Catch Me, Cowboy

by Watt, Jeannie

  “I’m pissed because you knew he’d be here, specifically to see me, and you didn’t give me the option of telling him, no, don’t come.”

  “Well, it’s a damned good thing he was here for that ride. And I didn’t tell you because I wanted you to focus on the ride.”

  “I don’t know how you found out that I was entered…” Although he would hazard a guess that one of his cronies on the Copper Mountain Rodeo Board had clued him in. “But calling Buck Creighton, asking him to cover my ride, without telling me… uncool.”

  “Uncool or not, the guy was excited when I told him you were coming out of retirement.”

  “How did you know this was more than just one last ride at the local rodeo.”

  His dad gave a small snort. “I know you, Ty. You don’t do things like this for fun. You’re as focused on winning as I was.” His mouth tightened momentarily, as if he was deciding whether or not to press on. He pressed. “You’ve just proven that you’re better than ever. You can work your way back into the money. Get your sponsors back.”

  A cowboy walked by, leading a horse with two giggling little girls wedged together into the saddle. Ty clamped his mouth shut until they were out of earshot. “This isn’t the place to discuss this, Dad.”

  “I don’t understand what we have to discuss!”

  And therein lay the problem. His father was so heavily invested in his sons’ careers that he didn’t seem to understand they weren’t his careers.

  “Do you want to ride or not?” his dad demanded.

  “On my terms.” Which was the honest truth. “We’ll talk later. I have to catch up with someone.”

  “Shelby?”

  Ty stilled at the tone of his father’s voice. “And if it is?”

  His dad gave him an impatient look. “Don’t be stupid about things, Ty. You don’t have to settle, like I did.”

  And that was the end of this conversation.

  “Later, Dad.” Ty gave his father a curt nod and walked off, squeezing between two goosenecks parked side by side. His dad didn’t follow and for that Ty was massively grateful. They would talk, once Ty had cooled off—in a week or so maybe.

  Right now…

  Well, Ty never had been one for public blowups and that was what was coming if his dad happened to catch up with him.

  They hadn’t made firm plans, but Ty had hoped to catch up with Shelby after his ride and to congratulate her on her stellar run. Now all he wanted to do was to get the hell out of Dodge. When he got to his truck he set his bronc saddle in the back and unbuckled his chaps. His dad hadn’t followed him, but Ty wasn’t taking any chances. He got into the truck, pulled his phone out of the glove compartment and dialed Shelby.

  “Hey,” he said when she answered. “Great run.”

  “Thanks. And I probably don’t have to tell you that you were the best one here today.” She sounded almost too enthusiastic—like she was forcing it.

  Cool. Something to talk about later. “Can we catch up after the rodeo?”

  “I have to help Cassie with some prep work for tomorrow’s pancake breakfast. I don’t know how involved it is.”

  “Then I guess I’ll see you at the ranch later?”

  “Yeah. Maybe we can go to the steak dinner and street dance… or something?”

  Ty liked the idea of “or something”, which would go a long way toward helping him forget about the shit his dad had just pulled in order to keep himself in the limelight.

  Chapter Twelve

  Ty drove back to the Forty-Six shortly after talking to Shelby, feeling nothing but relief as he left the rodeo grounds behind him. He’d eventually seek out his father, make peace, but right now he needed breathing room. Les came home while Ty was feeding, parking his old truck close to the haystack and stiffly easing himself to the ground. His knees really were bothering him.

  “Shelby said to tell you that she and Cassie are still working on something for tomorrow’s breakfast,” Les offered. “She’ll see you at the street dance.”

  “Thanks.”

  Les stayed where he was, hands jammed awkwardly into his back pockets. “This isn’t easy to ask but… are you two going to make each other miserable again?”

  “I hope not.” Ty spoke with utter sincerity.

  “Me, too, because I kind of encouraged your suit with Shelby.” Ty blinked, but before he could say anything, Les said, “I saw your dad there today.”

  “Yeah. He made the trip for me.” And for him.

