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Blythe heard that part, and Lyric was right. She felt as though she’d finally found the thing she was supposed to do, and she’d just gotten started.
“Shouldn’t tell ya this,” Billy said to Jace who was getting ready to head to the chutes.
“Yeah? But you’re gonna anyway?”
“Blythe’s here.”
Jace scowled. “You shouldn’t have told me, Billy.”
“God, who am I? I don’t even know why I did.” Billy scratched his head. “I saw her a couple hours ago, and I wasn’t gonna tell you, but you rode pretty damn good last night. Thought it might help to know she’s watchin’.”
Would it? Did his ride last night have anything to do with her, or was he determined to do the best he could tonight because he was so pissed off at her and Tucker?
He looked over to see if his brother was still in the box. He was, and it looked like he was sketching. Probably Blythe, but at least he hadn’t gone chasing after her.
“Ready?” Billy asked.
“As I’ll ever be.” He lowered himself on the bronc he’d drawn for tonight’s ride, got himself as settled as he could on an animal who couldn’t wait to get him the hell off his back, and nodded to the guys pulling the chute open that he was ready.
Eight seconds later, Jace finished another good ride. His scores were low, but at least he didn’t buck off.
Billy rode great, a few minutes later, and was still sitting in first place at the end of the night.
“I can’t believe you’re gonna retire,” Jace said when they were putting away their gear.
“It’s time. Not gettin’ any younger.”
“You could’ve ridden the bronc you drew tonight, in your sleep.”
Billy shook his head.
“Is Irene pressuring you to quit?”
Billy stopped what he was doing and turned to face Jace. “If you think she’d do that, then you don’t know her at all.”
Yeah, he thought. That really didn’t sound like her. Or like Billy. If he was retiring, it was his decision and no one else’s.
“We’re goin’ to the Grizzly Rose after. Wanna come?”
Blythe shot Lyric a glare when she heard her invite Renie out with them.
“I don’t think Blythe wants me to go,” laughed Renie.
“It isn’t that. If you go, so will Billy, and then Jace and Tucker will come along, and…”
“Tucker said they’re backing off.”
“He told you that?”
“Yep,” Renie confirmed. “In fact, he told me to tell you so if I saw you.”
Interesting. Well, she did disappear last night. As Lyric said, be careful what you wish for.
“Well, then, sure. Come along with us. If they’re gonna leave me alone, then I don’t care whether they come or not.”
Renie and Lyric both raised their eyebrows.
“I’m serious. They’re too much drama.”
