Addison

THE MORNING OF Roundup arrived, and Dylan and I were ready. Well, we were as ready as we’d ever be. We’d been practicing for hours, and my shoulders were killing me from Dylan grabbing them to jump onto the back of the horse. I was pretty convinced some drunk asshat thought this game up after a night of tying one on. Seriously, it was so...so...redneck.

“You ready?” Dylan called through the door.

“Kind of,” I admitted, stepping into her room.

She grabbed a bottle of water and her vitamins, only half paying attention to me. “I really wish you’d wear jeans.”

“Joddies will be safer, considering they’re comfortable and, since they look ridiculous without my boots, the whole package is necessary.” I frowned. “Why? Do I look atrocious?”

“No. You look uppity.”

I squared my shoulders. “Well, I am uppity.”

Dylan rolled her eyes. “Ain’t that the truth.”

“Suck it.”

She was still staring at her vitamins, and didn’t respond.

“You okay?” I asked.

“I was just thinking about something my grandma said.”

“You mean your crazy grandma?” I asked.

“Yeah. I took Asher to see her while you were gone, and she was...different. Nice. Still embarrassing, though. And she’s always been perfectly lucid, unlike the others. I still can’t believe my kindergarten teacher didn’t recognize me.”

“Dylan, you haven’t been back here in years.”

“Yeah, I know. Anyway, Grandma says it’s the pills they’re giving them. Claims that they’re messing with their memories as well as their bodies. Did I tell you Ms. Long died yesterday?”

“She did?”

“Yeah. Grandma’s been spitting out the pills and flushing them, and I know that makes her sound conspiracy-theory crazy, but I can’t shake the feeling she’s on to something.”

I thought about it for a moment. “Why would anyone want to hurt the elderly?”

Dylan shrugged. “I don’t know, but I think we need to look into it.”

There was a knock on my door. I looked out the peephole and groaned. Wyatt stood on the other side. Jake and Asher had to stay with us due to the fact that Roundup was popular enough to sell out all the hotels in town. Between Klamath and Lakeview, I’d spent two beautifully perfect nights with Jake. We talked and laughed, fucked like rabbits, and he held me as we slept. He and Asher had left earlier to grab us a proper breakfast and let us get ready in private. Things were going so well, and I wasn’t looking forward to him arriving back to find Wyatt on our doorstep. I pulled open the door.

“Hey, Wy,” Dylan said, leaning over my shoulder. “What are you doing here?”

“Thought I’d come give you two a ride. Figured Addison wouldn’t want to get her car dirty.”

“Well, that’s really sweet,” I said. “But I’m not overly concerned about my car, and I think Ash and Jake are coming with us this morning.”

Wyatt’s face fell, but he recovered quickly and pasted on a smile. “Okay, then.”

“Congratulations on your win last night,” I rushed to say. “You looked amazing.”

“Thanks, Addison. Good luck today. I’ll see you both there.”

I bit my lip and nodded. “Thanks.”

“’Bye, Wy,” Dylan said, and he drove away.

“I feel like a total bitch,” I admitted.

“Don’t. Wyatt doesn’t think that, so give yourself a break.”

I sighed. “It’s just, he’s such a good guy...and really cute.”

“I know.” Dylan smiled. “But you have Jake, and Wyatt will be fine. Plus, we have a competition to win, so you need to get your head in the game.”

Before I could say anything further, Jake and Asher walked into the room. Jake frowned. “What’s wrong?”

“Nothing,” I said. “I’ll tell you later.”

He raised an eyebrow and I shook my head. I was glad he took my silence in stride and handed me a cup of coffee, kissing my temple as he gave me a brief hug. “I got you a bagel.”

“Thanks, honey.”

“Ash, let’s give them a minute,” Dylan suggested.

I smiled my thanks and waited for them to leave the room.

“Okay, what’s up?” Jake asked.

I sighed. “You have to promise not to freak out.”

“Telling me not to freak out makes me leery.”

“I think I hurt Wyatt’s feelings and that makes me feel bad.”

Jake smiled. “I’m not going to freak out, baby.”

