by Jillian Neal
Her blood seemed to have heated enough for her temper to flare. He’d been expecting this. “You could’a stopped me, damn you.”
Austin huffed, “And I quote, ‘Is my big bad cowboy afraid of skinny dippin’?’ You and your stubborn little ass could’a and should’a listened to me.”
She ground her teeth but then wilted in the blanket, unable to stop shaking. “Okay, fine, I should’ve listened. Ugh, everything hurts.”
Shaking his head at her, he crawled up on the tailgate with her and lifted her onto his lap still wrapped in the heavy blanket. “Come here, let’s get you dried off.” He gently eased the blanket against her skin until she was as dry as he could get her, then he unwound her. She whimpered and tried to cling to the blanket. “I know it’s cold, baby. Give me the blanket. It’s wet. It’s just gonna make you colder. Let me dry your hair with it then I’ll get you dressed.”
While she continued to shiver, naked in the bed of his truck, he dried her hair and carried her to the cab. Helping her back into her clothing, he swathed her in his Carhartt and turned on the heater.
When her body calmed and her skin resumed its normal olive tone, he eased back down the dirt road towards civilization.
“You can quit biting holes in your tongue and go ahead and call me a dumbass,” she pouted.
“I would never call you a dumbass. I’m not an abusive fucker. I’d just appreciate it if you’d at least acknowledge that I am always trying to take care of you.”
“I know that. I’m sorry. I just … I felt like … I don’t know. Never mind.”
“You felt like being a little reckless, letting it all go?”
He got a single nod in response.
“That’s what this whole night was supposed to be about, honey. No issues with any of that. You just occasionally leap before you let me look out for you.”
“No joke,” she sighed. “I’m just not used to anyone looking out for me. Not an easy thing to get used to.”
“Well, I figure we have the next sixty or seventy years together, so maybe by the time we’re in the old folk’s home, you’ll have gotten used to it.”
“I can’t believe you’re so sure you want to marry me after just a week.” He opened his mouth to explain yet again, but she held up her hand. “I know, I know, you have a gut thing and you’re never wrong or whatever. You do know most of us take things a little slower though, right?”
“You wanting to slow things down?”
She tucked herself deeper in his jacket. “Truthfully, no. Well, maybe. I don’t know. I either want to stay in Cheyenne forever, never let the next week end or to fast forward six months, be sure you’re really gonna be happy with me and love me and J.J. forever and have settled into a new life. It’s this in-between part that scares the shit out of me.”
“Sounds to me like it’s the unknown scares the shit out of you. I get that, believe me, I do, but if that stupid wreck taught me anything, it’s that you can’t take one day for granted. If you see something and you want it, you go after it with all your heart, and if you get it, you cherish it and take care of it every moment of every day. That’s how I plan to handle our relationship for the rest of our lives.
“I just don’t think it can possibly be as complicated as everyone would like you to believe. I get up and I make damn sure you know how much I love you before I saddle up. I ride. I work. I come home and have supper with you, listen to you tell me all about your day, or if I’m real, real lucky, you come out and ride with me and we work together. We have supper. We take care of the youngins. I put you to bed and make sure you know that my every single action is for you. Season in, season out. I take care of you, and of J.J., and any others we might up and create. And if all goes well, when I’m too old to do much else, I get to sit in a rocking chair on a front porch somewhere on the ranch with you while we watch our youngins do the same thing with their families. I can’t think of a better life, Summer. So, it’s gonna take a little figuring and work. Good. I like hard work. I’m in this.”
“You really think it can all work out like that?”
“Yes, I do.” He grinned. She couldn’t stop yawning. Jumping in subzero water is rather exhausting. He knew from experience.
The rapid click of the parking brake, startled her. She’d dozed off as he’d driven back to the ranch cabins. “We’re back, Sleeping Beauty. Want me to carry you in?”
“No, I’m fine.” With another deep yawn, she slid out of the truck and let him guide her inside their cabin.
