Chapter Four
“I see your girl is sitting with Celia. Was your evil plan in having them sit together to lure Miss Collins in with talk of photography, Dad? Or maybe you hoped she’d be charmed by Addie Kate and stick around.”
Jason scowled at his son as they waited for the next saddle bronc rider to come out of the chute. “First off, she is not my girl. Lainey Collins just happened to show up earlier, and I gave her a tour of the arena. That’s all. I don’t have any plans for her, evil or otherwise, smart aleck.”
Shaun chuckled. “My, my. Someone is sure touchy about the subject of pretty Miss Collins, for not being interested in her at all. I’m going out on a limb here, Dad, but I’d hazard a guess a woman as attractive as she is wouldn’t have any trouble snagging a date if she were interested.
You’re lucky she even gave the time of day to an ugly ol’ cuss like you. ”
Jason considered swatting his son with his hat, or maybe thumping him like an enraged cavedweller, but decided it wasn’t worth the jokes the announcer and Cooper James would toss at him. The two men would have a field day with it if he succumbed to the urge to set his son in his place.
He tamped down his temper and glared at Shaun. “I just thought she might enjoy meeting Celia. Besides, Celia can answer any questions she may have about rodeo without Lainey feeling uncomfortable asking them.”
“Sure, Dad. Whatever you say.” Shaun made a clicking sound with his tongue and raced forward as the saddle bronc rider shot out of the chute on a horse that had been in the running for bucking horse of the year last year.
Rode Rager wasn’t an easy bronc to ride, but if the cowboy managed to stay on for eight seconds, he’d have a solid score.
With a kissing noise, Jason hustled to catch up to Shaun and rode up on the other side of the bucking horse.
As soon as the buzzer sounded, the rider released the thick bronc rein he held, grabbed onto Shaun’s arm, and launched himself off Rode Rager.
The horse stopped bucking as soon as the cowboy was off his back and lunged forward, running full out, like he was a racehorse headed for an invisible finish line.
Jason grabbed the bronc rein and released the flank strap with a practiced hand.
The horse slowed when Shaun moved in on his other side.
They were able to guide Rode Rager through the gate with no trouble.
Speed born from experience had them switching mounts in a matter of seconds before returning to the arena.
The hardest workers at any rodeo were the horses used by pickup men, at least to Jason’s way of thinking.
They had to be intelligent, fast, agile, quick to respond to commands, brave, able to handle high-pressure situations, and able to keep from shying away from horses kicking or biting at them.
They had to remain steady even when cowboys were crawling onto and over them, and have the ability to face a riled bull without giving in to fear.
The job was mentally and physically demanding for pickup horses, which was why Shaun and Jason liked to switch out their mounts after every four or five riders competed. It kept any one horse from being overtaxed and gave them a chance to rest.
Jason shifted his attention to the last bronc in the chute.
The animal didn’t seem inclined to let the rider on his back, rearing up and banging on the sides of the chute.
While he waited for them to get the horse under control or give the cowboy a different equine to ride, Jason nudged his horse slightly to the right so he could look into the stands and study Lainey without it appearing obvious.
She held Addie Kate as the baby slept and laughed at something Celia said.
Lainey looked like a natural with children, and it made him wonder if she had any of her own.
She hadn’t mentioned being a mother. He knew she was single, but he had no idea if she’d ever been married.
Had she mentioned something about a past relationship, and he’d somehow forgotten?
The realization that he wanted to learn all there was to know about Lainey Collins left him unsettled.
He hadn’t been this interested in a female since his wife had died.
Why, after more than twenty years, was he suddenly fascinated with a woman who lived in her van?
As far as he knew, she had absolutely no roots or interest in setting any down.
He couldn’t envision what it would be like to be so alone in the world, with no place or people to call home. Despite the losses he’d survived, Jason had a home to go back to, where his family had deep roots, and his children were building a future for his grandkids.
Lainey leaned down and kissed Addie Kate’s cheek, and Jason felt the frozen lump in his chest that used to be a romantic heart crackling back to life.
He would have rubbed a hand over the spot that suddenly ached and considered what the ice shed from his heart meant, but it would have to wait. The rider was finally coming out of the chute, and he had work to do.
