Page 4 of Buck This
The bartender nodded and gave her the thumbs up and went to work making the drinks.
The woman grinned over at her. “We don’t give a shit about fitting in around here.”
Torrey liked her. She scrambled to pull some cash from her wallet as the bartender strode their way with two margaritas in plastic cups.
“Don’t worry about it,” the woman said. “I get them for free.”
“Whoa. Are you famous or something?”
“Nah. Thanks, Brody. This one is with me tonight,” she said as she took her drink.
“You got it,” he said and then sauntered back to the bar.
Torrey cupped her ice-cold drink in her hands. “That was way easier than when I tried it. Can I be you when I grow up?”
The woman laughed and sipped her drink. “I’m Raven.”
Cool name. “I’m Torrey.” She offered her hand for a shake, and Raven shook it. “Who are the guys signing autographs?”
“Some knuckle-head bull shifters. They ran the circuit back in the day. It hasn’t been the same since they retired, so they get asked to sign at events to keep the crowds coming in.”
“That’s cool,” she said, and sipped her drink. “Quickdraw Slow Burn,” she read aloud from the sign in front of one of the men’s tables. He was a giant with dark hair and tattoos down his forearms.
Raven pointed to the next table over. “That’s Two Shots Down. Dead of Winter. First Time Train Wreck. Tuff Enough. Although that one isn’t retired or a bull shifter. He’s a shifter, but he rides broncs. He’s held the number one spot for a while now.”
“Broncs are…”
“Bucking horses.”
“Aaah. Super cool.”
Raven giggled. “I like you.”
“Why? Because I know nothing?”
“You know enough. No, it’s your aura. You are chill. You’re a watcher, but have a naturally happy demeanor, don’t you?”
“Usually. Tonight, I’m kind of off.”
“Everyone has bad days. Your bad day isn’t disguising your aura though. I bet you would put any shifter in here at ease real quick.”
“Oh, I doubt that. I pissed off a shifter outside just a few minutes ago. He was mad-mad. He had to save my life, and I think he doesn’t appreciate inconveniences.”
Raven belted out a laugh. “Well, some men in this circuit just stay mad. They have to. They’re competing for huge money, for sponsors, for media attention, the works. This is a very competitive circuit, and Bull shifters don’t function scared at events. They compete best when they’re angry. Forgive their manners. Most of them are better outside of the events.”
“Oh, I don’t even know if the guys I ran into is a bull-shifter. He just had bright eyes.”
“Is he cute?”
“So hot,” Torrey huffed in admission.
Raven laughed again. “I met my husband at an event just like this one. Feels like a hundred years ago somedays, and like just yesterday others.”
“Is your husband here?”
“Oh yeah.”
Torrey looked around, but all she saw was a trio of beautiful cowgirls approaching them. “Where is he?”
