Page 108

“Yeah, but you’re thinking it,” he says, confident because he always knows.

“It’s just going to take some getting used to, dating a celebrity and all,” I laugh.

“Yeah, yeah,” he says. “I’m sure you’ll find lots of ways to keep me humble.”

I turn to him. “I’m not sure I will.”

He looks like he wants to say something, but Mrs. McManus starts tapping the microphone so loudly it draws the attention of everyone in the arena. “Ladies and—oh! This is loud. Can we turn me down?” She looks at whoever is running the sound. “Turn me down, Lance?” She waits a beat, then says, “Better? Is that . . .” Another pointed look at poor Lance.

“Okay, there. That’s better. Whoo! Okay!” She giggles, and I feel the collective amusement of the crowd, made up of people who know Mrs. McManus and would expect nothing other than this. She’s always been a wacky one.

“Ladies and gentleman! We are so excited to welcome you to the Silverwood Junior Rodeo!” She motions for people to applaud, but the crowd reacts half-heartedly.

“Well, that was a very disappointing response,” she says. “Oh, but I bet I know what’ll get you all up on your feet!” She draws in a dramatic breath. “Did you know that we have a celebrity in our midst?”

“Oh, no,” Noble practically growls.

A few people seated nearby turn toward us. Noble shifts his hat, like it has a prayer of hiding him in this crowd. I bump his shoulder with mine, feeling actual pride to be beside him.

It’s unexpected, but that’s what it is.

“That’s right, our very own hometown hero and rodeo World Champion, Noble Kane, is here in the stands! Noble, come on down here!” She starts a round of applause, motioning for him to join her on the small stage at the edge of the large pen.

“Oh man,” Noble says.

“Yoohoo, Noble! I saw you come in!” She’s searching the crowd, hand in a salute over her eyes to block the sun. “Where are you? Come on down!”

I laugh. “You know you’re not getting out of this.”

The crowd starts to cheer, and after visible hesitation, Noble stands. He lifts his hat off his head and gives a wave, and the crowd cheers again. Even the nervous junior competitors are applauding and cheering.

“Get down here, Mr. Kane!” Mrs. McManus calls out.

I stand. “I’ll save your seat, Mr. Celebrity.”

He shoots me a look, and I pump my eyebrows, patting him on the shoulder as he takes off in the direction of the stage.

The crowd starts to still as Noble reaches Mrs. McManus. “Let’s get a few photos, can we?” she says to a guy there with a camera, as if she’s not speaking into a microphone.

Then, she turns back to the crowd. “Ladies and gentlemen, I just want to let you know that our hometown hero made a very large donation to our beloved Silverwood High School, which means he catapulted us right over our goal.”

There are cheers and applause, and I study Noble to try and determine if this is making him as uncomfortable as I think it is. He seems a little shy, and when Mrs. McManus hands him the microphone, he graciously turns the attention back to the reason we’re all here—the kids. He wishes them luck and hands the mic back, but as he exits the little stage, I notice he doesn’t come back up to the stands.

He walks over to where Cody’s standing, getting ready to ride. He puts a hand on the kid’s shoulder and leans in, and I wish I could hear what advice he was giving.

“Never thought I’d see Noble Kane back in Silverwood.” A woman’s voice catches my attention, and I feel my face flush. I force myself not to turn and look, but I’m not above eavesdropping. We are in public, after all.

“I heard he went into the hardware store and paid Walt for some tools he stole years ago,” the woman says.

“He did,” another woman says. “Walt told me himself. He also spent a whole afternoon out at Dan Mitchell’s place.”

“Oh, was it Noble who broke that fence? That was ages ago. Took days to round up Dan’s herd.”

“They never did find all of them.”

There’s a pause, and I study Noble from where I’m sitting. Noble never mentioned either of those things, but my mind fills in gaps of time where he wasn’t around the lodge. He’s moved over in front of the chute along with several other men, all dressed in jeans, button downs, boots, and cowboy hats. Carbon copies of each other.

To me, Noble stands out. Somehow, he’s shinier than everyone else.