AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Battle descends the stairs. “What’s goin’ on here? You look worried.” Austin tenses and steps away from me.
He turns to Austin and I shake my head, urging Austin not to say anything. There’s enough animosity between Tucker and Battle. The last thing I want to do is add to it.
“Nothin’. I’m fine. Austin and I were just chattin’, and I felt a little dizzy. The heat must be gettin’ to me.”
Doubt creeps over his expression, but he lets it go. “Can I get you anything?” he asks.
“Some water would be good.”
Battle goes back into the motorhome to get me a bottle of water. I wait until the door closes and thank Austin for not saying anything.
“Faye, I want you to know that crap Tucker said about Battle ain’t true.”
I want to believe him, but uncertainty swirls around in my thoughts, stirring memories of things Battle has said. “I know,” is all I can say, and it isn’t convincing because I can’t even look at him.
“Battle and I have been friends since we were fourteen-years-old. I ain’t ever seen him with a woman like he is with you. If he didn’t have feelins’ for you, you wouldn’t be here. I promise you that.”
His words bring on a smile as my heart bursts with emotion.
Battle comes through the door with my water. “Time for registration,” he says, handing me the bottle. “You wanna walk wi
th me?”
“I’ll go with Coop and Tuck,” Austin excuses himself, nodding toward the back of the motorhome.
I sip my water as Battle and I walk through the parking lot.
“How’s your mom?” I ask.
“Good, but no luck on a hotel. Besides the Rodeo, there’s some national youth soccer championship goin’ on and they’re all booked.”
That was the last thing I wanted to hear after my encounter with Tucker. I can’t share my thoughts with Battle without telling him what happened. “That’s okay.”
“No. It’s not." He stops walking and stares at me. “I’m sorry. I didn’t think this through. There are times I’ll have to leave you alone, and ...”
“It’s fine.”
“It would be if Tucker weren’t around. I want you to stay away from him.”
“I will,” I promise, knowing I would be steering clear of Tucker without his warning. The man’s full of envy and jealousy that makes his temper unpredictable. Knowing I’m his target to get back at Battle scares me.
Battle checks in, which is more uneventful than I expected. He literally signs a piece of paper, and he’s done. On our way back to the motorhome, I learn there’s a contestants meeting in an hour where they’ll draw bulls, and the actual riding starts at six.
I’m relieved when we return to the motorhome and the guys aren’t there. Battle makes us lunch before going to the contestants meeting. While he’s gone, I sit outside in one of the chairs reading a book when my phones rings.
Dad
If I don’t answer, he’ll keep calling.
“Hi, Daddy.”
“I don’t appreciate you puttin’ me off,” he says in that same controlled, even voice he’s used since I was a kid.
“I wasn’t puttin’ you off,” I lie. “There hasn’t been a good time to call.”
“That man you rode off with is irresponsible, and dangerous. I want you to stay away from him.”
“You don’t know Battle.”
