Page 13 of Something Tangled Something True (Rosa Ranch #1)
BULL RIDER
We’ve spent the whole night on all sorts of extremely questionable rides, making fun of Ryder and that disgusting chili contest, and eating massive amounts of cotton candy.
Not that it’s a surprise, but everyone has been so sweet and welcoming.
I’ve had a couple of people ask if I was planning to offer dance lessons.
It gives me the hope I was missing and the courage I need to stick around and figure out a plan for myself.
But every time I answer their questions, I’m reminded I have no idea where I’d even teach these classes.
It’s frustrating, and after a while, it starts to wear me down.
As we make our way over to the lemonade, I see it.
That damn mechanical bull.
I have a love-hate relationship with it. I love it because I’d always been good at it and it’s so much fun. But in this moment, I hate it because I’m sure it’s the last thing I should be thinking about doing.
“Ryder, sweetie! Wait up!” I hear a high-pitched, familiar voice from behind me that sounds like nails on a chalkboard, and it immediately sours my mood, acid burning in my gut .
We turn around, finding Lemmon wearing some ridiculous floral dress that looks like it was designed for women during the patriarchy.
She flits her eyes over me with a disgusted look of disdain before centering her gaze on Ryder.
He tips his chin at her, winding an arm around me and resting his hand on my hip. He pulls me close to him and says absolutely nothing to her before turning us to face the other direction.
A pleased smile curves my lips. Always the protector , even if he hadn’t known the one person I’d actually needed protection from was the woman he wound up marrying.
It’s selfish, but I’m glad they divorced. It was difficult to see them together, and while Russ’s controlling behavior is mostly to blame for my absence, seeing Ryder with Lemmon didn’t help.
When we move to walk past the bull riding machine, I hear my name called by Cynthia, a woman we’d already caught up with today.
“Lola! You’ve gotta take a turn on the bull, for old times’ sake!” she tells me, and others join in when they realize I’m here.
A group of surly men wearing black, gray, and red tie-dyed leather jackets, a stack of books embroidered in the bottom right corner of the back panel, turns to face us, smiling widely when they see Ryder.
They’re the owners of the only faces in this town I don’t recognize.
“You must be the one that got away,” a man with a red beard and blue eyes says to me, sticking his hand out. I reach to shake it tentatively, my head tilting in confusion.
“Sorry, what was that?” I ask.
“Ryder’s told us all about you, Miss Lola,” the oldest of the men says, and my heart seizes in my chest for a beat before I brush the panicked feeling away .
“Oh, well, I regret to inform you gentlemen that Ryder hasn’t done his part for any of you. I think I’d have remembered if he told me Hidden Valley has its very own biker gang now.” I smile brightly at them, their hearty laughter wrapping around us.
“We’re bikers, but I assure you, we aren’t in a gang. The closest we’ve come to one is our book club,” the redhead says.
“And how do you know Ryder?” I ask.
“When they stopped in town, they dropped by Rosa Ranch looking for work. We didn’t need any more ranch hands at the time, but I got them set up with a few others around town.
They invited me to their book club shortly after I finalized my divorce, and I hadn’t been expecting the book of the month to be a second-chance, childhood-best-friends-to-lovers romance,” Ryder explains, staring pointedly at the redheaded man.
My shoulders shake, picturing these burly men poring over romance books. They’re the true epitome of not judging a book by its cover. “Sounds like a great time. Maybe I’ll join you if you’ve got room for another member,” I tell them.
“We’d love to have you, Miss Lola,” the older man says. “I’m Levi, and this is Rhett.” He points to the man with the red beard. “Teddy is the blond over there.” He motions to the group of three standing in line for chicken wings. “Wyatt and Callaway are brothers, the dark-haired guys behind Teddy.”
“I won’t lie and say I’ll remember any of that, but I promise to give it my best shot,” I tell him.
“No worries. Now, how’s about you get up on that bull? Sounds like you were pretty good in your day,” Levi challenges, wiggling his graying brows at me.
Several thoughts war inside me, the loudest being that I shouldn’t do it, but the actual voices of real people shouting for me to give it a go are rapidly becoming louder.
