Her camper-mate handed her a mug of coffee. "You were out last night. You must have been exhausted."
"You could say that." Joey's only concern was finding Drake and apologizing. After her thoughts of bravado that nothing would keep her from meeting him, she slept through it.
As it turned out, she couldn't find Drake at all. Vinia said they had an emergency at Active Assets, a nearby resort where they supplied trail horses for the guests. Drake and Colton had to run down there to do repairs to water lines in the barn. They still weren't back when the second show started. Joey easily won the main purse after finishing first again, and she was more than relieved as she made arrangements to transfer the money to Pine Oaks.
She was getting ready to head for the camper when Percy came on the loudspeaker with a special announcement.
"Because y'all have been such a great crowd, and we sold out both nights, we'll be doing a special matinee tomorrow afternoon at two o'clock, so be sure to tell your friends and family."
She frowned. No one had said anything about having a third show. She looked up to see Drake and Vinia headed toward her, and from the looks on their faces, they hadn't had any idea about it either.
Chapter Fourteen: Revealing the Self
Drake Hale
Drake could tell from the confused expression on Joey's face that she had no idea there was going to be a Sunday show. He was furious that Percy had unilaterally decided to plan a surprise encore without asking anyone.
"I'm so sorry," Joey gushed as soon as he and Vinia were close enough. "I had no idea, or I would have warned you."
"That's what I figured," Drake responded. "Wait here for a minute." He gave Joey a wink so that she'd know that he understood why she hadn't shown up the night before.
Percy clicked off the microphone when Drake stormed into the booth. "I figured you'd come up here like a bull in a china shop."
"Do you think you can just randomly decide to extend your stay without even asking?"
Percy folded his arms. "The way I see it, I've had to hire new people to replace the ones that you chased off your property. I don't even know if I'll be able to retain them when we leave here, and they were instrumental in my organization. So, you owe me."
Drake felt like his eyes were going to bug out of his head as he stared at the pompous ass. "I... I owe you? Because your employees were disrespecting me in my own home? Or the female competitors?"
"You couldn't possibly understand the rodeo, Mr. Hale. Things are different. Rougher than in normal society, to keep law and order."
Drake wanted to strangle him. "There is nothing different when it comes to courtesy and respect. Two things that anyone employed by you lack. And I don't mean the people earning you the money this crowd paid to watch the show."
"And my family owes you nothing." Vinia came in the door and practically hissed at Percy. "I don't know who you think you are, or what exactly you have going on, but we don't owe you shit. "
Drake could practically feel the venom spewing from her mouth. He couldn't remember ever seeing her so pissed off, and he had seen her angry before.
"I'll allow you to have your show tomorrow, but only because of the competitors and the townspeople who will come to enjoy an afternoon. It will have absolutely nothing to do with what you want. And if you hadn't already made the announcement, you wouldn't still be here past tomorrow morning, but I believe you already know that."
Percy grinned at her, and Drake worried that Vinia was going to shift and bite his head off right then.
"I certainly do appreciate that, Mrs. Hale. Or is it Ms. Hale?"
Drake grabbed her as she lunged. "Don't do it, Ma. He's not worth it."
"What the fuck is your problem?" Vinia demanded. "You can't possibly be this much of an asshole every day."
Percy tutted at her. "Such language."
Drake steered his mother to the door. "Come on. We need to prep for a longer stay."
Vinia pointed at Percy. "As soon as the show is over tomorrow, you're out. Off my property. The others can stay, but you and your goons, you're gone. Do I make myself clear?"
He saluted at her, and Drake tightened his squeeze on her to keep her moving forward.
Vinia spun on him as soon as he let her go once they were back in the barn. "How did he know? How does he know our family?"
"What do you mean?"
