The Bull Rider's Cowgirl Read online

  He sprang to his feet and ran. Sonic followed, charging twice before the bullfighters distracted him and directed him back toward the pen.

  Colt spotted his Stetson in the dirt. He scooped it up, settled it back on his head, then tipped the brim at Sonic. The bull snorted, kicking the metal gate one more time as he bulldozed his way into the pen.

  Colt pulled his mouth guard out, shoved it in his pocket and laughed. “Nice meetin’ you, too, you big bastard.”

  He waved at the cheering crowd, then made his way out of the ring, rubbing a hand over the sore muscles of his lower back and grimacing at the sharp ache in his left ankle.

  Judd met him at the gate, handed him his phone, then slapped his shoulder. “I think you just locked this one down, man. No one’s going to pull off a better ride than that tonight.”

  “Let’s hope not,” Colt said, breathing hard. “That bull made me earn it.”

  Judd laughed. “I gotta get back and spot another rider.” He jerked his thumb over his shoulder as he left. “Your fan club’s calling.”

  Colt glanced toward the stands. Tammy stood on the floor beside the front row, laughing and waving her hat wildly. Karla was at her side, whistling through two fingers and making catcalls. Jen stood nearby with a blank expression, clutching a beer.

  Colt made his way over but slowed when Jen’s dark eyes ran over him, hovering on the slight limp of his left leg. His grin widened and that tingle of satisfaction returned.

  “That was fantastic,” Karla yelled over the noise in the arena.

  “Fantastic?” Tammy threw her arms around his shoulders and squeezed. “It was phenomenal!”

  A chuckle escaped him despite the painful twinge Tammy’s snug hold caused. “Glad you thought so.”

  “Are you all right?”

  Jen scrutinized his left leg. Her eyes lifted and locked with his, the gentle concern shining there sparking an unwelcome yearning in his chest. It made his palms itch with the need to reach out and tug her to him. Made him miss the friendly banter they used to share.

  “Why?” Colt slipped out of Tammy’s embrace and flashed a cocky grin, teasing her like he used to. “Worried about me, baby?”

  Jen didn’t respond in kind as he’d hoped. Just scoffed, her mouth flattening as she cut her eyes away.

  He wasn’t sure what got under her skin more. The suggestive tone he’d used or the arrogant smile he’d adopted. Though it could’ve been the wink he’d thrown in, too.

  What he did know for sure was that the damage he’d done that night in the bar caused all three actions to fall flat and made him feel like more of a heel than ever.

  Tammy’s small fist punched his chest. “Watch it, Colt.”

  Duly chastised, he ducked his head and ignored the heat singeing his cheeks.

  “After you collect your check, we need to pack up and head out,” Tammy said. “That big money pot is still up for grabs at the Davie Pro Rodeo tomorrow night and I could use the extra time to prepare. I really need that win if I’m going to make it to the finals this year.”

  “You’ve got nothing to worry about,” Colt said, squeezing her shoulder.

  Tammy’s brows rose. “Oh yeah, I do. You think Jen felt bad about placing second tonight? I’d have killed for that spot. I was fifth, Colt. Fifth.”

  “I know, but—”

  “And I was eighth,” Karla added, tucking a short strand of black hair behind her ear. “Tammy and I have already crunched some numbers. Jen can get by without another win this weekend, but if Tammy and I don’t place in the top three at Davie, we’ll be so far behind we’ll never qualify for Vegas.”

  “You’ll make it,” Colt said, meeting Tammy’s uncertain expression with a determined one. “I know you will.”

  “Not if I don’t place at Davie tomorrow night.” Tammy shook her head. “Without that win, I’m out.”

  Colt nodded. A trip to Davie was just in time. Maybe he’d have more luck finding a woman there who stirred his interest. One who would help him shake off this lust he had for Jen. Then maybe he’d have a decent shot at rebuilding their friendship.

  “So we’ll head to Davie.” He grinned and patted his front pocket. “Right after I collect my check.”

  Yep. That was the way he liked it. No baggage. No responsibilities. Just an endless string of nights filled with fun and freedom. All provided by the bulk of bills lining his pockets. Money he’d earned himself on the back of a bull. Free and clear of his corporate raider father.

