A Cowboy's Heart (Hitting Rocks Cowboys) (9 page)

“I can’t think right now.”

“I don’t think I could, either, if I’d just been told I’m going to be a dad. Congratulations, bro! This is the good news we’ve all been waiting for.”

“You really think this is going to pass?”

“I think you need a good talk with your uncle Charlo.”

“He’ll tell me I’m a mess.”

“That’s your right as a new father. Have you told Grandpa or Avery?”

“No. You’re the first.”

Afraid not. Liz had gotten there before anyone else. Connor loved it.

“Did you find her in bed when you got back?”

“No. I found a flat-board cradle on my side. She was in the bathroom throwing up.”

Connor tried not to burst out laughing. This was one situation his big brother, who was always in control, wasn’t prepared for. “I’m sorry she’s sick, but you know it won’t last long. Give her my love and cling to the Crow courage that led you to the light during your fast.”

He thought his brother might have hung up when he suddenly said, “How are you? How’s it going with Liz?”

“Sometime I’ll tell you, but not tonight. Go take care of your wife. I’ll call you tomorrow.”

Liz was already in bed when he returned to the trailer. He looked down at her. “I just got off the phone with the father of Little Sits in the Center.”

She sat up. “I love that name you made up! Is Jarod thrilled out of his mind?”

“Not yet. Sadie has bad morning sickness. He’s so in love with that woman he can’t handle anything being wrong with her.”

“Sadie’s tough.”

Connor had needed to hear that himself from the one person who knew Sadie better than anyone else. “I told him we’ll call him tomorrow. We’ll both talk to him. Since I’m too excited to sleep yet, how about some poker after I’ve showered?”

“I’ve got another idea. Have you ever played Boggle?”

“Can’t say that I have.”

“I’ll set it up. You’re going to love it!”

He had news for her. He loved whatever he did when they were together. In truth, he didn’t want the finals to end....

* * *

A
FTER
HER
WORKOUT
at the Mack Center the next day, Liz took care of her horse, then left the temporary tented barn provided for the horses and headed for Connor’s rig. They’d parked on the lot of the university’s soccer field. That was where she would wait for him. To her surprise, she saw a cowboy lounging against their truck with his arms folded. When he saw her coming, he waved and started walking toward her.

“Dr. Henson?”

“Oh—you’re one of the famous Porter brothers I met in St. George.”

“Derrick.” He smiled. “I’m glad you remembered that much. I was hoping to catch up with you. Are you finished for the evening?”

“Absolutely. I put Sunflower through her paces today. We both need a rest.”

“With tomorrow being our first official event, I think we’ve all had a tiring workout.” He shoved his hat back. “I saw Connor’s rig, so I’ll come right out and ask if you and he are an item before I go any further.”

He was nice. Rather cute. Probably her age. Maybe a little younger. “I’m his neighbor. He was kind enough to give me and my horse transportation here. I’m using his trailer as a hotel during the events.”

Derrick was a friend of Wade’s. It was important she made her relationship with Connor perfectly clear with Derrick because it would get back to Connor at some point.

His eyes flared in response. “One question down. One more to go. If you don’t have any plans for this evening, would you care to have dinner with me?”

Though Liz was flattered by Derrick’s interest in her, she didn’t want to encourage him when Kyle would be coming the last night of finals. On the other hand, maybe it wouldn’t hurt this one time in order to give Connor some space. He’d mentioned that they’d get together after they got back to the ranch, but she had no idea how serious he’d been about it. Since they’d left Montana, they’d been together constantly.
What to do?

“That’s okay, Liz.” His smile said it was, but her lack of a quick response wasn’t kind. Surely it wouldn’t hurt to go with him this once. They were all competing, and he was anxious as everyone else underneath. Theirs was a unique fraternity.

“No, no. I’d like to go. It will be relaxing. The errand I’d planned to do can wait. Thanks, Derrick. Give me a minute to go inside the trailer and I’ll be right back out.”

“Take your time.”

Once inside she freshened up and changed into a clean blouse and jeans. After brushing her hair and putting on lipstick, she wrote a message for Connor and left it on the counter.

