Page 17 of Roping My Rival

For the first time in years, I feel a lightness and a light at the end of the tunnel. All because of a day job for the Burke family. Beggars can’t be choosers, as they say, and the first thing I’ll do is prepay Darla’s account as much as I can comfortably.

I’m practically whistling when I arrive back at the office. Of course, I’m met with Warren’s scowl, but whatever. He didn’t even thank me for changing his tire. If me being here pisses him off more…good.

“Thank you so much for the help today, Dane.” Jesse holds up a stack of receipts. “Can you come by tomorrow after I do the calculations for your pay? It’s gonna take me a bit since I didn’t get the computer set up in time. If I had my shit together, I’d be able to pay you now, but manually is longer.”

Hunter snorts. “Computers. I don’t get them either. You get that from me.”

Jesse rolls his eyes. “Dad, I’m adopted. I handled computers fine by the time you met me.” Jesse laughs. “I just didn’t get to it, but I appreciate the bailout.”

My gaze ping-pongs between the brothers as I watch the two sons interact with their father, teasing him about his poor understanding of computers.

Adopted…huh. I didn’t know that. I assumed they did some kind of surrogate thing and popped out kids like Pez since they could afford it.

“Dane, are you coming back to rodeo this year?” Hunter asks as he eases onto the sofa with a sigh. “Want a beer? Oh…are you hungry? I feel like hot dogs.”

Warren and Jesse both groan.

“I love hot dogs.”

Jesse hands me a beer and shoots me a look. “You better tell him how many. He might not know how to operate a computer, but he’s quite good at using the DoorDash app. Says it’s the best thing ever.”

Jesse remains chatty and cheerful, but I notice Warren is mostly silent and staring daggers at me.

“Uh, whatever you order is fine with me. I’ll eat.” Especially when someone else is paying.

Hunter punches at his phone and grins up at us. “Fifteen minutes and a dozen coney dogs will be here!” He takes a sip of his beer before raising it in a toast. “To the Burke Rodeo school for a successful day. Jesse, it was a great idea. The publicity with the talk among ranchers will be priceless.”

“Thanks, Dad. I think we could do it again.” He shoots a glance at Warren, who clenches his jaw. “If Warren is okay with it.”

Warren swallows hard. “It’s for the community. I’m in.”

Interesting. Jesse told me Warren wouldn’t take his calls and bailed. So what changed?

“And Dane!” Hunter shouts. “You have a good head on your shoulders. Solid rope skills. I assume you’re still doing tie down?”

“That’s my plan, yes.”

Hunter’s gaze shifts to Warren, and his scowl grows.

“I have an idea.” Hunter blurts, and if Warren clenches his teeth any harder, he might need a trip to the dentist.

“Should I even ask?” Warren grits.

“I remember Dane, and I know you do, too. So let’s address the elephant, shall we?” Hunter pauses, but the silence from Warren is deathly. “Dane always won, and that doesn’t mean you weren’t any good, Warren. What I’m saying is, you both were excellent. A great one-two punch, you know?” We both remain quiet as Hunter amps up. “None of my sons wanted to do team roping full time. Well, Clarence hates rodeo completely, but you two went your separate ways. So what if Dane and Warren teamed up?”

“What!?” Warren shouts. “No, Dad.”

“Hear me out.” He pins a look at Warren, then at me. “Team roping is something we don’t have here at the school right now. Yes, I’m a past champion, but over the years, the interest in this area has faded. It would be nice to revive it again and thin out some bull riders.” He sighs. “It’s always about bull riding. But anyway…I have a proposal.”

When neither of us says anything, he continues. It’s almost comical watching the pulse point on Warren’s neck throb as his dad gets to the meat of his idea.

“Dane and Warren compete in team roping this year, and the rodeo school is the sponsor. I’ll clear that with Clarence myself, but I think we can sponsor whomever we want. You split the prize money equally, and you can still do your individual tie-down roping. More visibility for new students and a new sport, and possibly bring home a championship.”

“No.” Warren shakes his head so hard his hair falls in his face. “Absolutely not.”

“Dane? You haven’t said a word yet. What do you think?” Hunter won’t let this drop despite his son being so against it. If I know Warren, there’s one thing that will have him change his tune and rope with me. A sponsored event and extra cash aren’t something I want to say no to. I can deal with Warren, but I can’t let him lose this opportunity for me.

So it’s time to poke the bear.