Her Rodeo Cowboy (12 page)

 

Montana's adrenaline was flowing like Niagara Falls when she hopped from her horse. She'd known,
coming around the last barrel, that they'd done well. Her determined sweetheart of a horse had plunged forward with all the power he possessed, and laid it all out there as he raced for the time.

The instant she was out of the alley and clear of the other riders, she leaned forward and hugged Murdock's neck. “You did great!” If they lost tonight, it would be because someone else rode exceptionally well and deserved to win. Several other riders congratulated her on a good ride. She locked her arms around Murdock's neck and buried her face in his mane. Fighting to control her emotions, she said a prayer and praised God. They hadn't announced it yet, but she knew this had been the ride of a lifetime.

And all because of God and this amazing animal. “Thank you for not giving up on me,” she whispered, talking to Murdock and God at the same time.

“Hey, cowgirl, good ride.”

The sound of Luke's voice sent a thrill racing through Montana. She turned to find him smiling down at her. “Thanks! Did you see him?” she exclaimed, beaming from the inside out, so proud of Murdock she could burst. “What a champion. Murdock came through with flying colors.” She patted him again and felt so proud, she knew she was glowing.

Luke laughed, stepped in and completely took her by surprise when he swung her into his arms, lifting her feet off the ground for a second. “You did okay yourself,” he said, their mouths only inches away from each other as he looked into her eyes. “But I knew you would. I had every confidence in you.”

Breathless, her arms around his neck, she tried to focus on what he was saying and not on how nice it felt to be wrapped in his arms, or that he was still holding her. She was beaming with joy and wishing he would kiss her. He believed in her! He had confidence in her. The idea was intoxicating. She remembered their first meeting and how he said she could ride. It felt good that he would be so sure of her.

“Th-thanks, Luke,” she managed, knowing she should move out of his arms, but was unable to make her feet move. Everything around her seemed to fade into the background. They just stood there looking at each other, smiling.

The loudspeaker crackled to life. “It's official. Montana Brown is our top score in the women's barrel racing!”

The words rang out, reverberating through the building. Montana's heart jumped in her chest. “Yes!” she exclaimed, unable to believe that she'd won her first rodeo in years. She'd hoped for it, dreamed of it—and God had blessed her hard work. Her excitement was so great that she reacted without thought—okay, maybe there was a little thought. She engulfed Luke and kissed him.

 

Luke was kissing Montana. He'd wanted to kiss her the second he'd scooped her up, but he'd made himself behave. He'd been thinking about it though, and then he'd made himself let her go.

When she'd thrown her arms around him and kissed him, he'd responded automatically to the feel of her
lips on his. Her arms held him tightly and their hearts were beating together. Tenderness surged inside him and he felt as if he'd found something he'd lost. He'd been tense the entire time she'd been riding, and Jess had been right when he said there was more here between them. He hadn't realized how much he was rooting for Montana. How much he cared whether she still had what it took to pursue her dream.

He knew that she was kissing him purely out of excitement and celebration. A quick peck on the lips and a hurrah she'd won. But the instant her lips met his, Luke pulled her close and kissed her with feeling.

They heard the oohing and ahhing at the same moment.

“It's about time,” Esther Mae cooed, as they broke apart to find the matchmakers grinning from ear to ear. Beside them stood App, Stanley, Sam and Lacy. They looked like they were watching the ending of a romantic chick flick.

And he and Montana were the stars!

“I
think it's a blessing,” Adela said, smiling gently at Montana. She was standing at the entrance of Murdock's stall with Esther Mae and Norma Sue.

“Your first rodeo in forever, and you win!” Esther Mae gushed, her green eyes flashing with excitement. “
And
you get the cowboy!”

Montana felt queasy. She really, really did.

“And at our first hometown rodeo. I'd call that a success,” Norma Sue clapped her hand on Montana's back.

After being discovered kissing in the alley, Luke had quickly disengaged himself—he'd been polite, even joked a smidge—then disappeared. She'd done the same using Murdock as an excuse to head back to the stall.

She was brushing him down when the posse showed up blocking the stall entrance. There was no way out. There was no escape. She was stuck while they discussed her as if she was part of the conversation. She wasn't, though; she hadn't said a word.

“Y'all,” she said, pausing her brushing. “I hope y'all don't get your hopes up too high. Me and Luke are just friends.”

Three sets of eyes looked at her like she was crazy.

“Friends?” Norma Sue grunted. Her white cowboy hat was pushed back on her head. Her kinky gray hair surrounded her head like a halo, as she looked skeptical. “That wasn't a friendly kiss.”

“You can admit it,” Esther Mae urged. “Love is a wonderful thing. You make such a sweet couple. My goodness, y'all took my breath away. It was just plumb beautiful.”

Adela laid a gentle hand on Esther Mae's arm. “It's okay, Esther Mae. Maybe Montana needs a little time to adjust to the idea.”

Esther Mae's eyes flashed wide-open. “Ohhh! That's right. It could have just snuck up on you. Swept you right off your feet in surprise. I mean, you did just win and all. Love blossoms in the midst of exciting moments.”

