“Hey.” Adam had been standing right next to Merry Anna that whole time, but he acted as if he hadn’t really noticed that it was her until that moment. “Good to see you. I didn’t know you were a rodeo fan.”
She didn’t want him to think she’d come to see him. “I’m not. Ginger invited me to join them tonight.”
His eyes narrowed. “What’d you think?”
“Well, it was terrifying,” she said. “Exciting. Scary. Frankly, I’m glad it’s over.”
“Me too,” Adam said.
“Then why do you do it?”
“I didn’t say I didn’t like it.” His smile was broad. “That’s a topic for when we have time for a much longer explanation.”
She could only imagine what the story would be.
“Hey, Adam, we need you over here,” one of the bullfighters called from inside the arena. “There’s a reporter who wants to talk to you.”
“Thanks, man.” Adam turned back to them. “Sorry, I gotta run. I’m glad y’all were here. Thanks for coming, and, Merry Anna, I’m glad you came too.” He waved as he trotted off, knocking the dust from his black cowboy hat and rounding the panels.
Ginger smiled as she watched Roger jog over to Adam, and then she turned back to Merry Anna. “I’m going to go over and grab a few T-shirts for the kids. You want to wait here or come along?”
“I’ll wait here with all your stuff so you don’t have to drag it around.”
“That would be awesome. Thanks.” Ginger had one kid onher hip and a train of three others like little ducklings behind her as they wove through the crowd in the opposite direction of everyone else.
“Hey there,” an attractive blond woman wearing a cowboy hat said from nearby.
Merry Anna hadn’t even noticed her walk up. “Hi. Oh, did you need to get by?”
She smiled. “No, I’m not in a hurry. I saw you talking to that guy a minute ago.” She pointed straight toward Adam. “The one who rode Shotgun Shiloh. You know him?”
“Yeah. Sort of.”
“He looks like someone I used to know from back home in Indiana.”
“Must be someone else. He’s from Antler Creek.”
“Oh, well I guess all cowboys look pretty much the same under those big hats.” The woman walked off without another word.
Ginger came back over. “Who was that?”
“I don’t know. She didn’t say. She thought Adam was someone else.”
“Sure she did. She was probably feeling you out to see if y’all were an item.”
“I doubt that.” But for a brief moment, she wondered what it might be like to be the one who had his attention.
“I’ve got a million stories from when Roger used to rodeo.” Ginger thumbed toward where her husband was standing. “I’d never say it to him, but I’m so thankful he had to give it up. They wouldn’t allow him to ride anymore after his last wreck. It was bad, but now I have my husband back. I’m so grateful for that.” Ginger gathered the cushions and all the things they’d toted from the car.
“That sounds like a long story.” Merry Anna grabbed a canvas bag and slung it over her arm. “Load me up.”
“It is too long to tell. Want to carry the tote bag or this little guy?” Ginger bounced the baby on her hip.
“No, I’ll let you do that. If I drop a blanket, at least it won’t cry.”
“You’re not scared of a little baby, now, are you?”
Merry Anna wasn’t teasing when she said, “I might rather try that mutton busting.”
