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Several of the cowboys occupy the other benches with friends and family members, but I’ve barely been sitting a full minute, drinking it all in when a shadow overtakes me.
“Hello, little lady.”
The greeting alone gives me the creeps. Who talks like that? My head cocks back, and I peer up at a lean, leering man of no more than twenty-one. “Mind if I join you?”
I smell the beer on him and wrinkle my nose. “Actually, I’m waiting for someone,” I say curtly.
“Sure you are,” he snickers. “That’s what they all say.”
My eyebrow shoots up. “All?”
He sits, anyway, way too close for my liking. I scoot back.
He moves closer, putting his hands on my knee. “Hey, I don’t bite. Don’t you know who I am?”
“No,” I snap, moving to stand. “And I don’t like being touched by strangers.”
“I’m not gonna be a stranger if you just sit a minute. What’s your name?”
His hand reaches out to grab my wrist before I can pull my other leg from under the table, and I whip my head around to look for Hudson. I didn’t see what direction he went for food, and the line of trucks is long.
“Stop it!” I growl, trying to yank my arm back. I don’t want to make a scene, not when the day was going so well.
“Just sit down and talk to me. Don’t be such a stuck-up bitch. All you city girls, too good for us, huh?” He doesn’t lose his smile, which makes him all the more terrifying. Suddenly, I’m not sure I can get myself loose.
“Please get your hands off me. I’m here with Hudson Walker,” I tell him coldly.
He laughs so loudly, the other tables look at us.
“That old man? Honey, he ain’t got a chance in hell of winning this year. You should stick with a champion.”
“Let me go!” Panic laces my voice now, and he finally loses his smile as he stands to face me.
“No one says no to Ru Castle,” he spits, his face inches from mine.
“I think I just did.” My heart thuds furiously, but before Ru can respond, his body is whirled around, and a single punch sends him sprawling over the picnic table. The crowd around us gasps as Hudson towers over him, his slate eyes blazing.
“I heard the lady saying ‘no’ from all the way back there. Something wrong with your hearing, Castle?” Hudson hisses, rounding up for another punch.
“Fuck you, Walker!” Ru yelps, scrambling off the table. “And your ugly whore.”
I roll my eyes, but Hudson doesn’t let the insult go unaccounted, and before Ru can escape, another blow lands on his opposite cheek.
“Apologize to Rose,” Hudson snarls.
Blood rushes through me, a part of me wanting to stop the assault, but another part of me enjoys that Ru got what was coming to him.
“Fuck you!” Ru whimpers again, tears filling his eyes. Hudson advances on him, knuckles bloodied, and Ru throws up his hands to cover his face. “All right! I’m sorry! Fuck!”
Hudson glances at me, and I shake my head. “It’s fine, Hud. Leave him be.”
“You’re lucky, you lowlife fucker. She’s much more forgiving than I am.”
He lowers his arm and turns to me, the concern on his face palpable.
“Are you okay?” he asks gruffly, looking me over for signs of damage.
I nod, unable to find my voice in the wake of what had just happened. I’ve never had anyone stand up for me like that before, and it sends a rush of conflicting emotions through me.
