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“Sure thing, boss.” He addressed me. “Lean your weight on the balls of your feet, like you would if they were in stirrups. Now, make a loop in your lariat—you’re right-handed, aren’t you?” I nodded. “Okay then, hold the loop in your right hand. See that eye at the end of the rope? That’s called a honda. That slides the loop open and closed.”

“How big does the loop need to be?” I asked.

“That’s up to you. Some folks prefer to start small and let it grow while they twirl it overhead. Others prefer a bigger loop—maybe seven feet across—and keep it that size while they twirl it.” Zeeb grinned. “I don’t figure you for a guy who does anything on a small scale.”

I rolled my eyes once more. He showed me how to hold the excess coils of lariat in my left hand, leaving enough slack to give myself room to lift the loop above my head, twirl it, and throw it.

“You ready to start swinging?”

“As ready as I’ll ever be.”

“Yeah, you look like the kinda guy who enjoys swinging,” Walt called out.

“Let him concentrate,” Robert admonished. “Or do I bring out the video ofyourfirst time doing this?”

Walt gaped. “You said you’d deleted that.” The others snickered.

“I lied. Now leave him be.” Robert flashed me a smile. “You can do this.”

Damn, that made me feel good.

“Okay, when I have your attention?”

I jerked my head to look at Zeeb. “Focused.”

He gave a nod. “The twirling is the hardest part to master, mostly ’cause folks try to make it happen by moving their whole arm. But you’re only gonna move your wrist, all right? Think of it as an axle. The rope is a wheel revolving around it.”

I started twirling, my heart hammering, and Zeeb hollered words of encouragement as I maintained the speed of the loop.

“Fuck, that hurts,” I groused.

“You just give me one good try, and we’ll leave it at that. You gotta choose the right moment in the swing to throw the lariat,” Zeeb told me. “Wait till your swinging wrist makes its way from back to front, then take a step forward, and bring your hand forward and down to shoulder height.” I did as instructed, and suddenly he called out, “Now! Extend your arm and release the loop.”

The lariat landed on the box, and I jerked it taut.

Applause burst out from the audience, and I took a bow.

“Nice job,” Butch told me. “Don’t get cocky, kid. The goal is to do that while you’re riding a horse, and you’re a long way off yet.”

“Don’t you listen to him,” Garrett said warmly. “I think you were awesome.”

I smiled, then glanced at Robert. “What doyouthink, boss?”

“Looks like you’re a natural with a rope.”

Beside him, Walt erupted into a violent cough, and Butch patted him on the back.

“Boss?” Teague rode up on horseback. “We’ve got company.”

And just like that, I knew he’d be out of there.

Well crap.

Robert

“Who’s here?” Then I saw Diana’s car pull up beside the barn, and just like that, I knew I was in trouble.

For God’s sake, it’s been one day, sis. I’d forgotten to call her Sunday night. When our dad had been in the hospital, we’d gotten into the habit of calling each other once a day. I hadn’t spoken to her since the early hours of Sunday morning, and while technically thatwasSunday, I knew it wouldn’t cut any ice with her.