Page 12 of Rodeo Rivals
He licked his bottom lip. “Well, best of luck out there.”
When he clapped her on the shoulder, he winked. She couldn’t help but recoil.
On the surface, their interaction was friendly enough, but she felt off.
Stuffing his hands in his pockets, he whistled and walked away.
Unsure how to process the interaction, her gaze followed him all the way to Wyatt. Quickly, she averted her focus and turned. Ducking down, she squeezed her eyes shut and laughed at herself. What the hell wasshedoing? Hiding? She wasn’t invisible. He’d see her if he looked this way.
Taking a deep breath, McKayla tried to re-center herself. Who cared if Wyatt was there? What did it matter? He did not differ from any other competitor. What she did on Lady Jane was between her and the horse. What he did on his own didn’t matter. She’d still stick to her saddle as though she were glued there.
Digging through her duffel bag, she found her resistance band. She needed to get her head back in the game. Her focus should be on prepping for going into the arena and not on who she rode last night. That was behind her. This was her future. No distractions. She worked too damn hard to get there to allow some random dude to ruin it for her.
Stepping into the large rubber band, she tugged it up around her shins, just below her knees, and placed her hands on the metal rail. Lifting one leg behind her and then the other, she went back to getting her muscles ready. This was the most important night of her life. She couldn’t afford any mistakes. Tonight would shape her career as a PRCA saddle bronc rider.
10
Wyatt
“She’s here,” Seth announced like a giddy little kid who’d gotten his first Stetson.
“Who?” Wyatt asked as he placed his hands on his hips, stuck one leg out in front of him, and dipped into a deep lunge.
“The woman riding rough stock,” Seth said.
“Oh,” Wyatt scoffed.
Why was Seth so hung up on this? Who cared who they rode against? It didn’t matter. It wasn’t like they were in the arena at the same time. What she did on her horse had no impact on what any of the men would do on theirs.
“Pretty little thing. And I do mean little.” Seth stuck his thumbs in his belt loops. “She’s barely five feet tall. Thick, though. It’s all in her thighs.”
Wyatt switched legs and continued his stretches. “So?”
“She’s going to get hurt out there,” Seth said.
Wyatt shrugged. “I’m sure she’ll be alright.”
“You and I both know rough stock isn’t for the weak. Those are the most dangerous eight seconds of anyone’s life.”
Wyatt stopped and stood his full height. “Are you scared of her or something?”
Seth scoffed and crossed his arms, puffing out his chest. “Me?”
Wyatt raised his eyebrows expectantly.
“I’m not sure how up to date you are with the standings—”
“Oh, I am,” Wyatt interrupted. “Which is why I’m wondering what you’re here flapping your gums about. Competing against a womanshouldn’tbe a concern when youshouldget yourself ready to ride.”
Shaking his head, Seth waved Wyatt’s words away. “It’s not right. She’s going to get hurt.”
“Maybe, but I think your ego is in more danger than she is,” Wyatt said as Seth turned his back to walk away.
Sighing, disappointed in his friend, Wyatt glanced down the lane and nearly fell over. Blinking, he tried to clear out whatever dust had gotten in his eyes, because there was no way in hell he saw what he thought.
McKayla from the Double Wide, and his bed last night, did squats mere feet from him. She was the one who worried Seth. She was the woman he didn’t want to compete against.
Goddamn.
