Jo and Dennis were in the backseat.
Jimmy, Alan, and Dean would be coming later. Since they weren’t competing, they didn’t need to come early.
Jo had been talking to Dennis about her latest phone call with the girls, but the tension was palpable between Colton and me, and she couldn’t ignore it. In the review mirror, I saw her nudge Dennis and throwher head in our direction.
“Um, Allegra, the equipment looked great in the parade,” he said, obviously fighting for something to talk about.
I put on a strained smile. “Thanks. The branch in Bluff Dale did a great job. I think it’ll help the Texas sales.”
“For sure.”
Then painful silence again.
Jo let out a long stream of air. “Allegra, you have a meetin’ or somethin’ in Chicago comin’ up soon, right?”
“Yes. After the next rodeo, I’ll head back to give my presentation.”
“If I qualify for the next rodeo,” Colton muttered.
Dennis reached up and put his hands on his son’s shoulders. “That’s no attitude to have right before a ride, son!”
Colton threw a glance at me.
I could see Dennis and Jo look at each other, helpless.
Colton pulled into the arena and parked his car hastily. “I’d better go get ready,” he said quietly. He popped his door open.
“Wait up!” Dennis called. “Let Mom and I help you!”
I watched them run after their son, praying they could help his mood after I had crushed his spirits.
I was no longer technically working with the rodeo, but I still had my all-access pass. I planned to use it until they pried it out of my cold, dead hands. I flashed it to the security at the back gates and walked back behind the chutes.
I hadn’t told a soul what happened to my dad.
I mean, everyone in the trailer park in Amarillo had known, but once I moved out, I refused to relive the memory for even a second.
Turns out repressing all that emotion hadn’t made me tough; it had simply been building toward an inevitable crash.
Walking around the dirt, smelling the animals, and the rock music that was welcoming the guests, it felt like I was drowning underwater. My senses had turned off, and I felt numb.
I was a ghost.
Leaning against one of the chutes, I spotted Colton standing in front of his parents, shaking his head.
I pressed my back against the fence, making sure they didn’t see me.
I needed to hear what he was saying.
I had to know how he actually felt.
“No, youdon’tunderstand,” Colton was saying, practically spitting the words out as he slid his chaps on.
“Then help us understand,” Dennis said sternly. “Talk to us, Colt. If you go out like this, you’re going to crash, and you’re gonna lose everythin’ you’ve been workin’ you’rewhole life for.”
Colton stopped to considerthis. He swallowed up the words and nodded carefully. “She doesn’t…Ally…” he clenched his jaw and shook his head. “Her dad was Clay Ford.”
Jo gasped and put her hand over her mouth.
