Chapter EighteenNew Horizons
The Las Vegas event is incredible. I haven't even watched Jo doing her thing, and she hasn't seen me doing mine.
We've been too excited about the rodeo and its unstoppable energy.
But now, with my events finished and Thunder cooled down, I'm making my way to the barrel racing section to catch Jo's final run.
The crowd's energy is infectious, and I can hear Buck revving up the arena as I push through the spectators.
"Next up, folks, we have the incomparable Jolene Callahan, riding Blaze!"
I find a spot along the rail just as Jo bursts out of the gate, and damn if she doesn't take my breath away every single time.
Blaze moves like liquid fire beneath her, and Jo's body flows with the horse's rhythm in perfect harmony.
She leans into the first barrel turn so low that her knee nearly kisses the dirt, but they clear it clean and tight.
"Look at that form!" Buck shouts. "Callahan's on pace for yet another record!"
The second barrel is even tighter. Blaze's hooves barely skim the ground as Jo guides the mare with nothing more than the slightest shift of weight and pressure from her legs. Jo and Blaze thunder toward the final barrel, and I find myself gripping the rail so hard my knuckles turn white.
"Come on, Jo," I whisper, though she can't possibly hear me over the noise.
She takes the final turn with surgical precision, Blaze's body curving around the barrel like they're part of the same organism. There's a moment---a fraction of a second---when I think they might clip it, but Jo shifts her weight just so, and they clear it by a whisper.
The race to the finish line is pure poetry. Jo's hair streams behind her like a battle flag as she gives Blaze her head, and the mare responds with an explosive burst of speed that has the crowd on their feet.
The timer flashes: 15.2 seconds. Another new arena record.
The deafening cheers of the crowd fill the arena, but all I can focus on is Jo's face as she brings Blaze to a sliding stop. Pure joy radiates from her like sunlight, and when her eyes find mine in the stands, grins and blows me a kiss. I do the same for her.
"Ladies and gentlemen," Buck exclaims with genuine awe, "that's not just an arena record---that's a Nevada state record! Jolene Callahan has just made rodeo history---again!"
I'm moving before I consciously decide to, vaulting over the rail and jogging toward the exit gate where Jo's walking Blaze in cool-down circles. She sees me coming and slides off her mare, rushing over to greet me.
"Did you see that?" she laughs, throwing her arms around my neck just as I reach her. "Did you see that last turn? I thought for sure we were going to clip it, but Blaze---God, she's incredible!"
"I saw every second of it, baby." I lift her off her feet and spin her around twice right here in the dirt. "You were perfect. Both of you."
She crushed her lips to mine. Our tongues tangle, and I grasp her ass while she mashes her body against me. When we break apart at last, she's still beaming, her cheeks flushed with excitement.
"Fifteen-point-two," she breathes against my lips. "I can't believe it."
"I never had any doubts." I set her down but keep my arms around her waist. "You've been building to this all season. That wasn't luck, darlin'---that was pure skill."
Blaze nudges my shoulder with her nose, and I reach up to stroke her velvety muzzle. "You too, girl. You're the best partner Jo could ask for."
Jo laughs, rubbing Blaze's neck affectionately. "We've got a pretty good team going, don't we? The four of us, I mean."
"The best team ever, darlin'."
Thunder's waiting back at the stables, probably wondering where his post-ride treat is. I make a mental note to stop by the concession stand for an apple on our way back.
"McKendrick! Callahan!" Buck's voice cuts through the crowd noise as he hustles toward us, his microphone still in his hand. "Get yourselves back in the arena, pronto! The sponsors want a photo with our record-breakers!"
Jo rolls her eyes, but her smile doesn't fade. "Duty calls. Ready for your closeup, cowboy?"
"As long as I'm standing beside you." I glance down at my dusty clothes. "Though I should probably clean up first. I look like I've been wrestling steers all day."
"You look gorgeous, Clay." She fluffs my hair with her fingertips. "Pure rugged cowboy with a touch of windblown sex appeal. The cameras will love it."
