Page 26 of Headstrong Cowboy (Montana’s Rodeo Cowboys #2)

R anger nudged his nose against Chrissy’s shoulder, and she chuckled at him. “I know, boy. You want to get out there as much as I do. Soon we will have a turn. There’s a couple more events to go.”

The day had gone by in a blur. Even after her very late night, she’d woken refreshed and ready to go.

It could’ve been that her body still buzzed with energy from what she and Ryder and shared the previous evening.

Being in his arms had been amazing. He’d told her she took his breath away.

Well, the same could be said for him. He’d kept his promise and he’d worshipped her until she couldn’t think straight.

Everything with Ryder was better than it had been with Beau. She inwardly cringed at the thought because, in the beginning, everything had been fun and exciting and breathtaking with Beau.

Ranger nudged her again, as if he could sense her distress. “Is it wrong to compare? I was young and immature when Beau and I first got together. Now I’m older and I’ve got life experience. It should be different, right?”

The horse nickered, as if to say, I’m a horse. Why are you asking me? He had a point. But sometimes talking out loud, even to an animal, helped.

“You ready to go?”

Chrissy jumped at the sound of Riley’s voice behind her. She turned and smiled at her friend. “I think so. I know Ranger here is going to be amazing. He’s such a good horse. I can’t believe someone isn’t using him on a regular basis.”

Riley came beside her and stroked the horse’s nose. “I’ve got to be totally honest with you, and I’m pretty sure I said it the first day you rode him. He’s never responded to anyone the way he responds to you. He loves you as much as you love him.”

There was nothing erroneous in what Riley said—she did love Ranger. “I’m going to miss riding him so much when this is over.”

“You can always come out and take him for runs, if you want,” Riley said, with a lift of her shoulder. “I’m sure he’ll love it.”

“I would love that. Thank you.” Chrissy ran her fingers through Ranger’s mane. “How about that, boy? Would you like me to ride you even when we’re done?” He gave a full body shake, and Chrissy laughed. “I take that as a yes?”

“That definitely looked like a yes to me. I should let you go. Good luck, Chrissy, although I don’t think you’ll need it. I’m betting you’re going to be competing tomorrow.”

“Thanks, and I hope so.” Riley walked away and the nerves that Chrissy had forgotten about returned in full force.

She scanned the area, looking for a familiar face, namely Ryder, but apart from seeing him just after the parade, she hadn’t seen him again.

He’d looked troubled, and it hadn’t surprised her.

It was taking a huge effort on his part to be around a sport where he could no longer take a part, especially one he’d been so successful in.

Not to mention the minute of silence after the National Anthem in honor of a fallen competitor, Jeremy Lundgren, who had been hurt at a competition in San Antonio.

His family had taken him off life support the night before.

It had to have reminded Ryder how close he’d come to losing his own life.

There’d been a moment of levity when a dog streaked through the arena with a pair of pants hanging from his mouth. The same dog that had interrupted her and Ryder’s first attempt at a kiss. That dog had questionable timing, but maybe everyone had needed it as well.

As much as Chrissy wanted Ryder in the stands watching her, she understood if it all was too much for him and he didn’t come back until it was all over.

“It’s almost time, Ms. Bloom. We need you to get ready.”

Chrissy turned from where she was still stroking Ranger and smiled at the marshal. “Thanks.” He gave a tip of his hat and then walked off, no doubt in search of the other competitors. “Well, this is it. Let’s do it. And no matter what happens, we had fun. Right, Ranger?”

He gave another shake as if to say, Damn right we had fun.

Making sure her hat was on securely, she put a foot in the stirrup and hooked her leg over.

Once she had her seat, she touched the top pocket of her bedazzled shirt, where the earrings Tilly gave her sat.

She closed her eyes for a brief moment, breathed in deep and said a silent prayer that she would do well, along with all the other competitors.

Feeling confident and in the zone, she nudged Ranger’s flanks and the horse set off in a slow walk toward the group of women lined up.

There were fifteen competitors all together, and she was slated to be the last rider as she was a late entry.

The top ten went through to the final on Sunday.

Smiling at the other women as she went past, Chrissy got into position.

While she waited, she thought through her routine.

The set up of the barrels was the same everywhere, but there were always factors that caused subtle changes in the times and the event outcome.

Ranger was solid, but even he could have a misstep, which could cause her to go wide around a barrel, which would increase her time.

The tighter she was around the barrels, the better her time was.

Eventually, it was time for her to go. Giving Ranger the signal, the horse bolted down the laneway and burst into the arena.

It was an open air one, so the late afternoon sun bathed the area in a bright golden glow.

The crowds filled the stands and cheered wildly.

A dusty haze filled the air. Chrissy didn’t notice any of it, as her focus had narrowed in on the job at hand.

Beneath her, Ranger galloped toward the first barrel, and she let her muscle memory and her complete trust in her horse take over.

She slid around the barrels, sand flicking up.

If she wanted to, she could’ve reached out and touched one of them.

She was that close. In a flash, she and Ranger were upright and tearing out of the arena.

The moment she got back in the laneway, the noise and her surroundings slammed into her.

Her chest heaved and she closed her eyes and took it all in.

She had no idea what her time was, although she thought she heard the announcer say 15.

