No Ordinary Cowboy (Mills & Boon American Romance) (Rodeo Rebels - Book 6) (8 page)

“Yes.” The soft sigh that drifted from Lucy’s throat drew Tony closer. He cupped her face and brought her mouth to his, pausing to allow her a chance to pull away. Her eyelids fluttered closed and her lips parted.

“You frustrate the hell out of me, Lucy.” His breath mingled with hers a second before he kissed her. Forget slow and easy—too much emotion and history stood between them. He swept his tongue inside her mouth and drank in her sweetness. Tony had kissed plenty of women in his lifetime but Lucy was like no other… Her taste…her scent…reached deep inside him and tugged at his heart.

She clutched his uniform sleeve and flattened her breasts against his chest. No sense trying to hide that he didn’t want her. He nudged her closer until her hips bumped his erection. She smelled like warm woman, a hint of perfume and the tang of sweat—earthy and sensual. If he hadn’t been on duty he would have hauled her into his truck, driven into the desert, stripped their clothes off and made love to her regardless of the consequences.

When his fingers touched the curve of Lucy’s breast, common sense intervened and he stepped back. Was he insane—kissing her on the side of the road where anyone could drive by and see them? “I’m sorry. I was out of line.”

She pressed her fingers against her lips.

“I’ll follow you back to the ranch.” He climbed into his truck and waited for Lucy to get into hers.

Once she pulled onto the highway, he kept several car lengths between their vehicles. His thoughts switched to Nina, the little girl they’d found at the mine. Tony’s coworker, Carmen Dobbs, had gotten the girl to talk. Nina claimed her cousin had also been abducted, as well as other girls from their school. Tony’s number-one priority was to find those girls and reunite them with their families.

* * *

T
ONY
TRAILED
L
UCY
up the porch steps and into the house. He hadn’t set foot inside the Durangos’ home since before Michael had died. Not much had changed from the last time he’d stood in the foyer. The family portraits still hung on the walls. The same heirloom umbrella stand sat in the corner next to the antique grandfather clock. Then Tony’s gaze landed on a framed photo that hadn’t been there before—Michael and Chicken on a Chain, the bull he’d ridden in Prescott that had vaulted him to the top of the standings.

“Dad?”

Cal Durango stepped from his office. His neutral expression turned into a glower when he spotted Tony. “What are you doing in my house?”

“Tony’s here on official business,” Lucy said.

“What happened to you?” Durango motioned to Lucy’s disheveled appearance.

“I’ve been practicing my bull-riding skills,” she lied.

The scowl on Durango’s face deepened and Tony waited for the older man to explode. Instead, he nodded to the paperwork in Tony’s hand. “I assume your boss sent you here with a warrant to search my property.”

Michael’s father was a man used to calling the shots and he didn’t like not having a say. Tony placed the forms on the foyer table. “It’s a court order allowing border patrol agents access to your property for surveillance purposes.”

Cal walked closer. “Lucy said you found a girl hiding in the mine today. What’s her story?”

“Her name’s Nina. She was abducted while walking home from school in Nogales, Mexico.”

“Were there other girls?”

“Yes.” Tony refrained from giving any more details, because he didn’t want Durango using his power or political connections to interfere with the investigation. “I can’t share any information about the case other than we’d like you and anyone working for you to steer clear of the area near the mine for a while.”

“Your boss had better keep his men out of that mine.”

Only Cal Durango would worry about people stealing his gold dust. “We won’t be going into the mine.”

“Tell your boss I want to be kept in the loop.”

“Yes, sir.” Tony would be more than happy to leave Romero the chore of briefing Durango on the investigation. He left the house, his gaze bouncing off Lucy as he walked out the door.

“Tony, wait.” Lucy stayed on the porch. “Where’s Maddie?”

“I left her at the station with Nina.”

“When you get tired of her, I’ll pick her up from your apartment.”

“Maddie’s not staying with me. They don’t allow pets.”

“Then where—”

“My mother’s.”

“Your mom doesn’t mind?”

“She likes the company.”

Lucy fidgeted and Tony worried she wanted to discuss the kiss he’d much rather forget.

“I spoke with Shannon earlier today and asked where I could find a real bull to practice on. She told me to contact P. T. Lewis, who runs Five Star Rodeos.”

“I’ve ridden a few of the bulls that ended up at P.T.’s ranch.”

“So…”

Tony knew where Lucy was going with the conversation and he wanted no part of it.

“I called P.T. and spoke with his foreman, Clint McGraw. He said I could ride Curly, the same bull Shannon used to practice on.”