  Les gave a slow nod. “You’re going back on the circuit?”

  “Yeah. I am.” He hooked a thumb in his belt loop, as he always did when trying to ground himself. “But if Shelby asked me to, I’d stay this time.”

  “Why not just stay, even if she doesn’t ask”

  Ty debated for a second, then did something he rarely did. He let one of his deeper fears hit the light of day. “Because if things start to go south, she’ll wonder if part of it is caused by my resentment at not getting one last crack at the championship.”

  Les didn’t have an answer for that, and Ty didn’t expect him to. Some things were simply too true to argue with.

  *

  The town was packed when Ty pulled in and he ended up parking a goodly distance from the blocked streets at the center of town. The band was just starting to play when he reached the main street with its banners, twinkly lights, and rodeo displays. He’d just started to work his way through the crowd toward the blocked off street corner where Shelby had texted him to meet her.

  “Ty!”

  He turned to see Tucker McTavish heading toward him in full-hug mode. She wrapped her arms around him, enveloping him in a lot of good smells. And she didn’t move that far back after releasing him. “Congratulations!”

  “Thank you.” Before he could ask her how she’d been, where she’d been, how long she was back for, she took his hand and pulled him toward the street.

  “I love this song. Dance with me.”

  Ty allowed himself to be led forward. He liked Tucker and, unlike a lot of people, sensed her vulnerabilities. They’d had some good times before he’d hooked up with Shelby and they seemed to understand each other. All they’d expected of one another was companionship and good times. It had been comforting. Fun. Not enough.

  Ty took Tucker’s hands and they danced an easy two-step as he scanned the crowd. No Shelby.

  “Are you in town long?” he asked Tucker.

  “Time will tell.” She moved closer to him. “I’m kind of letting things work themselves out.” She flashed her beautiful smile and executed a spin, then came into his embrace. He loosely wrapped his arms around her, then gave her an apologetic smile as the music ended.

  “I have to catch up with someone.”

  “Me, too.” She touched his face. “Good seeing you, Ty.”

  A second later she was gone and Ty was working his way through the crowd.

  “Ty Harding.”

  He stopped as he heard his full name drawled. Buck Creighton. Standing alone at the edge of the crowd, a drink in one hand. “You got a minute?”

  “Actually, I’m on my way to meet with someone.”

  “Then I’d like to set up a time to talk tomorrow. After your ride. I liked what I saw out there.

  “It felt good.” Ty jerked his head toward the side street, when the band started playing again. He’d lost sight of Shelby and would have to start the search again. “I’ve got a couple minutes now.”

  “We’d like to cover your comeback.” Ty tilted his hat back. Not what he’d expected. Buck took a slow sip of his drink, watching Ty carefully. “Rodeo is a tough game.”

  Ty gave a small snort after Buck stated the obvious. “No shit.”

  “You’ve come back from one hell of an injury to ride for over ninety points and those were tough judges. They didn’t give you any mercy points.”

  “I wouldn’t want them.”

  “I know.”

  “We’re making a documentary. Rode
o Tough. We’d like you to be part of it. Your expenses would be paid for as long as you’re on the circuit. If you have a debilitating injury…” Buck shrugged, telling Ty he’d be on his own then. “We’re showcasing a rider new to the circuit. One who’s in the middle of his career and one making a comeback.”

  “That could be me.”

  Buck smiled faintly. “That will be you if you agree. Hell of an opportunity. Our dream is that you come back to win a national title.”

  “Mine, too.” Ty shifted his weight. “How much does my dad come into this?”

  “He called to tell us that you were attempting a comeback and suggested that we might want to write a human interest piece. Things snowballed from there.”

  “Good old dad.” Buck frowned at his dark tone and Ty said, “He’s kept an eye on my career. He was a rider once himself.”

  “I’m aware,” Buck said. “Your dad had a lot of talent.”

  Ty nodded. He’d seen the videos.

  “It’s a shame he never pursued his career.”

