Laughing, I scrubbed my hands over my face. “Okay, say it goes good, everyone is happy. Then what? The next invitational isn’t until July.”
“We’d like for you to go to Pueblo. Immerse yourself back into the world, go out on some PBR Majors, get back into the swing of things.”
“You’re asking me to just up and leave my family ranch. My family.”
“Yes, we are, and if you weren’t willing to do that, you wouldn’t be sitting here right now.”
He slid a piece of paper across the table with a figure on it. An even bigger figure than before. I glanced at it as Sam went on.
“Sign the contract, and this is yours.”
“No contract, and money has never been my driving force—you know that, Sam. It was being the best at what I was doing at the time. If I didn’t think I could do commentating, I wouldn’t have come.”
Sam smiled. “You Shaw boys always were cocky.”
I returned his smile with a smirk. “We try.”
“Fine, no contract. Let’s call Billings a trial run. They’ll introduce you as a guest commentator. If you like it, then you start up in August on the PBR tour. I still want you in Colorado. You need to get back into the world of PBR, Ty.”
With a nod, I stood. “You’re paying for a place there for me, then. That’s all I’m asking for now. Once I figure out if this is something I want to do, I’ll sign a contract.”
“Of course. I think that sounds like a solid plan.”
I reached my hand out, and Sam stood and shook it as I said, “Trial run, it is. I’ll see you in Billings.”
Sam stood, we shook hands, and I made my way out of the room. My heart was pounding. Was I really going to do this? Leave the ranch. Leave my family?
Leave Kaylee?
My father stood to the side of the truck as I put my bags in the back.
“If Billings is a trial run, why do you need to go to Pueblo after?”
I could hear it in his voice. It wasn’t disappointment; it was sadness. I knew my father liked having both me and Brock back on the ranch, so the knowledge that I was leaving for a few weeks had him rattled.
“It’s just to get me back into the swing of things. It’s been a while since I’ve been in that world, Dad. Nothing is permanent. I didn’t sign any contracts. I need to see if this is something I want to get back into. I miss it.”
He forced a smile.
“What about the education program you started?” my mother asked. “The breeding side of the ranch, Ty? You started that too.”
I glanced over to Brock, who was standing off to the side. “Brock said he’d take over for me until I get back.” I faced both of them. “I didn’t sign a contract; I’m just testing the waters. Seeing if this is something I want to get back into.”
My mother nodded, then winked. “Well, at least it’s safer than your last gig.”
I laughed and kissed her on the cheek. Turning to my father, I extended my hand.
“I’m proud of you, Ty. I want you to know that. Your mother and I will support you always, no matter what you do. If this is something you feel in your heart you want to pursue, we’re behind you a hundred percent.”
I pulled him in for a hug. “I appreciate that, Dad.”
He gave me a firm slap on the back, and we stepped apart.
My mother cupped my face, turning it to the left and then to the right. “Don’t be letting them put all sorts of makeup on that pretty face of yours.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
“And, Ty,” she said, reaching for my arm to stop me from getting into the truck. “Don’t get a girl pregnant.”
My mouth fell open. “Excuse me?”
She rolled her eyes. “I’m not stupid. I know about the women you’ve . . . entertained . . . in the past. Don’t be getting careless and letting them fall into your bed. It’s time to start thinking about your future and not your penis.”
Snapping my head to my father, I said, “Dad, seriously? Can you explain to her how wrong that all was?”
He laughed, and so did Brock.
“Son, someday when you do get married, you’ll learn which battles to pick. This is not one of them I choose to gear up for.”
I rolled my eyes. “Mom, you are not allowed to talk about my sex life or my . . . penis. Ever again.”
She lifted a brow. “Then don’t give me a reason to, and we’re all good, son.”
With a sigh, I slid into the truck and shut the door. My folks stepped back as Brock leaned in.
“You sure about this?” he asked in a low voice.
“Of course I’m sure about it. This might not be bull riding, but at least I get to be around it. I need to see if this is something I’m meant to do.”