  The phone in Colt’s hand went off, jerking with rhythmic pulses. He glanced at the screen. Mead Enterprises again.

  He groaned. John W. Mead wasn’t giving up tonight. Might as well get it over with.

  “Gotta take this.” Colt nodded in apology to the ladies, exited the arena and accepted the call, striving for a nonchalant tone. “Before you ask, I’m headed south. In the opposite direction.”

  Silence hung heavy on the line. There was no sharp reprimand from his father. No cynical comeback. Just empty air.

  Colt huffed out a breath and kicked the ground. The old man was trying a new tactic. “Go ahead. Lay that guilt on thick ’cause it doesn’t matter. I’m not interested in joining up with the company. I have business of my own to take care of.” Bulls. Beaches. And beauties. Not necessarily in that order. “You hear me, Dad?”

  “Mr. Mead? Colt Wyatt Mead?”

  He stilled. The voice on the other end of the line was feminine. Hesitant but businesslike.

  “You got him. Who’s this?”

  “This is Angela Reed. Your father’s secretary.”

  Colt’s fingers squeezed the phone, his laugh hesitant. “You’re working late tonight. He ask you to pass along new marching orders to me?”

  “Sir.” A swift intake of air sounded across the line. “I’m sorry to deliver news this way but...” An odd tapping started, as if a phone cord was being jiggled. “There was—” Her voice cracked. “Your father’s partner, Jack Evans, has been trying to reach you. He asked me to call and tell you...”

  He froze. “Tell me what?”

  “There’s been an accident.” Her words were short and swift. “Your father’s jet crashed this morning. I’m sorry to say he didn’t make it.”

  Colt’s stomach heaved, a wave of nausea surging over him. “What?”

  “I’m very sorry, Mr. Mead,” she whispered. “But Mr. Evans wanted you to know in time to return home for the funerals if you desired to do so. Services have been arranged for Sunday afternoon.”

  “Funerals?” Dear God. Meg. “My sister. Was she—”

  “No, sir,” she said hastily. “Your sister wasn’t on board. Just your father and Mrs. Mead.”

  A strange tingling spread over him, buzzing through his blood and clouding his vision. The ground warped beneath his feet. He moved closer to the paddock fence in front of him and grabbed at the top rail.

  His father. His stepmother. Dead.

  “Mr. Mead?” The secretary’s voice softened. “Your sister is the other reason for my call. There are several matters that require your attention. May I tell Mr. Evans that you’ll be returning?”

  Colt squeezed his eyes shut. His throat thickened, strangling his words. “Y-yes. I’m returning.”

  The trembling in his limbs turned violent. Colt cut the call and clenched both hands into fists. He continued standing there as winners were announced over the PA system. Stayed still as the throng of spectators left the arena and made their way to the parking lot, leaving only rodeo participants behind.

  Colt waited until his stomach hardened and the feeling in his limbs vanished. Until there was no feeling left anywhere. Numb was a damned sight better than breaking down right now. He had to stay in control to make the long drive home. And he was a world away from Atlanta’s Tuxedo Park.r />
  * * *

  “COLT?”

  Jen took a few hesitant steps forward, her boots whispering over the grass as she approached him. He didn’t answer. Just stood there, motionless as he stared straight ahead at the paddock, fists at his sides.

  The crowd outside the Silver Spurs Arena had dwindled to a few rodeo riders, every one of them eager to find the next party and unwind. All except Colt. One phone call had extinguished his flirtatious demeanor.

  Jen’s skin prickled at the unusually tight set of his broad shoulders. She stopped, fiddled with the soggy label on her beer and tried again.

  “Colt. What’s wrong?”

  A crack of laughter rang out. Jen glanced over her shoulder to find Tammy and Karla sauntering through the exit and sharing a joke.

  Tammy’s eyes brightened as they landed on Colt. “Well, finally. We’ve been waiting for you for forever. You won. They’ve got your check...”

  Her steps faltered at his lack of response and she shot a look at Jen.

  Jen shook her head.

