Page 10 of Rough Ride

“I promise to fuck offrealsoon,” Eli said in that charming twang that seemed to win people over wherever he went. “Just wanted to let you know about a wager we’ve got going with the fine woman at the previous bar. Whoever wins the rodeo gets to buy her a drink.”

“Why,” Sawyer said slowly, “would I care that Chris Appleton is going to buy that woman a drink?”

“No!” Eli complained. “Stop acting like he’s going to win easily. You don’t know that.”

Sawyer shared a brief look with me. In the three years I had known the man, it was the closest thing to camaraderie we had ever shared. Like Eli, Sawyer was my competition at the rodeo. We were all in the same events, and were more or less evenly matched, depending on the day. But while I had a fondness for Eli that came close to what some might call friendship, I didn’t share the same with Sawyer.

Sawyer didn’t make friends.

“Chris Appletonisgoing to win easily,” Sawyer said in his easy drawl. “Better start aiming for second place, kid.”

“You seemed interested in Sophie,” Eli said, “so I wanted to let you know. She’ll go out with whoever wins.”

“I don’t play games,” Sawyer said, sending another knife at the target. It hit the bullseye, as did the one after it. “You can leave now.”

“I bet you’d play games if it meant going out with Sophie,” Eli pushed. “I saw the way you looked at her when she turned around to pour your whiskey.”

Sawyer flicked his hand again, but this one flew wrong and struck the target with the handle rather than the blade. It bounced back toward Sawyer, coming to a rest at his feet.

But he was staring daggers at Eli.

“I think it’s time for us to go now,” I told Eli. “Good luck in the rodeo, Sawyer.”

The man continued glaring at us as he bent down to retrieve the knife. Afraid that he might send it in our direction, I grabbed Eli by the arm and dragged him away.

“What the hell was that?” I demanded when we were safely away.

“Sawyer’s always such a grump. I wanted to tell him what Sophie said. I thought it might cheer him up.”

“He looked like he wantedyouto be the target of his next knife throw.”

“He wouldn’t do that,” Eli said. “Right? I mean, he’s real mean and all, but actual violence…”

“I wouldn’t try him again,” I said. “I’m heading back to the trailer. Yours had better be on the correct side by morning.”

“You think you can win her over,” Eli said slowly. “Don’t you?”

I opened my mouth to tell him no, I wasn’t going to play these stupid games. But all I could think about was Sophie’s piercing gaze, eyes narrowing at me in playful suspicion. I couldn’t waituntil the next time I saw her. I was looking forward to it more than the rodeo itself.

“Yeah,” I said. “She’s mine.”

5

Sophie

I pulled my car over in front of the hotel, where a young woman waited. “Jill?” I asked.

“Sophie?” she confirmed, looking down at her phone. Probably checking the Uber app to confirm the car model.

There were worse jobs than driving for Uber during the day. Most customers were quiet, and I liked driving around town. It helped me think. The most annoying part was keeping my car pristine.

There usually wasn’t a lot of demand during the day, but things were busier during the rodeo. Lots of people from out-of-town wanted to do all the touristy things in Fort Worth: visiting the Stockyards, the zoo, or the Botanical Gardens.

The hours passed quickly as I chauffeured people around town. All of them were tourists, with the exception of a TCU student who was going to the airport.

Around lunchtime, I was sitting at a red light in downtown Fort Worth with a customer who was returning to their hotel. To my left, a runner went by on the sidewalk. He caught my eye because he was shirtless despite the cold January air. Some people werecrazy; I made myself run on a treadmill in the frigid winter months.

The light changed, and I drove another block, passing the runner. I glanced over at him…

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