Page 61

“That’s amazing. I would love to hear more about it.” A genuine smile crosses Dakota’s face, and it gives me a sense of pride knowing I’m the one that helped put it there.

“I’m hoping you’ll do more than just hear about it. Chance here tells me you’re looking to help with a problem I’m having with a so-called farm that we believe is neglecting animals. I would love to see if that’s something you would be interested in helping us with.”

“Yes, I would love to speak with you about this.”

Dakota lets Stephanie pull her aside, but not before mouthing a silent ‘thank you’ to me.

“Did you actually just do a good deed?” Wyatt asks, taking a sip of his beer.

“Fuck off,” I grit while sipping my whiskey.

“Did you have to do it with my ex?”

I smile. “That was just an added bonus.”

“Fucker.”

We make our way over to the viewing area and for the first time since we got here, I can feel myself relax. The sponsors all came through with support, the riders and animals all came without issue, and we have a record-setting attendance. By all accounts, the rodeo has been a success. What’s the most shocking the most to me is that none of it matters as much as it would have last year. Now, the only thing that feels like real success to me is having Dakota for real, and that scares the shit out of me.

I push the thoughts aside and focus on the cowboy lowering himself down inside the chute. His hand wraps around the bronc rein as the horse moves under him, anxious to get out.

I sympathize with the horse.

“What do you figure?” Wyatt asks, nodding his chin at the arena.

I watch the way the rider sits on the wired horse. “The bronc looks like a wild one and the rider looks a little green. I give him three seconds.”

“I don’t know if you’re being an ass or generous with this one.”

“You know I’m always right, though.” I take another sip of my whiskey, not taking my eyes off the duo.

With a nod of the rider’s head, the chute opens and the horse bursts out. The energy and screams from the crowd drift through the air, and for the first time in a long time, I find myself excited to watch the event. Every buck of the horse reminds me of coming here and standing next to my dad, cheering on the riders and the animals. But he wouldn’t watch from all the way up here; he would always be down in the stands or roaming around the back talking to the riders and handlers. He would only come up to the sponsor’s suite to shake hands and have the obligatory drink before returning down to the grounds.

And what do I do my first year running it? I hide in the suite.

“Well damn, nearly three seconds on the dot. How the fuck do you do that?” Wyatt asks.

“Sixth sense, I guess.” I down the rest of my drink, focusing on the burn as it slides down my throat.

Wyatt spent just as many rodeos by my dad’s side as I did. We watched the same riders, cheered for a lot of the same animals. I don’t know what it is that makes me different, but I’ve always been able to tell which one would win. A lot of the time, it’s the animal.

“I need to get out of here.” I hand Wyatt my empty glass, not waiting for a response.

Searching the room, I brush through the crowd until I reach her, taking her hand, startling her.

“Chance, hi,” she breathes.

I look into her striking green eyes for a moment before turning to Stephanie. “Sorry to cut this short, but there’s something I need to show Dakota.”

“Of course.” She smiles at me before turning to Dakota. “Thanks for giving me your number. I’ll get in touch soon.”

Dakota gives a hurried wave as I pull her from the suite.

“Chance! What’s happening? Where are we going?”

I must seem like a maniac, pulling her through the crowd without reason, but I just can’t handle being in there when I know that’s not where I’m supposed to be. Not where Dad would want me to be.

I don’t know if it’s the rush of having pulled off this fake engagement or seeing what it takes to actually put this on and the pride in the result that goes with it, but I now see why Dad didn’t want to be cooped up in that suite the whole weekend like I have been. It’s not only getting to meet the people who put it on face-to-face, but it’s the rush of seeing things at ground level. The energy around the riders and animals as they wait for their turn in the arena.