Connor,
Have made plans for this evening. Will see you back at the RV park later tonight. Liz.

Dispensing with her cowboy hat, she walked out and locked the door. Derrick was waiting for her in his white truck. As he was helping her in the passenger side of the cab he said, “I like your new hairdo.”

“I’m flattered you even noticed. Thank you.”

“You’re impossible not to notice, if you know what I mean.” After Connor’s reaction, she’d decided she should have cut her hair sooner. Derrick shut the door and walked around to get behind the wheel. “I thought we’d go for my favorite meal, if you don’t have a preference.”

“I’m so hungry I could eat anything.”

“Even breakfast?”

“Maybe you’re psychic. If I had to choose to eat the same meal every day of life, it would be bacon, eggs and cinnamon toast.”

“Even if I’m not psychic, I’m superstitious and always eat breakfast the night before an event the next day.”

“With two gold buckles in your possession, your system must be working. Maybe it’ll work for me.”

He drove them through the park to the main street. “I watched a couple of barrel racers earlier. Then I spotted you. The control over your horse is superb.”

“Are you trying to sweeten me up, cowboy?” she teased.

“Nope. I call it as I see it.”

“You know how to make a gal feel good.”

“Just being with you makes
me
feel good.”

Hopefully he said that to all the girls. Liz ended up having a nice evening. Derrick worked on his father’s sheep ranch in Rock Springs and was still single and enjoying the rodeo circuit with his brother. They mostly talked shop.

At ten-thirty they drove into the RV park. Connor had brought his rig back from the center. The truck was there, too. He might be inside or with Wade, but it didn’t matter. Just the thought of him sent a minor quake through her body.

“Tomorrow night a few of us are going to attend a party at the Bellagio, but we’ll go to the South Point Hotel first to see the gold buckles given out.” She knew all about the Wrangler NFR–hosted event. It was held in the ballroom of the main casino every night. “Would you like to go with me?”

She was ready for him this time. “I can’t make plans that far ahead. Why don’t we wait until tomorrow night to see what it brings?”

“Fair enough. I’ll look for you after your event is over.”

Liz gave a nod without actually committing herself. “Good luck to you and your brother.”

“The same to you. See you tomorrow night.”

Maybe, but she wouldn’t be going out with him again. “Thanks for dinner. Don’t get out.” She opened the door and jumped down.

Liz felt his gaze on her as she approached the trailer and reached inside her purse for the keys. But before she could get it in the lock, Connor opened the door.

“Hey, Connor.” With a smile, Derrick waved his hat to him before driving off.

There was no answering smile from her host. He locked the door behind her, looking the way her father had in her teens when he didn’t know where she’d been and was worried. But her heart knocked against her ribs over the lack of animation on his face. “Is Sadie worse?”

For a few seconds he didn’t say anything.

“Connor?”

“Sorry. What did you ask?”

“You look so upset, I thought you must have had bad news about Sadie.”

“I’m sure she’s all right or I would have heard from Jarod,” he mumbled.

“Then what’s wrong?”

He shot her a piercing glance. “Derrick’s a player. I thought you’d already figured that out.”

Was Connor jealous? Was it possible? She sat down in one of the chairs. “It was just one dinner with another competitor to talk shop.”

“So
that’s
what you were doing?”

“He approached me at the rodeo grounds and I didn’t want to be rude, knowing he’s a friend of Wade’s and a little uptight waiting for tomorrow.” It was the truth.

“Wade said he has a girlfriend back in Rock Springs, but I wager Derrick didn’t mention her.” His brows lifted. “Has he asked you out again?”

“For tomorrow night, but I told him I couldn’t make plans.”

“That was smart.”

She couldn’t believe this had come out of him. For Connor to be upset over Derrick thrilled her to the heels of her cowboy boots.

“I don’t know what will happen in my event,” she said. “But I want to see you get your buckle. For five seasons in a row you’ve had the winning time the first night of every competition. It’s unheard of. That’s why you’re a legend already.”

No compliment could nudge him out of his foul mood.

“Connor? Have you eaten yet?”

“No.” He rubbed the back of his neck. “I wasn’t hungry.”