552 seconds. If that was correct, then that was the best time she and Ranger had ever done together.

It should be enough to get through to the last day of the event.

Chrissy slid off Ranger. “Good boy,” she said into his mane as she hugged him around his neck. “I knew you were amazing, but you’ve just proven to me how amazing you are.”

“Not as amazing as you. Congratulations on making the final, little flower.”

Her fingers dug briefly into Ranger. He was here. She knew that voice anywhere. Immediately, she launched herself at Ryder, and he caught her tight against his chest. “Thank you. I can’t believe I did it.”

Ryder’s arms were tight around her, as if he didn’t want to let her go, and she was okay with that because she didn’t want to let him go either.

Not caring that she was standing in the middle of the holding area.

Didn’t care that the crowds were cheering for the bull riders who were getting ready to take center stage for the final event of the day.

All that mattered to her was this man in her arms. The same man who’d made her feel like she was worthy and could conquer anything.

She kissed Ryder, pouring everything that was inside of her into the kiss.

He answered her call and returned it with one of his own.

Their lips danced together and her body heated, recalling all the things they’d done together the previous evening.

Wanting with everything she had to make it happen on a permanent basis.

Finally, she could admit it to herself. She was falling and falling hard for the handsome former bull rider in her arms. The man with a little mystery around him.

A mystery she wanted to spend the rest of her life unraveling.

But she kept her feelings contained to the kiss.

It was way too soon to say that she loved him, even though she knew that it was as inevitable as red roses on Valentine’s Day.

The need to breathe had her pulling away from him. Chrissy placed her hand on his chest, over his heart, loving the way it thumped rapidly beneath her fingertips. “Thank you for being here.”

“Wouldn’t have missed it for the world. I’ve seen you and Ranger work together on numerous occasions, but today, you were unbelievable. You’ve got the fastest time.”

“I do?” All Chrissy had been aiming for was to be in the top ten. She would’ve been happy if she’d been in fifth. Heck, even in tenth, she would’ve been whooping it up, because being there would mean she was coming back and had a chance to get into the cash winning positions.

“Yep. Your nearest competitor did a 15.725.”

Chrissy took in it. That was about the time she and Ranger had been doing when they were training. “So, the time of 15.552 that I thought I heard was really mine?”

“Yep.”

“Wow.” She turned to Ranger, who was standing patiently waiting for her to rub him down. “You deserve an extra apple after that run, boy.”

“I’ll let you go and fix Ranger up. Your sisters and I will be waiting for you at the autograph stand. You’re going to be needing to sign a few things, seeing as you finished first in your heat.”

“Okay, but I doubt many people will come and see me. They’ll be disappointed that their favorites didn’t make it.”

Ryder reached out and tapped her on the nose. “Hey, don’t underestimate yourself. You’re a Marietta local. You’ve got the whole town cheering for you.”

“That makes me feel better—not.” She grimaced at the thought of disappointing the whole town if tomorrow she flaked and did an awful time.

“I really am proud of you, Chrysanthemum Bloom.” He gave a soft kiss on her lips before he tipped his hat and strolled away.

Whenever Ryder used her full name, it didn’t bother her the way it usually did in the past. It was a caress when he called her that and, like everything he did, she felt special.

Once Ranger was settled, she made her way to the area set aside for competitors to sign whatever the rodeo fans wanted signed.

“Oh my God, Chrissy, you were amazing.” Tilly rushed up to her and gave her a huge hug.

“Really impressive, sis. It didn’t even look as if this was the first time you’ve competed in years.” Sunny shoulder-bumped her. Her sister wasn’t much of a hugger, only handing them out on special occasions. When she did, Sunny’s hugs were restorative and comforting.

Ryder stood behind her sisters, looking as if he wanted to be anywhere else but there. She went up to him. “Are you okay?”

Such a silly question when she could tell he was anything but okay. Yet, she still needed to ask it.

Ryder sighed, and Chrissy wrapped her arms around him, giving him a tight hug.

She was aware that she needed to get to the table and that people were possibly waiting for her.

But this was more important. She needed to let Ryder know that she had his back, like she had her sisters. That she would do anything for him.

She may have thought before that she was falling in love with him, but now she knew for sure that she was. He was here, in a place that was hard for him to be. A place that represented all that he’d lost. A place where the friends he knew were still able to follow their dreams when he couldn’t.

“I’m okay. I can’t deny it’s not hard, but if I’m going to move on, I have to face being at the rodeo as a spectator and not a competitor.”

Chrissy leaned back to study him, knowing that having to admit that had to have been difficult. “You being here means so much to me, especially knowing all of that. If you want to go, I’ll understand.”

Ryder shook his head. “Nope, we’ve got some celebrating to do. Besides, I need a date for the steak dinner.”

A teasing glint had entered his eyes, and she loved seeing it there. “Really? I’m sure I can fix you up with someone.”

“There’s only one person I want to go with and she’s right in front of me.

” He nuzzled her neck and her body lit with desire.

Chrissy wished they were anywhere but standing in a packed arena.

How many people were watching their PDA?

Did she even care? The answer was easy—no, she didn’t.

She didn’t care what anyone saw or said.

Ryder was holding her, and that was all that mattered to her.