Rodeo Nights (2 page)

“You’ll be amazed how much easier it is to track results,” she assured Roberta.

Or it would be as soon as she set up a format. It would take some adjusting, since times determined winners in calf roping, team roping, steer wrestling and barrel racing, but points decided bareback bronc, saddlebronc and bull riding. Keeping track of individual results, then mixing the two types to determine overall top performers didn’t fit Kalli’s usual systems for assessing businesses.

Kalli looked around the rodeo office. So different from her recent life, yet so familiar. Familiar from that lifetime ago when she had adored Walker Riley.

A counter the length of the room left four feet open on one side and six feet on the other. The wider section held two desks, three tall filing cabinets and a cart with a telephone, answering machine and fax machine. The only object on the other side was a strip of wood under two windows. Protruding nails held clipboards with entries, standings, results, rules and notices. On the narrow south end, one door led to a closet, another to a toilet and sink. The north wall held a window and the outside door.

Her laptop looked out of place, although the fax machine indicated the electronic age had made some inroads.

“We need that contraption to keep up with the national rodeo association,” Roberta said, as if reading Kalli’s mind. She sighed. “And now you’re wanting me to try a computer? Well, if you’re willing to try teaching an old dog new tricks...”

One smart old dog, Kalli thought. “In a couple days, it will be second nature.”

“So you say.”

That skeptical grumble didn’t fool Kalli. She leaned back in the hard chair next to Roberta’s, stretching. “And then we’ll tackle computerizing the books. It’ll simplify billing and end-of-year statements and tax information.”

Roberta shook her head. “Jeff takes care of that, just asks for a little typing and envelope-licking now and then. So it couldn’t get much simpler for me.”

“Well, then it will be easier on Jeff when he comes back.” She needed to find the books, make sure everything was in order.

That mental distraction fled nearly as soon as it formed. Unwillingly, her eyes went to the clock again. Almost six.

He ought to be here tonight.

She pushed the thought aside. The office would reopen in an hour for the business of the night’s rodeo. Neither she nor Roberta would have time to spare until ten-thirty.

“Take a break, get some supper, Roberta.” She stood, stretching again.

“How about you? You must be starving, since you missed lunch.”

Kalli had spent her lunch break at the hospital. She wasn’t sure Jeff had been fully aware of her presence, though she’d thought his eyes had brightened when she came in. Surely that was an improvement from last night...

“I don’t feel much like eating. Maybe later.”

“Nervous?”

Kalli shot her a sharp look, but Roberta had bent over to retrieve her handbag from the bottom desk drawer.

“Because this is my first rodeo in charge? I don’t—”

“I don’t mean the rodeo.” Straightening, Roberta looked at her. Something about the dark brown gaze didn’t allow Kalli to look away. Something direct, commanding and maybe a little compassionate. “I mean seeing Walker.”

“How did you know...?”

Roberta laughed. “C’mon, Kalli, you didn’t stick around rodeo long from what I hear, but you know what it’s like. Circuit’s a small town — a very mobile small town, what with folks covering a hundred thousand miles or more a year. But still a small town, complete with concern for your neighbors and a thriving grapevine.”

Roberta was right, Kalli
did
know.

“I met Walker the first few weeks of working for Jeff and Mary. Took a shine to him right off.” Roberta’s eyes narrowed. “Don’t go looking like that, girl. He never said a bad word about you. You should know him better than that. Fact, he never said a word about you at all. But there was talk.”

Kalli just bet there’d been talk. Even years later. And it wouldn’t have been in her favor. Rodeo fiercely defended its own.

“Got to admit,” Roberta went on, “I was prepared to not like you, considering. Even with Jeff and Mary singing your praises. But...”

In that trailed-off word, Kalli felt an approval that warmed her.

“It was all a long time ago, Roberta. We were kids. It’s long-forgotten. And there’s no cause to be nervous.”

“Sure.” Roberta didn’t bother to make it convincing. “I’m running to the Sandwich Shack for a burger and salad to bring back. What do you want?”

“Nothing, really, I—”

“I didn’t ask
if
you want something. I asked
what
you want. But if you’re not choosy, I’ll pick it myself.”