Montana wasn't so sure about anything at the moment. She didn't really want to think about it, standing here with all these eyes and hopes and wishes pinned on her like this. She wanted to go off and try to make some sense of all of this. She was overwhelmed. There was no doubt about that.

But she wasn't in love.

“Y'all, I just won my first rodeo. I'm planning on winning a whole lot more. And nothing is going to get in my way this time.”

 

“That was uncomfortable.”

Luke was standing at the back of the building. He could hear Roy Don's voice announcing the next event. He wasn't expecting company when his brother stepped around the corner. “You saw that, did you?”

Jess's forehead crinkled up. “Who didn't? You two were in sight of almost the entire arena. Or at least those who were behind the scenes.”

“That's right,” Colt said, poking his head around the corner. “I saw it from clean across the bull pens.”

“When did you get in?” Luke asked. Colt looked tired. His eyes were weary, and he knew he'd been driving a long haul in order to make it in for this ride. Rodeo life wasn't easy. When you were going for the national level and the big money and fame, paying your dues was a strain on the best of them.

He jabbed his hands in his pockets and looked at the ground before bringing his gaze up to meet Luke's. “I just rolled in. I was checking out my ride when I heard them announce Montana's name. I just happened to glance in the direction of the alley when I saw you two have your little moment. Big brother, if you aren't into having your love life open and on the lunch plate special, I'd say cool it when you're in the public.”

“Didn't do it on purpose. It just happened. And by the way, I wasn't the one who initiated that. Montana did and honestly, it was purely out of excitement of winning. Believe me, I know.”

Jess let out a low whistle. “What news station you been watching? The broadcast I just got a few minutes
ago said loud and clear that the woman was every bit as interested in that kiss as you were.”

“I'm watching the same station you are, Jess. Maybe you need to tune your TV a little, Luke,” Colt advised with a weary grin.

Luke knew they didn't mean anything by their teasing, but he wasn't feeling it at the moment. His thoughts were locked on Montana. What was she thinking right now?

She'd kissed him out of excitement. He knew it. Yes, there was that “thing” going on between them that she was so adamant about not wanting. And he understood why. She'd had her dreams put on hold for long enough. He'd seen her expression as she rode. He'd been watching her dedication for weeks now. There was no way she was letting anything get in the way of her dreams ever again. And this win…it cemented the deal. Nope, she didn't have to tell him that she wasn't interested in falling in love if it meant she couldn't devote all of her time to fulfilling that dream. “It doesn't matter what y'all saw. What matters is Montana won tonight. And that's just the beginning of the journey. She's about to hit the road just like you, Colt.”

“If you want it bad enough, there's a way to make it all work.” Jess was studying him with steady eyes.

“Yeah,” Colt agreed. “I see fellas making it work out on the road. Sure, it's tough, but they tell me where there's love, there's a way.”

“There you go. That 'bout sums it up right there. Montana Brown isn't going to let a little thing like love
get in her way. Because she loved her dad, she put Murdock out to pasture and got a degree in accounting.”

“Accounting? Montana?” Colt asked while Jess whistled. “That's the craziest thing I ever heard. No way she's an accountant.”

“Not exactly a fit, is it?”

“Well, no. Nothing against accounting—but Montana looks like someone who'd have a career that involved something outdoors. Accounting's an office job. It just doesn't fit.”

“No, it doesn't fit. Montana is an outdoors kind of gal. This is what she's meant to do. Just like you were meant to ride bulls, Colt.”

Colt's eyes narrowed, and he rubbed the five o'clock shadow on his chin. “If you're right about that, then you might be in trouble, Luke.”

Luke stared out across the darkness to where the Ferris wheel lit up the night. “Boy, don't I know it.”

 

“You didn't make the posse too happy,” Lacy said when Montana climbed into the stands to watch the bull riding event. It was late, but the stands were still packed. The bull riding was the main attraction. She hadn't seen Luke since their kiss, and she wondered where he'd gone to. Her stomach was a little queasy, thinking about the entire thing.

“I don't know what to say, Lacy.” Tate was sleeping in his carrier, looking peaceful despite the ruckus going on around him. She studied him instead of looking at Lacy.

“I'm sorry all of this is getting in the way of your celebrating your win tonight.”

Not exactly what she was expecting Lacy to say. “It's all right. I'm happy about the win. But I'm confused about everything else. Please don't tell anyone else though.”

“I promise. I really am sorry. I want you to be happy, Montana. I'm so happy with Clint and Tate that I get a little pushy sometimes.” She smiled. “You know me.”

Montana laughed. “If you weren't jumping into things with both feet, then we'd all think something was wrong with you. I know your heart's in the right place. And I know that about the posse, too.”

The arena was busy as the bull fighters got in place. A clown, not to be mistaken for the bull fighters, came out and started acting silly, running around and doing tricks and talking to the crowd. He'd been entertaining the crowd all night, but he was doing one last stint before the fighters took over.

“You'd probably make a great bull fighter if you wanted,” she said, looking at Lacy. “You'd be good at rescuing people. I mean, that's what you did to me.”

