by Thianna D.
As he slid into the booth across from Beau, he cocked a brow. “Quad tall macchiato?”
Logan snorted before taking a sip. “I suffer through shitty department coffee twenty hours a day. If I’m spending the money for a high priced java, it’s going to be fun and get my motor going.”
“Point,” Beau said with a chuckle. “So, detective, how are things?”
“It’s Dallas. It’s summer. The weirdos are out in force. How about you? How’s life for a bronc rider?”
Beau took a sip of his coffee before he replied, forcing himself not to drop the Gs. “It’s getting old.” Logan didn’t say anything. He sipped his drink and waited. “I’m doing good and I’m still at the top of the leaderboard. But my body isn’t eighteen anymore. Plus…” He frowned. “I’m beginning to think there’s more to life.”
“Well that’s a change.” Logan put his coffee down and tore off a piece of Beau’s cake. “Just last Christmas you said you could see yourself staying in the rodeo game for the rest of your life.”
“Yeah.” Beau watched Logan munch on his cake and after his third bite, pushed the entire piece over. He had all his mother’s goodies back at the motel. “I love my life. The freedom. The fresh air. The guys I work around. But I’m ready for a new challenge.”
That made Logan grin. “You and your challenges. Shit. Should I put out a warning to all beat cops to watch out for Crazy Trey?”
Amused at a nickname he hadn’t heard in years, Beau grinned back. “You love my challenges. You helped me with most of them.”
“I did. Not sure I could handle them now. So any ideas of what you want to do?”
Beau took a long drink of his coffee. “Not sure. I suppose I should put my degree to some use.”
“You wouldn’t last in an office,” Logan said succinctly. “And why do I have the feeling there’s something you’re not telling me.”
“Fucking detective.”
Logan just cocked an eyebrow in response.
Beau shot back the last of his coffee and put the cup down sharply. “Fine. I want to find a good woman and settle down. Not easy on the circuit. Some people found a way. Joseph and his wife have been married for over thirty years. Craig’s married. But the circuit’s more likely to kill a relationship than bond it.
“Not to mention,” he added, “that most of the women I meet are rodeo groupies who want a ride. They don’t want to know the daily grind. They don’t want to think of it as anything less than a show.”
“And they probably aren’t into your fetishes,” Logan said, saying what Beau hadn’t been able to bring himself to.
“Pretty much. I did meet a beautiful, intelligent, and sexy woman and she’s got the hottest ass ever. But she’s hiding from life. Already told me that while what we’re doing is fun, it’s short term because her family would blow a gasket.” And that hurt more than it should. Hell. He’d known Madison for less than two days, two and a few hours if he counted their scene two years ago. Had only really known her in the biblical sense. It shouldn’t bother him.
Logan sat back and took the last bite of cake. “You like her.” As in everything Logan did, it was a quick statement gathered from whatever facts he saw that nobody else would get a grasp on.
“Yeah. I do. But she’s gonna be the governor of Texas one day. I can’t see myself being a governor’s sidekick.” He tried to inject a sense of humor into the words, but Madison had grabbed hold of him in a way no other woman ever had. It had to be because she was the kind of woman he loved: smart, aggressive, and sure of herself and yet someone who was willing to bend over to get what she needed.
“Why not?” Logan countered. “You’re used to being in the limelight. The main difference is that you’d have more idiots putting a camera in your face and ferreting out who Beauregard Hamilton Trey is. But you’ve always been somewhat transparent. You’ve never hid your kinky side. You’ve never hid what you stand for. Beau, you’re a Texan through and through. Why shouldn’t you be the first man of Texas?”
“I’ve known Madison, and I do mean that biblically, for two nights. Let’s not start setting up nuptials yet.”
Logan shook his head, amusement in his dark brown eyes. “I agree,” he said. “You’re ready for a new challenge. Why not take this political whirlwind out for a spin? I—” He let out a low whistle, the amusement turning to speculation. “Are you talking about Madison Barnet?”
Beau startled at the name. Madison Barnet. Ah shit. With a groan, he leaned his head back. He’d had sex—great sex, fantastic sex—with the daughter of a political dynasty. Just his luck.
“You didn’t know?” Logan asked, doubt in his tone.
“She never told me her last name. Shit. Madison Barnet.” His mother would laugh herself silly. The Barnets were the best political gossip around. “Don’t tell anyone.”
“I won’t. But know what you’re getting into, Beau. They’re part of the department’s don’t-touch list. If anyone suspects the Barnets of anything, we hand it off to the captain who hands it up to someone above him and nothing ever seems to come of it.” Logan let out a low whistle and shook his head. “Have to hand it to you, though. She’s one beautiful woman.”
“Yeah. She is.” In many ways.
Logan checked his watch and stood up. “Have to get back. But keep in touch. I’d like to know how things go with her.” He smacked Beau on the shoulder. “Come back to Dallas more often. It would be nice to see you more than once per year.”
With a wave of his hand, Logan rushed out, his mind probably already back on his cases. Beau stared at his empty coffee cup for a moment and then stood. He didn’t know Madison and needed to keep thoughts of her out of his decision-making process. But he did need a change in his life. Once this string of rides was through, perhaps he’d take a few days and do some research. What would he like to do with the rest of his life?