Buck's already herding us back toward the arena, chattering excitedly into his headset about photo opportunities and sponsor obligations. The crowd's still buzzing from Jo's record-breaking run, and I can see the Western Heritage Brands crew setting up their equipment near the winner's circle.
"There's our golden couple!" The campaign director, a sharp-dressed woman called Miranda, waves us over with the enthusiasm of someone who's just struck oil. "That run was absolutely perfect for our authentic Western lifestyle brand!"
Jo handles the attention with her usual grace, answering questions about her technique and giving Blaze all the credit while cameras flash around us.
I stand by her side, one hand resting on the small of her back.
The subtle tension in her muscles that tells me she's starting to tire of the spotlight---for today.
We've committed to whatever Western Heritage wants from us.
"Clay," Miranda coos, zeroing in on me, "we'd love to get some footage of you talking about watching Jo's record-breaking run. The devoted fiancé angle is pure gold."
"Happy to help." What I really want is to get Jo and our horses back to the stables, away from the spotlight. But I know this is part of the deal we've made---the visibility that's saving our careers and my family's ranch.
"Perfect! Just look at her like you were when she crossed that finish line," Miranda instructs, positioning me next to Jo while a cameraman adjusts his equipment.
I don't need any direction for that.
"That's it!" Miranda claps her hands. "Natural chemistry, people. This is what Western Heritage is all about!"
Jo catches my eye and gives me a tiny eye roll that only I can see. I squeeze her hand in silent understanding as we pose for what feels like the hundredth photo.
"Just a few more," Buck promises, reading our fatigue accurately. "Then you two can go take care of those horses and grab some well-deserved dinner."
The mention of food makes my stomach growl loud enough that Jo hears it over the crowd noise.
She grins at me and tries not to laugh, though she winds up spluttering. "Sounds like someone worked up an appetite watching me break records."
"Always do when I watch you ride," I reply, then realize how that sounds and feel my cheeks heat up. The reporters chuckle, scribbling notes, and Miranda seems positively delighted with the authentic banter.
"One more shot," the photographer calls out. "Can you two look at each other like you're sharing a secret?"
That's easy enough. We share plenty of secrets now---just between us.
Like how Jo gets nervous before every run and hides it by meticulously checking Blaze's tack three times.
Or how I still wake up some mornings surprised that this incredible woman chose me over all the smooth-talking cowboys with deeper pockets and shinier buckles.
The photographer snaps away as Jo leans closer, her voice barely a whisper meant only for me. "When we get back to the hotel tonight, I'm going to show you just how good breaking records makes me feel."
Whatever expression just crossed my face, it makes Miranda practically purr with satisfaction. "Wonderful! That's the shot we needed!"
Buck mercifully steps in before the heat building between Jo and me becomes obvious to everyone. "All right, folks, let's give our champions a chance to tend to their horses. Plenty more photo opportunities at tomorrow's events."
As the crowd disperses, Jo and I finally make our escape toward the stables. We lead our horses into the stable area, away from the chaos of cameras and crowds. Blaze is still prancing from leftover adrenaline, tossing her head like she knows she's just made history.
Jo pets the mare's neck while we walk. "Easy, girl. You've earned your oats tonight."
Thunder greets us with a low whicker from his stall, and I can see him eyeing the apple I grabbed from the concession stand on our way over. Smart horse. He knows the routine by now.
"How'd you do in the bull riding warm-ups?" Jo asks as she begins removing Blaze's tack.
"Incredible. I survived the toughest bull out there and took first in the preliminary round." I hand Thunder his apple and start working on his bridle. "Eighty-seven points on Diablo's Fury. Buck nearly fell out of the announcer's booth."
"Seems like we're both on fire today."
I hang Thunder's bridle on the hook outside his stall. "Must be something in the Nevada air. Or maybe it's just knowing we've finally got our lives figured out."
For the first time ever, I can speak those words without a trace of irony or regret. Jolene Callahan saved me from a lonely life, and I will always be grateful for that.