“Yeah, she couldn’t ride her normal horse,” Rosie said. “He had tripped or something. Daddy says half of the rodeo is luck anyway, and not to feel like I didn’t win, because I did.”
“You sure did,” Briar said. “And who cares if it was luck anyway? Maybe next time the bad luck will be on your side.”
“That’s right.” Rosie beamed over at her. “So you’ve been living in Colorado all this time?”
“Mm hm,” Briar said, some of her defenses automatically flying up. She took a breath and tried to tamp them down, telling herselfyou don’t want to have to apologize to Rosie again, and the young woman genuinely admires you.
“Are you going home for Christmas?” Briar asked, smiling at the younger blonde who reminded her so much of herself. When she blinked, she saw herself sitting on the fence in Rosie’s place. She’d worn cowgirl jeans like that before, and a plaid shirt and cowgirl boots and a hat everywhere she went. Rosie wasn’t one for makeup when she wasn’t riding, but Briar had seen plenty of it in the finals.
“Yep, I’m going home on Tuesday,” Rosie said. “I’ll come back in the New Year, and I guess Tuck’s gonna have a couple more people here, so the mansion will be pretty full.”
“Oh, are you all going to be staying with him?” Briar asked.
“I know I am,” Rosie said. “And I know Stretch is too. I think he’s coming back early next week—even before Tucker and Bobbie Jo.”
“I have a schedule somewhere,” Briar said, but she didn’t have to concern herself with the comings and goings of the rodeo stars on the farm, so she didn’t. “Do you know the other barrel rider that he signed?”
“Yeah,” Rosie said, her voice perfectly neutral. “Jessa Lilly. She’s a third year, and she’s pretty good.”
“Do you get along with her?”
Rosie frowned out at her horse. “As well as I get along with anyone.”
Briar nudged her with her shoulder. “Hey, you get along great with people.”
Rosie looked up at her, pure vulnerability streaming from her. “Do I? My daddy says I’m almost as salty as the ocean, and I don’t know how to hold my tongue.”
Briar laughed, because she’d certainly been called prickly and thorny her whole life. “I’m sure you don’t say anything that’s not true.”
“I try not to,” Rosie said.
“And it’s not like you’re mean on purpose,” Briar added, her eyebrows going up. “You’re just calling it how it is. And yes, sometimes you’ll have to learn when not to say things, but for the most part, Rosie, your qualities are good. They make you a good rider, and good with animals, and you do just fine with people too.”
“Thanks,” Rosie said with a sigh.
“I mean, I’m the one who acted like a complete fool the first time we met. Remember?”
Rosie grinned at her. “It was fine…and honestly, it made me feel better about myself.”
They giggled together, and then a timer went off on Rosie’s phone. “That’s it for these guys today.” She hopped down from the fence and looked up at Briar. “I know this is really stupid, but can I get a picture with you?”
Briar climbed down in a much more careful manner than Rosie had, because while she possessed some athleticism, she had been injured quite severely in the past. “It depends,” she said, trying to keep the snap out of her voice. “I know you’re a big rodeo star and all that, and you probably have to post on social media, but…well, I don’t want my picture or name to be on social media.”
“I didn’t think you would,” Rosie said. “This would just be for me, because I really did love watching you ride. I’ll just send it to my daddy and my momma.” She wore that young hope that Briar prayed the rodeo wouldn’t beat out of her.
“And I’ll tell them that they absolutely can’t post it on social media or anywhere else.”
Briar nodded and stepped next to the girl. “That’s fine, then.”
She posed with her, bringing out her stunt rider smile—the one she’d used when she’d done interviews and posed for headshots.
“My cousins are going toflip out,” Rosie said, grinning at her phone. “Don’t worry, I’ll tell them all that they can’t post. Our daddies are kind of famous, so we get it.”
“Yeah, country music stars right?”
“And the rodeo celebs,” Rosie said. “My daddy and Uncle Blaze.”
“And Harry Young too, right?” Briar asked. “Isn’t he your cousin?”
