Page 73 of The Bitterroot Inn (Jamison Valley 5)
I dropped back to the bench and kicked my purse under my seat. Hunter’s arm found my shoulders again and I aimed my eyes at the rodeo. A rider was settling on top of a horse in a chute at the far side of the arena.
A few minutes later, the buzzer rang and the chute’s gate flew open as the horse came bucking out, its back hooves at least six feet off the dirt. The rider’s free arm shot behind him for balance as he fought to keep his seat, but the horse was too much. With one hard buck, the rider went flying sideways, losing his hold on the rigging.
But before he could clear the horse, the animal turned and bucked again, slamming its hooves into the rider’s side. The horse moved again, but the rider didn’t. He lay unmoving with his face in the dirt.
An immediate hush fell over the crowd as people sat on the edges of their seats. All eyes were locked on the motionless body. The only movement was from th
e rodeo team who were corralling the bucking horse into the opposite side of the arena to release its flank strap.
At the same time the horse ran out of the arena, the county ambulance rushed in.
Hunter stood and dug my car keys out of his pocket, tossing them into my lap. “I’m going down.”
“Okay.” I nodded, grateful for that rider’s sake that Hunter was a doctor. As I swung my knees out of the way, Hunter slid by. “I’ll just leave your truck keys in the gas cap.”
He acknowledged me with a wave right before he bounded down the steps two at a time. When he hit the railing, he planted his hands on the top bar and vaulted over the edge and down six feet into the dirt. Then he ran over to join the EMTs and assess the rider.
The stands were deathly quiet; even the kids had stopped making noise. We all just sat perfectly still and stared as the emergency crew and Hunter strapped the rider onto a backboard and loaded him into the ambulance destined for the hospital.
The only relief came right before the ambulance’s doors closed and the rider lifted up a hand and waved.
Hundreds of relieved sighs joined the early evening breeze.
“I hope he’s okay,” Sabrina said.
I nodded. “Me too.”
We sat, leaning together, as the emcee asked for a moment of silence before the rodeo resumed.
The rider’s accident dulled the crowd’s mood and gave me an even stronger desire to flee. Gigi would want the full story about my relationship with Hunter, but I didn’t have answers. Not anymore.
“I think I’m going to go.” I grabbed my purse.
“Are you sure?” Sabrina asked.
“What? Not yet,” Gigi said. “We need to talk.”
I ignored their protests and waved good-bye. “I’ll call you later. Promise.”
Jogging down the stairs, I met Beau and Coby as they were coming up the ramp into the stands.
“Where are you going?” Beau asked.
“Home. Coby, bud, come on.” I steered his shoulder in the other direction.
“But Mommy!” he whined. “I don’t want to go yet.”
I grabbed his hot dog. “I know, but it’s time.”
“Maze—”
I cut Beau off and kept walking. “I’ll call you later.”
He frowned but let me go.
“I wanted to play, Mommy,” Coby protested as he trudged by my side.
“I know, but we’re all done playing for today.”
