Total pages in book: 84
Estimated words: 77936 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 390(@200wpm)___ 312(@250wpm)___ 260(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 77936 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 390(@200wpm)___ 312(@250wpm)___ 260(@300wpm)
“Everything seemed farther away when we were kids.” I bumped his leg with mine. “Think anyone can see if I hold the sheriff’s hand?”
“Nah.” There was that grin, a little subdued, but the same Colt magic as always. He grabbed my hand, keeping both hidden below the bar holding us in place. “We can risk it.”
If he was willing to risk holding my hand in public while in his sheriff’s uniform, what was I willing to risk? All my thinky thoughts from earlier returned. From up here, I could see Lovelorn, the town, not the ranch, its people small like action figures below us. The question wasn’t simply what I owed this place but rather what I owed this man.
“Colt—”
“Ride’s almost done.” Colt abruptly dropped my hand as the ride slowed and dipped back toward the earth, taking my new perspective with it.
“Time for me to get ready!” Willow was only too eager to get over to the arena where Pepperjack and Kat were already waiting. Old wooden bleachers surrounded the riding arena where all the rodeo events took place. Earlier in the day, the little kid activities had taken place with sheep wrangling and other fun. The juniors—tweens and teens who had been riding since they were tiny themselves—would kick things off for the evening crowd.
After Colt dropped Willow off with Kat and the other riders, we all found seats with a decent view of the action. Two young teen boys showcased their roping skills, stirring up memories of the early years of Colt’s and my friendship, back before prom, before I’d come out, before I’d had the giant secret crush sitting between us. Just two friends, hanging out, trying to stay out of or get into trouble. We’d never roped together, but we’d had the same easy communication and ability to work in unison.
I’d had any number of friends in the intervening years, Adler included, but none like Colt. There was a soul-deep understanding between us, a comfort level I’d never found with anyone else. It was as if I had an inner compass true to Colt and, by extension, this place because I couldn’t take Colt away from here, couldn’t separate him from the town and county he loved.
After the roping, the junior barrel racers came out, tiny wisps of girls moving at breathtaking speeds and executing pinhead tight turns. Willow was up third, and right out of the gate, she looked faster and more controlled than the first two riders, attacking the obstacles with steely determination.
The crowd roared, and Colt and Hannah were on their feet cheering. I couldn’t help but join them in stamping and yelling. The atmosphere was electric as Willow turned for home. However, something happened—a stray rock or other hazard made the horse lose its footing—whatever it was, Willow was going far too fast as Pepperjack faltered. One second, she was on the horse, and the next, she was flying through the air.
Whump. She landed a few feet from Pepperjack as the rodeo clowns stormed in, one taking charge of the riderless horse and two others rushing to Willow. The arena grew deathly quiet.
“Oh no!” Hannah gasped.
“Willow!” Colt scrambled down from the bleachers, face as pale as I’d ever seen it. “I’ve got to get to her.”
He rushed away before I could find my voice. I had no clue what I would say in any event. I couldn’t promise she’d be okay when she clearly wasn’t. EMTs from the first-aid tent joined the rodeo workers, and they strapped Willow onto a backboard before carrying her from the arena. Nervous cheers went up, but the crowd remained on edge, with anxious chatter and a weird energy, even as the announcer tried to settle folks back down for the next riders.
My attention, however, was entirely on Colt and Willow, who were now out of sight but squarely in the center of my mind. Adler nudged my arm.
“I’ll watch Hannah.” He gestured down at the side of the arena where a clump of people had gathered at the first-aid tent. “You should go to your friend.”
“I hope Willow is okay.” Hannah sounded near tears.
“Me too.” I reached across Adler to pat her shoulder. “You doing all right?”
“Yeah. You go be with Colt.” Hannah took a deep breath, like she was trying to brace herself. “He needs you. And so does Willow.”
“Okay.” I turned back to Adler. “Here’s my car keys in case you need to get back to the ranch without me.”
With that, I hurried out of the stands and to the first-aid tent. An ambulance stood at the ready next to the closed tent, and all I could do was wait and hope and pray until Colt emerged, alone, from the tent.
“How is she?” I went to him right away.
“Conscious.” Squishing his eyes shut, he rubbed his nose, doing about as good a job as Hannah had at not crying. “No visible fractures, but that’s not saying much. She’s complaining up a blue streak about the backboard and neck brace.”