Chapter Sixteen
Colby wasn’t particularly surprised when he woke alone the next morning. He’d been hard on Channing. More demanding, more needy, more domineering than he’d ever been with any woman.
More of a total a*shole, too.
Talk about trying to f*ck her into submission.
He sighed and tried to move. He winced and groaned at the lingering body aches. From his tumble off the bulls and broncs. Oh, and his tumble straight into love with Channing Kinkaid.
Damn. He had not handled that well. He needed to clean up and come clean with her before they both did something stupid and ran away from yet another set of problems. Namely how they felt so strongly about each other in such a short time. He rolled to his side and pain shot up his arm.
“Jesus f*cking Christ.”
“Ah. It lives. You need help getting down?” Edgard said from the bottom of the ladder.
Colby froze. He’d thought he was alone. Actually, he’d hoped Channing was sitting at the table, enjoying her morning coffee. Waiting for him to grovel. “Nah. I wouldn’t mind if you’d toss me a bottle of aspirin and a bottle of water.”
“No problem.”
The little fridge snicked open and shut. Edgard’s head popped up and the pain pills rattled in the plastic as they landed on the sleeping bag.
“Thanks, man,” Colby said as he reached for the proffered water bottle. “I feel like shit.”
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“You still gonna ride today?”
“Hell yes.”
“I thought so. Trevor’s out exercising King. You’d better get moving.
It’s nearly eight.”
Last call for check-in time was nine. It’d probably take him at least that long to work the kinks out of his aching body, and get a fresh coat of ointment slathered on his aches and pains and wrap up his ribcage in bandages. “Is there any hot water left to shower?”
“Should be. No one else has used it this morning.” Colby flopped back down, a bad feeling churning in his gut.
Edgard sighed. “How long’s it gonna take before you ask where she is, McKay?”
“Fine. Where is she?”
“She gathered her stuff early this morning and headed to Gemma’s.”
“What stuff?”
“Her duffel bag. Some clothes.”
F*ck. Stay cool. “What’d she say before she left?”
“She said to tell you she’d see you later.” Edgard poked his head over the edge of the bed again and studied him.
Colby snapped, “What?”
“What happened last night besides the threesome, amigo?”
“You knew about it?”
He nodded. “Trevor came looking for me after. He knew something was up with you two. He said it felt like jealousy. You wanna talk about it?”
If Colby had a problem he needed to hash out, he usually talked to Trevor, not Edgard. But as Colby had an insanely crazy jealous streak thinking about Trevor and Channing together—when Trevor was, oh, f*cking gay—maybe it was obvious he was going off the deep end where that little spitfire was concerned.
“What happened was I was a total dickhead.” 190
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“So apologize to her.”
“I don’t know if that will be enough. F*ck. I’m not good at this kind of shit. I never know what the hell I’m supposed to do. Or say. No wonder I’m still single.” Gritting his teeth against the pain, he sat up. Talking it out never solved a goddamned thing. He changed the subject. “Where were you last night anyway?”
“On the phone. My mother called.”
“From Brazil? Something serious?”
“Yeah. Evidently, there are some problems at my ranch in the last month. The foreman wouldn’t let her in when she drove up there to check on things. When he finally granted her access, she said at least fifty people are living around the main ranch house. They’ve butchered my cattle for food. Chopped down trees for firewood. Built some shanties…it’s a big mess.”
“Shit, man. I’m sorry. What are you going to do?”
“Go home. I should leave today.” Edgard hopped down from the bench seat and began to pace. “Trevor has his heart set on competing in Cheyenne at Frontier Days. I can’t just leave him high and dry. He needs me.” He expelled a bitter laugh. “That might be a first for him.” Colby swung his legs to the ladder. “The preliminaries are in two days. There are at least four other heelers who could work with him, Ed.”
“Yeah, but he’s superstitious. He wants me as his heeler because we did so well in Cheyenne last year. Problem is we suck right now. So, as soon as we’re out of the race for the buckle and the money, I’ll be on a plane for Brazil.”
Colby opened his mouth. Closed it.
“What?”
“Does Trevor know you’re leaving?”
“Yep. What he doesn’t know is once I’m back home, I ain’t comin’
back here. He’s welcome to come with me. Or he can stay here. His choice.” Edgard looked at Colby. “All I know is I can’t do this anymore.
Trevor can’t have it both ways.”
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A heavy silence weighted the air.
Colby scratched his chin. “I wish I knew what to say.”