  Ty saw no point in mentioning his father’s bitterness had colored his life and the lives of those closest to him. Yes, everyone wished he’d pursued his career.

  “You have some time to make a decision,” Buck continued. “Day or two.” He gave Ty a look that indicated he already knew what his decision would be. And why wouldn’t it be a big fat “yes”? Getting his tour paid for and all he had to do was to let a viewing audience witness his victories and defeats—exactly as he did every time he climbed onto a bronc.

  “I got to go and catch up with my assistant,” Buck said. “I’ll touch base with you after tomorrow’s ride.” He took a couple steps, then turned back. “One of my camera guys is coming in tomorrow to shoot some preliminary footage, but it’s a just-in-case deal. I wish we hadn’t missed today’s ride, but the local crew got it on tape. Problem is, I have to pay them for it.”

  “What if I blow the ride tomorrow?”

  Buck’s eyebrows went up. “That’s part of the game, son. You don’t have to win it all for this film… but we’ll provide you with the resources to give you a good shot at taking that title back.”

  Which was exactly what he wanted.

  Right?

  *

  Shelby stepped behind a display of straw bales and adjusted the silk slip under the short dress she wore. The damned thing kept twisting and she was tempted to take it off, even though her borrowed dress was on the sheer side. The last minute prep for the Sunday pancake breakfast had taken so long that Shelby ended up raiding her friend’s closet for a dress and bright red cowboy boots for the street dance. Because, damn it, she was going to the street dance and she was going to enjoy it. She was going to meet Ty soon and give people something to talk about and then she was probably going to kiss him goodbye in a few days. Her stomach was still in a knot over the ride. She didn’t know if she could live like this—watching him ride with her heart in her throat… but maybe she could wait for him at home?

  As if that would worry her less.

  The one thing she wasn’t going to do was to stop him from doing what he loved.

  She stepped out from behind the display and stopped short as she almost ran smack into a guy. Her gaze popped up and she found herself face to face with Paul Barlow.

  “Hi,” she said in a bright voice, wincing as she realized it sounded a little too bright. Overcompensation was never a good thing.

  “Blake told me about your call.” Paul did not sound bright. He sounded angry.

  “That gelding doesn’t have the right temperament for someone like Blake.” Shelby did her best to sound both matter of fact and apologetic, figuring a guy like Paul didn’t want someone dictating the facts to him without acting sorry for reality.

  He blinked at her. “You are supposed to fix that. You’re a horse trainer. Right?”

  Shelby pressed her lips together as she sought a way to explain so that he might actually understand. “Horses are like people. They have their own personalities and idiosyncrasies. Some are scarred by things that have happened to them in the past—”

  “Horses are animals. Not emotional beings.”

  “Not true.”

  “You’re making excuses for failing.”

  Shelby felt a flicker of anger, but did her best to suppress it. “I’m trying to tell you the truth about the situation—”

  “Sounds like excuses to me.”

  “Because you don’t know horses.”

  Paul sneered. “I know enough not to endow them with human characteristics.”

  Shelby pointed her finger directly at the center of Paul’s chest. “I’m not making excuses. You bought a damaged horse because he was pretty and you didn’t know any better. He cannot be tamed or fixed to the point that he’s safe for Blake to ride, no matter how badly she wants to ride him. He’s not safe!”

  Paul gave her a withering look and was about to cut her down another notch when Shelby felt a movement behind her.

  “You’d be well advised to listen,” Ty said as he came to stand beside her. “She knows what she’s talking about.”

  Paul let out a dismissive snort. “We’ll find a real trainer, capable of handling Evarado. Blake will be riding him by the spring.”

  “You’re a fucking idiot,” Ty offered mildly. Color bloomed across Paul’s handsome face, but before he could say anything in response, Ty added, “and in my experience, fucking idiots shouldn’t own horses. That’s a recipe for disaster.”

  Paul drew himself up. “You’re out of line.”

