Speaking of, he heard Dillon squeal, the sound amused but surprised at the same time. He glanced over to see Packer streaking away with Dillon’s hat, the big Aussie grinning like a monkey. Dillon was sitting in the dirt, laughing like a loon.
He shook his head, grinned. “Okay, Troy. I’m going to run up and grab me a cup of coffee, see the Cajun. I’ll be back in an hour.”
He lifted one hand to Dillon, then he started jogging up the stairs to the box seat where he knew Beau and Jason were. The champ and the up and coming champ, according to sports news. Jason was still a player the big wigs would back.
Beau stood, reaching out to shake his hand. “Cher. Look who I got.”
“Hey, son. How goes it?”
Jase was pale as milk, but there was a determined set to his lips. “I’m all right. Waiting for Bax to ride, then I’ll head out.”
“You seen anyone?” Did you fake it well enough to pass?
“Kynan tried to catch us, but Jason didn’t have to act any different to get rid of him.” Beau winked.
Coke hooted. “I love it! That little turd has his head so far up his butt he blinks out his bellybutton.”
“AJ is gonna kill him. He seems to have it in for that tall drink of water.”
Jason snorted. “My money is on Aje.”
“That’s a sucker bet, son. I won’t take it.”
“I know.” Jason grinned, and for a moment he seemed so normal that another piece of Coke’s heart cracked off. He wanted to go back to the night Jase was hurt, protect that poor head.
Beau gave him a knowing look. “Send someone with some nachos, huh?”
“I can do that. You keep your chins up, huh?”
“We got this, cher.” Beau nodded, and Jason chuckled, seeming to stare at him.
Lord, this could actually work.
He nodded. “I gotta get my happy ass to work. Coop’s miserable in this cold and I’m fearing that he’ll just curl up and die about the third round in.”
“Fred is here. I heard him.” Jase grinned, so proud he could tell.
“Yeah. He’s being alternate.” He didn’t praise Jase, because why congratulate someone on something they’re supposed to be able to do?
“You be careful down there,” Beau told him. “We need your neck in, well, as many pieces as it’s in right now.”
“Yeah. Breaking it again would suck.”
“Third time’s a charm and all that?”
He flipped Jason off and Beau cackled at him. “Does it count less, cher, when he can’t see it?”
“I reckon. Y’all be good up in here.”
“If we can’t, we won’t get caught,” Jason murmured, and for a moment it was all just like old times, the refrain so familiar. “Can we do lunch tomorrow, Coke? I’m ready to start talking small events and I need to know I can count on a bullfighter or two.”
“You got it. You want to just meet in our suite, avoid listening ears? Tag and Nattie can come, Balta.”
“We’ll order pizza and just hide.” Beau nodded, grinned at him. “He’s ready to ride, Coke.”
“Thank God for that.” Coke felt lighter in his chest, his smile not straining so much. “I’m on it, Jase. I’ll iron out some stuff tonight.”
“Thanks, Gramps. Be safe out there tonight.”
“Always.” He nodded and stood, his back cracking and popping away as it was wont to do. “Always. Still, say a prayer, huh? God protects fools and cowboys.”
“Amen,” Beau and Jason said.
“Yessir.”
He tipped his hat and headed into the arena to do what the good Lord had put him here to do.