Tony was aware of Cal Durango watching him and Lucy through the front window. “You’re not going to change your mind about this rodeo fundraising gimmick, are you?”

“No. I just wanted you to know that I’ve got everything figured out,” she said.

“You figure out yet how you’re going to keep from getting killed?”

“I’ll be fine.”

Fine, my ass.
Tony hopped into his truck and shut the door before he said something he couldn’t take back. As he sped away, Lucy’s image in the rearview mirror grew smaller. She wasn’t going to give in and find a different way to raise money for her business, so Tony was left with no choice but to intervene and help her. Her safety rested squarely on his shoulders whether he wanted the responsibility or not.

When he got home tonight he’d give Five Star Rodeos a call and find out when Lucy intended to practice on Curly. She wasn’t getting within ten feet of a bull unless he was there with her.

Chapter Eight

Late Friday afternoon, Lucy slowed the truck as she turned onto Star Road, which led to the Five Star Ranch. The end of April had arrived and that meant Lucy had only two weeks to get ready for the first rodeo in Ajo. She drove along the dirt track, noting the group of horses standing in the shade of a mesquite tree—the once-fierce bucking broncs now idling away their days in leisure.

The road led to a low-lying ridge, then zigzagged up an incline. Lucy stopped the truck at the top of the ridge and took in the view. Miles and miles of desert stretched toward the horizon. At the base of the ridge sat a barn and several corrals near a hacienda-style home. As she drove closer to the house, she admired the giant saguaros guarding the walkway to the front door and the mesquite trees dotting the land between the barn and corrals.

She parked next to a pickup and got out.

“Howdy.”

The greeting came from behind her. A tall cowboy and a teenage cowgirl dressed in jeans, a Western shirt and a cowboy hat walked toward her.

“Lucy Durango.” She held out her hand.

“Clint McGraw. This is my daughter, Lauren.”

“Nice to meet you, Lauren.” Lucy shook the girl’s hand.

“P.T. left early this morning to pick up a horse.”

“If this isn’t a good time…”

“We rigged up a bucking chute in the corral.” He nodded to his daughter. “My daughter knows the drill.”

“I’ve ridden a bull before.” Lauren grinned.

“Do you still ride?” Lucy asked.

“No. It’s an exciting sport, but one rodeo was enough for me.”

And Lucy had not one but three bull rides to survive.

“Curly’s snoozing in the barn. I’ll fetch him and put him in the corral.”

After Clint walked off, Lucy spoke to Lauren. “Where do you go to school?”

“California. I live with my mom during the school year there and spend the summers here with my dad. I’ll be a freshman at Sacramento State this fall.”

“Congratulations. What do you plan to study?”

“I haven’t decided.” Lauren nodded at the ranch house. “P.T. wants me to major in business so I can help him run his rodeo production company, but it’s so dang hot here all the time.”

“Arizona does have its advantages, though.”

“What’s that?”

“Cowboys.” Lucy laughed.

“I don’t think cowboys can handle me.” Lauren removed her hat and a long, neon blue ponytail fell down her back. “I’m not your typical cowgirl.”

“I would have given my father a stroke if I’d done that to my hair when I was younger.”

“My dad’s pretty cool. He lets me be me.”

Envy stabbed Lucy. If only her father would show that kind of support. “So, you’ve ridden bulls before.”

“Yep. When Shannon Douglas competed in Five Star Rodeos last summer, one of her friends broke her wrist and I took her place.”

“Were you scared?”

“Heck, yeah. But if I had the chance to do it again, I would. It’s such a rush. Kind of like the feeling you get on a roller coaster.”

Lucy had ridden several amusement park rides in her lifetime but she doubted even a roller coaster compared to the thrill of a rodeo bull.

“Why do you want to learn how to ride a bull?” Lauren asked.

“I’m doing a fundraiser and asking people to pledge money for each second I stay on.”

“What are you raising money for?”

“I own a business called the Pony Express.”

Lauren snapped her fingers. “I’ve seen the van driving through town.”

“It’s a free taxi service for cowboys who’ve had too much to drink at the bars and need a ride home.”

“Cool.” Lauren shielded her eyes from the sun and stared over Lucy’s shoulder. “We’ve got company.”

Lucy’s pulse gave a little leap of joy when she recognized Tony’s truck. He parked the black Dodge next to Lucy’s truck and Lauren let out a wolf whistle when he stepped into view. “Wow. He’s no ordinary cowboy.”

“No, he’s not.” Lucy smiled. “He works for the border patrol.”

“He can patrol my borders any day.”

Not if Lucy had anything to say about it.

