Chapter Five
“Jason, get your ass toward the fence, damn it!” Adam reined in, pulling Cupcake up short. He had a couple of steers in the arena, and Jason was supposed to be treating them like bulls.
The problem was, the damned steers were too docile, thanks to Granny hand-feeding them, and Jason was too busy doing cartwheels or some weird grab ass stuff with Andy to give a damn.
Adam was about to lose his shit, and these days he didn’t have a lot of it to lose.
“Don’t you fucking scream at me.” Jason could snap with the best of them, empty eyes just flashing. “These steers are simple, and you know it. I cain’t train like this.”
“Well, then tell me what we ought to do. I don’t have bulls, and AJ needed some time off.” He blew out a breath. “I could put you on some green broke horses.”
“Oh, now…” Jason’s face broke into a wicked fucking smile. “That sounds fun.”
“What? No!” Andy Baxter was fixin’ to stroke out, Adam could tell, that narrow, brown face creased with concern.
“Hey, it replicates the motion of a bull, and I can control a horse, no problem.” Adam stared Andy down.
“But…”
“Let’s do it. I’m in. Point me and shoot me.” Jason bounced.
“Mini!” Andy turned on Jason, tugging him away so they could have a low-voiced conversation.
Adam looked over at Chrissy, and they shared a grin. Chrissy shook his head, eyes rolling. Christ, the drama. This whole idea was full of shit, and he couldn’t wait to tell Coke that. Everyone acted like Coke had nothing but good ideas, but Christ. He’d been around for that damned ‘let’s put costumes on the horses’ idea.
The ‘let’s try sushi’ idea.
The infamous ‘salsa in Balta’s coffee’ idea.
Hell, Coke thought Beau Lafitte’s gumbo was good, and everyone knew what a bad fucking idea that was.
“You know, I think Coke Pharris has a direct line to God. You prolly oughtn’t cuss him.” Chrissy always knew.
“Bullshit. He’s a good man, but no one is that good.” Anyone who enjoyed sex as much as Coke did was no saint.
“You sure ’bout that?” Chrissy was laughing at him now.
Adam just raised a brow. “You know he ain’t no angel, Chris.”
There was a videotape proving that, in the box under his bed. Lord. His ears heated just thinking about it.
“You’re the one thinking evil thoughts now.”
“I am.” Adam winked. “Anyway, this is Coke’s worst idea yet.”
“Pharris has guilt issues. If it’s such a shitty idea, why are we still playing along?”
“Because if anyone can do this it’s Jason.” He sighed.
Chrissy nodded, lips twisting. “Then let’s get him on a fucking bronc and tear his ass up. I’m tired of pussyfooting.”
“He’s right.” Jason came back, following their voices. “Bax is even on board.”
“If by ‘on board’ he means Jason offered him something nasty not to bitch.” Oh, ho. Chrissy was in a mood.
Adam grunted and wheeled his horse around toward the barn. “I’ll get that big roan mare.”
The wind felt good and suddenly he wanted out of here, back out on the road. Landon was riding this weekend, in Mesquite or Fort Worth. Somewhere. It was only six hours away…