“Ah. So this is what happens to you the night before an event. You need food. That’s why you’re a grump. I’ll fix you some eggs. They taste good anytime.”

She put her purse on the couch and got out the eggs and bacon from the fridge. In a jiffy she found the frying pan and started cooking.

He stood there, watching her, with his hands on his hips. “What did you have for dinner?”

“Breakfast.”

“He took you to breakfast?” The scowl on his face spoke volumes.

“It’s my favorite meal.”

“I know.” His head reared. “Did you tell
him
that?”

She was beginning to believe Connor really
was
jealous.

“Only after he told me it was what he wanted for dinner. Why don’t you sit down?” She made coffee and set a place for him. Pretty soon she’d served him breakfast and added some of the toasted English muffins he liked.

To her satisfaction he ate every bite.

“That was delicious. Thank you. Wade wanted me to go eat with them, but I didn’t feel like it. When I got back here, I didn’t feel like cooking, and I apologize for my behavior.”

“The king of the steer wrestlers has every right to experience an off night.”

“
You
never have one.”

“Don’t worry. My turn is coming, so be warned.”

When he’d finished, she cleared his place. Then she took some thin chocolate after-dinner mints out of her purse and put them in front of him.

“Where did these come from?”

“The restaurant. I thought you’d like them with your coffee.”

“So you
were
thinking about me.” He sounded happy about that.

“Of course. Since you and I left the ranch, it feels like we’ve been joined at the hip. I thought you might like a breather, but you knew I’d be back. I didn’t want to return empty-handed.”

It seemed those were the magic words. On that note, he undid the foil wrappers and gobbled the mint down, causing her to chuckle. “You remind me of Sunflower enjoying her favorite treat.”

The light had come back into those dark brown eyes. “I like treats.”

She smiled. “I know.”

“If ever you feel like giving me more, make them chocolate.”

“I know your tastes by now.” Liz cleaned up the kitchen. Connor obviously wasn’t up to partying. He’d done all those things with Reva once upon a time. She couldn’t blame him for brooding over his situation now. “How did your workout go?” she asked over her shoulder. “Feel like you’re ready?”

“I never feel ready,” he muttered.

She leaned against the counter. “Neither do I. I’m so glad you admitted it first. Maybe you’ll think this sounds crazy, but I feel at a loose end without Sunflower tonight. She’s in a new place. Even with Polly there, I’m sure she’s missing me and Firebrand. The barrel horses are in a different row inside the barn.”

“Tell you what. Tomorrow night we’ll bring them both back to the RV park and give them a shampooing. Might as well keep them here for the rest of the competition. It will be much quieter and friendlier for them.”

“That would be wonderful,” she blurted.

“You never wanted to move them there, did you?”

“I didn’t know.”

“Well, we know now.” He got up from the table. “I’m glad there’s a smile on your face. In the meantime, will
I
do for company?”

She turned away from him. “Always.” The word slipped out before she could prevent it.

“Want to go for a swim? The indoor pool is open all night.”

She’d forgotten there was a pool. “That’ll be the perfect place to unwind. I’ll change into my suit.”

After finding it in the bottom of the suitcase, she hurried into the bathroom to change. Then she put her clothes on over it and grabbed a towel. Connor carried his suit and towel with him. They left the trailer and made their way to the building that housed the pool. Several guys were in the shallow end, talking along the edge.

When Connor left to change, she removed her clothes and got in at the deep end. Two men promptly swam over to her, forcing her to tread water. She figured they couldn’t be a day over nineteen.

“You’re that barrel racer we’ve seen out in the arena with Connor Bannock.”

He had fans everywhere. “That’s right. Are you two here to compete?”

“Don’t I wish,” one guy said. “I’m Bart. We’re students at the university, but love the rodeo.”

“Ah.”

“We both work here during the day,” the other guy said. “I’m Casey. We found out he was registered here and hoped to meet him and get his autograph. I saw you working with him earlier. You’re a sensational rider, too.”

“Thank you.”

“Since you’re friends with him, what do you think? He’s so famous that after he wins his sixth gold buckle, we won’t be able to get near him.”

“I’m sure he’ll give you one. Have you got something for him to write on?”