Holly was dozing in Luke’s lap, and Hope was asleep in Brock’s. Austin’s parents were sitting in the rocking recliners watching TV. Their brows furrowed when they took in Summer’s damp hair and the fact that she was wrapped up in Austin’s Carhartt in the middle of July.
“Summer decided she might like to discover just how cold the South Platte is about this time of year,” Austin chuckled.
She glared at him, but was too exhausted to do much else.
His parents both laughed. Holly sat up and rubbed her eyes. “Did you throw her in?”
“If I’d thrown her in water that cold, I wouldn’t be around to tell you about it. She’d have maimed me at the very least.”
Austin’s mother shook her head. “All right, you two get some rest. J.J. was good as gold. He’s been asleep since about nine.”
“Thank you so much for watching him, Mrs. Camden.” Another shiver worked through Summer.
“It was no trouble. We’re gonna see the sights tomorrow. Let your daddy play in the Frontier village, but we’ll see all of you at the pancake breakfast Friday, right?”
“Yeah,” Brock yawned, “we’re gonna play in Cheyenne tomorrow, then after the breakfast Friday, I’m taking Hope on to see Yellowstone. We’ll be back at the ranch Saturday, though.
“We’ll be at the breakfast, Friday, Mama. Then I’ve got a practice session from 10:00-2:00. Y’all are welcome to come before you head out,” Austin reminded them.
“That was our plan. You know how your mother loves to see you thrown off of bull after bull,” his father chided.
“They’re practice bulls. I’ll be fine.” Austin brushed a kiss on his mother’s cheek. He took Summer’s hand and guided her towards the bedroom while his family saw themselves out. Stripping her out of her clothes, he grabbed one of his t-shirts and a pair of sweatpants he’d located in the bottom of his suitcase for her to wear.
“Thank you.” Her blinks extended in length as he tenderly re-dressed her, laid her in bed, stripped himself, and climbed in beside her. He cradled her against his chest and brushed her damp hair behind her.
“See, I knew you were a cock-tease.”
“I’m sorry,” she fussed sweetly.
Chuckling, he brushed a kiss on her forehead. “Don’t be sorry, baby. I was teasing you. Just go to sleep. We have the rest of our lives to be together.”
Chapter Eighteen
Friday morning, after stuffing themselves full of Kiwanis club pancakes and waving goodbye to Brock and Hope, Austin led his family, his girl, and their boy to the practice arena. Hidden a few streets over from the throngs of people already crowding the main thoroughfare in Cheyenne proper, the practice arena was a bare bones operation kept out of the eye of the fans. Far more function than form, there were four chutes, but only two were in use and loaded with practice bulls. Fourteen bull riders had made it all the way to Cheyenne. Only five had qualified. All five were practicing that morning in the diminutive arena. Lummis Ranch provided the practice bulls for Frontier Days. They had their men out loading the pens. Jackson met the Camdens on the north side of the small arena. Each rider provided one bull fighter, since practice bulls weren’t near the brutes rodeo bulls were. They’d throw riders, but didn’t usually see any need to go after the rider once they’d dispensed with him.
Despite that, the pancakes in Austin’s gut churned ominously. He couldn’t figure what was wrong. Summer seemed fine. J.J. was fussy, but that was probably because he hadn
’t slept well the night before.
“Let’s do eight this morning,” Austin instructed Jackson as he handed J.J. off to Summer. He recognized the tense set of his own voice.
“Yeah, I knew that’s what you’d want. I already told Mr. Lummis that. He says they’ve got you four ready, but Anders and Ryan Cogburn, each put in for six, and Colton Jones, and Bill Youngers want four, and they were all here first. You’re gonna have to get in line and cycle through. Gonna be crazy around here for a while,” Jackson explained.
“Always is. It’ll be fine,” Austin took in the riders, their bull fighters, the stock contractors, and a PBR rep sent to keep an eye on everything. There were two dozen people where normally it would have been just him and Jackson along with the practice bulls. He’d have to deal if he wanted to practice. His next ride was the following night, and if something bad was coming, he needed a full session to prepare.
