11. Mags
11
MAGS
Twenty minutes later we pull into the wildlife center parking lot and connect with Red’s old rodeo friend, Justice. The moment the two men see each other, they slam together in a big bear hug, the sight warming my heart.
I’ve known Red for over twenty years, but his rodeo life isn’t something I know much about other than the stories he has shared, and whatever tales Anna would tell me about on our weekly phone calls when they were on the road.
After retiring along with the Graham brothers, I always wondered if he’d want to leave the rodeo in his rearview mirror. But when he started the Bull Stud with the plan to give retired and unwanted rodeo animals a good retirement and breed future champions, I realized that the rodeo would always be a part of his life.
“You’re a sight for sore eyes, Red Grayson,” Justice beams, looking him up and down. “Bit more gray in your hair, but you’re lookin’ well. Retirement suits you.”
“Likewise, Justice,” Red responds, clapping a hand on his friend’s back. “Although hold on off the gray hair comments, you’re almost all silver there now, old friend.”
I stand off to the side giving the two friends their time together.
It’s a side of Red I don’t often see these days and it gives me hope that with Wyatt gone, the now empty-nester won’t just stay at home on the ranch and wallow. Maybe he’ll start thinking about what comes next in his life like I’ve started to do lately. Then again, the idea of him moving on without me makes me feel weird too…
“Is this your new partner? Good on you, buddy. Anna would never want you to be alone forever, you know?”
Now this is awkward…
Red chuckles and shakes his head, walking over to me and wrapping his arm around my shoulders. “This is my best friend, Mags. She’s as much of a workaholic as I am, so when I had to drop Wyatt at the airport, I figured we’d turn this into a road trip slash vacation and make the most of it.”
"Best friend, huh? Lucky bastard," Justice says, holding out his hand to shake mine. “The name’s Justice.”
“Hey. I’m Mags. I’m the one who tries to keep Red out of trouble these days,” I answer.
Justice looks between the two of us before fixing on Red. “You sure you’re just friends?”
Red rolls his eyes. “Yep. She was Anna’s and has been a rock for me and Wy ever since her passin’.” He looks down at me with soft warm eyes that make me want to sag against him but also run for the hills. Because what the hell is wrong with me right now?
I may be acting normal with Red, but on the inside, I’m still trying to work out what the hell happened yesterday. We almost kissed! It’s more than that though, because here I am pretending like I’ve got my act together when really, I’m lonely, and now confused.
Justice doesn’t seem to be swallowing the ‘friends’ line but he lets it go. “Tell me, then. What have you been up to? Still got that rundown ranch you bought with Rhett and his brothers?”
“Sure do,” Red replies, puffing out his chest. “Not so run down now either. We’ve all been workin’ hard to replant the mountain’s slopes and repair all the equipment and fences. We’ve got it lookin’ real good now. We’ve started a bull stud too, using retired champions from the circuit.”
Justice’s eyes widen and fill with pride. He reaches up and rests his big hand on Red’s shoulder, staring deep. “You’re a good man, Red Grayson. Those animals give everythin’ for the rodeo, and now, with all of y’all doin’ what you’re doin’ for them, they’ll have another purpose.”
“Yeah, gettin’ lots of lovin’ and gettin’ fat on my land,” Red muses, making us all laugh.
“So, what brings you out this way? You just passin' by then," Justice asks.
“Headin’ to Ninilchik for the event this weekend.”
“Nice. Should be a good one from what I’ve heard. If you’ve got time, you should come check out the wildlife center. I'm just about to lead a tour. You two could tag along and then afterward, maybe you and I can share some stories with Mags here about life on the rodeo tour," Justice looks over to me and winks.
Red groans before shaking his head at us. “Not sure I’m goin’ to like any tall tales you might tell her about me, Jus. Not goin’ to say no to a private tour though.” Red looks down at me. “That sound OK with you, darlin’?”
I flush and have to quickly school my features because something is definitely wrong with me. Red Grayson has been calling me darlin’ for years and it’s never made me feel butterflies or blush like a teenager. What is happening to me?
"Yeah,” I say shakily, clearing my throat. “I mean, yep. Lead the way.” Thankfully I sound a lot more confident than I feel inside.
Red eyes me suspiciously. "You sure? We don't have to stay long if you want to hit the road. I was plannin’ on drivin’ the rest of the way anyway so you can rest.” I swear this man is on to me.
“I’m fine, Red. I promise,” I say, looking him dead in the eye so he’ll believe me. “Let’s do it.”