“Yeah, Lola. Wouldn’t wanna miss out now, would ya?” Lemmon’s shrill voice grates at my nerves.
When had she shown up again?
I take a deep breath, stepping out of Ryder’s grasp and heading up to the mechanical bull operator. I count my blessings that Ryder doesn’t try to stop me, though maybe he should .
“Hey there, Lola. Good to see ya,” Nate says, opening the gate for me.
“You too, Nate,” I tell him with a warm smile, despite the nerves bubbling in my gut.
I tiptoe along the edge of the slippery rubber mat and hoist myself up.
Everything beyond this moment happens too quickly to decipher exactly where I went wrong.
One moment, my thighs are hugging the sides of the bull, my hands clutching the handle. And then, I’m not.
As the speed picks up, my legs shake, doing most of the work. My hands slip all over as I struggle to stay put. Every joint in my body is on fire, and my heart is bounding.
I fall backward, hitting the mat with a loud thud.
My vision starts to dim at the edges, but not before Ryder rushes to my side.
I hear him drop to the mat behind me, his hands warm against my cheeks, fingers brushing softly, grounding me.
“Darlin’, you’ve gotta stay awake,” he tells me firmly, as if his words alone could make my body’s protection mechanisms halt in their tracks.
Turns out he’s right .
I blink rapidly, regaining my vision, and soon, I’m being thrown over Ryder’s shoulder, carried down the stairs and out to the parking lot.
“Ooh, better luck next time, Lola. Seems you’re just a tad rusty,” Lemmon taunts.
“Back off,” Ryder roars at her, stealing the breath from my lungs as he continues carrying me toward his truck.
“I can walk by myself,” I whine.
“Do not test me right now, Lola,” Ryder grits out. His words have the hair on my neck standing on end. “You just did something so goddamn dangerous. I don’t wanna hear it from you.”
My nipples have no business perking up at the demanding tone in his voice.
Mayte rushes after us, Isabela in her stroller. “Lola! I’m gone for ten minutes to pee, and you can’t help but try to get yourself killed!” she shouts at me.
I slam my eyes shut, the tension tightening in my jaw as I brace myself, dreading the sharp sting of the mental ass whooping these two are clearly planning to dish out tonight.
Once we’re at Ryder’s truck, he gently lowers me down without a word, proving me wrong as he drives us home in silence.
I make it to bed in record time, wanting nothing more than to curl up under the soft quilt. My phone pings with messages from my group chat, a smile returning to my face as I read the string of messages.
Karmella renamed the chat “Bride Snatchers”
Ewelina renamed the chat “Karmella is an insensitive asshole”
Karmella renamed the chat “Bridesmaids”
Yanet
Sigh
Karmella
You guys are no fun.
Ewelina
Ignore her.
How are you holding in there, Lols?
My Wifey For Lifey
She’s doing great… Ry is officially in his daddy era. Speaking of which, he’s about to drop me off at home, and I’m pretty sure I’m about to get in trouble?
Karmella
What??? Why???
My Wifey For Lifey
Not totally sure, but there’s a vibe. Just parked. I’ll update later.
Yanet
No, you won’t.
My Wifey For Lifey
You’re right. I won’t remember. Sorry! Love you guys!
Sorry, I’ve just been… Dealing? Not sure how I feel lately, but I know this is for the best. I just wish you guys didn’t live so far. I miss you already.
Yanet
Getting old sucks.
Karmella
You’re thirty-six. That isn’t old. STFU.
I’m inclined to agree with Mella, but you guys know how much I hate doing that…
Also, Mayte… You BETTER update us! So a girl falls off a mechanical bull. What’s the big deal?
Karmella
1. It’s true. You DO hate to agree with me for some reason
2. YOU WHAT?!
It’s honestly not a big deal. I’m fine.
Ewelina
You wouldn’t tell us if you weren’t, so I have a hard time believing that. I have to run, but I love you guys. Talk soon!
Yanet
Goodnight, guys. I’ve gotta get the kids showered and to bed. Love you!
Karmella
Love you!!! Can’t wait to catch up in another two months!
I love you ladies. Have a good night, and thanks for checking in.
Seven hours later.
Johanna
Hi! Sorry, did I miss something? Love you all!