I relaxed and rolled my eyes. “With you, I’m never entirely sure which way you’ll go sometimes. Especially when it comes to a really good-looking man being interested in me.”

He crossed his arms. “What do you mean by ‘really good-looking man’?”

“Slow your roll, big man. He’s not you.”

“I’m just messin’ with you.” He grinned, pulling me to him and kissing me thoroughly. “Mornin’.”

I smiled up at him, wrapping my arms around his waist. “Good morning.”

He gave me a squeeze. “You gonna fill me in on what you and Dylan are doin’ today?”

“Nope.”

“I figured.”

I patted his chest. “It’s all going to be okay, honey. But now I need to eat.”

I knocked on Dylan’s door, but it took them a little while to join us. I didn’t ask questions as we finished our breakfast quickly and headed to the fairgrounds.

* * *

Dylan

––––––––

Addison, Asher, Jake, and I were heading for the stables when Jake asked, “Now what are you guys gonna be doing again?”

He was looking at me expectantly, so I glanced at Addison, who was shaking her head no. I could feel the weight of Asher’s stare as well.

I hurried my steps, desperate to get out from under their scrutiny before I said something that sent them over the edge. “Uh...it’s really difficult to explain. The type of thing you have to see to really understand. The horses are kept in that barn. We should hurry so we can make sure Bucky’s ready.”

It wasn’t my smoothest avoidance, but it would have to do. Thankfully, we ran into Wyatt, and Jake’s scrutiny transferred to him.

“Hey, Wy, where’s our guy?” I asked.

He pointed down the row. “Third stall from the back. I just got him saddled and ready for you two. Even walked him and checked the cinch. You’re good to go.”

“Great. Any idea where we are in the lineup?”

“Fifth. Right after Brandy and Josie, so you better hurry.” He frowned. “They’re riding Dusty.”

“He’s here?” I asked, scanning the row until my gaze fell on my old horse. I ran to his stall, and he hung his head over, whinnying when he saw me. He looked great, just as I remembered him, and I was relieved to know Brandy had been taking good care of him. Scratching behind his ears, I kissed his forehead and told him how much I’d missed him and how sorry I was that I’d left him behind when I’d moved.

“Who’s this?” Asher asked.

I introduced the two of them, and Asher fed Dusty a peppermint and patted him down. Dusty whinnied his approval of my boyfriend. Then, because we had a race to win, I let Addison drag me away to get Bucky.

“Why is he getting on top of the barrel?” Asher asked as we watched the first Buddy Barrel Race from the fence.

“You’ll see.” I squeezed his hand.

The gate opened and the rider—a thirty-something-year-old man I recognized as one of the clerks at Safeway—raced in. As he swung around the barrel, the guy standing on top of it jumped on behind him. Or, at least, he tried. The jumper practically strangled the rider before hitting the saddle awkwardly and racking himself. The crowd groaned as he grabbed his crotch and slid off the horse. The rider came back around to try and pick him up, but the jumper was done for. He waved him on and hobbled for the gate.

“That’s what you’re doing?” Jake asked.

“Yeah, except we’re better at it,” Addison replied.

And our horse bucks and bolts. Only I didn’t say it out loud. They’d see Bucky in action soon enough.

Asher’s gaze held way too much concern, so I kissed him and assured him, “We’ll be fine. We totally got this.”

“Totes,” Addison added.

Neither of the guys looked convinced, but the next pair managed to cross the finish line, so at least now they knew it was possible. The jumper had struggled with footing at the barrel, though, so their time wasn’t that great.

The third jumper made it onto the horse, but his rider took off before he was situated, dumping the jumper in the dirt. The guy grabbed at his back, struggling to get up as the paramedics ran out to help him.

I felt for the guy’s no doubt bruised bottom and banged up ego, and wondered if I’d be joining in him in the dirt soon. Addison and I were counting on Bucky to follow the same pattern he’d followed every time we practiced: three bucks then bolt. But what if something changed? What if he only bucked once? What if he bucked all the way to the gate? What if he bolted while I was jumping on? Before I could freak out too much about the possibilities, it was almost our turn.