“There’s nothin’ to say. Love sucks all around, amigo.” On his way out, Edgard stopped at the door and turned back. “Piece of advice. Don’t blow this thing with Channing. Don’t hide how you feel about her.
Because some of us don’t get that choice.” Colby had nothing to say to that either. And he only had half an hour before he had to show up, pretend he wasn’t beat to shit, confused as hell, and act ready to rodeo.
“Dammit, Gemma, I’m never gonna get this!”
“Oh hush, Channing. You’re doing fine.”
“How long did it take you to learn to tie quick release knots?” Gemma grinned. “I learned when I was five, so I’ve been doing it a long time. Come on. Let’s get this tack hung up. I need to check on my stock before the rodeo starts.”
Channing looped the nylon rope over her shoulder, picked up the saddle and blanket and followed Gemma into the back of the horse trailer. “Thanks for letting me shower here this morning.”
“Little cramped in Trevor’s rig with you and them three big cowboys, huh?”
No, it was a little uncomfortable after what’d happened last night—
whatever the hell it’d been. She wasn’t exactly sure. And she’d had no desire to face Colby this morning, at least until she had her wits about her. Or if she figured out what’d gone on. She sighed.
“You gonna tell me what’s eating at you, girl?” Channing didn’t answer.
“Well, something’s literally been eating at you. Does Colby know he left them big hickeys all over your neck? And streaks of razor burn? Did he try to bite your lips off, too? Cause your mouth is swollen.” Gemma 192
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placed a hand on Channing’s arm. “Oh, honey. How rough did he get on you last night?”
“Thanks for your concern, Gem, but it was entirely mutual.” She sighed again. “I’ll tell you later. Not right now. I need to think on it for a while longer, okay?”
“Sure thing. You know where to find me.” Channing threaded the rope over the metal holders, keeping her eyes focused on her task. “Thank you for the riding lessons and…” Just say it.
“For hanging out with me. I guess it’s obvious I don’t have many friends.”
“Here or at home?”
“Either.”
“Why not?”
She traced the frayed end of the cotton flank strap with her fingertip.
“Because I’d rather be alone and be happy with my own company than be somebody I’m not so I can fit in with people whose company I despise.”
“This a realization you’ve come to recently?”
“Pretty much. Well, that’s not true. I’ve felt that way from the time I was old enough to realize I never fit in any place my parents took me. Or sent me. My sister always stood out so I just stayed in the background. I tried to blend so no one noticed how out of place I was.”
“Then like me, you’re better off alone. If them kinda folks you were living around can’t see you’re the genuine article, then screw ‘em. The way I see it, at least horses and cows appreciate all you do for them everyday. And they sure as shit don’t talk about you behind your back.” Channing laughed.
“I’m a quart low on girlfriends myself, Channing. Steve’s friends’
wives were way older than me. He and I weren’t blessed with kids. I basically disowned my family. Frankly, since Steve was my best friend practically all my life I didn’t need anyone else.” The clank of D-rings against the metal barrier filled the silence.
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Gemma grunted and slapped her hands on her jeans. A cloud of dust rose up. “Well, that was downright sappy. And we ain’t even drinkin’.” She looked at Channing, lifted her brows and smirked. “Yet.” They parted ways. Gemma went to check on her small group of steers and her stock foreman behind the chutes and Channing headed to the main entrance to pick up her a ticket at the box office.
In the family area, Callie stood and waved her over. It made her feel ridiculously happy they’d saved her a seat.
Channing hefted her bag and slid across the wooden bench, already feeling her muscles getting sore from the horse ride. And from Colby’s hard riding last night. “Morning. How are you guys?”
“I’m fine.” Callie smiled brightly. “But momma ain’t feelin’ so good this morning.”
Mary scowled at her can of 7-Up. “Thanks for sharing that with the world, Cal.”
“You whooping it up again last night, Mary?”
“No. I was tucked in bed and sound asleep by nine.”
“Hmm. That’s too bad. Maybe you’ve got the flu or something.”
“Or something.” Mary dug out five bucks from the front pocket of her Rockies and passed it to Callie. “See that lady selling drinks?” Mary pointed to the vendor loitering at the top of the staircase. “Please get me another soda, and some juice for yourself. But don’t buy nothin’ else, Callie. And come right back here when you’re done. I mean it.”
“Sure, Momma.”
The second Callie disappeared Mary leaned closer. “It’s not the flu.
