Rodeo Romance (Contemporary Western Romance Short) (7 page)

CHAPTER 10

Trisha watched nervously as they let a bull out into the arena. Her stomach churned.

“That’s a big animal.” Cindy frowned, watching the bull prance around.

“You girls mind if I sit with you?” Maggie McCabe made her way toward them. Trisha and Cindy scooted to make room.

“Of course.” Trisha smiled as she sat next to them.

“I’ve been so busy, but didn’t want to miss Jake’s ride.” Maggie sat down with a long sigh.

Before Trisha could respond, they announced the first bull rider. Trisha watched in horror as the man was thrown off the bull hitting the ground, hard. “Oh, my God,” she whispered, looking away. “How can you watch Jake do this?”

“It’s not easy,” Maggie replied with a shake of her head then smiled slyly at her. “And most of the time it’s between my fingers since my hands automatically cover my eyes.”

Trisha smiled in understanding. She honestly didn’t think she was going to be able to watch this. When the announcer said Jake’s name, her stomach pitched violently. Glancing over at Maggie, her heart went out to the pale-faced woman. Without thought, she grabbed her hand as Cindy held Trisha’s other hand.

“He’s going to be fine,” Cindy said as she squeezed tightly.

The crowd roared at Jake’s name being announced. If possible, they grew even louder as the metal gate opened. For a second, the bull didn’t move, but then it shot out with Jake on its back. The bull twisted, bucked, and threw snot all over the place trying to get Jake off its back, but Jake held firm, his arm whipping around. His hat flew off, but he stayed on. Trisha was too shocked with fear to look away to check on Maggie, but she held the woman’s hand tightly.

Trisha held her breath watching without blinking. The loud buzzer finally went off sending everyone into louder cheers. Relief sent her breath out in one rush, making her light headed. Still she couldn’t take her eyes off him and wondered why in the hell he was still on the side of the bull. “What is he doing?”

“Oh God.” Maggie stood with the rest of the crowd who were not cheering, but gasping. “His hand’s stuck in the ropes.”

“What?” Trisha stood with everyone else. Fear had her leaning over the people in front of her as she watched Jake frantically try to get his hand out of the rope while attempting to stay on his feet. Men on horses tried to free him. Screams and gasps sounded through the crowd as close calls with the bull happened repeatedly. Trisha heard Maggie cry out beside her and grabbed her in her arms while still watching the scene below. “He’s going to be okay.”

What seemed like hours, not merely seconds, they finally got Jake’s hand free, and they maneuvered the bull out of the arena. Jake stayed in the arena bent over with his hands on his knees, a few men around him. Finally, he reached over, grabbed his hat then stood slowly waving the hat in the air. The now quiet arena erupted in chaos of cheers. It was deafening, even though they were outside.

Finally, he turned their way, his eyes rose and met hers. Putting his hat back on his head, he winked before limping out of the arena. The love, which she’d attempted to bury, pushed through, threatening to burst. Letting go of his mom, she plopped down in the seat, suddenly weak from the horror of the moment as well as finally knowing that she was in love and in deep shit. If what Sam said was true, her heart was close to being shattered.

“Come on.” Maggie started to make her way through the crowd. “Get me down there so I can make sure my son is okay enough for me to blister his ass.”

Trisha couldn’t help but smile. She felt the same way. He just scared the crap out of all of them and deserved a good smack. Pushing through the crowd, they finally made it, but Trisha really wished she wouldn’t have. A crowd surrounded Jake and the other cowboys, but it was Jake her eyes were glued to, and the beautiful woman he was hugging in a tight embrace.

‘Hell, he’ll probably have another picked out before you’re even gone.’
Sam’s words slammed into her memory, her steps slowing. Her eyes moved from him and spotted Sam who was looking at her with an ‘I told you so’ smile. Pulling out the pride she had left, she turned and walked away, getting lost in the crowd.

******

Trisha walked around the ranch trying to decide what to do. She could call a cab, leave a note for Cindy and never look back, but she couldn’t do that. She had to let Cindy know what was going on. She was a better friend than that. So instead of running, she headed toward the party the ranch was throwing for the guests and employees, kind of an ‘after rodeo’ party she helped set up. Seeing Cindy and Tim, Trisha headed that way.

“Where in the hell have you been?” Cindy stopped dancing with Tim.

“I need to talk to you.” Trisha grabbed her arm before glaring at Tim. “Alone.”

“How about a dance?” Sam walked up behind her, wrapped his arm around her waist, and pulled her against him.

Trisha smelled the booze on him and knew he was drunk. “Get off me.” Trisha squirmed, but his grip only tightened.