Addison mounted while Brandy and Josey did their run. They crossed the finish line in a little over sixteen seconds, which was a great time. Addison and I had done better in practice, but I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t nervous as I jogged out and climbed up on the barrel.

The next thing I knew, Addison was racing toward me. I crouched low and put my hands out to steady myself. She started the turn and Bucky’s back legs flicked up in his first kick. The crowd gasped, and I couldn’t help but smile. They hadn’t seen anything yet.

It was now or never. I grabbed the horn and jumped, squeezing Bucky’s belly with my legs as he bucked the second time. The saddle shifted, feeling a little crooked, and I tried to straighten Addison and hold on at the same time.

“Something’s wrong with the saddle. It’s slipping!” Addison shouted.

“I know.”

“Hold on.”

I understood that her order was somewhat rhetorical, but I still had to fight the urge to yell something snarky or point out that I only had the tail available to me should she and saddle slip off.

The third buck came, then it was like a bee stung him. Bucky bolted for the gate while I held on to Addison for dear life. For both of our dear lives. The people waiting outside the arena to slow the horses after they crossed the finish line stepped in front of us and started waving. Addison pulled on Bucky’s reins, begging him to stop as I tried to keep us from toppling over.

Jake and Asher both lunged for Bucky, and the two of them finally reined him in. The moment our forward motion came to a halt, the saddle slowly slid off, taking both Addison and me with it. It was quite possibly the most gracefully I’d ever fallen off a horse.

We hit the ground, realized we were okay, and started giggling uncontrollably.

Bucky looked back at us like we were nuts, which was probably accurate.

The saddle had tipped on its side, and Jake grabbed the cinch and held it up. It had been split in two.

I stared at the girth, not wanting to believe my eyes. Girths didn’t just split, and there didn’t appear to be much fraying. If I had to guess, I’d say someone had cut the side and let it tear. Wyatt said he’d saddled Bucky himself and assured us the horse was ready to go...

Wyatt.

The scowl on Jake’s face told me he’d reached the same conclusion.

* * *

Addison

Jake dropped the girth with a scowl and stormed off toward the stalls. I pushed myself up and rushed after him, Dylan and Asher hot on our heels. We arrived to find Wyatt on his stomach, his face in the dirt, and Jake’s knee in his back as he zip-tied Wyatt’s hands together.

“What are you doing?” I squeaked.

Jake yanked Wyatt up and said, “I’m vanquishing the fuckin’ dragon, Addison.”

“Jake, I’m sure there’s an explanation,” Dylan said, easing forward. “I’ve known Wyatt forever and he’d never...” She scooted around the two until she was looking in Wyatt’s face. “Would you, Wy?”

Wyatt didn’t answer. I couldn’t see his expression, but whatever Dylan saw tensed her up. She squeezed her hands into fists. “You bastard! You could have killed Addie.” She lurched for him, but Asher intercepted her.

“Whoa there. Simmer down, Dylan. Jake’s got it under control. We’ll deal with this,” he said, hugging her as he practically dragged her away from Wyatt.

Dylan wouldn’t give up. “I trusted you. You were my friend, and you...” Her eyes were glassy with unshed tears. The fight went out of her, and Asher picked her up and carried her to a bale of hay by the entrance. He sat, positioning her on his lap, and started talking to her.

“What are you gonna do with him?” I asked Jake.

“I’m gonna handle it.”

Before I could ask what that entailed, a man ran into the barn, looking around frantically. “Dylan James and Addison Allen? You two won the Buddy Barrel Race. They’re waiting for you to grab your prizes.”

“You go,” Asher said, easing Dylan off his lap as he stood. “Jake and I’ll take care of the cowboy.”

I really didn’t want to leave, but the way Dylan was glaring at Wyatt told me I needed to get her out of there. I grabbed her hand and we headed to the booth for our prize.

“And here they are now,” the announcer said as we headed toward his booth. “Folks, these little ladies have officially blasted through the all-time fastest record by over two seconds.”

The crowd went wild as we were handed our prize. A plastic gold and silver trophy with two riders atop a horse.

Dylan and I glanced at one another and I forced myself not to giggle. Holy cow, it looked as though the riders were humping each other.

