Kara jerked free from Willy’s hold when her order finally came up. She grabbed her burger and thought about leaving.
She’d promised her best friend Liz she’d watch her barrel racing, which was after the bull rides.
“Thanks,” she told Nick. Then she glared at Willy as she followed Nick back to the stands.
“You know, if you’d tell Willy you’re not interested…” Nick started.
Kara jerked to a stop. “I’ve told Willy so many times over the years to leave me alone.” She practically yelled it.
Nick looked embarrassed for a split second. “Right, I only meant—”
“Piss off.” She started walking again, but Nick easily caught up with her. He was so damn tall and had very long legs. Legs that had filled in with strong muscles. She quickly shook her head clear of the image of him in basketball shorts.
“Sorry, gosh, I guess your love life is a sore subject,” Nick joked as he pushed her shoulder.
“Piss off,” she said again, only this time there was no steam behind her words.
Nick chuckled. “So, are you going to watch my final ride?”
“Nope,” she lied. “I’m going to close my eyes the entire time just to spite you.” She sat down in the empty spot her parents had just vacated.
It wasn’t the first time they’d left her to fend for herself in the small town. Nor, she doubted, would it be the last. She was old enough and, as they said, Nick had given her plenty of rides home.
Cedar, Wyoming, had a population of about three thousand people, each of which she knew personally. That made it really easy to bum a ride. If she couldn’t, it was only six miles back to the ranch, so she could walk.
The only really great thing about Cedar was that it was positioned directly next to Yellowstone National Park. Which meant that, come summertime, there were a million tourists spending their money in the small town. There was also the added benefit of having all those hot guys flirt with her whenever she was in town.
Nick sat down next to her and continued to talk while she ate her burger. He droned on about his time, his method, even the bulls he was fixing on riding.
“Looks like you’re up,” she said, motioning to Jimmy, who was frantically waving at Nick.
“Oh, yeah.” Nick sprung up. “Wish me luck.”
“Break a leg,” she said dryly. On the inside, though, her nerves were on edge, and she had to push aside the rest of her burger. Her stomach was tied in a knot watching Nick climb onto the back of another bull, a huge red one with white marks across its nose and between its eyes.
“Next up is Nick Howe…”—the announcer dragged out the ‘w’ in Nick’s last name—“riding McGuire’s bull Apollo.”
Kara winced. Apollo was known to be the meanest bull in the county. It had even attacked Mr. McGuire last year in the field. Gave him a scar three inches long in his left butt cheek. Or so the rumors said.
Everyone cheered as the buzzer sounded and Nick and the bull jumped out of the gate. Kara held her breath and counted.
She didn’t get far, as Nick was thrown clear of the bull’s back just two seconds into the ride.
Nick seemed pleased as he got up and dusted himself off. But Apollo had a different plan and headed directly towards Nick.
Kara jumped up and screamed for Nick to run. But Nick just stood there, looking at her. She watched in horror as Apollo’s horns headed directly towards Nick. At the last second, Nick seemed to get his wits about him, and he jerked to the side. Only, he wasn’t fast enough.
The bull caught Nick in the thigh, and Kara and the rest of the town watched in horror as Nick Howe went flying through the air. Kara couldn’t shake the feeling that it was somehow all her fault.
Three years later…
“What do you mean you’re not going to leave me in charge?” Kara wanted to stomp her foot. “I’m twenty-one years old. I don’t need a babysitter.”
Her father smiled down at her. “He’s not going to babysit you, just the ranch.”
“I’ve been taking care of the ranch for over thirteen years. I don’t need someone to help,” she practically yelled.
“Weren’t you just complaining last week that we needed to hire more help around here?” Luanna said as she tossed her overnight bag over her shoulder.