Page 91 of Roped in Rawhide

He’s stunned silent for a moment. “Disgusting.”

“My thoughts exactly,” she chirps. “You should really clean up in there. No wonder Pigtails and Sundress ditched you.”

“Who said they did?” he sneers.

Her gaze roams the empty space around him. “Did you finish with them already? That’s even worse. Chance can teach you a thing or two about satisfying the ladies.”

I chuckle while she skips off, leaving him to silently stew. “If I see ya at the next one, it will be far too soon.”

When I toss him a middle finger wave over my shoulder, he decides to land a low blow of his own. “Your dad is lookin’ for you.”

My stride falters and a pit instantly forms in my stomach, but I don’t let it show. “Good for him.”

“Told me to give you a message.”

“I’m not interested in hearing anything that comes from him.” Just thinking about that deadbeat injects poison into my veins. I refuse to let him and his bad influence infect me again.

“Are you sure?” Wyatt’s smug grin is aimed at Gemma. “It involves the night of her accident.”

My fist is bunched in the front of his shirt before he sees me coming. “Better tell me what you know. Right. Fucking. Now.”

He thrashes in my hold, trying and failing to push me away. “You gotta call Daddy Jimmy for the deets. I’m only the messenger.”

“Are you just talking shit?” I get in his face, shaking him a bit. “You don’t want to mess with me when it comes to her.”

“Dude, back off!” But his voice doesn’t even register.

Darkness is spreading across my vision. I’m barely aware of tightening my grip on him. The urge to knock him out flexes my muscles into concrete.

“Chance,” Gemma whispers. She’s at my side, pulling at the arm I have cocked back. “C’mon, he’s not worth it.”

Her soft voice chases the shadows from my mind. She’s right, of course. If I get caught fighting on rodeo grounds, my spot in the circuit could be jeopardized. I release Wyatt and step back.

His expression twists into something more ugly than his usual scowl. “Y’all be sure to drive safe on the rest of your romantic getaway. I hope I didn’t spoil it for you.”

A fresh bundle of restless energy skitters through me and I squirm in the passenger seat. “Do you want me to drive?”

Chance doesn’t take his eyes off the never-ending stretch of freeway ahead. “No.”

I readjust my position, tucking my legs under me to stop them from bouncing. “Are you sure? You’ve been driving the whole trip.”

His lips tilt into a weak smirk. “I don’t mind, baby. Just try to relax and watch your horse.”

“If you insist,” I mumble. But my focus shifts to the screen attached to the dash as if compelled. “I still can’t believe you installed cameras in the trailer. You’re so thoughtful. Have I told you that recently?”

“Only about seventy times in the last twenty minutes.” His smile doesn’t reach his eyes.

“Well, I really appreciate you.” My tone is extra bright in hopes of shaking him from this slump. “The best boyfriend award is yours indefinitely.”

“Glad I could provide a distraction,” he murmurs.

Which is the only reason I haven’t jumped out of my skin yet. Fourteen hours in the truck is a test of patience I didn’t realize I volunteered for. It’s hilarious that I once thought I’d do this trip alone. If Chance hadn’t invited himself, I would’ve thrown in the towel before I even reached southern Illinois.

We chopped the drive down there into two days, but we’re headed home in one for Boon’s sake. It’s like ripping off a bandage. Best to just get it over with all at once rather than drag it out.

“Look at how cute he is,” I croon at the two video angles of my new gelding. “Do you think he’s thirsty?”

Chance peers over at me. “I think you need a break more than him.”