Page 30 of Ash on the Range
“He's an emcee tonight.” Eve slipped into the spot Denver vacated, tipping his hat and murmuring his excuses. “Up there.”
I squinted at the spot she pointed to, but all I saw was a dark silhouette on the wrong side of the light from where I stood. “I’ll have to trust you. Is Jude riding?” I asked curiously, looking back at Will, who shrugged.
“Hell, no. I’m keeping my feet on Red Hart dirt. Will’s the one who likes to get air time around here.”
Jude stood behind us when I swiveled about, peeking around Will’s bulk. The foreman gave me a quick wink, but maintained his customary unsmiling facade. I’d learned that was his usual exterior, and smiles were rare from him, but that didn’t mean he was grumpy.
“Speaking of,” Will dipped his head and kissed the slope of my neck, leaving tiny shocks tearing across my skin. “I have to go.”
“What, now?”Already?But I just found you,I wanted to protest. Instead, I bit my lip and nodded. “Be safe?” I offered.
Will laughed. “That’s a first. Usually it’s, ‘try to stay on the bull, Will,’ or some other variation.”
I wrinkled my nose. “I’ll take you not getting hurt again over making points, big guy. And come back to me?” an ache of desperation rose in my chest, and that last came out so soft that I barely heard my own words. I was pretty sure that he wasn't above the crowd.
“Yeah?” His chin brushed my cheek, grazing my skin with stubble, lifting my face to his. I had time for part of a breath before his mouth was on mine in an all consuming kiss before his hands left me and the contact was broken. When he stepped away from me, the satisfaction in his eyes left me on a slow burn inside. “I’ll find you after, okay? Stay with Eve.”
“I’ve got her,” Eve said after a moment, when I couldn't answer for myself.
I nodded instead, wiggling my fingers. My arms wrapped about my waist as I watched Will walk away, and suddenly I’d never felt so alone in a crowd of people. Travis began to talk, introducing the riders before their first event, but I didn’t hear more than a few muted words.
The girls converged on me. We huddled by the railing off to one side of the tiered seating as the boys all lined up. I spotted a few of the newer ranch hands in there, alongside Will, who stood close to the centre, alongside Denver, decked out all in black top to toe. A huge cheer erupted from the crowd in front of Red Hart’s big house as someone played Slade’sCum On Feel The Noizewhile the boys walked off stage.
Travis rattled on, thanking the locals for coming and the businesses who had donated their time and effort. I turned out again, watching Will leave the center of the arena.
“Does anyone know what order they come in?” I asked the air in general, not really expecting an answer.
A piece of paper in Eve’s handwriting was presented to me by two thick, calloused fingers.
“Here’s one someone else prepared for you earlier.” I could hear the smirk in his voice, even if I knew it wouldn’t be visible on his face.
“Thank you.” I took the list, tracing my finger to the bottom of the row to find Will’s name.
Last.
“Wow.” I had to wait all night just to see him ride.
“It’ll be okay. Here.” Natalie pushed a premixed can into my hands. “Everything is better with vodka.”
I grinned, cracking it open. “I mean, I can't argue with that.” Something sweet clashed with something else citrusy that argued with my taste buds the whole way down. I grimaced at my enthusiasm from a moment before but relished the light burn. Eve had been right; I was a college student after all. We had moonshine in the dorms that I swore was single handedly responsible for the bald patch on one leg that never required shaving. “It’s good,” I managed, trying not to gag on the sweetness overwhelm.
Natalie watched me with a shrewd eye. “Or maybe the girl just wants her vodka straight.”
“Sure.” I gave her a thumbs up and she nodded decisively, disappearing back into the crowd.
Eve shook her head. “Drinking with Nat is dangerous,” she laughed softly. “I should know.”
“I sense a story there.” I hugged her shoulder, passing over the can of premix. “Do you want this? I don’t think I can stomach it.”
Eve made a face. “Hell, no. I’m a whiskey girl. Besides, I kinda can’t…” She pressed a hand to her stomach where I'd seen her wince in the kitchen once before.
I stared at her hand for a moment before the hint dropped and my eyebrows hiked. “Is that? Are you– I—” I glanced back at Jude who watched me with his standard stoic expression, giving away absolutely nothing at all. “You knew,” I accused him, giving her a hug.
“Yep.” He watched the first rider come out as the ground rumbled and music played.
I knew it wasn’t Will, so I ignored everything. “This is your Texas man?” I asked Eve. “Does he know?” Suddenly, all themidnight calls and early morning texts made a whole lot more sense.
She shook her head. “No. I haven’t told him yet.” The crowdoohedaround us just before the buzzer rang.