“Ladies,” Tony said, stopping in front of the women. He removed his sunglasses and held out his hand to Lauren. “Tony Bravo.”

“Tony Bravo…that’s like a superhero name.”

The sound of Tony’s chuckle warmed Lucy’s blood.

“I’m Lauren McGraw. My dad’s getting a bull ready for Lucy to ride.” Lauren glanced between Lucy and Tony. “I’ll see if he needs help.”

After Lauren walked away, Lucy asked, “What are you doing here?”

“I came to help you.”

“I don’t need your help.” The protest rang hollow in her ears. She was more than relieved that Tony had shown up today.

“Lucy, I’m damned if I do and damned if I don’t. I might not be able to stop this ludicrous mission of yours, but I can try to keep you from coming out on the short end of a bull ride.”

Before they got caught up in rodeo, Lucy asked, “What’s happening with Nina?” The little girl had been on her mind all week.

Tony put his mirrored glasses back on and Lucy wished he hadn’t. His eyes were so expressive and she hated not knowing what he was really thinking. “Nina’s fine. She’s given us information that’s helping with our surveillance plans.”

“Have you contacted her parents?”

“Yes, but we have to be careful how we communicate with them so we don’t tip off the cartel.”

“You’re certain this is the work of a Mexican cartel?”

“We know who’s behind the kidnappings. All that’s left to do is catch them in the act.”

“Who’s taking care of Nina until you reunite her with her parents?”

“She’s staying with an agent’s grandmother.”

“Is Maddie with them or at your mom’s?”

“The dog’s at the grandmother’s house. I hope you don’t mind. Nina got upset when she thought she had to leave Maddie behind.”

“I’m sure Maddie’s having a lot more fun hanging out with Nina than she would sitting in a kennel all day.”

“I have to brief the agent on the case tonight. You’re welcome to come with me and visit Maddie.”

“Are you sure it’s okay if I know Nina’s whereabouts?”

“I trust you not to tell anyone.”

That Tony had faith in her pleased Lucy. “I’d love to go.”

“You ready?” He nodded to Lauren and Clint, who were loading Curly into the chute. “Looks like Lauren brought out some gear.”

She and Tony walked over to the corral. “I ordered a Kevlar vest and a protective face mask but they won’t be delivered until next week,” Lucy said.

“What about a riding glove?” Tony asked.

“Shoot. I forgot about a glove.” When they reached the corral, Lucy spoke to Lauren. “Do you happen to have a riding glove I can borrow?”

“Sure.” Lauren handed her a glove from the back pocket of her jeans and helped Lucy put on the vest and headgear. “If the glove’s not tight enough, there’s a smaller one in the barn that belongs to my stepmom.”

“This one’s perfect,” Lucy said after flexing her fingers. “The vest feels really tight. Is that normal?”

“You’ll be holding your breath most of the time so you don’t need to worry about breathing.” Lauren winked.

“Truthfully, you don’t need any gear with Curly,” Clint said. “Once he throws you, he stops bucking and walks away.” Clint fished a metal wire beneath the bull and caught the end of the bull rope then pulled it up over the other side of the animal. “You’d never guess that this bull won several titles in his heyday.” He nodded to Tony. “Clint McGraw.”

“Tony Bravo. I’ve ridden in a few Five Star Rodeos through the years.”

“P.T.’s semiretired now but he still puts his stamp on the rodeos,” Clint said.

“What’s Curly’s bucking style?” Tony asked.

“Straightforward. He doesn’t spin much. If he’s not aggressive enough, I’ve got a few bulls that haven’t been retired as long.”

“Curly will do fine for my first time,” Lucy said.

“Need me to stay?” Clint spoke to Tony.

“We’ll be fine.”

“Lauren can load Curly into the chute.” Clint patted his daughter on the back then returned to the barn.

“Curly likes me.” Lauren scratched the animal behind the ears and Lucy worried that she was about to ride a big cuddly teddy bear rather than a rodeo bull.

“Hop on and I’ll go over a few things with you,” Tony said.

Lucy settled onto Curly’s back, her inner thigh muscles straining as her legs stretched over the bull’s girth. Heat from the animal’s hide warmed her legs and fanny, triggering a release of nerves, and the cotton material beneath her armpits grew damp.

“Hold the bull rope in your left hand the way you did on the bucking machine,” Tony said.

Fumbling with her grip, Lucy couldn’t get a feel for the handle through the leather glove.

“Like this.” Tony pushed her fingers deeper beneath the handle then wrapped the end of the rope around her hand, securing it to the back of the bull. The wrap felt tight but still had a little give. “Line up your pinky finger with the center of Curly’s back.” She did as instructed. “Now scoot forward.” Tony pushed her from behind. Lucy wasn’t sure if the tingle racing through her body was caused by a spike in adrenaline or Tony’s hands on her fanny. Either way, she felt out of breath.

