Page 35 of Big Daddy Bull Riders

Like last night. He stood in that small clearing, his eyes cast toward the barrel, but he didn’t really see it. Instead, his thoughts drifted to yesterday. Seemed as if he and Jackson had found the little sweetie they’d been dreaming of forever. The one to complete their triangle. Or whatever you’d call it.

The one to complete their lives. She took two busted-up cowboys and made ‘em a home in just a short amount of time.

That’s how it felt, at least. Who knew what the future held? But Slater suspected yesterday was just the first of many such days.

And he was more than okay with that.

It all just felt right.

Even what he and Jackson had done.

Even the three of them lying in each other’s arms in the bed in Jackson’s room, sleeping that way and waking up in a tangled yet loving heap.

It all felt so damn right. There weren’t just more days like yesterday coming. Life was coming. And they’d all three face it together.

That’s what he assumed, anyway. He knew conversations needed to take place. And they’d get to those. Right now, though, he had a bull to climb on. Or a barrel. Then a bull.

Sensing a presence behind him, he turned to see Jackson approaching out of the trees before he’d even made a peep.

“Figured I’d find you here,” Jackson said.

“I’m going to climb on.”

“You sure that’s a good idea?”

“You saw me mount Rampage the other day. If I can jump out of a moving truck onto a horse, I can sit on a barrel.”

Jackson snorted a brief laugh. “Oh, hell, I know you can climb on that thing. You can even ride it if I get to bucking it. I’m not worried aboutthat.” He stepped closer. “I’m worried about what it represents. What it symbolizes. You know as well as I do that if you get on that thing, it’ll lead to you getting on a bull. And then you’ll get on another one. And you won’t stop until you’ve completed the circuit.”

The pause was heavy and Slater waited for his friend to finish. It came a moment later.

“So are you absolutely sure you want to climb up there? You really want to go down this road?”

Slater thought about it for a moment. He read the concern in Jackson’s eyes. It was evident where the question was coming from.

His heart.

He was worried.

It made Slater sad. But the thought of losing Big Cedar made him even sadder.

Still, he couldn’t break Jackson’s heart. Not after all they’d been through. Not with the feelings they shared for one another.

“Just say the word,” he said. “I’ll untie these ropes, throw that barrel back in the barn, and never so much as look at another bull with the intent to ride it again in my life.” He grinned. “Besides, it’s not just you now. We have a little cutie. I need to stay healthy for her.”

Jackson returned the smile. “Hey, you’re finally making some sense.” The grin faded a bit as he continued, “But I want you to be happy.”

“I’m happy as long as I’m with her. And you.”

Jackson nodded. “I won’t stand in your way. So no, I won’t be telling you to stop. But I will tell you to make sure you really want to do this. Consider the risks. Count the cost. Be absolutely certain.”

“Hey,” Slater said, “I’m not the Little. Remember? She’s inside.”

“No I’m not.”

Slater looked, along with Jackson, to see Mina stepping out from the trees.

It was Jackson who said, “Thought you were inside investigating stuff on the computer.”

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