They take the tray of cooled cookies out front and leave me alone again.
I do some of my best thinking when I’m baking.
And with a smile on my face, I think I just had my greatest idea ever.
ten
Rhett
“Make sure you have a good hold on the rope. Move the spurs. If you don’t, you’ll just look like a guy on the back of a bucking horse. You understand?”
The kid, who can’t be more than twenty years old, nods his head. “Yeah, I got it. I’m ready.”
He nods, and the other men open the chute doors. The bronc busts out bucking, and the kid, well, he holds on for dear life and does none of the things he’s supposed to. He makes it to the buzzer, though, so there’s that, I guess.
He walks back to the chutes with his jaw set and tears threatening to fall.
“I’m too nervous. I know I need to spur, but I…I just think about holding on.”
“That’s part of the sport that you need to push out of your head. If you don’t, you’ll never get good at this. No matter how many coaching sessions or clinics.”
“Is there, like, a psychologist or something to talk to?”
“That’s a mighty good question. I’ll look into that and let you know. For now, go take a dinner break, and we’ll get back to it later.”
The kid nods and leaves for the room where Gabe already has the session’s dinner service set up. Well, he didn’t set it up, but he was here to direct the caterer at least. Which I’m grateful for because I’ve barely had time to take a piss. Eating and feeding a group of cowboys is the last thing on my mind.
“I bet Griff would know a psychologist.”
Spinning around, I find the man I can’t seem to stop thinking about standing behind me. The smile on my lips is genuine as I take a step toward him. I want to hug him, but I’m unsure if that would be okay to do.
“Hey, Diamond. What are you doing here?” I shove my hands in my pockets instead.
“I heard you’d be here late. I brought you something and thought I’d ask if there was anything I could help you with.”
He holds a drink tray and a paper bag from The Thirsty Cow, and I reach for the cups. Not just because I want what he brought, but it keeps my hands from grabbing him and kissing him. “Your timing is perfect.”
“Take the one with the R on it.”
I pull the cup from the tray and sip immediately. I never thought I’d love flavoured coffees with fancy foams, but I’m practically drooling before it gets to my mouth.
“Oh, this one is different.” Diamond smiles, but his blue eyes seem dull, and I immediately reach out to touch his arm. “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing.” His eyes spot the students with plates piled high sitting around, and he narrows his eyes. “Is it supper break?”
“It is.”
“And you’re not eating because….”
“Hey, Rhett! Can you show me how to fix my saddle before we start?”
Diamond hums under his breath. “He’ll find you later, sug!” he calls out and then takes me by the arm towards the office.
“What are you doing?”
He opens the office door and points to the sofa. I sit because, good god, it feels good to just sit and sink into the cushions. “I’ll be right back. Stay there.”
It’s kind of cute how he tries to scowl at me, but I don’t think he’d appreciate it if I laughed at him. I just nod, and after he sets his things on my desk, he disappears. Hopefully not for long, because I’ve been thinking about our trail ride and how there’s more to him than sass and Daisy Dukes.
