AllFreeNovel
Share Us
I was about to tell her no with the excuse that I was exhausted, but when I opened my mouth, the words, “Sure, I’ll watch it with you,” came out instead.
Lincoln smiled and stood. “I’ll grab my laptop.” She walked out of the room, only to return in seconds. “I have to say, when Hunter told his father and me about this show, I thought it would be good for him.”
“Why do you say that?” I asked.
Setting the laptop on the kitchen island, she shrugged. “Hunter has always had this idea that he wasn’t the type of guy to settle down, at least not anytime soon.”
“Why?” I asked before I finished off the cookie.
“I think it’s because he’s always been so focused on making it as a team roper. His father and I had insisted he go to college, though. Brock had entered the PBR so young in life, and although he has no regrets, he didn’t want that life for his two sons. He wanted them to always have an option, especially if they weren’t interested in running the ranch.”
“Hunter seems to love the ranch, but he doesn’t talk a lot about roping. At least not when we’ve spent time together. Or on the show, now that I think about it.”
“Roping was Hunter’s passion, like bull riding was his father’s. The past two years, though, I’ve seen his love for the ranch grow, and I’m not so sure being on the rodeo circuit is his dream anymore.”
“I feel like there’s a ‘but’ in there.”
She chuckled. “Brock thinks Hunter feels like he has to prove something to him. That he can be the best at something. He can bull ride, and is good at it, but I think he likes his handsome face too much for that career path.”
I laughed. “He does have a rather handsome face.”
My cheeks instantly heated as Lincoln smiled at me. “You can admit he’s handsome without it meaning something, Kipton.”
I simply nodded.
Lincoln stared at the computer before she looked at me again. “I’m not entirely sure what Hunter’s passion is. He loves team roping. He loves the ranch. But to me he seems…lost. As his mother, of course I feel a need to fix it, even if I don’t know what the it is. When he told us about this show, I guess a part of me was hoping he might find someone. Until I watched all those girls introduce themselves, and it seemed like they’re after one thing. Maybe two.”
I tilted my head and regarded her. “What’s that?”
Her eyes met mine, and I could see the sadness in them, and my heart felt like someone had reached into my chest and squeezed it. “Money and fifteen minutes of fame, at the expense of my son.”
I reached for her hand. “I think the only reason Hunter agreed to do this was to help out his father’s nonprofit. It’s the same reason I agreed to do it. I want to give the money to my parents to help them pay off some debts.”
“That’s so sweet of you, Kipton. Your parents are both so lovely.”
I sighed. “They’ve given up so much for me, it’s the least I can do. I hope to lift some of the stress they’re under.”
Lincoln put her other hand over my own. “You’re doing an amazing job, even if you hate doing the show.”
“Is it that obvious?” I asked, laughing.
“No,” she replied. “Hunter told me why you were doing it, and that you had huge reservations as well. But I think you’re both doing great, and I have a feeling by doing this show, it will change your life. For the better.”
“I hope so,” I said quietly before I turned my gaze to her computer.
Lincoln pulled up the now-recorded video of Hunter in the Truth Booth. When he appeared on the screen, I ignored the way my heart tripped over itself.
“Today’s date… Lord, where do I begin? I thought it would be fun to go for a ride and show Sarah the ranch. I love this place. It’s in my blood, and someday I hope to be working alongside my brother helping to run it. When Sarah showed zero interest in hearing about it—while attempting to stay on top of her horse—I knew things weren’t going to work between us. I said when I started this journey that I’d be truthful to each of the women, at all times. Some might think it was cruel of me to tell Sarah I felt no connection at the end of the date, but why string her along if I know that’s the truth?”
He looked away for the longest time before he let out a humorless laugh. Turning back to the camera, he said, “I guess it’s on to the next date.” He reached up and swiped the little device in the booth to the left. He exhaled, then stood and walked out of the room before the camera faded to black.
“He looks so tired, and it’s only the beginning of the show,” Lincoln said. “He has…what? Eighteen more girls?”
I nodded.
Lincoln looked at me and grinned. “Should we watch Sarah’s Truth Booth?”
I couldn’t help but giggle. “I think we need to now!”
