Right after you called last week he asked me to check on the status of the calendar...which we both know he doesn’t give a tinker’s damn about.” She slipped around her desk. “When I told him they were having trouble finding the last man, he seemed mighty pleased. So I asked myself, what is the old goat up to?”
Lexy watched her pull a manila folder from her bottom drawer and then motion for Lexy to follow. They walked quickly to the elevators and got into the first private car.
“This man’s endorsement contract with us expires in just under two weeks,” Norma said, holding up the folder. “Harrison signed him for that ridiculous Sundowner accessory line that failed. But the guy is perfect. He’s a bareback bronc rider who’s won two world championships, gold buckles, million-dollar purses, the whole thing. I remembered him because my Henry is such a big rodeo fan. This Tanner fellow is over thirty and on the downslide right now so maybe he’ll do it.” Norma passed her the folder. “Worth a try.”
“Why didn’t you give this to the woman who’s in charge of the project?”
“Frankly, I’d hoped I was wrong and your father wouldn’t send you on a wild-goose chase just to show you who’s boss. It pains me to see him treat you this way.” She squeezed Lexy’s hand. “If it had turned out I’d misread Marshall, I would’ve given Harrison the file. But Karina?” Norma sniffed. “I do not care for that woman.”
Lexy grinned. “Norma, you’re the absolute best.” The elevator doors slid open and Lexy stuffed the folder into her purse. If her father expected failure, she couldn’t wait to disappoint him.
2
LEANING ON A cedar post and watching the last saddle bronc event, Will Tanner muttered a curse when he saw his friend go flying over the mare’s head. Charlie hit the ground, landing hard on his ass, but jumped up quick as a jackrabbit. The crowd roared from the stands, surging to their feet with applause when Charlie whipped off his hat and waved it. He’d been around the circuit for a long time and was a fan favorite, even when he was losing. Something that happened too often lately. Just like with Tanner.
“That ol’ guy sure can take a lotta punishment.” Clay stood next to him, one foot propped on the bottom rail. He reached in his jeans’ pocket, glanced at his fancy iPhone, then looked at Tanner. “You been busted up pretty good in your day. How many bones have you broken?”
In your day.
The words were as irritating as a yipping coyote.
Tanner squinted at the fresh-faced kid who was barely twenty. Probably only started shaving last year. Didn’t stop him from trying to grow one of those dumb little soul patches. “Enough,” Tanner said, turning back to see Charlie limp to the gate, watching for the scores to go up.
He was only thirty-four, a year older than Tanner, and had the good sense to announce that after this year he was done rodeoing. It was gonna be strange following the tour without Charlie. For over twelve years, even when they hadn’t traveled or bunked together, their paths had regularly crossed. But that’s the way it was with most of the veteran riders. They’d all played poker together, got drunk together and chased women. Until they started winning gold buckles and didn’t have to do the chasing anymore.
Clay’s thumbs worked feverishly on the cell’s keypad. Tanner still hadn’t gotten the hang of texting. Hell, half the time he couldn’t remember to turn on his relic of a phone. When he did, it usually needed charging.
“So where you headed next?” Clay asked, his attention focused on the small screen until he finished his message and stuffed the iPhone back in his pocket. He caught Tanner’s frown. “I was just tweeting my scores.”
Tanner nodded like he understood. This new breed of cowboy was something else. They drank protein shakes instead of beer, fretted over their exercise regimens and sat around discussing their marketability.
Damn, he was gonna miss Charlie. The two of them had both come from flyspeck towns and started young, before iPhones and Facebook and Twitter took over the world. Maybe they should retire together and make T-shirts and bumper stickers that read Real Men Don’t Tweet.
“Where did you say you’re going?” Clay asked again.
“New Mexico.” Tanner backed away from the railing, adjusting his Stetson and peering up at the clear Montana sky. He had a few hours before nightfall. Enough time to get on the road and find a place to park his trailer overnight. No sense sticking around. His scores couldn’t carry him to the next round. “You?”
“I’m riding in Wyoming in two weeks. My sister’s got a ranch in Colorado. I might hang out there in the meantime.” Clay jerked a look somewhere over Tanner’s shoulder. “Unless I get a better offer.” Before he could turn and see what had put the cocky grin on Clay’s face, the kid said, “Look sharp, old man. I believe that lady’s trying to get your attention.”
Tanner swung toward the parking lot in time to see a leggy blonde in skin-tight jeans wave. He smiled and waved back. Maybe he wouldn’t be so quick to leave tonight.
“No, not Ariel,” Clay said, unwrapping a stick of gum. “She’s waiting for me. The other one.”
“Where?” Unlike his stiff back and shoulders, his vision was just fine and he couldn’t see another living soul.
“Ariel’s kind of blocking her, but she’s behind the fence to the right.”
Tanner squinted and saw part of a female outline fading into the dark SUV behind her. She was on the short side, brown hair, pulled back, sunglasses taking up half her face and dressed kind of stodgy in a navy blue blazer and matching slacks. “What makes you think she’s waiting for me?”
“I figured she was looking to interview you for that AARP magazine.” Clay laughed.
Tanner knocked off the smart ass’s hat, then chuckled when Clay had to scramble to catch the Stetson before it blew too far. “It ain’t right you trying to make a man feel over the hill at thirty-three. You just wait...your time will come, kid. Sooner than you think.” At least it had for Tanner. If he stuck it out for two more years, half his life officially would’ve been spent rodeoing.
He had no regrets. Even if he’d had the money for college he wouldn’t have gone. His younger brother was the one with a head for learning, and he was glad he’d been able to send him to a good university. Doug had even gone on to law school, courtesy of Tanner’s winnings. He considered the money well spent.
“Why the hell did you have to do that in front of Ariel?” Clay brushed off the hat and set it back on his head.
Tanner slid another look at the blonde, her teeth gleaming an unnatural white. The shorter brunette had moved closer but the high chain-link fence prevented her from approaching. Other women had gathered near the exit, most of them buckle bunnies, but also a few moms trying to get autographs for their youngsters.
This was the part he dreaded lately. Signing autographs wasn’t a big deal. He’d never minded, especially when it was for kids, but it felt a lot better to scrawl his name when he was scoring high and taking home prize money. At other times it was a mob scene and all he wanted was to get to his trailer and let a hot shower pelt his aching body.
Today wasn’t bad. His shoulder hurt less than it had all week. Meaning he wouldn’t mind some feminine company. The redhead standing