  “Who was on the phone, Colt?” Tammy moved to his side and placed a hand on the small of his back, releasing a small laugh. “Come on. You’re scaring us. Who was it?”

  A muscle in his jaw ticked. “My father’s secretary.”

  “Bad news?” Tammy asked.

  He nodded.

  “Well, wha—”

  “My father’s dead.”

  Tammy gasped and wrapped her hand around his upper arm. “Oh, no.”

  Jen froze, her fingers clutching the beer bottle hard. Karla made a sound of dismay at her side.

  “He and my stepmom.” His brow furrowed. “Their jet crashed.”

  The words were flat. Emotionless. His blue eyes were empty and his expression remained stoic.

  Jen’s vision blurred. “I’m so sorry, Colt,” she whispered, unsure what else to say.

  They rarely spoke of family. His, Tammy’s or hers. Just made vague comments when necessary. He and Tammy were close and that was about as much as she knew.

  Colt’s features hardened and he shrugged away from Tammy’s touch. “They always flew on a private jet.” A muscle ticked in his jaw. “It’s faster and my father says it’s safer. At least that’s what he used to say.” A sneer crossed his face. “Truth was, he thought he was too good to fly commercial with common people. Both of them did.” His voice weakened. “Death doesn’t discriminate, though, does it?”

  Jen’s heart squeezed at the shadows in his eyes. She glanced at Tammy, her throat closing at the tears streaming down her friend’s cheeks. Jen crossed to her side and squeezed her hand.

  Colt planted his back to them, saying, “My sister’s alone.”

  “You have a sister?” Jen asked.

  Colt nodded and thrust his hands in his pockets. “Meg. My half sister. She’s around nine now. I haven’t seen her since she was two.”

  Jen hesitated. “Surely a family member’s with her—”

  “What family?” Scorn tinged his words. He spun around to face her. “My father’s work was his family. It’s not surprising that his secretary was the one to give me the news.” He hesitated, his sculpted mouth opening, then closing as he eyed his cousin. “Tammy, I need to go home. Just for the weekend. For the funeral and to see Meg.”

  “Of course.” Tammy pulled her hand free from Jen’s and wiped her cheeks. “I’ll go with you. We can have the horses loaded in no time.”

  “No.” Colt held up a hand. “I’m going alone. You have a race to win.”

  Tammy’s jaw fell. “Screw the race, Colt. I’m not—”

  “You are.” He shook his head, jaw clenching. “You know what it’s like back there. And I’m not staying for any longer than the...” He stopped, looking away before continuing. “I’m not staying any longer than necessary.”

  Jen ached at the bleak tone in his voice. She longed to wrap her arms around Colt and comfort him but knew he wouldn’t accept it.

  “Colt.” Tammy’s tone turned hard. “There’s no way I’m letting you go alo—”

  “You don’t have to let me do anything. This is how I want it.” Colt’s chest lifted on a rough breath. “You knew what he was like. He never gave a shit about me. Or you. Or anyone for that matter. I’m not letting you blow your chance at success for that—”

  His voice cracked. He spun on his heel to leave.

  Tammy grabbed his arm and jerked him to a stop. “Colt. This is ridiculous.” She stepped close, her face pleading. “You can’t expect me to waltz off to a race while you’re dealing with this.”

  “You think I’d want you going back there? Ever?” Colt took her shoulders and peered down at her. “Do you want to go back, Tammy?”

  Jen studied her friend. Tammy looked down, hands twisting and face paling.

  Colt’s chin trembled. He dragged his teeth over his bottom lip. “You weren’t welcome there before he died. You think you’ll be more welcome now? Take my word for it that whoever he left in charge of that place will be just as cold and hateful as he was. I’m not letting you go through that again.”

  “Colt, please. You can’t...” A sob broke from Tammy.

  Colt tugged her close and tucked her head under his chin, his voice strained. “You’ll go to Davie and you’ll win. And I’ll be back before you know it.”

  Jen closed her eyes, her heart still clenching at the mixture of pain and tenderness in Colt’s face.

  “Then let Jen go with you.”

  Jen’s eyes sprang open at Tammy’s words. “What? Tammy—”

  Tammy spun to face her, expression fierce. “I can’t let him go alone, Jen. And you’ll be fine without competing at Davie.”

