Page 38 of Ropers Can't Tie Knots
“I’ll come to you. Let’s have fun.”
Riley nods, picking up on my tone that I no longer want to talk about it, and we turn our attention to the action in the ring.
After the saddle bronc and bareback riders finish, the steer wrestling teams move into position at the other end of the ring. Riley is wound tight. I’m afraid to talk to him in case he shatters in his seat.
“He’s so fucking hot when he does this, Gabe. I never want him to quit steer wrestling. Just gimme one rodeo a year and I’ll die a happy man.”
Riley keeps his eyes glued to the chutes, and while I laugh inside at how manic he is over Jackson and his event, I understand a lot more now.
“Oh my god. They’re up.” He inches to the edge of his seat while the crowd claps for the local team. Jackson’s head nods, and a single,‘yep!’carries out. Hunter and Jackson burst from the chutes chasing down the steer, and I view Hunter in a totally different light.
I don’t keep watching Jackson to see if he wrestles the steer. Instead, my attention is on Hunter as he guides his horse to Jackson’s with a single glance over his shoulder to see how his partner did. He rides Dixie up to Jackson’s horse, and his lips move as he pats the horse on the neck.
There’s no doubt in my mind he’s used to being out of the spotlight when competing with Jackson. His motions are all from the heart because the attention from the crowd is on the man in the ring wrestling a steer. There’s a fleeting moment of tenderness between Hunter and the horses as he gathers the reins of Jackson’s horse and leads her back.
Riley whoops in his seat next to me, but my attention remains on Hunter. Hunter’s gaze lifts and immediately locks with mine. The corner of his mouth lifts in a half smile, and he taps his hat.
Damn.
Even that tap makes me hot all over.
And he still has to get in the ring and do the whole sexy rope-throwing thing. I just might die. If I knew cowboys were so damn sexy, I’d have gone to rodeos years ago.
The other events pass in a blur, and when there’s a break in the rodeo action, I finally join in the conversation with Jackson’s parents and others in the stands.
“It’s Gabe, right? You’re Riley’s friend?”
An older man greets me, and I remember him as the dad of one of the other cowboys.
“Yes, that’s right. You’re Jamieson’s dad, right? Charlie?”
“Griff’s dad. You’re close.” He chuckles and I try to hide my surprise but fail. “I know. I look a lot different from the first timewe met.” He pats his stomach. “I’ve gained loads of weight, and I’m not a walking skeleton anymore. Those boys feed me well.”
“I’m happy to hear that. It’s almost their turn.”
“It is, but I was hoping I could ask you something. A legal question if that’s okay? I know this is out of office hours, but Griff said you were very helpful when he needed.”
Griff took me up on my offer to draft a power of attorney while his dad was in rehab, and clearly, rehab is doing wonders for the man.
“I’m always available for questions. How can I help?”
“Well…I don’t have a will, and I need to make sure I make things easy for Griff. He’s done so much for me, and I want to do this for him, but I don’t know where to start.”
“I’d be happy to help, Charlie. Do you want to call me and make an appointment, or would you prefer if I come to the house?” I normally wouldn’t offer that, but it turns out many of the ranchers and farmers appreciate me going to them. Their days are often weather-dependent or full from before sunrise to sunset. Something else Hunter has taught me since moving here. I’m not a guy in a suit in an air-conditioned office anymore. I wear jeans and cowboy boots with button-down shirts and do business next to tractors or over quick lunches along the fence.
Visiting Charlie’s home seems like a normal extension to that.
His face lights up. “Would you come to the house? I can make it to the office, but the house would be great.”
Pulling out a business card, I pass it to him. “Call me and we can pick a day.”
“Thanks so much, Gabe. I super appreciate this.”
He pockets the card, and the genuine sincerity in his voice warms me so much that if he doesn’t call me, I’ll call him first.
When we settle back into our seats and the action starts again, my heart thumps hard in my chest listening to the announcer.
“Ladies and gentlemen, you are in for something special tonight. Young Levi D’Amour is starting his team roping career in Kissing Ridge with none other than Hunter Burke, our hometown hero. You might remember, though it’s been many years now, that Hunter and his previous roping partner were top dogs.”
