“Cool. What’s going on?” Jason’s head tilted like he heard a whistle. “Why’s everybody being weird?”
“Andy’s being a butthead.” Sammy cackled, the sound making them all jump, making Beau and Jason break out into smiles. Andywasbeing a butthead.
“Well, shit, Bell. You’re talking about the second grumpiest man in bullriding.”
They all laughed again, and this time Andy smiled. Beau ignored the way the toe of Andy’s boot nudged Jason’s ankle. He could pretend to be blind a little.
Jason grinned, leaned back into the couch. “So, I assume there’s a new plan with Gramps hurt so bad?”
“I have no idea, man.” Beau guessed it was on him to reckon it, though. The simple fact was, he was the next in line in this little family.
“We’re gonna figure it, Jase.” Andy glared at him and Sammy both, like they was going to disagree.
“Okay.” It broke his heart to see Jason so easy, so fucking still. It made him want to pop the man in the nose, just to see if he’d fight back.
Beau resisted the urge. “What all have you ridden?”
“I’ve been on the mechanical a lot. On a couple three live bulls.”
“Well, then we ought to run you out tomorrow and let me see where you are.”
“Yeah. Yeah, okay. Sure.” Jason nodded, head going like a bobblehead doll.
Beau gritted his teeth. It hurt. It purely did. “So, you took Andy’s truck, you were saying.”
Andy growled, but Jase beamed, grin big enough that the dark glasses moved. “I can see sometimes, just on the edges, just a little. Man, it was so fucking fun!”
“Took ten years off my life,” Andy said, shaking his head. “Like when he decided to go to the barn the first time.
“I’m good at getting around, man. Really good.”
“That’s good. You’ll need that.” He didn’t want to inundate Jase with questions right now. It was after supper, and there was nothing they could do ‘til tomorrow.
Sam nodded. “Who else all you got in on this?”
“Nate. AJ.” Jason’s mouth twisted. “Dillon, I reckon.”
“The clownboy’s home with Pharris, helping.” Sammy and Dillon were thick as thieves, weird as it seemed. It never ceased to amaze him, but Sam had the man’s ear.
“I thought he was doing Coke dirty.” Andy had the whole raised eyebrow thing going, like there was a weird-assed demon tugging on it with fishing wire.
“No. It was like all some weird thing. None of ours, but the Taggarts say it’s good.”
“Well, okay. Nate sure seemed to think things were off.” Andy shrugged, cheeks gone red. “Ain’t nobody’s business, I guess.”
“Nope. None of ours.” Sam seemed settled about it, though. Firm. That meant it was all good. Sammy knew.
Jason munched on a chicken nugget, and Sammy set to his hamburger, completely easy. “So? Tell me shit. I’m out here listening to the fucking tube and we don’t hear nothing real.”
“Uh.” His mind went blank, and Beau gave Sam his best panicked face.
Sam snorted and rolled his eyes. “Assholes is still assholes. Bulls are still spinning. Troy’s still a dick. Uh. Silva’s not riding worth shit. Beau’s on fire.”
Beau rolled his eyes. “Kynan and AJ are fixin’ to tie it up good. Coop’s out for a good bit of the season, and Fred and Badger are really struggling to take over for him and Coke.”
“Is Coke out for the duration?”
“Who knows, huh? With Gramps, you never have a clue.”
