Chapter Six
Jackson
I stood there, gripping the rough rope tightly as I stared down at the horse shifting restlessly under me. I tightened my grip, then pounded on my closed fist, making sure I could hang on. My heart pounded in my chest, and I could feel the adrenaline coursing through my veins. I took a deep breath, trying to steady myself. This rodeo was no different than the others I’d competed in, but somehow, it felt like there was more on the line this time.
Making sure my hat wouldn’t fly off with the first buck, I gave a nod to the men keeping the chute closed. The moment it opened, the horse shot out into the arena, bucking and twisting. His hooves barely touched the ground before he was airborne again. Mid-buck, he rotated, doing his best to throw me off. The asshole got close to the rails on the arena, slamming my leg into the post. I winced, but clung to him, refusing to let go.
The buzzer went off, and I prepared to dismount. The crowd erupted into deafening applause and whistles as I managed to beat the clock.
“Eight seconds! And he’s done it, folks!” the announcer bellowed, his voice crackling with excitement as I hung on for dear life to the bucking bronc beneath me.
I exhaled sharply, my heart pounding in my chest, sweat dripping down my face. The arena seemed to vibrate with their energy, and I couldn’t help but feel a surge of pride at having given them the show they’d come to see.
On the next buck, I released the rigging. I flew through the air and landed in a crouch on the arena floor. The demented horse ran for me, charging with his head down as if he were a bull. I ran for the rails, and barely launched myself to the top before he rammed his side into them.
Rodeo clowns came and managed to get him into the exit chute. Another grabbed my rigging and returned it to me. I dusted myself off and waved my hat to the crowd, letting them know I was fine. I put pressure on my leg and nearly bit my tongue off trying not to let out a slew of cuss words. Wouldn’t do me any good to let people know I’d actually been injured. I needed to discreetly get to the med tent and see if they could ice and wrap my knee. Thankfully, it didn’t seem to be broken.
“Damn, Jackson! You killed it out there!” Anna called out, her grin wide. Beside her, Lily nodded in agreement, her eyes sparkling with admiration.
“Thanks, ladies. Good luck to both of you,” I replied, smiling back at them. Their eyes lingered on me, making it clear that their interest extended beyond my performance in the arena. Barrel racing would be next, so I knew they were getting ready to perform. Both women were young and while they weren’t the type I’d go for, I knew plenty of cowboys found them attractive. They each had a fierce determination that matched my own when it came to competing. I couldn’t help but admire them, even though I knew their presence directly in my path only signaled trouble. And I needed to get by them without anyone realizing I’d been injured.
“Hey, y’all,” I said, giving them a nod as they approached. “Ready to put on a show?”
Come on. Move along. You know damn well I’m not going to agree to a date or anything else with either of you.I ground my teeth together and focused on remaining upright.
“Always,” Anna replied with a confident grin. She was a tall, slender woman with long, wavy blonde hair that cascaded down her back when she didn’t have it braided, like she did now. Her bright blue eyes sparkled with excitement, and I could tell she was itching to get started. Even before Mia, I’d never been tempted. But I’d heard plenty of my friends talking about much they liked holding onto all that hair.
“Wouldn’t miss it for the world,” added Lily, flashing a dimpled smile. She was shorter than Anna, but just as fit, her lithe body exuding power and grace. Her dark brown hair was pulled back into a tight ponytail, and her hazel eyes held a mischievous glint. While the other cowboys didn’t rave about her looks, I knew plenty had let her take a ride on their cocks. I hadn’t been one of them, and never would be.
“Good luck at the national championship, Jackson,” Anna said, her tone flirtatious. “I think you’ll definitely be the winner this year.”
My mom had taught me to always be polite, especially with women and the elderly. So, I did my best to adhere to what she’d drilled into my head. Even now, when I really wanted to tell these two to go the fuck away.
