Chapter 2
Hayden
Istare at the entrance of Boulder Ranch for what feels like an hour. The last thing I want to do is walk into Tate’s office and give him the news. I’d hoped to be back in time for rodeo season, but my doctor didn’t mince words when she explained why that can’t happen. As a bronc rider, I don’t work for the ranch, but Tate’s one of my closest friends, so I don’t want him to find out when the season starts, and I haven’t signed up to compete. This place is a part of me, so I’m not sure what I’ll do if I’m not able to ride again.
With a heavy sigh, I step out of my truck and begin the slow walk to the main house, where Tate’s office is. There’s a chill in the air, but today it’s warm enough to ditch the jacket. I’m comfortable in a flannel shirt and jeans. Unless it’s freezing cold, my hat is usually more than enough to keep me warm anyway.
Gravel crunches beneath my boots as I walk along the trail leading to the porch. Rodeo season starts in two weeks, sosome of the guys are out in the arena getting in some practice rides. I shove away the pang of jealousy as I hear their hoots and hollers, knowing I should be in there with them. As soon as I get to the steps of the main house, Tate comes walking out, and I nearly run right into him.
“Oh,” Tate says once he looks up and meets my gaze. “Hey Hayden. Were you on your way to see me?”
I take my hat off and run a hand through my shaggy hair before replacing it. “Yeah, were you on your way out?”
Tate studies me for a moment. “Yeah, but not anywhere important. What’s up?”
I take yet another deep breath before I finally say the words aloud. The words that will make this all real. The words I have been dreading since my injury. “I won’t be riding this season.”
Tate curses under his breath before continuing down the steps and toward the stables. I stiffen but do my best to school my expression as I walk with him. The last time I went near the stables was the final rodeo of the season last year. I steal a glance inside, but all I see is Joy. No sign of Miranda. I try to convince myself that the pit in my stomach is relief, not disappointment.
“That sucks, man. It won’t be the same without you. Did they say anything else? Who do you have to help on your ranch for the summer? I can probably still swing by a couple days…” Tate says once we come to a stop.
“I’ll be alright. I can do most everything, I just can’t compete. I can fight through the soreness, but competing is too dangerous. If I move just so, or get bucked off and land wrong, it would be all over. The doc is trying to avoid surgery.”
Tate strokes his beard as he watches Joy. I don’t think she’s noticed us since she hasn’t stopped looking into the corner stall as she talks to someone.
“You wouldn’t be interested in helping out with the kids, would you? We have both bronc-riding school and bull-riding school starting, and it’s just me. I could use a hand. If you’re interested.”
I glance back into the stables just in time to see Miranda step out of the corner stall, and I swear my heart stops. It’s been nearly half a year since the supply room, but I can still taste her kiss. Her smile is wide as she listens to whatever Joy is saying, and I can’t look away. Her hair is darker in the early spring. The light brown tresses with subtle streaks of blonde practically beg for my fingers.
“Yeah, sure,” I say, forcing my attention back to my friend. “Why not. I can’t think of anything worse than being away from this place all season long.”
“Perfect. I’ll see you tomorrow, then,” Tate says before turning to walk away.
Before he makes it into the stables, I stop him. “Hey, I thought I heard Miranda quit.”
Tate narrows his eyes at me, and I do my best to look neutral. “She did. But I asked her to come back until we hire a couple of people. You don’t know anyone looking for a job, do you? We have one woman coming in to interview tomorrow, but we’re short two hands for the stables.”
Breathing a sigh of relief when he doesn’t question why I’m so interested, I shake my head. “Not off the top of my head. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
I’m not sure if it’s stupidity or insanity causing me to agree to come here four days a week. Coaching the new riders won’t end when the two-week program is complete. This place has people practicing most of the week during rodeo season. That’s one of the things that makes Boulder Ranch different than other family-run local rodeos. Even though we all come out to win, rodeo season is basically a summer long family reunion.
I use the walk back to my truck to try and figure out what the hell is wrong with me. I should have told Tate no. The things I felt just from seeing Miranda should have been reason enough for me to refuse. But I’m a forty-two-year-old man who is more than capable of ignoring this little crush I have. Truth is, it would kill me to stay away from here. These people are the family I don’t have, so I’m just going to have to suck it up and pretend like whatever happened between us was nothing.
I turn the radio up, hoping music can distract me enough to drown out my regrets. I don’t make it out of the lot before my phone rings, interrupting my favorite song. I mutter a curse when I see the name Roger Wells across the screen.
“Hey, how’s it going?” I answer, trying my best to sound normal—as if I haven’t been avoiding him.
“Melanie wanted me to get an official count for tonight. I told her you’d be here, but you know how she is.”
Shit.Tonight is their annual Spring Kickoff. Every year, they throw a party before rodeo and farm season kicks into full swing, and everyone gets too busy. They have a bonfire and grill out, weather permitting. I haven’t missed it in five years. If I were to skip it, it would go over about as well as me walking up to Roger and telling him I had my tongue in his daughter’s mouth. Scrubbing a hand over my face, all I can do is hope Miranda has something—anything—to do tonight besides show up at her family party.
“Haven’t missed one yet. Let me know if she needs me to grab anything on my way.”
Barely resisting the urge to throw my phone right out the window, I hit end call and toss it onto the seat instead. Yup. Wouldn’t miss it for the world. No place I’d rather be than in the same room with Miranda, as I pretend she isn’t the first woman in years to have my complete, undivided attention.
Chapter 3
Miranda