Fifteen minutes later, Justice stands in front of a group of eight tourists from Taiwan with Red and I dawdling at the back of the group.
I look at the brochure in my hand. “This place is amazin’,” I say. “It’s like a wildlife zoo but without cages. The animals are free to roam and live like they’re out in the open, just without havin’ to worry about food or care.”
“I thought you’d like it. It’s no bull stud and rescue like we’re tryin’ to build, but it’s inspirin’ nonetheless. It’s the perfect kind of place for a man like Justice to land, that’s for sure.”
“I heard my name. Hope you’re not tellin’ Mags the dirt on me before I can do the same to you, old man?” he jests.
Red plays innocent, making me smile. "Would I do that?"
“You’d sooner throw me under the bus than admit to your reckless rodeo past, my friend.”
“I’m thinkin’ you’re both as bad as each other,” I add. “How’d you two meet anyway?”
Red chuckles, his eyes crinkling at the corners as he recalls the memory. "Oh, that's a story, alright. Back in the day, Justice here was known for his wild antics and fearlessness in the ring. One time, he rode a bull blindfolded just for kicks. Everyone thought he was crazy, but he stayed on for the whole eight seconds before I pulled him off and dragged him to safety.
Justice grins. "Those were the days. What Red doesn’t tell people is that he was the one who dared me to do it in the first place!" Both of them laugh loudly at that. "We were always gettin' into some kind of trouble together. In the ring and on the town, we were always causin’ trouble.”
There’s a nostalgic twinkle in Red’s eye. "Those were some wild times. Never would've made it through half of 'em without this crazy cowboy by my side." He claps Justice on the back, the bond between them clear.
“How about you, Mags? I don’t remember you from bein’ on the circuit with us,” Justice asks.
“Nope. I’m a hometown girl from Spring Haven. If I went to an event, it was with Anna.”
“Ah. Wait… maybe I do remember you. Short skirt, red boots. Hair out to here .” He holds his hands high above his head. “Definitely not a face or a pair of legs any red-blooded man there would’ve forgotten in a hurry.”
Red laughs and bumps me with his hip. “Sounds about right. Those damn boots were like a flag to all the bull riders. Had to beat them off you with a stick until you flashed your weddin’ ring around.”
Justice’s brows jump high. “You’re married?”
"That would've been husband number two. But no, we're not together anymore.” I explain.
“Ah, gotcha.” We pass a sign for the bear enclosure. “OK, well I better get back to the actual tourists and show them a good time. You two goin’ to stick around for the rest of the tour?”
We both nod without even looking at one another. “Can’t get rid of us that easily, Jus. Mags here should experience feedin’ a moose at least once in her life.”
Justice’s bushy brows jump high. “You’ve never fed a moose ?
I shake my head. “Not really a fan of wild animals even though I’m a born and bred Alaskan. Unless you mean the wild animals that come through my diner.”
Red snickers. “You talkin’ ‘bout actual animals or just the old timers at the bar?”
I giggle and lean in, resting my cheek against his arm and wondering why there’s a strange thrumming under my skin. “Well, that Ronnie is a bit wild.”
Ronnie, the town’s historical romance-reading, bar-propping old coal miner, is a hive of knowledge from the ‘good ol’ days’ and is really interesting to talk to if you take the time to sit down and listen.
“Sounds like your hometown is as interestin' as this one," Justice replies before turning to me. "Follow me, Mags. Let's get you a moose to feed and you can show Red how it's done."
Red just grins down at me, seemingly non-plussed that I’m still holding on to his arm. “That OK with you, old man?”
He narrows his eyes. “I’m younger than you, remember?”
“By a few months. That doesn’t count,” I shoot back.
“Mmm hmm,” he says, smirking. “Let Justice take you, he always did like tryin’ to steal the pretty girls away from cowboys.”
“Aww, you think I’m pretty, Red?” I say, batting my lashes for effect.
His gaze darkens as he shakes his head, the humor now gone and some unreadable emotion in its place. "You know you're a looker, Mags. Always have been and always will be, whether you're in a short skirt and those damn red boots or jeans and a sweater like today. Now stop fishin' for compliments and give Justice his thrill for the day by lettin' him show off to you. Yeah?"
“You’ll keep, Red,” Justice muses.
Red lifts his eyes to his friend. “Look after my girl, Jus.”
“Always,” is the big man’s reply.
You better believe, for the rest of our time there, all I can think about is Red calling me “his girl” and wondering why I like it as much as I do.