chest. “You took off and left me the minute we hit the check-in booth. I’ve never been here. I’ve never been to any rodeo with you, remember? What was I supposed to do? Stand around like some floozy and wait for you to make up your mind on whether I was good enough—”

“Stop talkin’ right now.”

“No. You don’t get to order me around when you abandoned me. I don’t know why the hell I’m surprised that you don’t want people to know you’re with me.”

He was too pissed off to speak.

She blithely continued, “I’m used to being the cause of embarrassment. I am aware I rank well below the rest of the more knowledgeable buckle bunnies trailing after you like lovesick calves—”

“I’m warnin’ you, Channing, stop chatterin’ like a goddamn magpie and listen up right now. Didn’t Jared—”

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Lorelei James

“Jared was just as worried about what people might think of us being together as you are, cowboy. So, despite your claims to the contrary, you’re more alike than you know.”

Shit. Colby stepped back and squeezed his eyes shut. He’d forgotten Jared had kept Channing sequestered so no one blabbed to her about his wife. Therefore, Channing wouldn’t have known a certain amount of seats were set aside at every performance for family and friends. When he reopened his eyes, she was stomping off.

“Channing, come back here.”

“No,” she tossed off over her shoulder.

“I’m warnin’ you, girl, you don’t want to make me mad.”

“Tough shit, tough guy. Suck it up and walk it off.”

People around them stopped and stared, nudged each other and chuckled, giving Colby a wide berth.

“Last chance,” he yelled.

Channing flipped him the bird without turning around. In fact, she ran away from him like her boot heels were smoking.

He was going to paddle that sassy little ass but good.

“Too bad you didn’t bring your piggin’ string. She sure is fit to be tied.

You tryin’ to keep her on a short rope or something?”

“Shut the fuck up, Cash.”

“What’s the problem?”

“None of your goddamn business.”

“Trouble in paradise already? Is this about why you’re makin’ her sit by herself instead of in the VIP stand?”

“I didn’t make her do nothin’.”

“Really? I saw her up there, all alone, lookin’ sad and lost, poor thing.”

Colby clenched his teeth together.

“I never pegged you for that kind of guy.”

“What kind of guy?”

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“The kind who’s afraid what snotty comments the other fellas’

womenfolk might say to her about travelin’ with all three of you.”

“Hell no, I could give a shit about that.”

“Then what’s goin’ on?”

“What I do, or don’t do, to her or for her, ain’t your concern. She knows—”

“No, she don’t know nothin’ about behind-the-scenes rodeo protocol for contestants and their families, and that, my friend,
is
your fault. After being treated like Jared’s dirty little secret, maybe you oughta make it clear you don’t expect to treat her the same way, eh?” Cash sauntered off as regal as a Lakota elder.

Shit. Colby kicked a clod of dirt. Hard.

Colby wended through the crowd, dodging kids, horseshit and the rhinestone sparkle of low-cut blouses as several buckle bunnies vied for his attention. A stolid woman and small boy all but tripped him to get him to stop. “Hey, are you Colby McKay?” the youngster asked.

“Yep.”

“Oh wow, can I get your autograph? Please?”

“Sure thing.” He hunkered down and snagged the program from the boy’s grubby little hand along with the proffered pen. “Who do I make this out to?”

“Mitchell.”

“You a big rodeo fan, Mitchell?”

He nodded somberly. “Some day I’m gonna be the number one All-Around Cowboy, too.”

Colby didn’t have the heart to tell the kid he was currently stuck in the number two position. Again. “Good plan. Good luck. See you on the circuit someday.” Colby smiled and patted him on the top of his blond head. When he looked around for Channing, he wasn’t surprised she was long gone.

Damn fool woman.

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Lorelei James

Didn’t want people to know they were together. Embarrassed by her.

Right. The little hellcat had even flipped him off! He seethed and knew there was only one way to handle this.

That woman was in a whole mess of trouble. He’d show her exactly how he dealt with breaking in headstrong fillies.

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Chapter Seven

Edgard was slumped against the wheel well on the right side of the horse trailer, eating sunflower seeds. He straightened up when he saw Colby barreling toward him.

“Is she in there?” Colby snapped.

“Yeah. So is Trevor. She seemed pretty upset. What did you do to her?”

“Nothin’ compared to what I’m
gonna
do to her.”

Laconic Edgard vanished and he shifted lightning fast to block Colby’s access to the living quarters.

“Move it, Ed, unless you plan on helpin’ with Channing’s punishment.”

His left eyebrow winged up at the word
punishment
. “Maybe,
amigo
, you should walk it off and let Trevor calm her down first before you go busting in there like an angry bull.”

“The fuck I will. Move.”

“No.”

“You’re startin’ to piss me off, Mancuso.”

“Yeah? Well, you know what? I don’t like the look in your eye, McKay.”

“So?”

“So, I think I will help you after all, just to make sure you don’t get carried away.”

“Me?”

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Lorelei James

“Yeah,
you
. Miz Channing is a lot more delicate than you give her credit for and sometimes your punishments are just plain mean. And maybe she ain’t the only one who oughta be reprimanded.” Edgard spun and flung open the door.

Stung by the truth, Colby muttered, “Great,” and followed Edgard inside the dark trailer.

Channing’s arms were folded over her chest and her haughty little butt rested against the kitchen sink. She jumped when Colby slammed and locked the door behind him.

“What’s going on?” Trevor asked.

“Strip,” Colby said to Channing.

“What?”

“I said strip. Now. Don’t make me tell you again. You really don’t want to add another punishment to the one you’ve already earned, do you darlin’?”

She swallowed hard but the look in her golden eyes was decidedly defiant. “Punishment?”

“What in the hell are you talkin’ about, Colby?” Trevor demanded.

Colby pointed at Channing. “Not only does Little Miss think we’re embarrassed to be seen with her, when I tried to talk to her outside the gates, she got smart with me and stormed off. So, since she don’t want to talk, the time for talkin’ is over. Start strippin’.”

“Channing, girl, you didn’t do that, did you?”

She nodded warily at Trevor.

Trevor stood and stretched. “Ah, this is gonna be an interestin’

afternoon. What do you want me to do?”

“Find the ropes and that set of clamps.” Colby flashed his teeth at her. “Lube would be good, too.”

“You’re helping him?” Channing said to Trevor.

“Yep. We ain’t gonna listen to nobody talkin’ you down, least of all you doin’ it to yourself. And when Colby or I or Edgard want to talk to you, it’d be in your best interest to listen up. You’ll learn there will be 82

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consequences. You heard him. Strip.” Hiding the devilish twinkle in his eye, Trevor unlocked the door separating the living quarters from the horse stalls, and rummaged around in the tack closet.

She was frozen in place.

Colby watched and waited for her reaction.

“But—”

“No buts. You said you’d do whatever we wanted. That means you don’t get to ask questions. Or argue, especially when you’ve been bad.”

Edgard sidled in front of her and gently stroked her cheek. “Listen to me and let me help.”

“You, too? But I thought you didn’t want—”

“It is not for you to question what I want. It is for you to do as you’re told.”

Colby frowned at Edgard’s surprising response.