“When you open your hand, the rope should fall away,” he said.

Should
being the operative word.

“The weight of the bell attached to the rope will help free your hand.”

“What next?” she asked, aware of Lauren hanging on Tony’s every word.

“Once Curly starts jerking, make note of his rhythm. It’ll help you hang on and keep you in better position for the dismount. Use your free arm for balance.”

Lucy would need more than one free arm to keep her from flying off Curly.

“Tilt your chin down toward your gloved hand. Every time the bull jumps, you dig in your heels, shift forward at the waist and lunge aggressively over his shoulders. When he kicks, relax your boot heels and come back to a seated position. Let the bull’s momentum carry you into the next cycle.”

“You want me to treat the bull as if he’s my dancing partner,” she said.

“That’s one way to think of it.”

“Should I count the seconds in my head?”

“No. Today, we’re practicing your dismount,” he said.

“You want me to fall off as soon as Curly clears the chute?”

“Yep.”

Lucy and Lauren exchanged puzzled looks then Lauren asked, “Why?”

“The dismount is where you’re most likely to get into trouble, whether you stay on the bull for eight seconds or not.”

That made sense, although Lucy didn’t like the idea of tumbling to the ground without even trying to ride the bull.

“Before you jump, make sure you release the rope. If your hand gets hung up, you’ll get dragged.”

“He’s right, Lucy. You don’t want to get caught under a bull.”

The image that flashed through Lucy’s head chipped away at her courage.

“What happens if I can’t get my hand free?”

“Then you fight like hell to keep your balance and stay on while the bullfighters try to help you,” Tony said.

Lucy would just have to make sure she didn’t end up in that situation.

“When you’re ready to dismount, use the bull as a springboard to push yourself off and then hit the ground on all fours.”

From what she remembered of watching her brother and Tony ride, rarely had either of them landed on all fours after they’d been thrown. Instead, they’d hit the ground on their heads or shoulders, or done a face-plant in the dirt.

“Before you dismount, look over your left shoulder,” Tony said.

She did as instructed.

“Next, swing your right leg over in front of you and release the rope.”

Moving her leg took more effort than she’d anticipated because her thighs were spread far apart.

“Once you’re in that position, use the momentum of the bull’s next kick to launch yourself as far away as possible,” he said.

“After that?” she asked.

“Get up and run like hell for the rails.”

“Okay, then.” Lucy sucked in a deep breath. “I dismount on the bull’s left side.”

“That’s preferable.”

“What happens if I’m off balance and fall backward or forward?”

“Prepare yourself for a tough landing then get to your feet and run.”

“Don’t worry, Lucy,” Lauren said. “Landing doesn’t hurt as much as you might think.”

Well, that was certainly reassuring. Heart pounding, Lucy repeated Tony’s instructions in her head.
Look over left shoulder. Release rope. Swing right leg over and release rope. Push off the bull. Land on all fours. Run like hell.

“Okay. I’m ready.” She squeezed the rope tightly, aligning her pinky finger with the middle of Curly’s back.

Lauren counted to three then opened the gate.

Even though Lucy believed she was ready—she wasn’t. Curly leaped from the chute and the sudden jerk tugged hard on her arm. Tony’s instructions were forgotten as her focus switched to the stinging pain spreading through her shoulder.

“Lucy!” Tony’s shout startled her. “Lift your leg!”

She jerked her leg over the back of Curly and released her grip on the bull rope, then flung herself toward the ground. She broke the fall with her hands first, then her left hip, before sprawling on her belly.

“Run!” Lauren shouted.

Still dazed, Lucy scrambled to her feet and stumbled a few steps before applying the brakes when Curly stepped into her path.

“You didn’t check to see where the bull was,” Tony said.

No kidding.
Thank God Curly just stood there staring at her as if she were a moron. Lauren jumped into the pen. “C’mon, boy.” She loaded the bull into the chute for round two.

Keeping his voice low, Tony approached Lucy. “You okay?”

If she told him that her arm ached like hell, he’d end the training session. “Yeah, sure. Why?”

He pointed to her arm.

Unaware she’d been cradling the limb against her body, she straightened her arm slowly and said, “I’m fine.”

“There’s no shame admitting you’re in over your head.”

“Quit trying to talk me out of—” Lucy hadn’t realized she’d spoken so loudly until Lauren cleared her throat.

“I think I hear my dad calling me.” The teenager made a hasty retreat.