“Ladies, take a bow,” the announcer instructed.

As we bowed, all I could think about was the fact I couldn’t care less about the pomp and circumstance. The announcer said something about all the winners riding some train on Monday, but I had no idea what he was talking about and couldn’t focus. My boyfriend was currently interrogating the man who’d tried to kill us, so as soon as we could escape, Dylan and I hurried back to the stalls.

We arrived to find Wyatt sitting on a bale of hay, his face a little bloody (I hoped from the original confrontation and not from Jake hitting him while his hands were bound), and his expression was tortured as he met my eyes, then Dylan’s. “I’m sorry.”

Dylan just stared at him, shaking her head.

My heart raced at the thought that this man...the man I thought was my friend...would try to hurt me. Or Dylan. “I don’t understand.”

“If you’d just have—” Wyatt started

“If they would have what?” Jake snapped.

I could tell Jake was ready to kill Wyatt, so I nodded toward Dylan, who no longer looked like she was about to rip his throat out.

“I got it,” she said, her expression scarily calm.

“And I got her,” Asher added.

Confident the two of them would be able to get the full story without killing Wyatt, I pulled Jake away for some privacy. He dragged his hands through his hair and paced the area behind the barn.

I crossed my arms in an effort not to interrupt his processing time. “I’m okay, honey.”

“He could have killed you.”

I nodded. “I know.”

I mean, what could I say? He was right. Wyatt could have really hurt us or Bucky. It was a shitty thing to do and, had Dylan and I not been expert riders, this whole thing could have gone much, much worse.

Jake reached out his arm and I went happily into his embrace. I settled my cheek against his chest and slid my hands up his back, squeezing gently.

“You could have been killed,” he whispered again.

“I know, baby. I’m okay.”

He ran his fingers through my hair. “Do you have any idea how much I want to kill him?”

“Yes.”

“What a weasel.” Jake let out a rather explicit curse. “I’m taking that asshole down.”

“Can we find out why he did it first?”

Jake stiffened. “I don’t give a rat’s ass about the why, Addison. I’ll call the local department and they’ll come to collect him. I’m gonna make sure his ass is charged with attempted murder, and that he does the time for it.”

I kept my arms around him, but leaned back so I could meet his eyes. “We weren’t hurt, honey, and if Wyatt wanted to, he could say the girth frayed. It would be hard proving he had a nefarious purpose.”

“He confessed.”

“He confessed to the scary cop boyfriend and lawyer brother of one of the ‘victims.’ He could say he was coerced or bullied.”

Jake scowled. “He does, I’ll—”

“You’ll what, honey? Beat the shit out of him?” He let out a frustrated breath and I burrowed closer to him again. “We’ll figure out exactly what’s going on and then we can make an educated decision.”

“I hate this.”

“I get it.” I leaned back again. “Would now be a bad time to mention that Dylan and I kind of had the whole thing under control?”

“Yeah, baby, now would be a really bad time.” He shook his head. “But you did look amazing...even on the back of a bucking horse.”

“Really?”

He gave me a reluctant smile. “I bet you’re incredible on those fancy jumping horses, huh?”

I giggled. “I do okay. It’s been a while, but I loved competing.”

“I guess it wouldn’t matter how badly you did in competition.”

“Oh, really? How come?”

“’Cause you’re freakin’ sexy in the outfit.”

I laughed. “You’re ridiculous. But I love you.”

His body finally relaxed and he leaned down to kiss me. “Love you too, Addie.”

After a few minutes of him holding me, I smiled. “I’m very proud of you.”

“Yeah? Why?”

“Because you only freaked out a little bit and let me talk you down off the ledge.”

He patted his chest. “Believe me, I was freakin’ out a hell of a lot more in here.”

“I get it, but you controlled it.” I shrugged. “So I’m proud of you.”

“’Preciate it, baby.” He chuckled, leaning down to kiss me. “Now, let’s go deal with the dipshit who tried to kill my woman.”

His body went back to its locked and loaded state. I sighed.

He took my hand and we headed back, but Asher met us at the door.

“Someone must have called the cops. They’re here and they’re taking Wyatt in.”