Chapter 6 Cal
SIX
CAL
“Icould have driven myself,” I said as I got into Amy’s car.
There’d been no good reason why I wasn’t headed for the radio interview in my own truck.
I was more than used to doing my PR on my own.
While my manager handled my endorsements, sponsors, announcements, and interviews, he was mostly hands off.
He’d send over the list of times and places of where I needed to be, and then leave me to it.
I didn’t pay him to hold my hand at press events and he wasn’t the type to do so.
I was very used to managing myself and I didn’t like feeling like she was babysitting me.
She swung her gaze toward me, and I saw her instant irritation. “It’s my job to make the most of these promo opportunities. I wouldn’t want to risk you getting lost or being late.”
“I can follow directions,” I said, snapping my seatbelt on. Why was I so aggravated?
“That’s good to know.” She pulled onto Main Street and headed out of town. “I’ll expect you to do that to make this rodeo a success.”
The way she said it made it sound as though the rodeo had to be a success, and I supposed that was true. From what I’d been told yesterday and the little bit I’d gotten from Rafe this morning, the town was banking a lot on this one event giving them the funds they needed.
I could see why she was concerned, and I respected that—but on the other hand, I’d had a sleepless night.
Half of me wondered if I should have kept my mouth shut about my parentage, and the other half thought I should have high-tailed it out of town after I spoke with my mom.
It didn’t help that I was chafing over the fact that Rafe kept that info from me, too.
No part of me wanted to be riding in Amy’s car. In my own truck, I could have put on my favorite tunes, opened the windows, and let the breeze blow away some of my stress. As it was, the stress was balling up inside me.
I studied my driver. Her jaw was clenched and jutting forward, her hands gripped the wheel tightly.
She seemed tense and angry. Was she uncomfortable after what I’d revealed at dinner?
Hell, she had to be. I was, which I supposed was where my irritation came from.
Knowing that didn’t soothe it, though. I turned my attention to the road ahead.
“Is something wrong?” she asked after miles of silence went by. “I suppose you don’t like to be driven by women?”
“I don’t like to be driven by anybody. I’m used to looking after myself,” I grumbled and left it at that. I didn’t want to be rude…but it wouldn’t kill her to be a little nicer, either. I was the one doing the town and her a favor as far as I could see.
“Here it is,” she announced as we pulled into the driveway of an unassuming concrete building with a large antenna and satellite dishes nearby. “Ready?”
“This isn’t my first interview. Is it yours?” I couldn’t resist the poke at her because I was irritated with her that she was irritated with me.
She didn’t bother to answer but got out of the car and went into the building ahead of me.
When she made the introduction to Mitch Connor, the DJ, who was conducting the interview, her PR personality was in place.
No one would have suspected that we’d just endured thirty minutes of tense silence in the car.
“We’ll be in here,” Mitch said, leading us into a small room with three chairs and plenty of recording equipment.
I had been in lots of similar places and felt comfortable answering the usual questions about myself and my career. The interview started in a predictable pattern, but then the dynamic changed when Mitch turned to Amy.
“Amy, tell me why Poplar Springs chose a rodeo for the fundraiser. Aren’t you concerned that you’ll sink a lot of money into the event and it won’t pay off? Rodeos aren’t cheap to organize and put on. You could lose more than you gain if people don’t show up.”
“Well, we’re using social media and targeted advertising to get the word out and we’ve even had a shoutout from the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association. Given the time of year and all our plans, we’re hopeful the turnout will—”
Amy was interrupted when the DJ tapped something on his computer and a loud wah-wah was played along with canned laughter. I’d never wanted to punch someone more than I did in that moment.
My eyes went to Amy’s face. The belligerence she’d had in the car was gone, and she seemed at a loss with how to deal with the DJ’s unexpected interrogation, which was bordering on hostile. I couldn’t stand how Mitch had broadsided her, implying that Amy didn’t know what she was doing.
“If you don’t mind me interrupting, Mitch,” I cut in, “let me ask you something. What do you know about rodeos?”
