Chapter 16 #2
Orders fly at him from around the table, and he wanders off to collect drinks. Seth’s father appears a few minutes later, weaving through the crowd with the slightly loose gait of a man who’s had a few whiskeys.
“I need to—” I gesture vaguely. “Be right back.”
Seth gives me a suspicious look, but I’m already moving.
It takes me twenty minutes to track down the old farmer. He’s holding court at a table near the bar, surrounded by other weathered ranchers trading stories and giving each other shit. When I approach, they all go quiet, sizing me up with the particular wariness rural folks reserve for outsiders.
“Mr. Crawford?” I keep my voice respectful. This is his home turf. “I’m Kai Kahele. I ride for the Wildfire Star circuit.”
“I know who you are, son.” His voice is gravelly. “Seen your picture on those big banners.”
“That’s me.” I grin. “Mind if I ask you something about Brutus?”
The old man’s eyes sharpen with interest. “What about him?”
“I heard he used to compete. Back before he retired.”
“Best damn bull there was.” Pride straightens his spine. “Threw most riders who tried to stick him. His retirement record was a ninety-seven percent buck-off rate. Only three people ever made the full eight seconds on him.”
“And now he just… roams around?”
“He’s earned the right.” Farmer Crawford shrugs. “Spent his whole life performing for crowds. Now he gets to do whatever he wants. If that means escaping his pasture to scare the hell out of tourists, well, that’s his choice.”
I like this man.
“What would it take,” I say carefully, “to get him back in the arena? One more ride?”
Farmer Crawford stares at me for a long moment, as do his buddies nearby. Then he starts laughing—a deep, wheezing sound that shakes his whole body. “Boy, you’ve got a death wish.”
“I’ve been told.”
“Brutus hasn’t had a rider attempt him in years. No one’s crazy enough to try.”
“I’m crazy enough. I’m not saying I’ll stick to the full eight seconds.”
He studies me, something shifting in his expression. “Then why would you want to?”
“Because the circuit is thinking about pulling out of this town.” I lay it out straight, no bullshit. “Towns like Honeyspur Meadow are the first to get cut. But if we could offer something special that people would travel to see, it might change the equation and get more attendees.”
“And you think riding Brutus would do that?”
“A legendary bull coming out of retirement for one final challenge? A rider willing to take him on when no one else will?” I spread my hands. “That’s not just a rodeo event. That’s a spectacle. That’s the kind of thing people talk about for years.”
Farmer Crawford is quiet, chewing over my words, his buddies whispering about how it might work.
“You know he could kill you,” Farmer Crawford says finally.
“I take that risk with any bull I ride.”
“He’s not like those practice bulls you’re used to. He’s got instincts honed from years of learning exactly how to destroy riders.”
I nod.
“And you still want to do this?”
I think about June’s worried face when she talked about the businesses that depend on the rodeo.
I think about Seth, whose father built this circuit from nothing and is watching it slowly shrink in this town that used to be a huge earner for us.
I think about Carter, who rides to honor his dead brother and can’t afford to lose another piece of the life they shared.
“Yeah,” I say. “I do.”
Farmer Crawford stares at me for a long, measuring moment. Then he nods slowly. “All right. Give me a sec.”
Before I can even answer, he’s already stepping away from the edge of the table, phone out, turning his shoulder to the crowd, and lifts it to his ear.
I stay where I am, hands tucked behind my back so I don’t look like I’m hovering. Doesn’t stop the nervous energy from buzzing under my skin anyway.
I keep my eyes on Farmer Crawford, but I can’t hear a word he’s saying with the chatter around us.
He ends the call after a decent chat and looks at his screen for a beat, thumbs moving like he’s firing off a quick message. Then he turns back toward me, and this time he’s smiling like he’s been waiting to.
“Well,” he says, slipping the phone back into his pocket, “Pete’s in. Town committee will want the paperwork and some promotional materials, but that’s normal.” He reaches out his hand. “You got yourself a deal.”
Relief hits me so fast it’s almost dizzying. I shake his hand, grip firm. “Appreciate it.”
Farmer Crawford’s grin widens, a little boyish now that the hard part is done. “Will be good to see Brutus in the arena again.”
“That’s the idea,” I say, and it’s the easiest I’ve felt all day.
By the time I get back to the table, Carter’s still got his spot next to June like he’s claimed it in blood. Seth’s father is there now, sitting across from him, and the conversation looks like it could crack glass.
I hang back, not wanting to interrupt.
“…just remember when you were younger,” John is saying, his voice rough. “Back in Amarillo, with your mother. Everything felt perfect then. Like nothing could ruin what we had.”