I’m pregnant.”
“Wow.” Channing didn’t know what else to say. Was Mary was thrilled about the pregnancy?
“Me and Mike have been trying to have another baby for a while. A couple of years actually. It just didn’t seem like it ever was gonna happen. Looks like it did.”
“Congratulations. Does Mike know?”
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Mary smiled. “I told him right after I barfed up breakfast again and decided to pee on the stick. That man’s got a shit-eatin’ grin on his face a mile wide. We haven’t told Callie yet. The girl can’t keep a secret to save her life.”
“She is only four, Mary.”
“True.”
The saddle bronc competition started. Channing held her breath when Colby’s name was called. He bucked off within three seconds. She scrutinized him as he sauntered off the dirt, putting on a macho show for everyone, acting like he was just fine.
Damn foolish man.
An hour later Cash and Edgard posted good times in the calf roping.
Colby didn’t fare so well. He ended up with no time. He hadn’t even made it off his horse.
A sick feeling settled in the pit of Channing’s stomach. Colby wasn’t fine. She had no choice but to sit in the stands for a few more hours, fretting. Luckily, Callie’s constant chatter distracted her.
The steer wrestling competition began. Mike Morgan was scheduled second. Mary and Callie yelled advice from the stands as the steer raced out.
It happened so fast Channing nearly missed it. Mike threw himself at the steer as the animal reversed direction and came right at him. Man and beast ended up in a dusty pile in the middle of the arena with Mike on the bottom. Dazed, the steer wobbled to its hooves and bounced toward the gate. The bulldogger didn’t move.
Mary stood up. “Omigod. What happened?”
“Momma? Why’s Daddy layin’ on the ground?”
“Ssh, baby. I don’t know.”
Two officials trotted out and crouched down beside Mike. After a discussion, one of the guys gestured for another official. Another discussion. He in turn signaled for the sports medicine team.
“What in the hell is taking so long?” Mary said.
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They all watched in horror as a stretcher was hauled out.
Mary swayed forward over the railing and Channing caught her.
“Hey. Take a deep breath, Mary. Don’t pass out on me.” She nodded and breathed deeply, squeezing Channing’s hand until Channing lost all feeling in it.
They carried Mike away to a smattering of applause and the announcer’s assurance that updates on Mike Morgan’s condition would be made available as soon as possible.
“I have to go,” Mary said. “I have to see if he’s okay. Oh God. What if he’s not?”
“Momma?”
Mary looked at her daughter, torn in two directions. “Maybe it’d be best if she didn’t come with until I know more—”
“You go on, Mary. Callie and I will stay right here. Hanging out.
Eating junk food. Checking out all the vendors to see what new trinkets they’re selling today, won’t we, Cal? You go.”
“You’re sure?”
“Go.”
Mary sprinted up the stairs two at a time.
The minute her mother was gone stoic Callie started to cry.
Channing pulled the little girl on her lap and let her bawl. Several of the other wives and girlfriends came over to offer help, but Callie wanted nothing to do with any of them.
Not once during the hour that passed did Callie beg for cheap toys.
Or sugar-laden snacks. Nor did she demand to know where her mother was. Or if her father was all right. Or why they couldn’t leave. She just curled into Channing and clung to her like a scared monkey.
“Channing!”
She spun around to see Colby limping down the bleacher stairs.
“Colby? What are you doing here?”
“Mary Morgan sent me.”
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Channing couldn’t read in his eyes whether it was good or bad news.
“She wants you to bring Callie to her.”
“Okay.” She looked down in Callie’s frightened eyes and tried to gently pry her arms from around her neck. “Hey, Calamity Jane. Gather up your stuff. Let’s go see your mom.” But Callie wouldn’t let go. Finally, Channing just carried her out.
Colby led them through a cordoned-off area to a small, airless room underneath the main grandstand. Inside, Mary hovered next to Mike, who was awake but on a stretcher with his knee heavily bandaged and his wrist in a sling.
Callie squirmed out of Channing’s arms and launched herself at Mary, sobbing, “Momma you didn’t come back and didn’t come back and I thought my daddy was dead!”
Channing felt like she’d been kicked in the solar plexus. That poor little girl. Acting so brave when she’d been torn up inside. How many other rodeo kids went through this on a regular basis? How many wives and girlfriends and mothers and fathers? How did they deal with it, day in, day out? Year after year?