He glared at me over the top of his mike and I just blinked at him innocently, pretending to be curious about what he might say.
“Well, they’re pretty damn popular among single and married women, and children, am I right?
” He tapped a key on his computer and played a ridiculous sound of a horn blowing.
I let out a chuckle that I tried to keep from sounding forced.
“Well, I hate to contradict you there, Mitch, but the current demographics for rodeo participants and spectators is about split down the middle for gender. As to the age, well, that depends on the events.” I then proceeded to talk over Mitch while I explained how rodeo competitions have evolved from small-time competitions on ranches to showcase skill into a competitive sport.
The program director was sitting in a different room and we could see him waving his hand to hurry up. I’d hoped to talk out the entire time allotted to us without letting Mitch take control of the microphone again, but I didn’t quite make it.
“Well, wasn’t that history lesson interesting.
” The look he gave me said he was pissed at what I did, so I braced myself for what he’d say next.
“And on a different note…” The DJ turned to me.
“I hear a rumor that you’re retiring from the rodeo circuit.
Why would you decide on such a small event to go out on? That doesn’t seem your style.”
“Well, you know, that’s an interesting rumor you heard there.
” I needed to find out who in my manager’s office spoke to this asshole.
“I’ve only been floating the idea of retiring around.
” I added a little extra drawl to my voice, “But it’s like I was just saying.
Rodeos are about community. When the good people of Poplar Springs shared how their community center and elementary school had burned down due to a lightning strike, and how they hoped to fundraise to finance the new build, well, of course I agreed to help out.
If this does end up being my last rodeo then I can’t think of a better way to close out my career than by helping people and making a difference.
I want to go out with a bang and from the plans I’ve seen for the charity rodeo, it’s going to be that.
Why don’t we let Amy explain what all’s going to happen during the rodeo weekend? ”
When the attention focused back on her, she’d gotten the wind back in her sails and talked freely about other competitors who would be at the rodeo and the community events planned to coincide with it, providing an entertaining visit for guests and giving the locals—including local businesses—a chance to show off their hospitality.
By the time she was done, she’d painted the picture of a town coming together and the amazing plans that would rebuild the community center in such a positive light that the DJ promised to come cover the event personally.
When we finally walked out of the radio station, I felt bad about growling at her earlier. Maybe taking her to lunch would make up for it. And since we were in the next town, I hoped no one would think they were seeing the ghost of Luke Thorne when they looked at me.
“Lunch before we head back? I see a little place just up there.” I pointed to a diner, the kind of classic setup that seemed guaranteed to offer hand-packed burgers and the fries seasoned with a kick.
“I guess we could.” She checked her watch and started walking toward the diner at my side.
Once we were seated and had Cokes in front of us, I opened the conversation. “I’d like to squish the elephant in the room, so let’s get to it. Why were you so irritated with me this morning?”
“Me?” She looked genuinely surprised. “You were the one who was so grumpy. You barely greeted me before complaining about me driving you to the interview.”
“A man likes to do things for himself.”
She shook her head with a half-sad smile on her face. “Now you sound like my husband, and that’s…”
She didn’t finish the sentence, but she didn’t need to. I got it. I reminded her too much of the man she’d loved, who’d been taken from her too young. If even part of what I had read about Luke online was true, the guy had been a paragon, probably the perfect husband, too.
“I’m sorry to take my…emotions out on you,” she said, “but the thought of facing memories every day for the next month is daunting. I’ll try to do better.”
“Don’t worry about it,” I said, wishing I could make this easier for her, but knowing there was nothing I could do.
I couldn’t change my face or who I was. I could change the conversation, though.
“Hey, is the rodeo really such a risk for the town?” I had never considered the financial aspect of the rodeo.
I spent most of my time at established, profitable events.
She sucked in a breath. “It is. And since I’m the one that argued for it, if it doesn’t go well, I’ll be in the hot seat.”
“You could lose your job?” I asked, realizing that she had a hell of a lot more riding on this than I did.
“Possibly. Worse than that, the town could lose a lot more and we still wouldn’t have a community center.” She hitched her shoulders up.