“Come on now, Trisha.” He tried to whisper, but in his drunken state, he was loud. “You saw for yourself, he’s already replaced you.”

She saw Tim reaching for Sam, but before she knew what was happening, she was pulled out of Sam’s grip and Jake was standing with his back in front of her.

“She said to let her go.” Jake towered over Sam. “You’ve been warned for the last time. Get your shit and get off this property…now.”

“Awe, come on, boss.” Sam gave him a drunken grin then wink. “We all know she’s just one of your bitches you screw and—”

Sam didn’t finish. He was too busy picking himself off the ground and spitting blood. Jake grabbed him, helping him up by the shirt. “I’m going to tell you one more time to get your shit and leave.”

Pushing away from Jake, Sam stumbled. “Get the fuck off me.” He then pointed between Tim and Jake. “I’m so sick of you two thinking you’re better than anyone. Keep the whore. She’s leaving tomorrow anyway and probably not worth the fucking I planned on giving her.”

Hank pulled Trisha out of the way as all hell broke loose. Jake grabbed Sam again, pounding him repeatedly in the face. They ended up on the ground, Sam landing a few punches of his own, but Jake was too enraged to notice. Jake straddled Sam, beating him until finally Hank, Tim and another ranch hand, pulled Jake off.

As they dragged Sam away, Sam still fought. “You win, McCabe!” Sam yelled over his shoulder, but his eyes were on Trisha as he laughed. “Both of you win. Sorry, boys, but the high and mighty McCabe brothers got the bitches again.”

“What did he mean by that?” Cindy frowned, watching Sam being pulled away.

Trisha stared up at Jake, who wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth, but his eyes stayed on hers. She knew he could see the question in her eyes.

“What did he tell you?” Jake asked, his tone angry.

Looking around at everyone staring at her, she met his gaze again. “You all make bets on who is going to get with who.” She heard Cindy gasp.

Jake looked at Hank in understanding. “And you obviously believed him.” Jake frowned, shaking his head, looking both disappointed and hurt. “So what was his reasoning behind telling you something like that?”

She didn’t like his tone, but unfortunately, understood it. “That he would share the ‘pot’ with me if I would be with him.” She said it more nicely than Sam had put it.

“And did you?” Jake took two steps glaring down at her. “Because if you did, you really got…fucked.”

“Jake!” His mom had walked up during the fight, but stood back, letting the boys handle it until that point.

Trisha’s head snapped back as if he slapped her, but she looked at Maggie. “It’s okay.” She told the woman, before looking back at Jake. “And no, Jake. You are the only one who…
fucked
me.” She shot back. She deserved this, knew it, but all her insecurities came roaring back, and once again she had been duped by a man, and she hated herself for it. This time it was going to cost her more than she was afraid to admit. Turning around, she walked away, but her heart stayed with the man glaring at her back.

CHAPTER 11

Trisha sat behind her desk looking over her class. They were busy doing an assignment, at least most of them were. A few were talking quietly, which she didn’t really care about at that moment. As long as they didn’t disrupt anyone else and got their work done, she let them have their time.

Her mute phone lit up with a text. Glancing at it, she saw Cindy’s name. She missed her old phone, which she lost right after she came back from vacation. Just the thought of the ranch tightened her throat. It had been a month and the regret she felt was so overwhelming she could hardly function. She should have handled the situation better. She should have gone straight to Jake and talked to him, but her trust issues hadn’t allowed her to do that. Her phone went off again. With a sigh, she discreetly picked it up and read the text from Cindy.

She was still seeing Tim and was going to the ranch for a long weekend. She snapped the phone off, not wanting to see any more of the text. Tears pricked her eyes, but she forced them back. Glancing quickly up at her students, her blurred vision showed they were all still working or talking quietly. Putting her phone in her drawer, she frowned. She was happy for Cindy. She had finally found a good guy, and she couldn’t be happier for her, but every time Tim or the ranch was mentioned, her heart broke a little more.

“Ms. Summers?” Derek, one of her more talkative students, spoke up. “Are you okay?”

Trisha looked up quickly to find the whole class staring at her. “Of course.” She tried to smile, but knew she fell short. “Why?”

“Because you’re just staring at your desk without anything in front of you.” Derek snorted and a few other students chuckled. “I’m all for nap time if you had a rough night and need one.”

“Good try, Derek.” Trisha actually chuckled. If it wasn’t for her kids, she probably wouldn’t have gotten out of bed to do anything since coming back from Texas. She grabbed her textbook. “Why don’t we go over chapter ten for the exam to see if that will wake me up?” she teased, then laughed at all the moans.