Of course he wants eight. Most riders took four at a practice. The most intense, or most insane, depending on your perspective, took six. Summer sighed inwardly. She would rather beat her own head against a brick wall than watch Austin get his ass thrown in the dirt eight times in a row. Bouncing J.J. on her hip, she shared a sympathetic gaze with his mama. They both knew they couldn’t stop him; they just wished they didn’t have to watch it.
Austin and Jackson sauntered off to where the Lummis boys were loading stock.
“Everett, did he say eight?” Jessie demanded.
“Honey, since the moment he started walking, he hadn’t ever done anything the easy way. You know that,” Ev sighed.
Summer couldn’t help but grin. She reminded herself that her coaches would ask her to run the barrel pattern ten times, and she’d go twenty.
“He’s been doing eight at every practice session since he was fifteen, Mom,” Holly reminded.
They stood by and watched Travis Anders ride, and then Bill Youngers. Only one bull was allowed in the arena at a time, so loading and unloading ate up most of the practice session. Austin and Ryan Cogburn took turns next. Austin’s bull wasn’t doing much bucking, so he dismounted, landed on his feet, and ordered a different one.
Colton Jones was next as they continued to work through the bulls. Summer willed the minutes to go by faster. She chatted with his mama and Holly, but felt her stomach turn every time it was Austin’s turn to climb in the chute again. At least the activity all around them made it seem a little less intense.
He returned to the gates while Youngers went again.
“Smile for me, sugar. They’re just practice bulls.” He planted a kiss on her lips.
She sighed. “I know. I just love you. Remember, you don’t have to do scared I’ll be scared for you.”
His parents beamed. She watched Austin’s neck contract as that sinfully sexy grin formed on his face again. “I love you, too. We still eating with Ekta tonight?”
“Yeah, she called this morning. Can’t wait to talk to the hawk.”
Chuckling, Austin wrapped his arm over her as two other riders were thrown and more bulls were loaded into the chutes. “I’ll try not to disappoint. I’m up next. Be back in a few.”
Summer was momentarily distracted by a waving Dakota Alvarez, standing by a horse trailer where several horses were being led out. Dakota joined Summer and the Camdens at the fences.
“They’re doing the junior barrel racing event here this afternoon. That’s my horse, Wildfire, coming off now.”
Summer stared longingly at the beautiful calico, a perfect fifteen hands high, with a shimmery coat, bright attentive eyes, and braided mane.
“Looks like you take great care of her.” Summer smiled.
“She’s kind of my best friend,” Dakota admitted. Summer understood that only too well. “Would your little boy like to pet her?”
Nodding, Summer carried J.J. to meet Wildfire. J.J. gasped and oohed over the horse, who leaned her head down sweetly for him to pet her. Summer grasped his little hand to keep him from smacking the horse’s neck in an attempt to love her. “Easy, buddy. Be gentle.”
“She’s completely bomb-proof. She won’t hurt him,” Dakota assured as she kept hold of Wildfire’s reins.
“I can tell. She’s a great horse.”
“I’d be honored if you wanted to ride her while we’re here. She’d love it.”
“Oh, you’re so sweet. I better not. Austin will be practicing for a while then his family’s going back to their ranch. We’re having dinner with a friend of mine tonight.”
“Too bad. I was hoping you might come see me ride and tell me everything I’m doing wrong.”
Summer hated to hear Dakota down on herself. “I’m sure you’re great. As long as every ride is better than the one before, that’s all you need to worry about. Compete with yourself, not anyone else.”
“Thanks.” Dakota beamed at her.
Summer let J.J. pet the horse for a few more minutes. Her heart lurched to a stop when the Preston Cattle trailer ambled up the dirt road behind the arena. She didn’t recognize the truck pulling it. Furrowing her brow, she braced herself, not certain what might be coming.
She offered half smiles to Bill Youngers and Colton Jones, who lifted their hats to her as they left the arena. Supposing there was some kind of gentleman cowboy code for other rider’s girlfriends, Summer tried to be polite. They’d only requested four bull rides and were finished for the day.
Other bulls were still being loaded in from both chutes for Austin and the other riders.
