“C’mon.” He waited on the other side for her to climb over and join him. She kept sneaking glances over her shoulder, but he waved her over. “No one’s coming.”
“They havecameras,Logan.”
“So? We’re not taking anything. Not vandalizing anything.” He flashed her a smile, and saw her breaking. She’d always been one to follow the rules, and breaking them made her a little paranoid. But he had always been able to push her outside her comfort zone, and she never once regretted letting go of her fears. Not with him.
“Logan, we should go.”
“What? We just got here. You can’t lead me tothisarena and expect me to leave two minutes later, Abbs.” He sauntered up to the fence and reached a hand over the top in invitation. “C’mon. Show me that the brave Abbie Bennington I once knew still exists.”
“She didn’t have a job she was afraid to lose should she get arrested!”
“If you want to play it safe, stay here.”
“I’m not staying here by myself!”
He shrugged and turned away, and made it three steps before she relented.
“Fine. I’m coming.”
He held out his hand without forethought of what that contact might do to him. Her hand gripped his as he helped her over the fence, and for a moment, he was transported back to a time when holding her hand was normal. It took all his willpower not to pull her into his arms and kiss her until her toes curled.
Abbie pulled free the second both her feet were firmly planted. “Let’s hurry.” He instantly felt the absence of her touch. How he’d taken such a simple thing for granted.
“How’d you hear about this?” he asked. It seemed odd no one had contacted him about such an important thing.
“I have my sources.”
Six chutes stood in a row, the metal bars painted a fresh coat of red. They shone in the glimmer of fading sunlight. Wooden plaques were fastened to the gates of four of the chutes, names etched in each.
“Starlight Legends is what the owner called them.”
He traced the etched letters that spelled out his dad’s name. The pain twisted his heart in a flash. Though he attributed every ride to his dad and thought about him constantly, the loss hit him most here. “He’d hate this, you know. He had no more time for the limelight than I do. He didn’t do it for the glory. He did it for himself. To prove to himself that he could.”
From the corner of his eye, he saw Abbie fold her arms across her chest. The satchel swung with her shuffling feet.
He stiffened. “You bring me here to talk more about that article?”
“I was hoping youmighttell me a little more.” She met his gaze with gentle eyes. “But no, I wanted you to know. I didn’t want you to be surprised.”
Though they’d been kids, and only friends back then, she was there when his dad got sick. Eleven miserable days in the ICU, never really sure what each day would bring. It’d been a rollercoaster of hope and despair. She stopped by the hospital every day and brought him something to eat. Stayed until he finished. She knew the extent of his pain when they had to make the decision to move his dad to comfort care.
“Thanks, Abbs.” He sniffed back a threatening tear. How many times had he reached for his phone to call his dad and ask for advice before a ride? It’d been more often these last two years. How did you beat a bull who nearly killed you if you never drew him? That was the question he yearned to ask most.
“I didn’t want you to be caught off guard by it later. They haven’t told anyone about the Starlight Legends. It’ll be announced tomorrow night.”
She might hate that he was still a bull rider, but she still cared about him. Still knew what might throw him off his game. He wanted to pull her into his arms and hug her tight in thanks. Instead, he shoved his hands into his pockets.
“I have a hundred-acre property,” he said in offering. “A few miles outside of Albany. That’s my home base.” He waited for the realization to register in Abbie’s eyes. She slipped a notebook out of her satchel. “It’s kind of a mixture of things, but mostly it’s a ranch. I have someone who runs things since I’m gone so much of the year. But I have some cattle, half a dozen horses, lots of fun toys.” He winked at her, winning a smile.
“Dog?” she asked.
“Pushing your luck, huh?” he teased. “No, no dog.” He wasn’t home enough. He couldn’t fathom owning a dog he paid someone else to care for all the time. But the question reminded him he needed to get Gus to the vet in the morning. “No miniature ponies like you got, either.”
“Gibbs isn’t a—”
They were interrupted by a loud siren and flashing blue lights. His heart raced a little, but he wasn’t about to let Abbie know how much it rattled him. “Looks like it’s time to go.”
“I knew it!” Abbie shoved her notebook back in her satchel and marched out of the arena. “Logan, this was a bad idea. I can’t believe I let you talk me into this. You know how much trouble I could get in if I get arrested?”
