10. Lennox
lennox
. . .
I stood by the chutes, watching Lincoln and Bishop warm their horses in the holding pen near the arena. They were relaxed, talking and laughing as they took turns throwing loops at the training dummy in the ring. Josie was beside me with a big, goofy grin when Lincoln did a lap and winked at her.
“Ugh. Y’all are so gross,” I said, resting my boot on the bottom rung of the fence. “Can’t you keep it together in public?”
Josie laughed. “I don’t know. It’s kinda hot that everyone knows we’re head over heels for one another. PDA might not be your thing, but it does something for me.”
“Oh, yeah. I’m well aware of your exhibitionist tendencies,” I said sarcastically.
Since Josie and Lincoln had started dating, I’d found out more about their sex life than I ever wanted and had already been stuck listening to them once.
“Do you guys even check your surroundings before getting it on?”
“Most of the time, we’re alone!” she said, cheeks blooming red. “But I’ll admit that it’s not always the first thing on our mind.”
“Don’t I know it,” I muttered. “I don’t think I’ll ever get the sound of your screams outta my?— ”
She clamped a hand over my mouth. “I already said I was sorry about that.” I licked her palm, and Josie pulled back before rubbing it along her denim-clad thighs. “You’re so gross!”
“That doesn’t mean I’ve stopped having nightmares,” I told her, visibly shuddering.
“You are so dramatic. Leave me alone, I’m happy and in love.”
“Bleh, gross,” I said, scrunching my nose.
As much as I hated to admit it, their relationship was on track to rival our parents’.
Those two were disgustingly head over heels for one another.
“But I’ll let this go this time because you’re my sister.
Just don’t tell Lincoln because I’m not quite ready to give up my leverage over him yet. ”
She nodded once. “You have yourself a deal.”
“Have you seen Cleo this morning?” I asked, biting down on the inside of my cheek. “I know last night was rough.”
Josie sighed. “Yeah, she’s been helping Cook down at the pits. I think she’s just trying to stay busy. Mom’s been watching her like a hawk.”
“I hate that she felt like she couldn’t tell us,” I said. “It’s one thing to keep things from Mom and Dad, but neither of us would’ve judged her.”
“Yeah, but you know things aren’t always that simple. Once you speak your truth, it’s out there. You can’t take it back. I mean, they were married forever. They had us all fooled.”
I knew she was right, but it didn’t make me feel any better about the situation, especially thinking about the pain she’d been in for God only knows how long.
“Oh, look! Here they come,” she said, pointing toward the alley.
Bishop and Lincoln rode forward as the announcer called their names, drumming up excitement with news of their little competition. Money exchanged hands around us as people laid down their bets. They were the last two riders for the tie-down event.
“Who’s up first?” I asked. Seven Nation Army by The White Stripes blared through the speakers as Lincoln’s horse, Boots, stepped up. He pranced in place, eager eyes darting around the expanse of the arena. “Guess that answers my question.”
Josie leaned her head on my shoulder. “I almost feel bad for him. He’d have a real shot if he was going against anyone else.”
“Yeah,” I said, sighing. “I hate that you’re probably right.”
Bishop’s been the reigning champion since Dad started throwing these big get-togethers. No one had ever been able to beat him, nor had anyone come close. At least Lincoln would give him a run for his money.
Lincoln nodded, and the chute burst open.
A little piebald calf ran toward the other side of the arena.
The moment the calf was far enough ahead, Boots gave chase.
Dust filled the air as Lincoln threw a perfect loop around the calf’s head, quickly wrapping the rope around his saddle horn and jumping down.
“Go, go, go!” I called out above the noise. My hand came down on the fencing with each word. It felt like the entire audience was holding their breaths as Lincoln flew off his horse and ran toward the calf.
He reached for the animal, flipping it on its side before grabbing its two hind legs and one from the front and tying them together with a short, looped rope he held in his mouth. Boots backed up, eliminating the slack in the rope tied to his saddle.
Lincoln’s hands shot up, and the buzzer sounded.
His time is displayed on the large clock hanging over the chutes.
7.45 seconds. It was a damn good time, one that absolutely smoked the other contestants.
He blew a kiss at Josie as he mounted Boots.
They stepped forward, loosening the slack and waiting the required six seconds to see if the little calf squirmed free.
As he walked back toward the arena entrance, he stopped by where Josie and I stood. She climbed to the top of the fence, grabbed his hat, and placed it on her head. “That sight never gets old,” he said, kissing her quickly.
“Want it back?” she asked.
He shook his head no. “Naw. It looks better on you.”
I laid my forehead against the fence and groaned. “You two really are the worst.”
Lincoln reached over and patted the top of my head. “Don’t be jealous, little sister,” he said as I knocked his hand away. “One day, someone will claw into that pit you call a heart?—”
Josie smacked his arm. “Lincoln Carter!”
I cracked a smile. “I mean, he isn’t wrong. It’s pretty scary in here,” I said, tapping my chest.
That was one of the things I liked best about Lincoln. He wasn’t afraid to say what was on his mind, and he was sarcastic as shit. Honestly, how well he fit in with us was a little scary. Lincoln and the Hayes family were a match made in cowboy heaven.