“Now that
will
put me to sleep,” Derek griped, but opened his book along with the rest of the class.

“Ah, Ms. Summers.” Missy, one of her star pupils, got her attention. “Didn’t you go to Texas a few months ago?”

Actually, it was twenty-five days, sixteen hours and a few seconds, but who was counting. “Yes, I did.” She walked around to the front of her desk, getting ready to sit on top as she usually did when teaching.

“I think one of those hot cowboys followed you home,” Missy said with a loud sigh.

Shocked and a little confused, Trisha looked at Missy who along with the rest of the class was staring at the door. Slowly, her eyes swung to see Jake leaning against the doorframe, cowboy hat on his head, and staring at her through the glass. She dropped the large textbook with a bang.

Derek picked up the book, handing it to her. “You want me to get the door?” He grinned at her.

That snapped her out of her stupor. Taking the book, she shook her head. “Go back to you seat, Derek.” She set the book on her desk and headed slowly to the door. “Open to chapter ah…”

“Ten,” the whole class said, but no one did it. They just watched as Trisha made her way to the door.

“Yeah,” Trisha said absent-mindedly. As soon as she opened the door to step out, her eyes never leaving Jake’s, the room erupted in hoots and whistles. Trisha’s face flushed red as she slammed the door behind her, only slightly muting her students. “What are you doing here?” was all Trisha could think to say. Finding Jake outside her classroom totally floored her, and she wondered if she wasn’t dreaming. She actually wrapped her arms around her churning stomach and gave herself a tiny pinch to make sure it wasn’t a dream.

Jake straightened, looking down on her. “You look beautiful.” His deep Texas twang sent her heart into overdrive.

“You came all the way to Ohio to tell me that?” Trisha frowned, and then looked back into her classroom where every single eyeball was staring straight at them. Giving them her best teacher frown, she led Jake away from the door. “I’m in the middle of teaching, Jake. Why are you here?”

He reached in his pocket and pulled out her old phone. “I wanted to return this.” He held it, but didn’t hand it to her. “I was angry the night of the rodeo that you didn’t trust me. I wasn’t thinking straight. Actually, I was angry for a while after that, but it wasn’t until Cindy gave me this and told me I was being a total asshole that I understood exactly what happened and how you might have felt when Sam lied to you.”

Trisha didn’t even know what to say. Grabbing her old phone from his hand, she glanced up at him. “You read my messages?” She was mortified. Doug pulled no punches when it came to telling her what kind of loser she was. “You had no right.”

“Yeah, well, that son of a bitch had no right threatening you, and I sure as hell let him know it.” Jake’s growl echoed down the hallway.

“You didn’t?” Trisha gasped, holding the phone to her chest.

“I did, right before I came to see you.” Jake took a step toward her, backing her up. “And he won’t be bothering you again. If he does, he’ll have me to deal with.”

“Why?” Trisha frowned then cursed at the tears burning her eyes again.

Jake had managed to back her against a wall. “Because no one threatens what’s mine.” He leaned closer to her. “I’m sorry for the way I reacted that night. I will apologize every single day until you forgive me, and even after that. Actually, I was angrier about Sam’s hands on you, but thinking you thought so little of me about tore my damn heart out.”

Glancing away from him, her eyes fell on the door where all her students were watching, their faces practically pressed against the glass. Derek gave her a thumbs-up. Her eyes went back to Jake. “I forgave you that night, Jake,” Trisha whispered, a tear slipping out of the corner of her eye. “But I don’t know how any of this will work.”

Jake leaned down, kissing her softly after letting out a sigh. His mouth moved to her ear. “Marry me. Work beside me. Trust me…” He moved away from her ear to look into her eyes. “Love me and we can make anything work.”

Letting her head fall back against the wall, she stared up at him with a small smile. “You really want to marry me?”

“More than I want to breathe, darlin’.” He removed his cowboy hat, knelt right there in the hallway of her school, and pulled out a ring. Taking her hand gently, he looked up at her. “My beautiful city girl, will you marry me and make me the happiest damn cowboy in Texas?”

“Yes!” Trisha laughed and cried, watching as he slipped the ring on her finger.

The hallway erupted with screaming teenagers who were offering their congratulations. Other teachers were coming out of their rooms to find out what all the commotion was.

“I love you,” Jake whispered to her as the chaos surrounded them.

Trisha smiled up at Jake, knowing that happiness really did exist. “I love you more.”

Jake frowned. “Guess I’m going to have to prove you wrong on that one, teach.” The promise in his gaze was one promise she hoped was fulfilled very soon.