“Oh, baby. It’s okay. See? He’s not dead. Just banged up.” Groggily, Mike Morgan said, “Hiya, punkin. Didja see me wreck? I think we oughta buy that steer and grind him into hamburger, huh?” Mary stepped around the end of the stretcher. “Channing. Thank you so much for watching Callie.”
“No problem. Is everything okay?”
“We’ll know more tomorrow. As it sits now, Mike has a torn ACll
that’s gonna require surgery. We’re heading off to Omaha in a little bit for X-rays and tests. And probably a trip to the operating room.” It sounded so serious. So permanent. Everyone knew—but nobody said out loud, that this could be a career-ending injury for Mike Morgan.
“Is there anything I can do?”
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Mary bit her lip. “I haven’t really thought it through until now, but it’s occurred to me we can’t take the horse and the horse trailer along with us to Omaha.”
Colby moved in behind Channing. “Don’t worry about it, Mary. Take care of your family. We’ll get your horse and trailer back to your ranch somehow.”
Relief crossed her face and she hugged Colby. “Oh thank you. You guys are our family, too. I’ll get the truck unhitched and get the trailer keys. I’ll be right back.” She leaned over to whisper to Mike before she and Callie hustled out.
Channing whirled around right into Colby, hovering behind her. She frowned. “Why are you still here? Aren’t you going to help Mary?”
“Nah. I’d just get in the way. Besides, Mary has hitched up that trailer more times than any guy on the circuit.” She rocked to her tiptoes and got right in his face. “Yeah, but unlike most guys, she is pregnant. And I don’t think hefting that hitch in her condition is the best idea, do you?”
“Shit.” He vanished.
Outside the contestants’ gate she heard the announcement for the start of the barrel racing and saw Gemma and Cash arguing.
“—and I’m tellin’ you, it ain’t your fault.”
“How so? That was my bum steer, Cash. And I’ll be goddamned if I’ll sit here and do nothin’ when I could be helping them.”
“Hey, guys,” Channing interrupted. “What’s the problem?” Cash’s handsome face was distorted into a full scowl. “The problem is that Wonder Woman here feels guilty and thinks she needs to take the Morgan’s horse and trailer back to South Dakota. By herself.” A heated pause sparked the air like fireworks.
“If you’re just worried about her going alone, I could go with her,” Channing offered.
Gemma awarded Cash a smug smile. “See? Problem solved.” 198
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“Except for one tiny detail. You don’t have your big horse haulin’
truck here, Gem. Your foreman needs the big diesel to pull the trailer for the stock. There’s no way you can pull that monster rig of Morgan’s with your small block Ford.”
“But you have a big enough one?” Cash grinned slowly.
“I’ll knock that grin clean off your face, Cash Big Crow, if you don’t get rid of it right now.”
His smile didn’t dim one iota.
“Fine. Yours is bigger. I doubt you’ll let me touch it. So are you volunteering to drive your big, bad machine to Buffalo Gap? That mean you’re just gonna abandon your horse and trailer here? For at least a day?”
“No. I hadn’t thought it through that far.” Trevor sauntered over. “What’s the commotion?” While Cash and Gemma stared at each other, Channing gave Trevor a brief rundown.
“Okay. Here’s what we’ll do. Hook up Cash’s truck to the Morgan’s trailer and take Mike’s horses to their ranch. Then you two will turn around, come back here and pick up Cash’s empty horse trailer on your way to Cheyenne. Because I will have driven Gemma’s rig, loaded with both of your horses to Cheyenne.”
They looked at each other. Cash shrugged. “Works for me.” Gemma snapped off, “Fine. But if you wreck my truck, Trevor Glanzer—”
“I’ll ride along with him and make sure he obeys all traffic laws,” Channing said. “Then I’ll watch your trailer until you get there.”
“Good. Let’s get everything loaded up.” Trevor caught Channing’s arm. “Why are you doin’ this? Wouldn’t you rather ride with Colby in my truck?” www.samhainpublishing.com 199
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“Between you and me? No. I need some time to clear my head.” When Trevor balked, she added, “Your part in last night’s festivities had nothing to do with it, okay?”
He nodded. “I sure understand needin’ some time to clear away the cobwebs. I’ll pass the information on the change in plans to Edgard. He can help Colby with our horses. Unless you’d rather tell Colby yourself?”
“No. I know he still has the bull-riding event to get through. But I’d like to get out of here as soon as possible because he’s liable to make a big scene.”
Or worse, Colby might not care at all that she was gone.
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