The door closed before Kalli could respond to such high-handed thoughtfulness.

THE SOUND OF
a car engine brought Kalli’s head up. The car stopped immediately outside the office; only then did she realize it had been shadowed by another. The second engine also turned off and she heard doors slam and greetings exchanged. Roberta and Tom Nathan.

She breathed again.

They didn’t come in right away, and in a few seconds she knew why. A third engine sounded, deeper, more powerful than either of the first two. She could imagine it following the rock-strewn, dust-thick drive as it curved past the arena, widened into an informal, weed-dotted parking lot and eventually led to the office.

The third engine shut off, followed immediately by the opening of the office door. Roberta came in alone, leaving the door open behind her.

“Here’s your supper.” She swung up the gate of the counter, set a bag on the desk in front of Kalli and added in the same tone, “Walker just drove up.”

Kalli recognized the generosity in the woman’s warning, but didn’t answer, not taking her eyes off the desk calendar provided by a local feed store. This first meeting was bound to be awkward, she wouldn’t pretend otherwise. But it had all been so long ago, and she’d been over him so long. Yet, her mind refused to make sense of the familiar grid of days and dates for the month of June.

Outside, Tom greeted Walker. She heard Tom’s pleasure at seeing him and sadness at the circumstances. Then Tom took the two steps up to the office door. Behind him, she heard booted feet on dried earth and thought she could smell the sun-warmed dust they stirred.

Just outside the door, Walker said he’d gotten into town a while ago, then answered another question. His voice was low and slow, the cadence as basic as her own heartbeat.

“Yeah, went direct to the hospital. Jeff was sleeping, but I saw Mary. Thought I’d make a circuit of the grounds, but cut it short when I saw you folks pulling in.”

The calendar snapped into orderly focus before Kalli’s eyes. Of course he’d check the rodeo grounds first.

Walker was in the room. She couldn’t say she’d heard him come in and she hadn’t looked up from the desk, but she knew.

“Hey, Kalli.”

Ten years.

Ten years since she’d last seen the face she’d first seen when she was eleven years old, and had loved nearly as long. The face she’d watched change from a boy’s to a man’s. The face of the man she’d married.

The last time she’d seen him, as she’d given him his choice, his face had been unreadable except for the indomitable will that always was a part of him. Maybe she’d known right then what his choice would be. But she’d hoped.

Instead, he’d gone to compete. She had packed and left before he returned.

Slowly, she stood. For an instant, he was merely a dark outline against the bright rectangle of the open door, a silhouette from the past.

Then her eyes adjusted to take in the details within the outline. The jolt of recognition shook her a little.

But she stood straight, her voice cool. “Hello, Walker.”

Walker Riley stood there, not six feet from her, so familiar and so unknown. None of it seemed real.

“You look good, Kalli. Different, but good.”

Her chin rose at that, and she let the memories drain away.

“You look just the same.”

One side of his mouth lifted in a half grin. That was different; he’d always grinned full-out before.

“Not hardly.”

He crossed the wooden threshold that decades of booted feet had worn into a smooth dip.

He did look older. But rather than softening his edges, the years seemed to have sharpened them, so his cheekbones and jaw stood out, looking more angular, casting deeper shadows. His skin was taut and tanned.

Stepping up to the opening in the counter, he pushed the straw cowboy hat back from where it had ridden low on his forehead, then apparently thought better of it and removed the hat. Caught between his big, powerful hands, it seemed to shrink. His hair, as thick and dark as ever, carried a ridge where the hat had rested.

His eyes hadn’t changed, the color as vibrant as a blue jay’s back, though the creases had deepened through years of squinting into the sun. The way he used his eyes hadn’t changed, either. His slow, open regard surveyed her from her hair to her toes.

Years in New York, years of confidence and accomplishment, allowed her to stand steady under his look, though she felt a tightening in her shoulders. It jumped a notch higher at something that flickered across his eyes as he took in her silk blouse, matching silk slacks, sleek belt and deceptively simple pumps. She didn’t need him to tell her the outfit was inappropriate for a night at the rodeo.

“Different, but good,” he repeated in a murmur.

