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Austin’s throat swelled. He blinked several times before leading Buckley the long way back to the stables, hoping to give Adam time to cool down. He looked down each aisle, seeing if he could find Charlotte or even her large horse, but she seemed nowhere to be found. Vaulting was later that evening at this event, so maybe she was resting.
By the time he made it to Buckley’s stall, Turbo was contentedly eating, and his brother was gone. It was probably for the better, as Austin wasn’t in the mood to continue apologizing. He knew he had messed up, but it wasn’t like he did it on purpose, regardless of how his brother felt. At the next rodeo, he’d make it up to him. He just needed to focus harder.
On his way out of the stables, after he fed and groomed Buckley, he saw Jake holding his son and talking with a few others. Austin ducked his head, intending to walk by unnoticed, but Jake called his name and motioned him over.
“Hey, there, don’t look so glum, man,” Jake said. “You can’t win them all, and third place is still a chunk of earnings.”
Austin looked up. “We got third?”
“Yeah, haven’t you been paying attention?” Jake asked, settling his little bundle in the crook of his arms.
“Nah, that’s the problem.” Austin gave him a tight smile.
“Don’t we understand that one,” one of Jake’s friends said, then holding out his hand, said, “Hey, I’m Cam. This is my wife, Vic, and our little one, Tate.”
A woman with red hair smiled proudly while holding a toddler on her hip, his thick patch of dark hair standing all over the place. “I remember you. Austin, right? You pulled your elbow out a few years back, didn’t you?”
Austin blinked a few times, peering closer at the gal. “Yeah, that’s right. You’re the medic. I didn’t recognize you.”
“That’s because she’s happier now,” Cam said, wrapping an arm around her. “A smile changes everything.”
Vic blushed, but she only smiled larger, settled in his arms, and stared adoringly at their child. “Being a mom changes everything.” Her soft voice held so much emotion that Austin shifted his weight and looked away.
“Well, we’re on the lookout for a sibling for little Tate right now,” Cam said.
Austin’s brow scrunched slightly, and Jake picked up on it. “They’re looking for kids to adopt.”
“Oh, that’s wonderful,” Austin said, smiling at the little boy now staring at him.
“Beth and I are considering it, but for now, this little spitfire is keeping us pretty busy.” He looked down at his little son with adoration.
“Oh yeah, he seems a handful,” Austin said, smiling at the sleeping infant.
“You don’t even know,” Jake said with a laugh.
“Just wait until he starts to walk,” Cam said. “Then the real work begins.”
“Are you married?” Vic asked, smiling at Austin.
Austin shook his head and shrugged. “Rodeo is hard on your love life.”
“Ha,” Jake said. “You’re complaining to the wrong folks, buddy. We both met our wives on the circuit.”
“And both of your wives worked on it, too, didn’t they?” Austin raised an eyebrow.
“Well, what about that gal, the vaulter? She’s on the circuit.” Jake shifted his sleeping boy as he fussed a little.
“Temporarily. She’s a career lady…going to be a vet.”
“Beth does that, too, when we’re home,” Jake said.
“And I planned to continue being a medic at the rodeos and travel with Cam, but our little guy came sooner than expected. Now we only travel to rodeos to see old friends.” Vic smiled at Jake. “The rodeos are always looking for vets willing to travel with them.”
Austin cocked his head as he considered this option, wondering if Charlotte had ever thought about it. “Well, she still has her residency to go through…”
“If she’s the right one, you’ll figure it out.” Vic squeezed his arm. “I’d be happy to talk with her about what it was like to be the medic. I was close to some of the vets and could put in a good word for her.”
“Thanks,” Austin said, a surge of hope filling him. Maybe he could have both the things he wanted. Maybe there didn’t have to be an either-or… now he only had to find the gal in question and plant the seed.
