“I’m rooting for him.” Of course he was. Ellie was his only friend on the circuit right now. “We better finish our beer.” He plopped back into his seat to watch the next rider.
“Yeah. You want to have lunch tomorrow? There are a ton of good restaurants close by.” She sat and crossed her legs.
“Sounds good. I have a meeting with some of the riders in the afternoon, we could meet up before. I’ll text you.” The next rider busted out of the gate and went down in the well, and they watched the bullfighters go to work. “Ooh. Ow.”
Mackey went flying, and Jack pulled Ghost back out of the way, hand on his rope. When the bull started running, the rider’s hand twisted in the rope, everyone stood.
The rider was out, flopping around, and Mackey and Tommy were fighting to get to him. Jack and Ghost stepped in, the rope flying, catching the horns.
Together, cowboy and horse got the bull slowed, just enough for the bullfighters to jump on the back.
The bull didn’t seem to notice at all, but he sure saw Jack, and he lowered his head to charge. Ghost danced out of the way, and Jack threw another rope, tangling him up so that Mackey could get the rider down.
“Shit.” Hudson perched on the edge of his seat, fighting the urge to jump to his feet. “Shit shit shit.” Mackey and Tommy cut the cowboy free, and the rest of the team—a pair of twins—ducked in to pull him out of harm’s way. Jack was still hauling on the bull’s head, keeping it down until Mackey jumped from its back.
Then Jack started fighting him, dragging the wild bastard behind the chutes.
Hudson took a deep breath and relaxed back in his seat. “He’s so fucking good at what he does.”
“He’s the best. I’ve heard Scott say so. Everyone wants him to work for them.” Ellie shook her head. “Apparently the suits are scared he’ll go to another league.”
He snorted. Jack wasn’t going anywhere. These were his friends. But it would be just like Jack to worry the suits into keeping him happy. “He knows how to work the system.”
“Good for him. He has horses to feed. That’s not cheap. I know. My horses are eating machines.” And she loved it, Hudson could tell. “Did I tell you Jenny is starting to race barrels already?”
“No.” He shook his head. “Already? Is she a daredevil like her dad?”
Buck Williams rode next. It was a great ride, and the score was close, but didn’t quite beat Scott. Ellie had to be losing her mind.
“She’s amazing. She’s going to be our rodeo princess.” Ellie was bouncing on the seat. Boing. Boing. Boing.
“I believe it.” He leaned closer. “One more rider. Jim Dorry.” Jim was good. And he was a nice guy. Scott couldn’t pick anyone better to beat him—if Jim beat him.
“I hope he rides. For fewer points than Scott.” She stuck her tongue out. “Is that evil?”
“Nope. That’s backing up your boy.” He took her hand as the gate flew open, and Dorry shot out of the chute.
He didn’t make it three seconds before butt and dirt met, and Ellie squeezed his hand.
“We won the night!”
“Yeah, baby!” He jumped up and hugged her, cheering. He was happy for Scott, and her too. In a sport this dangerous, it could be a win just to stay on the bull, but to win the night? “Woo!”
“You know it! And you’ve got someone’s eyes on you. I can see him watching.”
“What?” He let her go and looked out toward the dirt. It took him no time at all to find Jack and lock eyes with him. His cheeks heated, and he got butterflies in his stomach. “Right. I see him.” The look was so intense he could almost feel Jack from where they stood.
“Where are you meeting him? I bet he can… give you a ride.”
Evil woman.
“Naughty.” He laughed. “We didn’t say where. I told him I’d find him. I guess I should wander back there.” He hadn’t met Jack for lunch; he’d ended up eating early with the med guys and talking about injuries. So he’d made Jack wait all day.
Jack
Need a ride? Loading the horses
And there he was.