“Thanks,” I replied, trying to keep my voice steady. I didn’t want to give them any mixed signals. Being polite was one thing, but if I gave these two an inch, they’d be all over me. And had in the past, no matter how much I’d pushed them off. I’d wanted to be friends with them, but they made it really damn hard. I had a pregnant wife waiting for me, and I needed to stay focused on my career -- and I was getting damn tired of sidestepping these two. Besides, if I even thought of cheating on Mia, my dad would castrate me. Assuming the Dixie Reapers didn’t rip me to shreds first. Not that I would ever do such a thing.
As they rode away to prepare for their event, I tried to make my way to the medical tent without anyone noticing. Except people were constantly stopping me to talk. After the fifth one, I gave up and used the arena fence to hold myself up.
Even though I knew I needed to distance myself from them, I enjoyed being part of all aspects of the rodeo, which included watching the other events and mingling with the crowd. I wasn’t going to let two troublesome women keep me from it. Maybe I could get to my truck before they started looking for me. Heading to medical wasn’t going to happen. I’d have to get through too many people to reach it.
The electric hum of the crowd intensified as the announcer’s voice boomed over the loudspeakers. “Ladies and gentlemen, it’s time for the barrel racing competition! Let’s hear it for our contestants, Anna Miles, Sadie Parker, Gina Masters, Rebecca Pierce, and Lily Rhodes!”
The cheers and applause swelled like a tidal wave, surging through the arena and making the very ground beneath my boots vibrate.
Despite the noise, I found myself drawn to the sight of women entering the arena on their powerful horses, their smiles bright as they did a lap while waving to the crowd. I spotted Anna and Lily in the group, and I couldn’t help but feel captivated by the way they moved so easily with their horses. Not everyone could ride and look so natural.
“All these talented riders are known for their impressive records, folks,” the announcer continued. “This is sure to be an exhilarating event!”
“Damn right, it will be,” I muttered under my breath, my eyes glued to the action unfolding before me.
As the women cleared the arena and the first one lined up, I could see the fire in her eyes, the unwavering focus that drove Anna to push herself to her limit. She leaned low, her body a blur of motion as she guided her horse Thunder around the first barrel. The powerful animal responded instantly, their movements synchronized in a breathtaking display of agility and speed. I couldn’t help but marvel at Anna’s ability to ride -- it was as if she and the horse shared one mind, each anticipating the other’s moves with uncanny precision.
“Anna’s really going for it today, huh?” a fellow cowboy remarked from beside me.
“Yep,” I replied. My admiration for her skill was strong, but my mind couldn’t help but wander to thoughts of my wife. The desire to see Mia made it difficult to fully immerse myself in the excitement of the rodeo.
Anna cleared the last barrel and urged Thunder to move faster as they raced out of the arena. I glanced at her time on the clock and knew it was good enough to at least put her in the top three.
“Nice job, Anna!” I yelled, clapping along with the crowd as she raced toward the second barrel. But my thoughts were already shifting to Lily, who’d just entered the arena atop her black gelding named Midnight.
“Looks like she’s got some serious competition, though,” the cowboy added, nodding at Lily as she entered the arena for her run. She navigated the course with smooth control.
“Absolutely,” I agreed, unable to tear my gaze away from the spectacle. Her body and mind seemed to be perfectly in tune with the powerful animal she rode. My sister Danica used to compete in this event, and she’d been damn good at it.
“Go, Lily!” I called out, watching as she picked up speed, guiding Midnight effortlessly around the first barrel. Their style contrasted sharply with Anna’s -- where Anna seemed to attack each turn with ferocity, Lily glided smoothly through the course, her movements fluid and precise. It was like watching a dancer execute a series of intricate steps, each one carefully choreographed to align perfectly with the music.
“Wow,” I muttered under my breath, genuinely impressed. As much as I tried to remain impartial, I couldn’t deny that both women had managed to capture my attention. Sadly, they knew it too. The difference was that I admired them as athletes, and they only wanted in my pants.