Seth’s jaw is tight, but he doesn’t pull away when his father reaches across to grip his hand.
“I want that for you, son. That same chance to build something real. A family. A home.” John’s attention drifts to June, who’s watching the exchange carefully. “You can’t be a rodeo legend forever. Sometimes it’s best to leave when you’re on top; that’s what I’ve always said.”
“Is that what you’re telling me to do?” Seth’s voice is carefully neutral.
“I’m saying not to let the good things slip away while you’re chasing buckles and trophies.” John squeezes his hand once, then releases it. “The circuit will sort itself out. You focus on what you want in your future.”
A woman appears at John’s elbow, his new wife, Marlene. She’s maybe thirty-three, thirty-four, wearing a pretty sundress and heels that seem impractical for a BBQ joint. He’s in his late fifties. Her smile is bright and a little artificial as she touches his shoulder.
“Dear, come on. There’s someone I want to introduce you to, and you’ve been gone forever.” Her gaze flicks to Seth. “Oh, you did amazing today. I’m rooting for you.”
Seth nods, expression carefully blank. “Thanks, Marlene.”
John lets himself be led away, throwing one last look at his son over his shoulder, then he’s gone.
June reaches across the table and takes Seth’s hand. “Family is complicated.”
“You have no idea.” He laces their fingers together. “But one thing I know is that I don’t want a strained family like I had growing up after my mom passed. Whatever we build, it’s going to be solid. Real.”
June’s gaze softens. “Seth…”
“You’re my world, June. Our world.” His voice drops low, meant just for her, but I’m close enough to hear, as is Carter. “Even if you’re not ready to accept it yet, I’m going to make you ours forever.”
“You mean it?”
“Every word.” She looks as though she might cry, and I’ve never wanted to hold someone so badly in my life.
I drop onto the bench beside her, seeing as the woman sitting there earlier is gone, making my presence known. “Miss me?”
The moment breaks, but not in a bad way. June laughs, swiping at her eyes. “Where did you disappear to?”
“Had to take care of something.” I reach for my beer, keeping my expression casual.
“Nothing important.”
Carter narrows his eyes at me. “Why do I feel like you’re lying?”
“Because you have trust issues.”
“I have Kai issues.”
Before he can push further, June turns to look at me properly. Her hand finds my thigh under the table, and the touch sends electricity racing up my spine.
“You okay?” she asks quietly.
“Perfect.” I cover her hand with mine. “Just thinking.”
“About what?”
I glance at the mechanical bull in the corner, then back at her face. Those hazel eyes are always doing too much, like she’s trying to hold herself together.
“About what comes next,” I say. “And what I’m willing to do to make sure you don’t regret saying yes to any of this.”
We’re most of the way through our second round when I decide it’s time.
“So,” I say, loud enough to slice through the table’s chatter. “I have a solution to the attendance problem.”
Carter makes a pained noise. “Why do I already hate this?”
“Because you lack imagination. Anyway, I talked to Farmer Crawford, and he spoke with Pete from the town committee. They agreed to let me ride Brutus at the rodeo.”
Silence.
“Are you out of your mind?” Carter’s beer hits the table hard enough to slosh. “Did you miss the part where the demon bull tried to put a horn through my door? And now you want to climb on him like it’s a carnival ride?”
“It’ll be fine.”
“It’ll be your funeral.”
June’s hand is on my thigh again before she even realizes she’s moved, fingers tightening like she’s anchoring me in place. Her face goes pale, but her eyes are locked on mine.
“Kai.” Her voice drops, softer than the noise around us. “Are you sure? Brutus isn’t just any bull. He’s—”
“A retired champion with a ninety-seven percent buck-off rate. I know.” I turn fully toward her, because she’s the only part of this that matters.
I take her hand and bring it up between us, holding it like I’m reminding both of us that we’re real people and not just adrenaline and plans. “Doll, look at me.”
Her gaze flicks to my mouth, then back to my eyes like she’s fighting herself.
“The circuit is thinking about dropping this town,” I say. “That’s businesses losing money. People losing jobs. A place that actually cares getting left behind. I don’t want that. And I don’t want you feeling like you walked into a mess you can’t fix.”
“I didn’t say that,” she whispers.
“You didn’t have to.” My thumb brushes slowly over her knuckles. It’s a small gesture, but it’s deliberate. “I’m not doing this because I want attention. I’m doing it because I want you to stay.”
Her face freezes on a surprised expression for half a second. Then she swallows.
“But the risk,” she says, voice unsteady.