Page 25 of Big Daddy Bull Riders

“Do you miss getting tossed around and coming close to having your guts stomped in the ground? And surely you remember what happened the last time! I sure do, being as how I’m the one who nursed you back to health.”

Slater put a hand on his friend’s arm and spoke in a calm voice when he said, “I’m a champion. You know how many buckles I have. I can do this.” He let a few moments pass before adding, “And I think I need to do this. For Big Cedar.”

CHAPTERTWELVE

It was later that afternoon, when Mina returned to the newspaper office with Jackson and Slater in tow, that she asked the burning question that had been driving her crazy the whole time they’d walked back from the park.

“Is everything okay between you two?”

“Oh, yeah. Things are always good between us,” Jackson said.

Once again, Mina wondered just how close the two were exactly, but she didn’t voice that question. Instead, she listened as Jackson elaborated.

“You see, sometimes my friend gets some fool notions in that good-lookin’ head of his and I have to try and talk him out of whatever crazy scheme he’s come up with. Like today, for instance.”

She eyed Slater and said, “Is it crazier than jumping out of a moving truck and onto a galloping horse?”

Slater jerked his head toward Jackson. “He seems to think so. I don’t.”

Jackson shook his head and sighed. “Slater can ride anything. Bulls. Broncs. Hell, probably even a gator! But it’s been a long time since he’s done that stuff. And the last time he did, well, he ended up with some broken ribs. Damn near had a broken back, too.” He ran a hand through his dark but silver-speckled hair, and said, “And now he wants to climb onto some more enraged bulls and do it all over again.”

Mina’s eyes went wide. “Why would you do a thing like that?”

Slater wore a cocky grin as he answered. “Because I miss it. And the town needs it.”

“The town?” Mina pressed.

“Yeah. I can win enough prize money to pay off those taxes. Then we won’t have to worry about ol’ What’s-His-Name.”

“It’s a bad idea,” Jackson muttered.

“Why?” Slater pressed. “You’ve said so yourself that I’m the best. And you can coach me. You like bossing me around and being all up in my business. Well, here’s your chance to do it some more.”

This changed Jackson’s frown into a smile as he laughed, and Mina was thankful for the change in mood.

“Trust me,” Jackson said. “I’d love to coach you on a few things. But ridingbullsain’t one of them.”

Mina couldn’t suppress a grin as she wondered just what the man meant by that remark. She didn’t feel it was her place to ask, though. So, instead, she said, “The town council is seeing about getting a loan. And it might not even come to that. Alejandra is trying to block it in court and get the whole thing dismissed. Maybe we should see how that plays out before you go hopping on the back of a demon-possessed beast.”

“Damn! She’s as smart as she is cute!” Jackson said with a clap of his hands. “I like her.”

“Hey, you’re trying to steal her all for yourself,” Slater said. “Why don’t you ease up a little bit?”

Mina giggled. Were they just being funny and messing with her or did they really both have notions of beingwith her?

The thought of it made her nearly fall to pieces in a fit of embarrassment. She needed to get out of there before she humiliated herself.

“I need to go change,” she announced.

“But you sure look cute in those shortalls,” Jackson said.

“Thank you. But I got them dirty when I was playing.” She pointed to a spot that was dark with a dirt stain. “Be right back.”

She left the men in the office as she happily skipped upstairs and into her bedroom. Her movements came to a halt, though, as something in the room didn’t feel right.

Was she being watched?

She looked around, evening opening the closet door, but didn’t find anyone lurking about.

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