Page 59 of The Wildest Ride

But while his body was ready to pick up where they’d left off the night before, his mind had a bit more insight as to how they’d gotten here in the first place now. And had, perhaps, even identified a course with which they might once again end up in the place where it seemed both his mind and body wanted to go.

AJ nodded to the greenie. “Why don’t you read Lil Sorrow the article?”

Eager to assist rodeo’s brightest new star, the redheaded greenie read the article aloud.

“Like the cowboys of old, on the surface, Lil Sorrow is a woman of few words—outwardly as cool, calm, and collected as the flint her eyes call to mind. But boiling below lurks the passionate heart of a primal fighter—and lover—as fierce and free as the wild mustangs she’s here to catch. Lil Sorrow is pressing the limits of the sport as we know it—and, if she’s lucky, she just might catch a dream-come-true love along the way.”

The greenie paused to offer them a sly playground smile before continuing.

“Both sides of her head are shaved, her fresh fades accented by lightning bolts on either side. Her long fishtail braid reaches down the middle of her back, and even without knowing she rides bulls better than most men, it’s already clear she’s cooler than I’ll ever be. About a foot shorter than your average rodeo cowboy, it’s more than her pretty features and femininity that throw off the scent of rodeo around her. With her tailored clothing, often black, always at the front edge of fashion, she initially looks more like a television personality than a real cowboy—but you’d be mistaken to believe the impression. In fact, though you’d never know it, the slight figure rocking the rodeo world, utterly redefining what a champion looks like, is one of the most traditional riders the PBRA has seen in a decade. With her thick, straight eyebrows, and naturally curling lashes that perfectly frame the mystery of her storm-gray half-moon eyes. She’s certainly the prettiest.”

Lil’s eyes bulged as the greenie continued reading.

“A born and bred rancher, Lil is the old-fashioned real deal, having learned the tricks of roping and riding working the family land—but her story goes deeper than that. She’s no mere ringer, though—the girl comes from good stock, the granddaughter of INFR champion Herman ‘The Horsefly’ Island. A bad start early in his PBRA crossover meant Herman never fully achieved his dream of being the first major crossover from the INFR to the PBRA, but now, nearly three decades later, his granddaughter is here to get the job done. But for the first woman to reach rough stock riding heights, a PBRA buckle isn’t enough—not when her one shot to show the world that girls can ride as well as the boys also happens to be the final tour for the legendary AJ Garza. ‘The stars just aligned,’ she says with a faint blush and a private laugh, referring to the surprise announcement that Garza would be entering the competition. ‘I’ve followed him since he first appeared on the scene. I love him... The opportunity to be up close and personal is a dream come true. All that said, though, obviously I’m going to try to beat him,’ she adds with a twinkle in her usual gaze. Her words are all the more intoxicating, delivered as they are by a voice that sounds like an old-fashioned mixed by a bartender with nothing to prove.”

A sound bubbled out of Lil’s mouth that AJ would’ve called a croak, momentarily interrupting the greenie, who picked back up with the final paragraph of the article.

“Well, this reporter, for one, couldn’t be happier for her or for the world of rodeo—she’s the best new thing the sport has had to offer since they added bareback broncs to the roster. Watch out, rodeo, watch out, world, and mostly, watch out, Garza. Your days on top are numbered.”

The warmth he felt hearing the words read out loud could only be described as wicked.

Proudly, the greenie concluded,

“Because in the end, my money is on Lil, who winked on her way out, tossing over her shoulder as if it explained everything, ‘Skill is sexy,’ and even though I’m happily married and old enough to be her father, heat rushes to my face and I know she’s right. Skill is sexy, and she’s got it in spades. And judging from the famous kiss we all saw, Mr. Garza sees it, too.”

Lil grimaced, but AJ urged the greenie on. “Keep reading.” The kid took a deep breath and went on.

“In the realm of rodeo, more famous for clinging to images of a mythologized Wild West that never quite was than for breaking new ground, she’s just what the doctor ordered. A breath of fresh country air. Unsurprisingly, it has taken a woman to get the job done, reminding us every time she enters the arena what the heart and soul of rodeo is really about: man pitting himself—or, in this case, woman pitting herself—against the greatest forces that nature has to offer. Whether they be a three-thousand pound man killer, or the most dangerous beast of all: love.”

AJ smiled as the greenie finished reading the article, the young man’s voice going syrupy along with the author’s final sentiment.

“He’s not wrong, you know,” AJ said through the Cheshire cat grin stretched across his face. “Even if he gets a bit sentimental toward the end.”

Lil’s mouth had dropped open, her skin going a shade somewhere between ashen gray and brownish green.

AJ added idly, “About you being pretty, I mean.”

A squeak emerged from the back of Lil’s throat, sounding as if it were coming from far away.

AJ’s mood was improving by the minute.

Head shaking, in too loud a voice, Lil insisted, “That’s not what I said.”

It was obvious it came as an absolute surprise to her that her words might be misrepresented in print. That it did was one of the few signs of just how green she really was.

Audiences always fixated on sex—especially reporters.

The greenie piped in proudly, “You went viral!”

“Oh no.” Lil’s lips came together, lush and full, as distracting naked as they’d been stained red, while she brought her hand to her forehead.

“You’re internet famous now,” AJ said cheerfully.

Eyes closing, she moaned, the miserable sound nothing like those he’d heard the night before.

His mind’s willful return to the sights and sounds of the previous evening, despite the fact that in reality they’d amounted to little more than heavy petting in the end, wasn’t the kind of relived experience of youth he was looking for when he’d had the idea to ride for CityBoyz, however.

“For all the wrong reasons,” she muttered to herself, under the noise of the greenie clapping beside her. “This is terrible. I didn’t say that.”

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