“I’ll see you in a minute,” he said, pulling away and heading back.
“Poor guy,” I whispered, watching him clap Bishop on the back. “He doesn’t even realize he lost.”
“It’s okay. I’ll make him feel like a winner tonight,” she said, laughing when I made a vomiting noise.
“Boundaries, Josie! Boundaries.” The music queued up again, and Josie hopped down. The crowd went wild as the familiar beat of The Stroke blared through the speakers.
You’ve got to be fucking kidding me. I was going to kill him.
Memories from four months ago came flooding back, and I remembered the heat in his gaze as he watched me dance on my stool to this very song.
How he’d whispered the filthiest things in my ear and got me to drop my guard for what was supposed to be one night of the most mind-blowing sex either of us had had.
And then I remembered the pain and embarrassment of waking up the following day to find him sitting in a chair in the corner of his room, watching me sleep like he was afraid he’d committed a crime.
Well, fuck that. I narrowed my eyes, barely able to make out Bishop from inside the darkened alley between the chutes.
There was a slight smile on his lips beneath the brim of his hat.
Titan pranced in place, large nostrils flaring as his rider leaned forward and whispered something into his ear while running a large hand along the gelding’s neck.
Bishop had always cleaned up infuriatingly well.
Gone was the dirty t-shirt and jeans he wore daily.
In their stead was a rust-colored button-down I’d never seen him wear.
His pants were starched, fitting too nicely to his muscled thighs.
It was unfair how quickly I’d toss my anger out the window during a moment of weakness.
Damn, I’d love to run my tongue along the lines of his tattoo peeking out beneath the fabric.
And then there was that slutty fucking gold chain around his neck. Who knew it would be so hot?
As Bishop rose to full height in his saddle, our gazes collided. I shifted on my feet, finally acknowledging the blooming ache between my legs that’d begun when I’d seen him earlier.
I fought the urge to look away as his eyes scanned the length of my body. I wasn’t about to give him the satisfaction of my embarrassment. Whatever effect he had on me needed to stop. It was getting out of hand. His attention lingered, wrapping me in an invisible embrace that made me uncomfortable.
“Hey beautiful,” someone whispered. Two arms landed on the fencing, caging me in. I recognized the voice, scented the beer on his breath as I dropped my gaze from Bishop.
“Carson,” I said, trying to inch closer to the fence. Josie watched me from the corner of her eye, but I shook my head. That dick wasn’t worth the scene I knew she’d cause if I asked.
He stepped forward, letting the arm between my sister and me drop away.
“You haven’t returned any of my calls,” he said, lifting the corners of his mouth.
Once upon a time, I’d thought the blond-haired, blue-eyed cowboy was adorable.
He had dimples for days and was talented with words, but all of that went down the drain pretty quickly when I realized half the town also shared my sentiment.
“You’ve been calling?” I asked, turning to face him. “I haven’t gotten any.”
“Really? Let me see your phone. Maybe something isn’t working right?—”
“Oh, no. See, that’s intentional, Carson. I haven’t gotten any of your calls because I blocked your phone number.” Josie stifled her laughter next to me. “It looks like things are working just fine.”
Carson chuckled, shaking his head. “That won’t do, Lenny. You gotta forgive me sometime. I miss that smart mouth.”
I snorted. That was what got me into that mess in the first place. Being attracted to people who can give it as good as they can take it wasn’t always the best practice. Some of the best narcissists in the world have a silver tongue at the ready.
That was how I’d gotten into this mess with Bishop.
I’d let my attraction take things too far and then got burned, so I was done listening to my body’s suggestions.
“I don’t have to do shit, Carson, and neither do you.
Your wandering eyes and traveling hands can browse and sample the goods at any other market, but this one’s closed. ”
Carson said something, but I turned back around toward the show.
I was done with the conversation. Bishop’s eyes quickly looked away.
He focused straight ahead, a muscle in his jaw flexing as the chute opened and his calf ran out.
I held my breath as the calf reached the vantage point, and Titan broke the barrier.
When Bishop threw his loop around the calf’s neck, Titan dug his hooves into the ground.
Dad always taught us about the sacred bond between a horse and its rider.
One had nothing without the other; that connection could make or break you.
Sometimes, during the clinics, someone would ask what that looks like.
Dad would always bring in Titan and Bishop to show off.
They were the gold standard to which he held the others.
It wasn’t exactly fair, seeing as I’d never seen a better pairing.
Bishop jumped down, flanking the calf to the ground. He was so focused, so angry, so hot. Even though I couldn’t see them, I could imagine how the muscles in his arms flexed and strained beneath his shirt.
He reached for the loop in his mouth, making quick work of his tie before throwing his hands in the air. The buzzer stopped, and the crowd went wild, but Bishop didn’t indulge them. He kept his head down as he mounted Titan and waited to see if his knot would hold.
Of course, it did.
The clock flashed 7.53 seconds and Lincoln came running out to claim his prize.
I let out the breath I’d been holding since realizing Bishop had hesitated half a second before the barrier fell.
Had he done it on purpose to give Lincoln an edge?
That wasn’t like him. They had been ribbing each other for weeks about their little competition.
But then, what else could it have been?