“Hey, Jackson,” a nearby cowboy said, leaning over the railing to get a better look at the action. “Your friends Anna and Lily are pretty good, huh?”
“Yep,” I replied. I wouldn’t exactly call them friends, but… close enough.
As the competition neared its end, I knew I needed to make my escape before Anna and Lily found me again. I had made sure everyone heard about my recent marriage and the fact we had a baby on the way, but cheating was a common thing around the circuit. Those two women wouldn’t care if I was married or not.
I watched the rest of the event, and as the last barrel racer crossed the finish line, my heart pounded with anticipation. I watched the scoreboard and let out a whoop when I saw Anna in first and Lily right behind her in second. They might cause more trouble than they were worth, but I had to admit they excelled in their event.
I tried to make my escape before Anna and Lily found me, but with my knee hurting, I wasn’t fast enough. Both of them rode over on their horses. Even if I’d left sooner, I wasn’t sure I’d have made it out of here without running into them. Sometimes it felt like they knew exactly where I was at all times.
“Hey, cowboy! Do you want to grab a drink later? There’s a bar not too far from here that has the best margaritas,” Anna suggested, her tone flirtatious. “Or beer for you. I know how you hate those girly drinks.”
“Yeah, we could celebrate your win together,” Lily chimed in, her smile equally inviting. “Should have known you’d come in first for the bronc riding.”
My mind raced as I weighed my options. A part of me longed for the carefree camaraderie of going out with my fellow rodeo cowboys and cowgirls, but I knew that succumbing to temptation would only lead to regret. These two wanted far more from me, and I knew the easy-going time I’d have enjoyed would never happen. Besides, my family was my priority, and I couldn’t afford to let anything distract me from that commitment. Not to mention, I’d much rather be with Mia.
“Thank you for the invitation, but I’ve got to get back to my wife,” I explained, trying to keep my tone light and friendly while still making it clear I would not be joining them.
“Come on, Jackson,” Anna persisted, her blue eyes narrowing as she shot a challenging glance at Lily. “One drink won’t hurt.”
“Exactly,” Lily agreed, her hazel eyes twinkling with determination. “Besides, what’s life without a little fun?”
Their idea of fun and mine were different. I wanted a few cold beers with my fellow competitors. These two wanted in my pants. No matter how many times I turned them down, they didn’t seem to get the hint. But at the same time, I couldn’t bring myself to be rude or cruel. It just wasn’t the type of man I’d been raised to be. Even my dad had a harsh side, but that was the one way I hadn’t really followed in his footsteps. Maybe part of me worried if I ever let that side loose, I’d end up like my birth father, a complete monster.
“Sorry, can’t do it,” I said, my voice strained. “I’ve got to stay focused on what’s important: my family and my career. And you and I both know the two of you want more than a drink. It’s not going to happen.”
“Suit yourself,” Anna replied with a shrug, though I could see the disappointment in her eyes. She glanced at Lily, as if silently daring her to keep trying.
“All right, Jackson,” Lily conceded, her smile tight. “We’ll respect your decision. But if you ever change your mind, you know where to find us.”
I had this niggling feeling they were saying one thing but meant another. I hoped they weren’t going to cause problems. Mia was such a sweet girl, and while we hadn’t come together by conventional means, I knew I was lucky to have her in my life. She’d completely stolen my heart, captivated me every second of the day, and I woke each morning thanking God she was my wife. I only wished I’d tried to steal her from Carter earlier, then we could have been together as a couple a lot sooner. Mia meant everything to me, and if these two tried to hurt her, I’d do whatever I could to make their lives hell. For now, I’d play nice on the off chance they were only being a little catty.
“Good luck making it to the national championship, ladies,” I said, offering them a warm smile before turning to head to my truck in the parking lot. I’d promised Mia after I got back and showered, we’d go out to eat somewhere. But first, I either needed to find a medic, or stop by a pharmacy on the way to the motel. I could tell I needed to wrap my knee.
