Page 31 of September’s Cowboy Travis

“You've met Ruby. This shouldn't shock you.” I laughed and brought the truck back up to speed.

The rodeo grounds were already filling when we pulled in. Horse trailers lined the back lot. Contestants moved between rigs with tack over their shoulders while volunteers hauled coolers toward the concession stands. Somebody tested the announcer's microphone and sent a blast of feedback across the grounds that made three tied horses throw up their heads.

Kaycee's car was exactly where she'd left it. So was Ruby's truck two rows over.

I parked next to Kaycee's car and shut off the engine. Two committee volunteers crossed the lot in front of us. One looked at my truck, looked at Kaycee in the passenger seat, then leaned closer to the guy beside him.

Kaycee caught me watching. “You're doing it again.”

“Doing what?”

“Checking who's looking.”

“I'm not checking.”

She waited.

“Fine. I noticed.”

“I meant what I said last night.” Before I could answer, she leaned over the console and kissed me.

It wasn't long enough to cause a scene. But it was long enough that the two volunteers definitely saw it.

Kaycee pulled away and reached for the door handle.

I caught her wrist. “You know that didn't exactly help with the talking.”

“I know.” She smiled and climbed out.

I stayed behind the wheel long enough to watch her cross to her car and grab the bag she'd left inside. She didn't look around to see who'd noticed. Didn't act like she'd done anything she needed to explain.

I turned the key and moved my truck over by the contestant rigs.

The Labor Day crowd was the biggest we'd had all weekend. By the time I got Bandit saddled and worked my way toward the contestant area, the grandstands were filling and the smell of burgers and onions drifted over from the food vendors. Kids leaned against the fence hoping somebody would stop for a picture, and Jace moved around the back pens with a radio in one hand and the look of a man who'd already put in a twelve-hour day.

I helped move a steer into the right holding pen, checked my draw, then walked Bandit toward the warm-up area.

Normally the last half hour before a run was easy. I thought about the steer and watched how the cattle were breaking out of the box. If one leaned left, I wanted to know it. If the ground near the line had gotten loose, I wanted to know that too.

But this morning, I kept looking toward the rail.

I found Kaycee standing next to Addison near the grandstand. Addison was talking while Kaycee watched one of the earlier runs, her glasses pushed up on top of her head to get them out of the way.

Then she looked toward the warm-up area and found me. She lifted her hand in a wave.

I nodded, then shifted my grip on the reins and turned Bandit toward the box.

The steer broke clean. Bandit came out hard as soon as the barrier released. I let him make up the ground, got even with the steer, then reached and came off the horse with my right hand on the horn.

My boots hit dirt. I caught the other horn, turned the steer's head, and used his forward motion instead of trying to muscle him backward. He rolled onto his side, and I let go before pushing to my feet.

The announcer called the time. Good enough for first. At least for now.

I brushed dirt from my jeans and reached for Bandit's reins, but my eyes went to the rail first.

Kaycee was standing. Her hands were cupped around her mouth.

I grinned.