His mind filled with that question, he left the café and headed back to his truck.
Tempers were high when he reached the rodeo grounds. It was nothing more than the stress due to the humidity and the fact this was midway through their five night run. Cowboys jockeying for position to try and overtake the lead.
“Hey, Beau.” He looked over and watched Alice as she walked toward him. At fifty years old, Alice appeared more to be in her thirties. Her twinkling eyes made him smile. “Heard the news?”
“Anything good?” he asked as he walked Rampart, his newest colt, up to a fence and tied his reins loosely.
“My husband talked to Craig and Craig lit into Kendrick this morning.” She shook her head. “Cocks around the block.”
Snorting a laugh, he nodded as he pulled out the brush to work on Rampart. She hopped up onto the top of the fence and watched as he worked. “I’ve never seen you with the same woman two nights in a row,” she mused. “Must be something special about this one.”
Not wanting to discuss it, he shrugged. “First woman I’ve met who actually needs spanking. It’s been fun.”
She spluttered. “Joseph, Kendrick, and I all heard the fun, I assure you. But that still doesn’t answer my question.”
“It’s just fun, Alice,” he said a little sharper than he intended. “We’ll be gone in a couple days and I’ll never see or hear from her again.”
She watched him and then shook her head. “Ah damn. I was kind of rooting for you on this one. About time you found a girl worth pursuing.”
“She’s way out of my league, Alice. Way out.” When the words hit him, he shook his head. Or was he just backing away? The thought of a beautiful woman was a good one. A beautiful Barnet was a whole other dimension.
Alice hopped down from her perch and patted his arm. “I’m sorry. But at least you can enjoy yourself for the next couple nights. I have to deal with the Kendrick-Joseph war.” She grunted. “When you he-men go at it, you’re a pain in the ass.”
He barked a laugh. “Good thing you’re Joseph’s Domme, Alice. I’m sure you can think of a suita
ble punishment.”
“For Joseph, yes. But Kendrick? I’ll have to get sneaky.” She walked away, leaving him chuckling behind her.
Working on Rampart helped keep his mind on the here and now. Horses were amazingly smart animals and if you didn’t keep your mind on what you were doing, they would do something to make sure you did.
Once or twice he caught sight of Joseph or Kendrick. Joseph looked annoyingly stubborn and Kendrick appeared ready to strangle him. At least they were keeping their distance from one another.
“Hey.” Beau turned to see a man walking toward him. He was on the ground’s payroll but Beau didn’t know him. “Lady dropped this by for you.” He held out a letter.
“Thanks.”
As soon as the guy walked away, Beau put his brush down and opened the envelope. It was short, sweet, and amused him.
Beau,
I’ll be there tonight.
M
M. She couldn’t even sign her first name. He sighed. “What have I got myself into?” The part of him that had worked hard to be where he was and didn’t like to be played, wanted to sink in his spurs and tell her where to get off. But that was just a miniscule part of him. The fact was, Beau had no intention of turning her away. He’d take all of her he could get. He glanced down at his tack box and grinned. And he’d be sure to bring a crop with him when he went to the motel room.
Chapter Eight
“We’re too close to the launch date,” Havers said in an annoyed voice as he strode back and forth in front of Madison. “Three months is all we’ve got to make sure everyone knows Madison Barnet is very much a part of your family’s dynasty and will make a great governor. We need this time to get those with deep pockets aware of you. Because,” he went on as if she was stupid and didn’t realize what was going on, “when you announce your candidacy, we want them writing checks from day one. Do you get that?”
She stared at the bastard. Having grown up in a political family, she knew the rules. She’d been forced to be a part of her father’s campaigns most of her life and had also helped her brother. “I know what is at stake,” she said sharply and stood up. Ron Havers was only five nine, so she was able to look down on him which was infinitely satisfying. “I’ve been at this longer than you have. But we’re talking about me being the governor of Texas. And what’s more Texan than cowboys?” she snapped. “It’s a damned rodeo and I’m going to be seen there schmoozing with the riders.”
“When you could be at tonight’s fundraiser for the next President of the United States?” he snapped back. “People with big pockets and a tremendous amount of influence will be there. And so will you. Fuck the cowboys. Tonight’s important.”
She had every intention of fucking one cowboy, but chose to keep that part silent. “In three months, you’ll run every single moment of my life,” she said through tight lips. “I have less than ninety days to be me before I have to wear a stupid smile for the rest of my life. So get out of my house. I’m not going. And that is that.”
His eyes narrowed and he grabbed his suit coat, throwing it over his arm. “Be there tonight. Or else.” With that, he walked out and slammed the door behind him.
Groaning, she dropped back onto the sofa she’d sat on. Madison was so tired of people running her life. There was a part of her that loved the idea of political office. Of helping and securing a better tomorrow. But she’d been involved in the political world for too long to believe any of the tripe. It was a business. A job. And the people with big pockets would run her life. They would make her decisions. Instead of being a governor of the people, she would be a head, allowing decisions that would help the deep pockets get even deeper while screwing the rest of the state.