“Oh, careful there, little guy,” Dakota eased. J.J. was reaching for Wildfire’s mane.
“Sorry.” Summer shifted J.J. to her other hip away from the horse. A cold sweat dewed on the back of her neck. Her heart beat frantically, but she had no idea what was wrong. Studying the area again, she couldn’t locate Brant’s trailer. It had disappeared. The hair on her arms stood up stiffer than her spine.
“Uh, good luck today, Dakota. I need to get back. Austin’s practicing.”
“It was good to see you again. Your little boy is adorable.”
“Thanks.” Summer waved, but before she made two steps she heard Holly’s gasp.
“Austin!”
Dakota and Summer raced back to the chutes.
“Ev, do something!” Mrs. Camden pled.
Austin was in the center of the ring with not one, not two, but three bulls surrounding him, and one of them was Dallas Devil.
“What happened?” Summer demanded.
“Austin was on that bull on the left. He made it almost ten seconds then bailed off. They were slow getting him back in the chute and the other gate opener let the next rider out. He bailed and climbed out so there wouldn’t be two in the arena at the same time, but then Dallas Devil busted through that broken chute door on the opposite side. He’s got a flank strap on, and he’s mad as hell. None of ‘um are happy the others are there. I gotta get Austin outta there.” Luke threw his leg over the metal gate.
“Oh my God!” Summer panicked. There was no way he could escape all three bulls all hell bent on killing each other.
“Hold him.” She thrust J.J. in to Holly’s arms and raced back to Wildfire. “I need to ride him.”
A wide-eyed Dakota managed a nod as Summer hurled her leg over Wildfire’s bare back. “Kee-yaw!” rang from her lungs as she rushed the horse through the rider entrance of the practice arena.
Holy fucking hell. Austin kept his eyes on the devil and backed away while Jackson tried frantically to get one of the other bulls back in the chutes. They’d all seen each other and were about to show each other who was dominant with Austin in the middle of it all. The Lummis boys stared on dumbfounded. Travis and Ryan had ridden their sixth and left the arena.
“Austin, get away from him,” Jackson shouted.
“I’m fucking trying.”
“I’ll get the one on the right. You move left.” Luke’s low voice sounded from somewhere behind Austin. If he took a split second to gauge his brother’s location, Dallas
Devil would charge and he’d be a dead man. He was already pawing the ground. Dirt rose under his hooves and permeated his breath as it curled up from his snout. His snarls pounded against Austin’s skull.
Suddenly, the thunder of hooves distracted the three men in the arena.
“Summer! What the hell?” he bellowed, but she was undeterred.
“Climb out,” she ordered as she circled the horse around Dallas Devil, infuriating the bull but distracting him from Austin.
“Holy hell.” Jackson raced in and shoved the bull Austin had been riding hard. He turned on Jackson, and Luke leapt in. Together they guided him back into the chutes.
“Summer,” Austin shouted.
“Get the hell out,” she screamed.
The next bull tore away from Jackson and headed towards Dallas. Summer cut between them. Fury and terror surged through Austin. His gut roiled. He was going to be sick. What the hell did she think she was doing? She was going to get herself killed.
He’d never seen anyone ride like that. She circled Dallas Devil again, taunting him. If she survived this, Austin was going to kill her when they all got out. “Get the hell away from him. Right now!”
Narrowing her eyes and honing her focus, she extended her body to the right, barely holding onto the horse with her legs, and jerked the quick-release knot holding the flank strap, but it didn’t untie.
Dallas reared back and she pulled hard to the left, just missing his horns as he came down where she’d been on the horse a half second before. Turning the horse back, she circled him again, confusing him, and then spun the horse like the master rider she was. Before Austin could blink, she was behind the devil again. Her next extended reach was good; the flank strap released, and the devil shook but stopped bucking.
Luke and Jackson had managed to get the third bull back in the chute. Summer circled wide.
“Get everyone out of here,” she bellowed. “Brant can get his damned bull himself.” With that, she flew back out of the arena, his savior, undaunted.