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“And why is that?”
“I’m too smart to get caught, and even if I was, I’m really good at talking my way out of things.”
“Is that right? Well, Miss Bailey Martin, when we get back to my motor home—”
But the announcer’s loud voice introduced the first competitor, cutting him off.
“Finish what you were saying. When we get back to your motorhome—what?”
“You’ll find out.”
“You can’t leave me hanging.”
“I just did,” he replied with a wink.
Before she could respond a bull suddenly bucked out of the chute and Rick jerked his head around to watch. But feeling a tingling thrill rippling through her body, and an unexpected, warm flood between her legs, she couldn’t take her eyes off the handsome cowboy sitting next to her.
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
The exciting event was in full swing and thrilling the audience. No-one had yet beaten Rick’s impressive score, though one rider had come close with an eighty-two. When Duke reached into his pocket and pulled out a pair of folding binoculars, Big John assumed it was to watch the next ride, but Duke peered across the arena.
“Jeez,” Duke grunted, lowering them down. “I need another beer. No, a whisky would do it.”
Squinting, John stared towards the livestock pens on the opposite side of the ring, but saw nothing out of the ordinary.
“You wanna fill me in, Duke?” he asked as the latest bull rider was dumped and the crowed quieted down.
“Take these and look across the ring at those parked trucks,” Duke said, handing John the field glasses. “You’ll see a couple sitting in the back of one of them.”
Raising the binoculars, John had to swallow the cry that almost escaped his lips. It was the girl he’d seen lunging the bay mare in the small arena by the barns. The same bay mare taken from his field.
“Do you see them?” Duke asked urgently. “She’s in a pink shirt with rhinestones.”
“Yeah, I’m lookin’ right at her,” John replied, trying to keep his voice calm though his heart was racing. “Who is she?”
“Bailey Martin. We went out a couple of times, then she got all weird on me.”
“Who’s the cowboy?”
“You don’t know?”
“Should I?”
“Yeah, if you follow the tour, or even this show. He’s the guy who scored an eighty-six yesterday. Rick Campbell.”
“I don’t follow rodeos much,” John replied, finally lowering the binoculars.
“He’s a rising star country-wide, and the odds on favorite to win the championship this year. He and I had words outside The Tavern the other day.”
“Because…?” John pressed, wanting to know as much as he could about both Rick and the girl.
“Bailey was there and I wanted to talk to her, but he stepped in and played the hero.”
“Ah, I see.”
“She’s the reason I want to go to The Tavern tonight. I was hoping to run into her. I don’t like the way we left things. But if they’re seeing each other maybe I should stay away.”
“Bullshit,” John exclaimed, causing a few heads to turn in his direction. “If you wanna talk to her, then do it!”
