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“Yeah? Hey, thanks, Duke. I miss hangin’ out there. I sure am glad it was you I met at the dealership that day I wandered in.”
“Strictly speaking I don’t actually work there. You just happened to walk in when everyone was in a meeting and my dad asked me to man the showroom.”
“Then I guess I got lucky. My truck’s like a new one. You’d never know it was used.”
“Maybe you’ll get lucky in love as well,” Duke exclaimed with a grin. “Lacey likes big bad boys like you.”
“Me? A bad boy?” John repeated with a chuckle as they left the table and headed to the grandstand.
“Sure. You’ve got those tattoos, and you look like you pump iron all the time.”
“I do, it’s a hobby. You should come over to my ranch. I’ll get you started.”
“I might just take you up on that.”
As they started climbing up the steps to find seats, John could scarcely believe it. Moneybags Duke Elwood wanted to be his friend! Though John still felt bad about the fight with his cousin, it appeared to be turning into a blessing.
* * *
Under Tammy’s watchful eye, Bailey had rehearsed a few of her stunts with Miss Piggy. Things went so smoothly it was as if they’d never stopped. With the bull riding about to start, and Miss Piggy back in her stall happily munching hay, Rick and Bailey hurried to the grandstand. But as they approached Rick paused his step and stared at the crowd..
“It’s packed. All the good seats will be taken,” he remarked. “I have an idea. There’s a place near the chutes.”
“We can watch from the chutes?”
“I can, and you’re with me,” he replied, taking her hand and leading her back to the livestock area.
“I hope it’s safe from those bulls.”
“If one of them gets too close I’ll just jump on and ride him away.”
As she laughed out loud, he smiled down at her and put his arm around her shoulders. Beaming up at him, a wave of emotion flooded her heart. She’d almost forgotten what it was like to be happy.
From the moment she’d stood staring at the empty field and realizing Miss Piggy was gone, there had been nothing in her life except a constant painful knot in her stomach, and the desperate search to find her. Against all the odds, and everyone telling her it was impossible, she’d finally succeeded.
She could breathe again, and laugh, and bask in the glow of a man’s attention.
“Is it much further?” she asked as he guided her through the labyrinth of pens and workers. “Exactly where are you taking me?”
“There,” he replied, pointing to a row of pickup trucks backed up against the arena rail. “It’s where the handlers and grounds people park. Hold on.”
She watched him lift his phone and send a text. The reply took only a few seconds, and he dropped it back into his pocket.
“We can use the blue one closest to us. There are even a couple of fold out seats.”
“Wow, this is so cool,” she exclaimed as they hurried to the truck and lowered the tailgate.
Rick climbed in first, then helped her up. They were soon sitting comfortably with an unobstructed view of the ring, and the stands on the opposite side. But looking around, Bailey didn’t see any other spectators.
“Rick, is this allowed?”
“Not exactly, but no-one cares, not unless there are too many people. Even if one of the managers sees us and decides to do something about it, all they’ll do is ask us to leave. We won’t get thrown off the grounds.”
“This is so much fun. I love breaking the rules.”
“What a surprise,” he retorted with a grin. “Don’t you know what happens to naughty girls who don’t do as they’re told?”
“I don’t know about other girls, but nothing will happen to me.”
