Page 47 of From the Ashes

By three o’clock, I’ve shown Walker where everything is and I’ve taken him through the routine I expect him to use once the broncs are back home. Honestly, it’s been kind of nice these last couple days having them at the arena.

Along with Trisha, I also have trainers who work with the horses to get them ready for the competitions. I have the space, the funds, and the passion. The one thing I don’t have is the time. So, I hire that part out. But that means there are usually two to three people milling about my property during the day, getting things done, but thankfully, just like the riders, the horses get a couple of weeks to recoup after a rodeo, so no additional personnel will be by for a while.

“I’m going to grab a shower before we leave for Knox’s,” I tell Walker as we head back into the house. The summer heat hasn’t let up at all and I’m drenched in sweat.

“Yeah, okay. I should probably do the same.”

“Leaving in an hour sound good?”

He nods and heads up the stairs right behind me. Walkerdoesn’t need help with his clothes this time because there are no buttons or zippers…and I’m not sure how I feel about that.

An hour later, we’re climbing into the cab of my dually, heading for Knox’s.

“Can I ask you something?” Walker says as I pull out onto the main road.

“Sure.”

“How do you really afford that house and the horses and the trainers, especially if you only supply the broncs for your hometown rodeo?”

My shoulders relax, this is an easy question.

“I was only twenty when my rodeo career ended. Knowing I had to find something to do to support myself, I decided to go to school for chemical engineering. I know you probably can’t tell, but I’m actually fairly smart. At least in math and science.”

“Beautyandbrains, huh?” Walker smirks.

I snort. “Whatever you say.Anyway,by my second year of college I already knew I wanted to be a firefighter, but my parents wanted me to have a degree since I tend to choose careers that have a limited shelf life. If they were willing to pay for it, who was I to argue? Long story short, I ended up developing a skin-safe flame retardant that I patented. It’s how I afford everything I have.”And what put another seven figures in my investment account last year.

Beside me, Walker is silent, but when I turn to look at him, he’s staring at me with his mouth hanging open.

“What?” I ask, stupidly.

“You’re incredible,” he replies without hesitating.

My heart swells at his praise and if I’m not careful, my cock will start swelling because of the look on his face.

“Just glad to be able to help, you know?”

Walker quirks a brow. “If you have enough money to live on, why raise the broncs at all?”

I briefly think about avoiding the question and just telling him I don’t know, but I know he’d understand, so I give him the truth.

“Because it’s nice to feel like I matter and that I make a difference, but my passion has always been, and still is, the rodeo. I couldn’t cut myself off completely after I was injured, so that’s how I stay connected.”

His next question catches me so off guard I almost run off the road.

“What really happened that morning, Phoenix?”

Chapter 23

Walker

The question just flew right out. Phoenix swerves like he was physically startled, but I don’t apologize, choosing instead to let the question stand.

“You really want to hash this outnow?” he grits through his clenched jaw.

I shrug, trying to prevent him from seeing how much Ineedhis answer. “Now. Later. Just some point in the near future would be nice.”

“Why does it matter?” he asks, keeping his eyes on the road and both his hands around the steering wheel in a white-knuckled death grip. “What’s done is done.”