Lacy ran a hand through her tousled blond hair. “I don't know about that. I know I get folks into trouble sometimes. I hope I help them, though. You'd have been okay with or without me. You know that, don't you?”

“I'm finding my way, I think.”

The bull riding had begun, and the first bull exploded from the gate with a wild twist that immediately had the rider flying to the ground. The bull
fighters moved in, one dodging between the fallen rider and the bull, drawing the bull's attention as the other fighter moved in and helped the cowboy up and got him headed toward the fence. A bull fighter's job was one of the most dangerous jobs out there. These guys tonight were good and Montana hoped nothing bad happened. She was always worried during this event, always dreading the worst. She was relieved that it was starting out with the promise of a good night.

Lacy had stopped talking to watch also. Now that the danger was over, she looked at Montana and asked, “Has that finding your way got a little to do with Luke?”

She couldn't deny it. She knew that somehow, spending time with him had helped her. “Yes, it does. Just getting to know him has helped me. The man has been through some tough times. And yet, he's mostly positive.”

“He seemed that way to me. I don't know everything he's been through, but like Clint told you the other day, I know he's been working and saving since he was young. And I know his dad was a pretty bad alcoholic.”

“I admire him. He's helped me think about things. Like not letting this anger at my dad eat me up. And when I'm really down on myself, he's been there to pick me up and tell me not to let it get to me.” She thought about all the times that he'd helped her focus on her goals. She smiled, thinking about him.

“He sounds like a great guy.” Lacy was watching her closely.

“He is,” Montana admitted quietly.

“And what about that kiss?” Lacy asked, biting back a grin, her brows lifting expectantly.

Montana laughed, remembering. “You just couldn't help yourself, could you?”

“Nope. I couldn't. It was too good. You should have seen the look on your face when you threw your arms around him.”

“I was excited, Lacy. I'd just won my first rodeo,” she said, defending her actions. “He was there, and I kissed him out of excitement.”

Lacy smiled. “Whatever you say, it's your business. But something tells me you wouldn't have thrown your arms around just anyone and kissed him like you did Luke.”

“You've got me there,” Montana said, with a sheepish smile. There was no way around that one. “Lacy, to tell you the truth, I don't know what's going on. I think about him all the time. But I didn't come here to get involved with anyone. And I don't want to get involved with anyone. But that doesn't stop the fact that, when he's around—or even when he isn't—I think about him. The man just does something to me, and I don't seem to be able to stop it. And I just don't know what in the world I'm going to do about it.”

Lacy was beaming at her. “Relax, girlfriend. You're in love.”

Montana shook her head in vigorous denial. “No, I'm not.”

“You can deny it all you want, but I'm telling you it's true.”

“Then I'll just get right out of love. I've got plans. I've got things I need to do—barrel races I have to win and points I have to gain in order to make it to the finals. I do not have time to fall in love.”

She was not in love.

She wasn't. No way. No how.

Just as she was in the middle of her internal argument, she saw Luke walk out onto the elevated metal walkway that connected the chutes where the bull riders climbed down and settled onto the backs of their rides. Luke was walking beside a bull rider. The man was not as tall as Luke, but he had the same swagger that Luke had. Though she couldn't see his face because of the protective facemask that he wore, she knew without doubt that this must be the younger brother, Colt.

“Is that Colt that Luke just came out with?”

“Yes, that's him. You haven't met him, have you?”

“No.” As of yet, she hadn't met Colt. Luke spoke to the cowboy, placed his hand on his back and bowed his head briefly. They looked like they were saying a prayer. When it was done, the cowboy, Colt, climbed over the side of the chute. Looking at Luke, he then eased himself down onto the restless bull's back. Montana held her breath. Luke and Clint were gripping Colt's protective vest—the vest was to protect his chest from the bull's horns, and Clint and Luke were there to help the rider get out of the chute in case the bull went wild in the close confines of the chute. The rider could be harmed easily if he was trapped or slipped between the bull and the gates. Montana held her breath.

“This always makes me nervous,” she said.

“Me, too,” Lacy agreed, tapping her fingers on the metal bench. “I don't want to see someone get hurt. But from what I understand, Colt is really good.”

The gate was pulled open and the bull blasted from the chute, twisting and turning and kicking like he was the meanest, orneriest bad boy around. And Colt held on! It was a wild ride. But Colt held his seat on its back. He was on at the end of a great eight-second ride! “Wow, that was awesome.” Montana admired his style and smiled when he jumped from the bull's back, waved to the crowd, dodged the angry bull and jogged to the fence, scaling it like he was out for a Sunday afternoon stroll.

Lacy laughed. “He's a little cocky, wouldn't you say?”

“Just a little. But I guess if you're that good, you can be,” Montana said, thinking about all the time he spent working in order to qualify for the nationals. It was something she and Murdock were about to begin.

“Fans enjoy seeing some personality from the riders,” Lacy said.

Luke met Colt coming over the fence and gave him a high-five and a back slap. He was all smiles as they stood there. Looking at him, her heart had begun thundering louder than if she'd been the one riding the bull. Luke Holden was a threat to her dream. The idea sent a chill racing down her spine. She didn't want to be in love. She didn't want to worry about trusting a man.