Page 21 of Coming Home to Maverick

Then he nodded; the door opened, and he and the bull burst from the chute. The animal kicked, rolled, twisted, and jerked under him, and his body moved with him. Seconds passed. Everything moved slower. His bull was going crazy, as if he wanted Maverick with a vengeance. Good. The worse the bull behaved, the more points Maverick could receive. He kept his body pliable, looking for a rhythm. It had been so long, his body hungered for the abuse. At last, eight long seconds later, the horn blew, and he hopped off Pepper. But the bull was not done with him yet. In an uncharacteristic move, he turned on Maverick with his horns lowered.

He jumped up on the railing while the bull fighters ran out to distract the angry bull. Pepper rammed his horns into the wood just below where Maverick had been. The animal ran around and around the arena, still kicking and bucking until he finally calmed somewhat, and with a couple whips cracking, he returned to his chute.

Maverick whooped and swung his hat around in the air. That ride would have won him some serious points if he were in competition, probably a full fifty points for difficulty of the bull. He wiped his forehead. But he’d forgotten just how much a hard ride like that racked his body. He gently rolled his head, stretching out his neck.

Nash ran up. “You just had a near-perfect ride.”

“I don’t know—”

“No, I had a rodeo judge standing next to me, and he said that ride would have blown your old record out of the water. Near perfect.”

Maverick considered him. Points like that in another competition would be career shaping. Would give him a name and a face on the circuit for the rest of his lifetime. “Wow, man. I haven’t even ridden in years.”

“It’s still in you. You should do this!”

Maverick shook his head. “And ask you to sit out the circuit this year so I can go in your place?”

Nash’s face clouded, and he looked away.

“Someone’s gotta keep the ranch together. If I leave, someone else has to stay.” And that’s where the conversation stopped. Just like Maverick knew it would.

Maverick’s ride was the last event of the evening. The announcer ended the show, and people started heading down the stairs and out the doors.

Just about everyone wanted a piece of Maverick, to congratulate him, to talk strategy, to tell him how much they’d love it if he rode again. But all he wanted was to escape with Bailey. He searched over the heads of the crowd and didn’t see her for the longest time.

At last, when the crowd had thinned, he spotted her leaning up against the wall. She waved to him.

He shook one more hand and took two steps toward her, then a pair of arms flew around his middle, squeezing tight. “Maverick! That was incredible! I was so proud of you, babe!” Tiff lifted up on her toes to tell him something, but he couldn’t hear, so he leaned down, and she kissed his cheek.

His gaze flew to Bailey. She had started to move toward him, but she stopped, hesitation written all over her. Then she pivoted and walked in the opposite direction.

Tiff wrapped her hands around his arm and began pulling him toward the exit. “We’re meeting at Buck’s, come with us.” She pressed her body against his arm.

He pulled his hand out of her grip, but she stepped into him and pressed her cheek to his chest. “It’s been too long. Let’s just go somewhere and relax. Let me rub you down, work out those kinks.”

He shook his head and tried to step away, but her grip was insistent.

All he wanted was to talk to Bailey. But while trying to peel himself away from Tiff, his gaze caught Bailey’s. She shook her head and kept walking.

“Tiff, stop. I already have plans tonight.”

Her lower lip went out, and she placed a hand on her hip. “I’m just trying to help you get out, be young, enjoy your friends.”

“Thank you, really. You and your mama have been kind.” He had to get to Bailey before she left.

“Of course, babe. I’m here for you. You know that.” She took a half-step toward him again, but he stepped back and then began to move away.

“I’ll see you around?” Without waiting for an answer, he took off running across the parking lot. At first, he didn’t see Bailey anywhere. But as he spun around, his gaze was drawn by a lone figure, walking.

He took off after her. She was as stubborn as ever. He’d always had to work for her affection. She had zero tolerance for the women after shows, even girls wanting selfies. It looked like things hadn’t changed. Whether or not she had a right to be, Bailey was proprietary where he was concerned. He’d always liked that about her. He’d had no problems being true to her. She’d been worth it—until she left.

The thought triggered a rush of irritation, and he stopped running.Why am I chasing after a woman who can’t wait around for thirty minutes while I talk to people?He whistled.

Bailey kept right on walking.

Chapter 8

Bailey walked home. They lived about two miles from the county fairgrounds. It was far, but she couldn’t stomach anyone’s company. Especially not Maverick’s.

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