55
F rom the door of the stables, I lift a hand to Dakota as she and Davis, and our family’s caravan of trucks, turn onto the highway and head back to Resurrection.
We plan to meet them at Nowhere after I pack up my rodeo gear. My father’s offered to drive Lawless back to my cottage.
Wyatt tosses an extra halter and a lead shake into a pack, while I toss Lawless a hunk of apple. I rub her nose. Her form was flawless. She got us the fastest time in the competition. Winning feels good, but not as good as I feel.
My body is tired, the muscles in my arms and legs throb, but for the first time in three years, I feel like myself again.
Wyatt zips the bag and stands from his crouch. “How’s the hip?”
“Painful, but worth it.” It’s hot in the stables, sweat dampens my brow, the back of my neck.
“You were glowin’ down there,” Wyatt says, tugging my belt loops to pull me into his arms.
“I was?” My voice is breathy.
He tucks a piece of loose hair behind my ear. “Yeah. You were.”
“Thank you.” I palm his cheek. “For being here.”
Wyatt’s handsome face goes soft. “Always.”
I go fluid against him as he captures my mouth against his. My moans mingle with his. I can’t wait to get this man home and have my way with him.
The crunch of rocks have us pulling apart. The boom of a familiar, disgruntled voice has us both stiffening. “Now what’s all this about, Tripp? I’m a busy man. I don’t have time for pit stops.”
“I think you do, Pappy,” Tripp says as he and Pappy round the corner into the barn.
Pappy and I freeze at the same time.
Tripp grins at me. I grin back.
Wyatt’s eyes slice to mine.
Before I can step forward, Wyatt lunges at Pappy.
“You motherfucker,” he growls, and then he smashes a fist into Pappy’s face.
Pappy slams into the side of a stall, breathing hard and clutching at his nose.
I shoot Wyatt a glare. “I wanted to do that.”
“Tough shit, baby.” Wyatt’s gaze burns as he stares at Pappy. “Now we get some answers from this piece of shit.”
Pappy wipes blood off his mouth. “I don’t—”
Wyatt grabs Pappy’s shirt and shoves him back against the wall. “Shut the fuck up and tell me what you did.” Voice turning deadly, he leans in. “Tell me what you did to her.”
I catch Tripp’s eyes. He looks uncomfortable, keeping a lookout in the door of the barn, but he’s with us.
“We know, asshole.” I stare down at Pappy. My pulse, my rage thrums in my veins. “You drugged my drink. You rigged the ride.”
“No, I—”
“Fucking talk!” Tripp walks to my side, his eyes wild. “We know you did it. Tell her about the bull.”
“Talk,” I order. “Before I grab a pair of scissors and cut your balls off.”
“Okay, okay, fine. I did it,” says Pappy. His voice is low, but not apologetic. He licks his lips, eyes on me. “I wanted to make you a star.”
I move forward, placing my right hand on Pappy’s neck and shoving him back against the stall. “How does almost killing me make me a star?”
Pappy’s eyes bulge. “It was all the same in the end,” he gasps.
His nose is bleeding. “If you rode the biggest bull in the world and won, you’re a star.
If you got hurt and went on to ride another day, you’re still a star.
” Swallowing, he looks at the ground. “I didn’t count on you getting as hurt as you did. ”
I scoff. “Collateral damage, right?”
He doesn’t answer.
Wyatt snaps. “You could have fucking killed her,” he shouts. He swings again. Pappy’s head snaps back. He punches and punches and punches and only stops when I rest a hand on his shoulder.
Breathing hard, he drops his arm and steps back to my side. His knuckles are bleeding.
Pappy slides down the stall, moaning.
“Say your prayers, pack your fucking bags.” Wyatt grins. “Cole Weston plans to personally bury you after today.”
Pappy pales. “Weston?” He snorts, hanging onto his bravado. “He’s nothing more than a pompous showboat.”
“He has evidence,” I say. “Proof from that day. It’ll be in the papers tomorrow. Everyone will know you rig rides. Nearly kill your clients.” I step forward, kicking a boot into his side. “You’re fucked Pappy. It’s over.”
Pappy sinks to his knees in the dust of the barn. His face looks like shit, cut up and bleeding.
“So what do we do now?” Tripp asks over my shoulder.
“We make him hurt.” Wyatt moves fast around the barn, grabbing a length of rope.
Then he crouches down next to Pappy, shoving him into a sitting position.
“You’re gonna feel what Fallon felt that day.
You’re gonna be in just as much pain as she was…
but this time, no one’s gonna be around to help you. ”
I shiver at the venom in his voice. He’s ruthless vengeance, and I’ve never loved him more.
Wyatt hands me one end of the rope. The other end he knots around Pappy’s ankle. “Tie this to Lawless.”
Pappy swallows. “Please, I’ll—”
“Do anything?” Wyatt’s voice is hard as he shoves up to stand. Fire blazes in his eyes. “That ship’s fuckin’ sailed.”
Doubt and worry twist my stomach. “Wyatt.”
His eyes meet mine. His fingers take my chin. “He hurt you.” My breath catches at the gravity in his voice. “Tell me to stop, and I will.”
As my mind careens through the last few months, pain, bitterness wedges itself in my chest. “No,” I say. “Don’t stop.”
“Here.” Tripp leads out Lawless.
“I want to do it,” I demand and take the free end of the rope. I work a Honda knot around the saddle horn.
Pappy takes a shuddering breath, a sound between a moan and a sob erupts from his mouth.
I look Lawless in those big beautiful dark eyes. “You know what to do, girl.” She nickers softly, ears pricked forward.
“Fuck,” Tripp breathes, wide-eyed. He shakes himself out of his daze, looks at me. “I’ll take care of Pappy. You go.”
“Let him go three rounds and then halt Lawless,” I tell Tripp. “I want Pappy breathing when that article hits.”
Grinning, Wyatt slaps Tripp on the back. “Come by Nowhere when you’re done. You’ve earned yourself a drink.”
With that, Wyatt takes my hand and leads me out of the barn and into the sunset.