Page 56 of The Chances We Take

Colter put a hand on my shoulder, and I gave him a look of gratitude before closing my eyes and inhaling.

The arena under my feet. The sun on my back. Colter’s hand.

Popcorn from the concessions. Horse sweat.

My eyes opened.The grandstands.

That was all it took to get me back down to Earth and calm my nerves. I was lucky to have a friend—and roping partner—like Colter. We knew each other well enough that he sensed when I needed help grounding myself, and he was always there.

“Six-point-two seconds!” The announcer called out the Idaho team’s time.

I looked into the grandstands closest to us, trying to seeif I could spot where Isa and Ellison were sitting. It didn’t work, and I huffed out a breath of air.

“What’s up?” Colter raised a brow.

“Just looking around,” I replied, shrugging him off. “I’m good, man. I’m fine.”

He pointed across the arena to the right of us. “They’re over there. It’s okay, it helps me to know where Ellison is too.”

“What?” I’d never told him I was looking for Isa.

Colter had already started walking toward Bullet, though, so he could mount the horse and be ready for when our names would be called. I followed, dragging my feet along, even though this was the very thing I lived for.

I just didn’t want to let Colter down. Again.

“Four-point-nine seconds!”

I pumped my fist at our time. Perfectly executed, fast, and enough to put us at the top of the leaderboard.

Colter tipped his hat at me as he led the steer down the arena to the alleyway. I followed, coiling up my rope as we went. I looked to the stands where Isabelle and Ellison were. Isa was standing and cheering, and I grinned at the sight.

I rode up next to Colter as he turned around at the end of the area.

“I knew we had it.” He nodded at me.

I tipped my hat, and we continued riding until we were out of the arena.

“What a run, boys!” Mikey wrapped his arms around our shoulders, forcing us to slouch slightly.

“Thanks, man.” I gave him a tight smile.

“Only one thing that would make the week going into your wedding better, eh, Colter?” He waggled his eyebrows, and I rolled my eyes.

“I’m not going to the damn strip club with you, Mikey.”

“You’re no fun, Colter. But that’s not what I was thinking anyway. I think we should all go to the bar tonight. Ellison and Isabelle too. Celebrate a little. Let loose before the stress of wedding week,” he explained.

“That may be the first good idea he’s ever had.” Colter nudged me with a chuckle.

“Mikey has a good idea? Has hell frozen over?” Jake walked over and punched Mikey on the arm.

“I haveplentyof good ideas!” Mikey protested.

“Your last ‘good idea’ almost got you killed,” Hayden scoffed as he joined the conversation.

“I outran the thing, though, didn’t I?” Mikey threw up his hands.

Hisgreat ideawas to see how close he could get to a bison we found wandering around. We all warned him,“Haven’t you seen all of the news articles of people getting gored by bison in Yellowstone?”but he did it anyway.

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