I gave him another hug before feeling the blistering heat at my back when Reed officially caught up with us. I’d lost him when I took off running at the sight of my dad’s truck.
“Taking care of my girl?” Dad asked Reed over my shoulder.
I could almost feel Reed’s brief nod. “We should talk.” It was the only thing he said. It was icy cold and serious. I knew what this talk was going to be about, and I had already prepared myself to tell Dad what happened. This was not going to be a fun talk. Thankfully, Reed was prepared to fill in the gaps, especially since I still couldn’t remember any of it.
Dad sensed the seriousness, pulling away from me. He gave me a once-over before giving a nod at Reed. “Let’s take it to the trailer.” Dad’s voice had gone 30 below, and I nearly shivered despite the 80-degree day.
Dad’s facewas like glass, his jaw clenched tight. I was worried he’d break a tooth with the way he was gritting them.
“Say something, Dad.”
Reed had just finished apprising Dad of all the details of the night—that I was drugged and almost abducted and assaulted. I clenched my hands in my lap while we sat in the fifth wheel.Dad and Reed sat across from each other at the table while I sat cross-legged on the couch.
Dad rubbed his new whiskers, before turning to look at me. His eyes were hard and angry, but I could tell he was trying to hold it together.
“You’re not to leave Reed’s side,” he finally said.
“Dad, I know. I just didn’t think?—”
“I know, darlin’. None of us would’ve thought any of this would’ve happened. You’re going to need to accept that you can’t handle this all on your own now. I know you. You’re strong and independent. You don’t take shit. I raised you to speak your mind and hold your own, but this feels like more than someone who’s just obsessed with you. He’s downright dangerous.”
I picked at my nails. “I know. I understand the seriousness.”
“Thank God we’re all going home after this rodeo. I’m ready to have you back on the ranch.”
“Me, too, Dad.” I was so ready to go home. We had Romy’s bachelorette party and then the Willows Rodeo. I was tired and emotionally drained, eager to be recharged by Oregon’s high desert. I needed Thornbrush more than Thornbrush needed me.
Dad pushed himself to his feet. “That’s all we’re going to say about this today. We have a race to win, and that’s our focus.” Spoken like a true rodeo dad.
I smiled at him, my eyes flitting to Reed, who was cracking his own slight smile as he looked at me. My heart did a silly little gallop, and I had to clear my throat before speaking.
“Let’s go make Prineville Rodeo my bitch.” I’d fake it if I had to.
15
lina
“Sage!” I cried, skipping and running into the arms of one of my best friends. “What are you doing here?”
“Kale told me what happened.” She held my shoulders, pushing me away from her to look at me. She was a sight for sore eyes, dressed in cutoff shorts that showed off her long, brown legs and a crop top that gave a peek of her belly button piercing. Her thick, curly, dark hair was piled into a messy bun, as usual. But her amber eyes were sad, and her signature red lips were turned down in a frown as she took me in from head to toe, making sure I was all in one piece. “Are you okay?”
“I’m fine. We’re good,” I told her, but I don’t think I was convincing anyone, at this point. I was only trying to convince myself. “Come on, we need to celebrate my win.” Better just to brush it off, enjoy my friends and family, and get a nice little buzz to take the edge off.
I pulled her with me across the sticky wood floors of The Watering Hole, the dirtiest little rodeo bar this side of the Rockies, in Prineville, Oregon. It was as old as the earliest pioneers who’d settled here. Pretty sure the floor still held the dirt of the first cowboys who stomped through. There was evenan antique cash register the size of a barrel atop the worn bartop that still clanged when you pulled the lever, just as it had a hundred years ago. The night was still young and the crowd had yet to fill the tiny space, allowing the ancient stereo system to rattle the walls with classic country.
Looking over my shoulder, I checked to see if Dad and Reed still trailed behind me. I was concerned that maybe it wasn’t okay for Reed to come into the bar with us, but he was a big boy and could make his own decisions on that. Right? He had so far. He was just doing a job, right?
Christian and Kale were already at the bar, and we stepped up to join them.
“Did you see how I jumped off that fucker?” Christian asked Sage when we reached them, his eyes shining hopefully at her like a child seeking praise.
Sage barely glanced at him. “Yeah, you’re lucky you didn’t get a horn in your ass.” She turned to the approaching bartender. “Pilsner, please.”
“Make that six,” Kale jumped in, ordering for us.
“Oh, bottle, please,” I added quickly. We could never be too safe. Especially now. I glanced back over at Reed, who settled at a table with Dad, remembering what he told me about how many days he’d been sober. Was that accurate? My chest tightened at the thought, and I cleared my throat in an attempt to stuff the feeling way down deep. “Actually, make that five. He’ll have a Coke.” I shot a thumb over my shoulder.
The bartender nodded, heading to the cooler.
