“Hey, Jack, how’s the leg?” Carson asks.
He waves at us. “Hey, Carson, Kacey, good first run you had. The leg is pretty good. Doc says I should be back in another five weeks.”
Does that mean Knox will be here for five weeks?I get it’s the slowest months of the rodeo season, but that’s still a long time to take off. He either really isn’t good, or he’sreallygood and can afford the time off. Most top rodeo athletes take off April, May, October, and November. Since their season is technically all year, they have to find a break in the season somewhere.
“That’s good news. I’m sure your clients will be more than ready to have you back. I hear you have a bull rider filling in for you.” Carson continues talking to Jack as I attempt to look around discreetly, but don’t see Knox.
Jack laughs. “Yep, sure do. He’s an all-around hand, really. I’ve seen him break colts, work cattle, and ride ranch broncs and bulls. He’s doing great filling in for me. He’s actually around here somewhere; he came to tack on two shoes and got roped into a couple resets.”
I can’t help but smile. “Yeah, that sounds like a bunch of team ropers, showing up to the roping half falling apart and hungover.” That makes Carson and Jack laugh.
“Sounds like a decent kid working for ya,” Carson says.
“Well, he ain’t much of a kid anymore, he’s thirty now. I keep telling him he needs to think about his plans for the future. You can’t ride bulls forever.”
Carson scoffs. “Well, I’m not sure bull riding is a great career choice at any age.”
“We should go warm up,” I interrupt. “They’re getting close to us. We’ll see you later, Jack.” We aren’t really that close to being up, but I don’t need crabby Carson offending my ex-bull riding farrier. Good farriers are hard to find, I’d like to keep mine.
We rope our next steer, he was a fast one, but we made it work for a 6.8 second run. As long as we get one more clean run and speed it up a little, we should pull a decent check. As we’re riding back toward Jack, I see Knox has shown up. He looks good—reallygood. Even with dirt and horse hair all over his blue Henley shirt.
He’s leaning on the end of the bleachers with his arms crossed, grinning at me. “Keeping those shoes on, speedy?”
“Yeah, so far it seems like my farrier knew what he was doing.” I can’t help but give him a smile back. Something about him puts me at ease, like I’ve known him forever.
I don’t trust it. But it’s nice to pretend for a little while.
“Hey now, what about me? Three of those shoes were put on by me,” Jack says with mock offense.
“Well, so far she’s lost one of yours and none of mine, so odds aren’t looking good for you, old man.” Knox laughs, raising his brows at Jack. He has a genuine smile when he laughs, and Ican’t help but stare. His dark blue shirt makes his bright blue eyes pop. He seriously could be a model.
“In your defense, Jack, she was chasing cattle all over the side of a mountain when she lost it.” Carson helpfully chimes in as he steps off his horse, walking up to Knox. Carson stands over six feet tall causing him to look down at Knox as he reaches out a hand. “I’m Carson, you must be the bull rider. Or bull get’er on’er; no one has told me which one yet.”
Oh my gosh.
I can’t believe he just said that to him. I can feel my face turning red with embarrassment, but Knox just chuckles and shakes his hand. “Yes sir, that’s me. You know the game, sometimes you’re the windshield, sometimes you’re the bug. The trick is being the windshield most of the time.”
Carson gives him more of a grimace than a smile. “I prefer being in the saddle of a broke horse, but to each their own.”
“So, which are you most of the time?” I ask, genuinely curious.
“Well, maybe you’ll have to come watch sometime, then you’ll find out.” He looks at me with a grin, but is that cockiness or confidence?
Jack pipes up. “He’ll be in Greeley and Estes Park. Neither is all that far of a drive.”
“Really? I love Estes Park. My best friend and I take a trip there every summer, but we’ve never gone to the rodeo.” I glance at Knox and see he’s fully focused on me. I can feel my cheeks turning red again and I glance away. I’m not normally this awkward around men. I don’t know what it is about this one, but he makes me nervous.
“We might be too busy at the ranch, we’ll see how it lines out.” Carson says while he gives me a look. That big brother look. Like,you are not getting involved with this bull rider.
He has always been a little protective, but especially after my last relationship disaster. I dated Garrett for two years, only tofind out he didn’t really want me, just our ranch. And he would do anything—and I mean anything—to get it. When Carson found out, he was livid. I honestly don’t think I’ve ever seen him so mad. He knew how I felt about Garrett, and I was really upset. That was two years ago, and I haven’t dated since.
Knox smirks at Carson before turning to me. “It’s in early July. Let me know if you can arrange a couple of nights away from the ranch. It’s a great rodeo and I’m sure I could get you tickets.”
Before I can reply, Carson cuts me off. “I think we’re up soon; we should go warm the horses back up.” He climbs on his horse then narrows his eyes at Knox. “Nice to meet you. I’m sure we’ll see you around.” We are most definitely not up soon, but I get on Hooch to follow him anyway. It’s not like I’d ever go to Estes Park to play buckle bunny for some bull rider. That’s not who I am.
“Yeah. You, too. See you Tuesday, Kacey.”
Right, the broodmares.