  “No,” Colt stated, stepping back.

  Tammy followed and grabbed Colt’s vest. “Let her go with you. If for no other reason than to make sure you get there and back safely. There’s no way I’ll be able to focus tomorrow night knowing you’re dealing with this on your own.” She jerked her chin at Karla. “You traveling to Davie alone?”

  Karla nodded.

  “You mind me and Razz catching a ride with you? That way Jen can take Diamond with Colt. I’ll pitch in for gas and expenses.”

  “Of course,” Karla said. “I’d be happy to help.”

  Jen shook her head. “Tammy, this is not a good idea.”

  “Jen’s right. I’ll be fine on my own.” Colt pulled free of Tammy and walked back into the arena.

  Tammy hesitated, staring after Colt for a moment. Then she rushed to Jen, taking her forearms, hard and desperate. “You’ve got to do this for me, Jen. I’ll talk to him. He’ll be fine with it.”

  “I know you’re worried,” she said gently. “But you heard him. He wants to go alone.”

  “Colt wants to do a lot of things that aren’t good for him. And he usually does.” Tammy’s small smile died quickly. “But this is one time that I can’t let him. Please, Jen. I know him. He needs someone right now no matter what he says. Too much has happened for him to let me go back—” She bit her lip and waved a hand in the air. “There’s no way he’ll bend on letting me go, but he will for you.” She stepped forward, hugged Jen and whispered, “No matter what went down between you two, I know you care about him as much as I do. Colt and I are lucky we found you. You’re not just a friend to us. You’ve become family. I know you’ll take care of Colt and I know he needs you. It’s only for the weekend. So, please, do this for me.”

  Something wet tickled Jen’s cheek. She rubbed it off on Tammy’s shoulder and huffed out a breath.

  Tammy laughed and released her, brushing a new flood of tears from her face, too. “I may love you like a sister but that doesn’t mean you can use my shirt as a hanky.”

  “That’s what you get for being so sappy.” Jen smi
led, blinking hard to clear her vision. “I’ll go. But only if he agrees to it.”

  “He will.” Tammy headed after Colt, calling over her shoulder, “I’ll be back in a few minutes to help load up, Karla.”

  Jen watched Tammy leave and felt the weight of Karla’s stare, her cheeks heating under her scrutiny. Jen glanced away and stood still as fellow racers laughed and climbed into their vehicles. Engines turned over and trucks began lining up on the paved road leading to the exit. No doubt once the night’s fun was had, they’d rise early tomorrow morning, hook up their trailers and head to the next event. Davie, most likely.

  Jen looked down at the soggy beer label and picked at the corners. If she went with Colt, she’d miss the Davie Pro Rodeo. Lose an opportunity to gain a better advantage over her competitors. And she’d have to work that much harder to earn a ticket to Vegas when she returned.

  Only, seeing Colt in pain had tied a knot in her chest that she didn’t think would disappear when she hit the alley at Davie.

  “Tammy’s right.” Karla dragged the toe of her boot over the grass and shoved her hands in her pockets. “I’ve never seen Colt clam up like that before. It’s good you’re going with him.”

  “Yeah,” Jen whispered. “It’s a good thing.”

  She hoped it was. A couple days. That was all. She’d help Colt through this, then she’d plan a new schedule, get back on the road and hit the circuit again.

  Aside from their recent falling out, Colt had always been a good friend to her. It was time for her to be a good friend to him. Just as long as she remembered being friends was all he wanted. And all she could afford to be.

  Chapter Three

  Colt rubbed a hand over his gritty eyes and sat up straight in the driver’s seat. The entrance was close, about three blocks ahead. He’d know it as soon as he saw it. There’d be a broad metal gate, security checkpoint and endless paved driveway.

  He glanced in the rearview mirror, cocking his head and straining for any abnormal sounds from the white trailer hitched to his truck. Diamond was quiet. Just as he had been the entire eight-hour drive from Kissimmee to Atlanta. It seemed he’d taken full advantage of the quiet night drive to sleep and wasn’t ready to start his Saturday morning yet.