Page 27 of Rodeo Rivals
Sitting in a chair outside his truck in the parking lot of the rodeo, hanging his head, Wyatt couldn’t believe what he’d done. In all his years riding, he’d never so much as raised his voice. Yet tonight he’d gotten into a fight with his friend—former friend. Anyone Wyatt associated with wouldn’t speak to women that way. How had he missed it?
Shaking his head, he leaned back and pinched the bridge of his nose. He fucked up.Bad. Thankfully, Seth declined to press charges. However, that didn’t mean shit to the PRCA. They not only fined him but suspended him from competing in Dalhart.
It would’ve been better had he finished last. Getting into a fight with Seth was the worst thing he could do for his career. It’dbe all over the magazines. Rumors would start. His reputation was shot. This was not what he needed coming back from an injury. He needed to be ranking so he could climb in the standings. Sitting an event out was not an option.
Yet there he was. Parked on his ass, not in a saddle, while other people rode. Goddammit, what was he thinking?
That was the thing, though. He hadn’t been. He watched and reacted. His emotions got the better of him. As much as he wished to ignore them, they refused to go away quietly into the night.
Speaking of which…
He should hit the road. If he left now, he could get to the next stop, which was actually backward, back in Mesquite, Texas, before anyone else got there. He’d have the time to condition himself and get his shit together with no one else around.
But no.
He lingered in the parking lot—on the fringe of all the festivities, listening. The speakers were loud enough that he could actually make out what the announcers said if he focused hard enough. Or if the crowd wasn’t too loud. But the question remained.
Why?
There was no benefit in staying behind. It wasn’t like he planned on indulging in any more of Dalhart’s hospitality. This event had days of activities planned. He’d only enjoyed two of them. Well, one. Considering he got kicked out of the other. So why was he still there?
Sighing heavily at himself, he nodded, knowing full well the reason he hung around. He wanted to find out how everyone else had done. How much lower could he go in the rankings by missing this stop?
Yes. He could simply look that up on the internet tomorrow. It wasn’t like that information was hard to get. So maybe thatwasn’t it. He remained in Dalhart for one reason and one reason alone. He just wasn’t ready to admit it to himself yet.
McKayla
Panting wildly, McKayla scanned the crowd of people cheering after her run. Blue Bonnet was a hell of a fighter. She kicked harder than any other horse McKayla had ever ridden, but she hung on. Now, it was time to see how she did.
Eighty-four was the score to beat. Toby Wannachuk led the pack today. That’d be a tough score to beat. If she got over eighty, she’d be happy. That dimwit Seth scored eighty. He seemed rattled after the fight with Wyatt. She doubted he rode at the top of his game, but she’d still take satisfaction if she were higher than him.
Bringing her hands together, she blew out a heavy breath and waited for them to announce how she had done. Closing her eyes, she prayed to at least cash out. She didn’t have to win. A check would do her good. She’d take it.
Holding her breath at the sound of her name, she waited.
Eighty-two point five. Her heart leaped into her throat. She covered her gaping mouth as she screamed.Eighty-two pointfive.She jumped and pumped a fist in the air. Second place. She was in second place. She beat Seth.
Whirling around, tears in her eyes, she scanned the men in cowboy hats. She needed someone to celebrate with her. Only one person came to mind who would be happy for her.
And he wasn’t there.
Her smile fell.
Wyatt wasn’t there.
He’d been ejected.
Gone.
Hanging her head, she kicked at the small pebbles in the dirt.
Seth’s plan was to get McKayla to snap and get herself out of the competition. He didn’t know about Wyatt. Wyatt stood up for her. She hadn’t asked him to do it. He did it anyway.
Biting her bottom lip, she glanced around again, searching for him, knowing full well he wasn’t there. Wyatt defended her. She pulled off her hat and ran her hand through her matted hair. Things with him weren’t as casual as they’d pretended they were.
She wanted him around. That wasnota no-strings-attached arrangement. It made things complicated. She didn’t have time for this mess. While she appreciated what he did, everyone had to move past it. She could handle things herself. He didn’t need to do it.
Seth may have been the first to fuck with her, but he wouldn’t be the last. Women breaking into men’s sports had to deal with it. Then again, no one said she had to manage it alone.
