Page 92 of Free Agent

“Ugh,” I groaned, going limp in his arms as he laughed.

“I know you’re Miss Prissy, not a country girl like that. But I’m saying… just give it a chance. We’re gonna have a good time.”

“I mean, of course you think so,” I countered, frowning. “This is like your birthright.”

“Give it a chance,” he repeated, squeezing my shoulder. “Come on. Let’s go get some breakfast, go get you some boots, and we can go check out the setup.”

So, admittedly, I really didn’t know what he meant when he said we were gonna go check out the setup.

Actually, I wasn’t sure what I thought most of his commentary around mud bogging meant, but it certainly wasn’t a setup of tents, food trucks, picnic tables, a stage...

A natural dance floor.

Fairy lights that would illuminate it all once the sun went down.

Balloons.

It was actually quite beautiful.

All of this happened on the far side of the property, well away from the house and the working ranch, which I’d wondered about the utility of when I didn’t know the prominence of this event. I understood now how vital the space and distance were.

The parking lot was already filling with people, and not just regular everyday passenger vehicles either. There were pickup trucks as far as the eye could see, but then also campers, converted school buses—full length and mini—lots of the big RVs, and, of course, ATVs.

So, so many ATVs.

People were already on them, riding nearby hills that seemed tailored for that purpose. All over the place, there were signs posted about safety, there were water stations, first aid tents, and a bunch of security guards.

This was not a cute little small town thing like how Tatum made it sound.

Or maybe I was just too unfamiliar with the culture.

Based on a big entrance sign anchoring the only paved road to access the parking lot, it was called Wheels over Wildland. There was a big security booth there, with a couple lanes managing the ticketed access and presumably giving out wristbands.

“This is crazy,” I told Tatum, in awe from my place anchored at his back on his ATV, which was custom-painted in Kings blue and gold. We were up on the big hill looking down at everything unfolding, and I realized this was why he hadn’t brought me over here before.

He wanted the magnitude to surprise me.

Tatum half-turned to me with a grin. “You ain’t even really seen nothing yet.”

I didn’t understand how right he was about that until hours later.

Initially, I wished I had called up a friend to tag along. Sierra, Shannon, Hollis, somebody.

There was a special area for VIP guests, but it was tucked away from the action, and I didn’t really know anyone there. I’d gotten along incredibly well with Tatum’s family over the few days I’d been with him at Wildwood, after that first morning awkwardness at breakfast. I’d met his father, his brothers, and lots of cousins who worked the ranch.

His mother had been going out of her way to check in with me several times a day, and his sister—who he’d had me calling freakin’ Tammy-Rae until she finally, barely getting the words out from laughing, admitted her actual name was Tamira—was good ass company.

I just… barely knew her, and didn’t want to attach myself to her hip like I couldn’t be without an escort.

But when Tatum went off to get dirty riding his ATV through the mud like a lunatic with the rest of the attendees, Tam and her bestie Geneva immediately scooped me up. They stuck a drink in my hand, looped an arm through my free one, and led me straight to a little roped off area at the front of one of the crowds.

“What’s this about?” I asked, taking a swig from the familiar beer bottle they’d handed me. I was very well-versed with Night Shift brews.

We were clearly at the end of a mud course, positioned so we could see the last leg of it and cheer the riders on as they got their official times from the judge’s tent, which we were near.

“Won’t we miss seeing most of the obstacle course?” I asked, and Tam and Geneva shared a grin.

“Trust me, I’m bringing you in on the real show around here,” Tam said, gesturing around us.

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