He’d been red as a tomato when telling Lennox to put herself first, and how much he hated that she’d even considered walking away before doing everything she wanted to do. “Rodeo’s a fast sport, bug,” he’d told her. “Gotta grab the bull by the horns while you still can.”
The next time the WPRA called, Lennox told them she’d see them at the Calgary qualifier in Salina, and then she won the damn thing. I hated that I couldn’t be there to cheer her on, but I didn’t doubt her abilities for a moment. She had what it took to compete with the best of the best and now she was proving it.
There was no way I was going to miss the Calgary Stampede, though. Not when I knew what it had meant to her. It was the first time asking for help had been easy. Doug and Lincoln both cleared their schedules to make sure they could cover for us while we were out.
When Lennox told me she wanted to travel, I was worried I’d hold her back. The life of a rancher didn’t leave a lot of time for lavish European vacations, and she’d sounded so damn happy when she talked about it. I’d barely been out of state, let alone the country, but Calgary seemed like a good place to start.
“Oh my god. Summers here are so much better than Texas,”Cleo said, happily sipping a beer by my side. She tipped her head up toward the sun, basking in the spring-like weather.
“I’m glad you’re enjoying yourself, but can you put the phone in the holder already? You’re making me nauseous with all your shaking,” Josie asked, her shaky voice coming through the earbud I was sharing with Cleo.
“Oops, sorry,” Cleo said. She sat her phone in the small tripod we’d brought along so that her family could watch from home. Thank fuck for technology.
Since she was on summer break, Cleo was the only one who’d been able to tag along. Doug wasn’t cleared for a thirty-hour car ride to Canada and Josie’s due date fell right in the middle of the trip. Ruby and Lincoln stayed behind to take care of everyone while we were gone.
“There she is!” Cleo exclaimed, pointing toward the alley between the chutes.
Lennox’s black hat was pulled down, so I couldn’t make out her face but the hot pink long sleeve she was wearing stood out against the darkness. Strider pranced at the starting line, champing at the damn bit for his rider to let him run.
She ran her hand over his neck in three slow strokes, ending the last on a final pat. Her chin lifted just a fraction, but her eyes seemed set on the targets in front of her. I loved seeing that side of her. The laser sharp focus. The sheer determination.
For so long I’d made the mistake of thinking she was just a good time girl, the kind that didn’t take much seriously and laughed their way through life without so much as a care in the world, but I was so fucking wrong. Shame was my best friend whenever I remembered the way I’d dismissed her, but I was dead set on making it up to her.
Even if it took the rest of my life.
The moment Lennox gave him the greenlight, Strider took off at a run, veering toward the left at a staggering speed. She guided the Quarter Horse with expert precision, keeping herselflow in the saddle. He hugged the first barrel without so much as a bump and took off for the second. Clouds of dust kicked up behind his thundering hooves with each long stride, and at one point I’d lost sight of them completely.
“Come on, killer. Come on!” I yelled as they cleared the second. I glanced at the clock. Their time was neck-and-neck with the last racer who crossed at 14.237. Whoever had the fastest time would take it all, and I wanted that for her. I wanted her to feel fulfilled. To not wonder what she could’ve done when she’d had the chance.
As they rounded the third barrel, Lennox urged Strider into a dead run for home. I couldn’t breathe, couldn’t think, as I watched them fly. Even the crowd seemed to hold their collective breaths as the pair crossed the line.
14.224 flashed across the screen and the entire stadium went wild.
Cleo jumped up and down, grabbing the phone from its stand. “Did y’all see that?” she screamed. “She won! She won! She fucking won!”
I could barely make out the sound of Doug’s tearful chuckle over the line as Cleo and I celebrated. “That’s our girl.”
“We’ll call you when we’re down there, Daddy!” Cleo said quickly. She didn’t even wait for a reply as she grabbed our things. Beer sloshed over the rim of her cup and onto my boot. Normally, I would’ve cared but today I didn’t. Not when I was so goddamned happy.
“There she is!”Cleo sang as we clocked Lennox across the back lot.
Lennox was standing near Strider at her table, talking to two men in cowboy hats. One was around Lennox’s age and theother was older. I’d wager a father and son. Each of them smiled down at her like she was a million fucking bucks. Not that I blamed them, because to me she was, but I’d be a damn liar if I said my hackles weren’t raised just a smidge.
Now that Lennox was mine, I didn’t get as jealous as I used to. There was no point in it. She was my girl, and she’d be coming on my fingers, my tongue, and my cock later tonight. There wasn’t a motherfucker here that could change that.
Cleo yelled her sister’s name, and Lennox turned over her shoulder. Our eyes locked and her lips curled into the biggest smile. The sight sent my heart into overdrive, and I let adrenaline take over. I picked up my pace, jogging behind Cleo as she bounded toward her sister.
“We’d love if you considered joining our pro team,” one of them said, giving a tentative nod at our approach. “I know we talked about it before your hiatus, but?—"
Lennox, as cool as ever, gave them her megawatt smile. “I appreciate the offer, but I’m taking on responsibilities around the ranch, what with my dad’s retirement and all. This was the last thing on my rodeo bucket list to cross off before I hang up my hat.”
The younger one frowned. “You’re not seriously talking about throwing away this kinda money, are you?”
The older of the two patted the other on his shoulder. “Pay no mind to my son,” he said, giving a soft chuckle. “He don’t quite understand the allure of ranch life like some people. It’s all flashy lights and pretty smiles for him.”
The son mumbled something under his breath, but Lennox paid no mind. “If you’d told me two years ago I’d be walking away, I’d probably have told you the same thing.”
“Who’s taking over at Black Springs now? I heard Doug has some new buck on the training, but I’ve done business with your dad on the cattle side of things for longer than I care to admit.”