“I am different.” She deliberately left her words a statement, not a defense. “And I’m very good at what I do. I’ll do a good job.”

He met her eyes a moment longer, a slight frown tugging his brows, then nodded once. “I’m sure you are good at what you do.”

He broke the look then—she hated the sense of being released—and turned to Roberta with that same, new half smile. “How’s my favorite rodeo secretary?”

“Probably smarter than the last woman you used that line on.” But there was warmth and affection in the hug she gave him, and in the gruff words that followed. “Glad you’re here, boy. And I know Jeff and Mary are.”

Walker patted her on the back before they disengaged from the hug. For a flash, his eyes came to Kalli and she had an image of being enfolded in his arms. Then he turned away, and her breath came out fast, as if she’d been holding it.

“Yeah, well, I figure even a rodeo hand who’s had his brains scrambled a few times should be able to ride herd on the setup you and Jeff and Mary have going.”

Kalli felt the way she had once as a kid when she’d swallowed too much spicy, steamy chili. She could feel the burn all the way down her throat and into the pit of her stomach. A glance at Tom confirmed what Walker’s words had just told her: Walker didn’t know about the committee’s stipulation. And, since both Tom and Roberta were looking at her, it was clear who they expected to break the news.

“You aren’t going to be riding herd alone, Walker,” she said.

HE STILLED FOR
a heartbeat and a half, then pivoted on one low boot heel to meet her face-to-face.

“How’s that?”

“The committee has agreed to let us step in for Jeff and Mary with the understanding that you can provide the rodeo experience and I can provide the business expertise. That’s the condition they set.”

“No need for you to stay. I’ll tell them. You go on back to New York and I’ll—”

“I’m staying. Until the rodeo closes for the summer or until Jeff can take over again. Don’t you think I would rather handle this on my own? Don’t you think I—” She bit her lip, clamping down the words. “But the committee has legitimate concerns, and as Jeff’s representatives we have to do our best to satisfy them.”

She hadn’t realized she’d cloaked a question in that last statement until she found herself looking at Walker, waiting for an answer. Even frowning, his expression gave away none of his thoughts. But his eyes... She drew herself taller, her shoulders tightening. Well, she wasn’t looking forward to a summer with him, either.

“We’ll do our best.”

Walker’s voice had no particular emphasis, but as Tom and Roberta each let out a pent-up breath, Kalli thought the words might have had an added message for her. A hope that the two of them would do their best to get through the summer without inflicting any more scars on each other.

“Well, great.” Tom clapped a band to Walker’s denim-jacketed shoulder, raising dust. “I know you two’ll do a great job and Roberta here will keep things on track, all right. Everything’s going to work out fine.”

“Yeah. It’ll work out fine,” Walker said without inflection. “How about you and me making the rounds, Tom? Reintroduce me to the details of the operation.”

“Walker.” Kalli kept her voice low, but it stopped both men before they reached the threshold. “Walker, I think we should talk right away about changes we want to implement in the running of the rodeo.”

“Changes?”

“Yes. Improvements.” Impatience stirred as he looked at her without answering. “Making it better. Making it run more smoothly. More profitably.”

“I always heard, ‘If it ain’t broke don’t fix it.’ And I haven’t been hearing any complaints about this rodeo.”

“Anything can be improved. Anything can benefit from being viewed from a fresh perspective. This rodeo’s no exception.”

“It’s fine today. Tomorrow’ll be—”

“Today! You have to look beyond today, or there won’t be any tomorrows. You haven’t chan—” She bit off her words, drawing away from the danger. Widening her stance fractionally, she met his look and spoke levelly. “I will not be satisfied spending a summer simply ‘riding herd’ on this rodeo when I know that with a little effort I could leave it better off than when I found it.”

In the quiet, she heard the doorknob rattle under Tom’s uneasy hand. She was aware of Roberta leaning against the counter, watching. But Kalli kept her eyes on Walker.

He’d dipped his head as if in contemplation of the worn floor by the toe of his boot. The thick, dark hair hid most of his face, but in the shaft of evening sunlight that fought through the dusty window, she saw with something like shock that a few silver strands mixed in.