  “And you’re trying to put your girlfriend on a horse that could hurt her because you’re too vain to listen to a view that’s different than your own. The horse is dangerous and you’re a fool if you don’t listen to the truth.”

  He put his hand on Shelby’s elbow and she agreed. This conversation was over. As it was, they were lucky to be on the peripheries of the blocked off street area where other than a few curious glances, they were for the most part being ignored.

  “I’ll be home Sunday afternoon. Come after six o’clock and I’ll have a prorated bill ready.”

  “If you think that I’m going to pay—”

  “Shelby has a lawyer in the family.” Somehow Shelby kept from gaping at Ty. “Pay what you owe.”

  Paul exhaled loudly, then pushed past them. Ty watched him go, then turned back to Shelby.

  “Nice lie.”

  “Easier in the long run. Besides, your great-uncle was a lawyer.”

  “He’s dead.”

  “Details.”

  The music started again, a catchy country two-step. “You want to dance?”

  “No.” One corner of her mouth lifted wryly. “But if you do, I think Tucker’s still around somewhere.”

  “Saw that, did you?”

  “I did.” Her mouth tilted into an expression that wasn’t quite a smile.

  He leaned in and took both her lips and her breath. “I don’t want to dance with Tucker,” he said in a low voice.

  “What do you want to do, Ty?”

  “I want to get out of here.”

  So did she. Shelby loved the yearly street dance and usually stayed until the end, but right now she was more than happy to slip away. This was not her normal rodeo weekend. Not only had she roped successfully for the first time in years, she was with a guy whom she loved, but didn’t know if she could live with.

  She definitely didn’t feel like dancing.

  They crossed the dark streets, the noise of the band fading as they made their way down a cross street, passing couples laughing and walking hand in hand. He waited until they reached a spot where there was no one around then pulled her down to sit next to him on a wood and iron bench. There was something in his expression that made her throat go a little dry. He looked… serious.

  “I’ve got to tell you something.”

  “Yeah?”

  He took her hand, lacing his fingers through hers before setting it on his hard thigh. “Bu
ck Creighton wants me to be part of a rodeo documentary.”

  She stilled and his grip tightened on her fingers in response. “Wow.”

  “Yeah. I know. He wants to chronicle my comeback along with the starting career of a newbie rider and a guy in the middle of his career.”

  “Sounds like quite an opportunity.”

  “It is, Shelb. I won’t lie.”

  “Are you going to do it?”

  “Depends.”

  Shelby steeled herself, then did the only thing she could do. “Take this opportunity, Ty. Finish your career.”

  Maybe she’d spoke too quickly, because he gave her a narrow-eyed look.

  She frowned. “If you were ready to retire, you never would have gotten entry into this rodeo. You aren’t done. You shouldn’t be. You just rode for ninety-one.”

  He was still watching her carefully. Reading her. Shelby lifted her chin, met his gaze dead on. She didn’t know why he rode, but he came back to it time and again. He’d been beat up, broken, crushed, and still he came back. It was ridiculous to stand in his way.

  But this time she would not make him choose… she’d simply take away one of his options. She needed some time to work on the fear factor and he needed this opportunity.

  “Trust me on this, Ty. It’s best for both us. I have some things I want to accomplish, too. When you come back to Marietta… I’ll be here.”

  For a long moment, he continued to stare at her, his eyebrows pulled together in a deep frown. He opened his mouth as if to speak, then closed it again. Finally, he said, “You’re cutting me loose?”

  “Not really,” she said softly. “No anger. No recriminations. But I have some stuff I have to work through.”

  “Are you going to tell me about this stuff?”

  “Once I get a handle on it.” Or when he stopped riding—whichever came first. “Go ride your broncs, Ty. Get your championship. Then come back to see me.”

  “What the hell is this all about, Shelby?”

  “Compromise, Ty. Pure and simple.” She looked over her shoulder in the direction from which they’d just come. “I need to get back. I have to help Cassie.”

  Not the full truth, but she did need to get away. She needed time to think, but more than that, Ty needed time to see that she was right about the decision she’d just made.