I managed to get in my truck without anyone else stopping me. After I started the engine, I headed for the nearest pharmacy. Despite the late hour, they were still open. I parked and went inside, feeling the weight of the day’s events. It didn’t take long to find the items I needed, but as I approached the counter, I froze. Carter Bales stood in front of the cashier, flashing her his charming smile. The same smile that got Mia into so much trouble.
What the fuck was he doing here? According to Wire, this asshole should have been hundreds of miles away. He finally moved on, and I quickly checked out. Rushing to the parking lot, I scanned the area to see if he was still nearby. Was it possible I was wrong? No. It had definitely been Carter.
I shot off a text to Wire to let him know, hoping he’d be able to track him somehow. My hands shook a little as I drove to the motel. I kept an eye on my rearview mirror, on the off chance the jackass pulled up behind me. Even when I parked and still didn’t see him, I couldn’t seem to shake the feeling something bad could happen.
“Get it together,” I muttered. I didn’t need to freak out Mia. Blowing out a breath to steady myself, I grabbed my sack from the pharmacy and headed into the motel room.
Mia threw her arms around me and kissed me softly. “Did you win?”
I nodded. “Yeah. But…”
I lifted the sack for her to see it. The moment she saw the bandages inside, she started to strip my clothes off one piece at a time. By the time my jeans were around my ankles, I could see my right knee was twice the size it should be.
“What happened?” she asked.
“Bronc slammed me into an arena post. I’ll be fine. Aleve, a little ice, and the wrap. That’s all I need. I don’t need to do any more events until the national championship. Plenty of time to rest and recuperate. As long as I don’t run a race, or get another bronc right away, then it will heal just fine. Feels like it’s probably a sprain and some bruising.”
“Let me get some ice. You need to get the swelling down before you shower or do anything else. Then I’ll help you wrap it when you’re clean. I think you brought half the arena home with you.”
I grinned at her. “Well, it wasn’t like I tried to.”
Seeing her like this made my heart skip a beat. Other than my family, no one had cared about me like this. Being with Mia always brought unexpected joy to my life. When I’d said I would marry her, I’d never thought we could settle into a somewhat normal relationship so quickly. But with her, everything just felt… right.
She used a plastic bag to make an ice pack, then held it over my knee. As filthy as I was, there was no way I’d get into the bed. I sat in the chair with my leg extended. If I weren’t hurting, and didn’t still have on my underwear, I might have been tempted to do more than just sit here. But there was always later.
“I think I may quit after the championship,” I said. “I’ve always wanted the national champion title, and I’ve worked my ass off to get it. It’s been my dream since I was a kid.”
“Because of your dad?” she asked.
“Yeah. Now I have a new dream, though. I still want the title, but there’s no need for me to keep chasing rodeos after that. No reason I can’t get a job that lets me come home to you and our kid every night.”
“I’d really like that.” She gave me a soft smile. “Any idea where we should live? I know we tossed around some ideas.”
I cleared my throat. “After I tell my parents about us, I thought maybe we could live there. I have a house on their land. It’s not huge by any means, but big enough. Might be nice for you to have my mom nearby when I’m not home, and our baby would grow up with their grandparents close enough to visit every day.”
“All right.” She looked away. “I’m not sure they’re going to like me, though, Jackson. It’s not like I’m anything special. If you hadn’t helped me get my GED, I would have just been a high school dropout. At least I have options now, or I did before I got pregnant.”
I leaned down and tapped her nose with my finger. “You still do, darlin’. Having a baby doesn’t mean you give up on everything else. If you want to go to college, or get a job, then I’m not going to stop you.”
“One thing at a time. We have enough on our plates right now.”
She wasn’t wrong. “Fine, but when you’re ready to talk about it, or have an idea as to what you’d like to do, just let me know.”