“I just can’t do it.” Her muscles, which had been wonderfully relaxed since the night before, were so tense they hurt to move. She really needed Beau’s hand or belt across her ass. If his motel room didn’t have such thin walls, she’d ask what else he could do to her. What was she going to do when he was gone? Hating that thought, she forced herself to her feet. Madison passed by her office and ignored the paperwork on her desk. It could all wait. The rodeo started at six and she planned to be there for the whole of it.
The air conditioner was on high but her clothes still stuck to her. As she walked into her bedroom, she pulled out her phone and texted Judy: Rodeo tonight. Pick you up at five.
Judy responded while she was in the shower and when she stepped out, wrapped in a towel, she laughed at her friend’s response. Should I bring binoculars to check out the well-endowed cowboys?
Chapter Nine
Three times before the rodeo started, Beau found himself looking up to see if there were any storm or thunderclouds building. The air was oppressive and it felt like a squall was building. Everyone was tight lipped with one another—several verbal volleys broke out while they waited to start. He tried to ignore most of it. It was the fucking humidity most likely. Once they headed north, things would improve.
As the barrel racers started things off, he glanced up, smiling when he caught sight of Madison where she’d sat two days before. She was glancing around, but couldn’t see him as he was in a dark section of the backlot. He’d already placed his suede crop in the truck for later. If she wanted another clit spanking, he was prepared.
“Fuck.” The expletive and the emotion behind it drew his attention to the barrels where Josie was down, her horse limping slightly beside her.
“Ah hell.” That was not a good way to start the night. And it just got worse. Two more barrel racers had issues. The clowns went to the barrels, looking for slick spots, but it was just dirt. Beau considered scratching from the bareback ride. Like most of his lot, he was superstitious. The night was not going well. And the bastards had changed the lineup so he had saddle bronc first and then almost immediately bareback. Usually they were separated.
He stayed on, but neither ride was his best and by the time he walked out after his last bronc, Beau was in a foul mood. He wanted to wave Madison over and get the hell out of there, but he needed to check on his horses first.
So much garbage bounced around in his head that he didn’t at first hear the problem. Until Joseph yelled, “Shoot the damned bull before he kills him!” Considering none of them wanted to see any of their animals shot, Beau jerked his head up and strode over to the crowd. The sight in front of him sent a jolt of horror to his gut. Kendrick’s foot was caught in the rope and the bull was dragging him every which way and turning to attack whenever he could. The clowns were doing their jobs and grabbing the bull to get his attention so the helpers could get Kendrick loose and out of there, but the bull didn’t even seem to notice them.
It was like the damned animal had a grudge against Kendrick and wanted him dead.
Kendrick kicked out and his boot slammed into the bull’s nose. At the same time, he reached up and freed his boot. It felt like everything slowed down. Kendrick rolled and got up to head toward one of the barrels. At the same time the clowns got in the bull’s face to distract him. But he headed right for Kendrick. The bull ducked and came up, his horn gauging right into Kendrick’s leg. From Beau’s stance, he saw the look of anguish that covered Kendrick’s face before he fell flat on the dirt.
Charley, a new clown who had never worked with the bulls before and wasn’t even made up, launched over the fence and toward the ruckus. The bull had just stomped hard on the same leg it had gauged when it saw Charley. It charged him. In that moment, the helpers got two ropes around its neck and another one around its back leg and pulled tight and the other two clowns dumped Kendrick into a barrel until it was safe.
It was a fucking horror movie. They couldn’t shoot the bull in front of the crowd, who thought it was all show. Instead, they had to get the bull out of ring and into an enclosure. That was when they sent in the paramedics. To keep the gore out of the public eye, the clowns carried the barrel with Kendrick in it. When they pulled him out, his face was gray and he looked like he was barely
breathing.
There was so much blood.
“Is he okay?” Beau looked around in surprise as he heard Madison’s voice. Kendrick had just been rushed to the hospital. “Beau?” she said and put a hand on his cheek. “Are you okay?”
He took a deep breath and shook his head. “Kendrick’s one of my best friends. He could lose his leg.” Or die, but he wasn’t going to say it.
She blanched a little. “Come on. I’ll drive you to the hospital.”
The drive seemed to take forever, but finally they walked through the emergency doors. Joseph spotted him and waved him over. He and Alice were huddled on plastic chairs in the corner.
“How is he?” he asked as he approached.
“Won’t know for some time, I expect,” Joseph said and the guilt on his face and in his voice was palpable. “I should have done something more to stop him from getting on that bull tonight.”
“It wasn’t your fault,” Beau said. “It was his choice.”
“Why did the bull keep going for him?” Madison said after a couple awkward moments of silence. “He seemed single minded about it.”
Alice grimaced a smile. “They took some samples for tests, but most likely he just turned. Sometimes animals do that.” She looked from Beau to Madison. “I’m Alice Kelsey. This is my husband Joseph.”
“Madison.” She shook their hands. “Excuse me for a moment.” She squeezed his hand and then walked out of the emergency room.
“She probably can’t handle all the crap going on here,” Beau said by way of apology.
“No need to explain,” Joseph said. “Says enough that she came with you.”