Later, just before the bull riding began, Jason sent Celia a text, asking her to keep Lainey from running off before he could speak with her. He had no right to ask the woman to stick around, but he had a feeling if she left, he’d likely never see her again.
Celia sent back a thumbs-up emoji along with a kissy face that made him growl quietly as he and Shaun rode into the arena.
“You look like you have acute indigestion, Dad. Did that bottle of electrolytes you guzzled sit wrong with you?” Shaun asked as they stopped the horses behind the barrel where Cooper James danced to a fast beat and waved a barrel-sized foam hat in the air, trying to get the crowd involved in a sing-along.
Jason glowered at his son. “I’m fine.”
Shaun smirked. “Then I guess your foul mood must be because Lainey is likely going to hit the road as soon as this ends, and you won’t see her again.
You know, Dad, it wouldn’t kill you to ask the woman for a date.
You could take her out for dinner this evening and have an adult conversation away from the rodeo and distractions. Just sayin’, Dad.”
His gaze narrowed. “You do realize you are frustratingly observant, don’t you?”
A chuckle rolled out of Shaun as he reached over and thumped Jason on the shoulder. “I inherited that from you. If you don’t believe me, ask Lisa or Brylee.”
Jason was saved from making any comment when the first bull rider came out of the chute on a rank bull that had yet to be ridden for more than four seconds.
The good thing about Blown Target was that the bovine was always eager to leave the arena and easy to guide out the gate.
Some of the bulls liked to throw their weight around, toss dirt and snot, and charge anything that moved.
The rider sailed off Blown Target and rolled into his landing on the arena dirt floor. The bullfighters jumped in front of him, and the bull turned away, trotting toward the open gate.
Shaun headed over to make sure the bull went where he was supposed to, but Jason’s assistance wasn’t needed.
He glanced into the stands and saw Celia and Lainey talking. Celia pointed to the chutes, likely explaining something or answering one of Lainey’s questions.
Although he’d refused to admit it, even to himself, Jason had been hoping he’d run into the nomadic photographer again.
Lainey had lingered in his thoughts since he’d met her a few weeks ago.
He hadn’t expected to see her today, but was grateful he’d had the opportunity to spend a little time with her.
From what he’d seen, she was smart, witty, and intelligent.
She also appeared to be kind and caring, even if he got the idea she could be a little guarded.
Then again, a lovely woman traveling alone needed to keep her guard up.
“Earth to lover boy,” Shaun said, lightly popping Jason on the leg with the end of his reins.
Jason turned his attention to his son, frowning at him. “What?” he barked.
Shaun laughed and shook his head. “You’ve got it bad, Dad. I’m telling you, if you don’t ask her out, you are going to live to regret it.”
“What would you know about—” Jason clamped his mouth shut.
Actually, Shaun knew quite a lot about living with regrets.
Years ago, after he and Brylee had rashly wed in Las Vegas, Shaun had snuck out the next morning, not realizing what he was leaving behind until it was too late.
It had taken a long time for Brylee to forgive him, but at least they’d found their way back to each other.
Jason couldn’t help but think there was a heaping portion of divine intervention involved in the circumstances that reunited the two stubborn young people. He was thankful every day they had worked out their differences, renewed their vows, and given him two beautiful grandchildren.
Shaun and Brylee both deserved all the happiness they could find. Anyone could see how happy they were with each other.
Another bull charged into the arena and tossed the rider before they hit the three-second mark. It took both Jason and Shaun to get the animal out of the arena.
After another rider flew off and they had to work to get the bull to accept his exit, they switched horses before returning to the arena. Only two riders managed to stay on for the full eight seconds, and then the rodeo ended.
Jason didn’t have time to look into the stands or find Lainey. He had work to do that couldn’t wait.
He’d just finished when he looked up from stowing his tack to see Celia heading toward him with Addie Kate bouncing in her arms and Lainey accompanying her. At least the woman hadn’t rushed off without giving him a chance to speak to her again.
Quickly removing his chaps and shin guards, he set them with the rest of the tack and shut the trailer door, then yanked off his gloves as he strode over to the two women.