Page 60 of The Wilder Widows

She wasn’t wrong. That bull, the one we thought had it in for her, had defended her against an attack.

“We have to do something. Please.” Pleading eyes searched through us.

“Oh, Christ.” Alice blew a breath. “Stay put. I’ll be right back.”

“What are you doing?” I called after her as she trotted away.

“Just stay put!”

We waited for an hour and watched the bulls tearing after the runners. Some successfully dodging the charges, while others took a ride through the air or felt the horns tear through their skin when they didn’t get out of the way in time. And El Diablo reigned his fury down on them all. One after another, he sent bodies flying through the air. His pride apparent after every hit. He trotted past us, slowing down while bending his neck and locking eyes with Doris as he went past.

“He can’t die,” she cried as he trotted back out to charge another taunter.

“He won’t,” Alice said, and we all spun around to see her standing behind us. “I just bought a fucking bull. And even with my skills, he cost me more money than a Mercedes.”

“What?” I choked on the word. “You bought him?”

“Alice!” Doris clasped her hands over her mouth. “You saved him? Did you really save him?”

“He’s safe. He’ll be kept in the stables tonight, and I have a month to figure out where we’re sending him to live out his days in pasture.”

“Oh, Alice!” Doris flung her arms around her neck, holding her tight. “You do have a heart! A huge one! I knew it!”

Stifling her smile, Alice hugged her back. “Don’t tell anyone. Don’t need people knowing I’ve got a soft side.”

“You are amazing, Alice,” Sylvie said. “A beautiful, talented, kind woman... who owns a fighting bull.”

“I own a fighting bull. What the hell did I just do?”

“You did a wonderful thing, Alice,” I said. “You did it for Doris.”

“And for El Diablo,” she said, looking out at him as he knelt on a runner, grinding him into the sand. “He deserves a second chance... just like us.”

“To second chances.” Sylvie slung her arm over Alice’s shoulder, and we folded into a group hug.

“So, now what? Looks like we have one wish left.”

“Give me the basket.” I stepped out of our embrace, cracking my knuckles while Alice leaned over the edge of the railing and grabbed her purse from the basket of my moped. We held onto her feet and pulled as she struggled to slide back over.

El Diablo tore at us, skidding to a stop just as Alice made it over the edge.

“Easy there, tiger. I haven’t paid for you yet, so if you kill me, you’re toast yourself!” She laughed, shaking her finger at him. His nostrils flared, and my gaze traced the long scar along his face up to a fierce pair of eyes I was grateful wouldn’t be lifeless tonight.

“Ready?” Alice asked, lifting the lid of the basket.

With a nod, I reached inside and pulled out the last wish. Sylvie’s wish.

When I read it, I smiled. “Well, this I think I can get behind.”

“What are we doing?” Doris asked.

Sylvie smiled and took the note. “I used to ride horses when I was a kid. And I always had dreams of going out west to a dude ranch.”

Alice groaned. “Oh no. Please say we aren’t—”

I cut her off, grinning wide. “We’re going to a dude ranch!”

SYLVIE