****
Rory Longstrider had once been a very big deal. He’d won two world championships with his brother Derek as a team roper, and then once Derek was banished from the professional rodeo association, Rory went on to conquer the world of bull riding. He’d won more money on the circuit than anybody before him and his record stood for ten solid years after his retirement. A man who saw Rory ride could still get a free beer in most towns in Wyoming, as long as he was willing to talk about the legend who could not be thrown from any bull.
The legend himself did not discuss bulls, or the rodeo, or his championship rides. And he especially did not discuss his brother. There were a lot of questions about Derek; a lot of rumors and gossip, fueled by the public display of his powers and his abrupt and mysterious disappearance. Rory kept to himself on his ranch outside of Jackson, breeding and selling racehorses, and he didn’t have anything to do with the rodeo.
“Doesn’t he ever watch you ride?” Marisol asked.
“Nope. Never.”
“How can that be?”
Dean looked at her from the corner of his eye. “Did you think the old man mentored me?”
“Something like that.”
“No. He doesn’t approve.”
“He doesn’t approve? That seems a bit—”
“Hypocritical?”
“Exactly.”
“Now you see why we don’t talk much.”
“Oh.” Marisol fidgeted with the hem of her truck stop sweatshirt. They’d stopped outside of Cody at a Top Stop so she could clean up and change, and Dean had taken the opportunity to call Rory while he waited.
Rory answered on the second ring. Despite the tension between them, Rory was the type of man who always answered his phone—even if what Dean had to say made him wish he hadn’t.
“Oh what?”
“I just...will he be unhappy to see us?”
“No, don’t worry about that. He knows we’re coming and he wants to help you.”
“Why doesn’t he approve? Is it because it’s too dangerous?”
Dean took a deep breath and considered telling her the truth, but at this point, he didn’t know if she would welcome the news as comforting, or if it would only add to her anxiety. Still, he didn’t want to lie to her. He’d lie to the rest of the world, but he wanted her to know the truth.
“You’ve heard of my father.” Dean snorted. “Heard of him… hell, you probably saw him.”
“I have. Quite a few times.”
“And you saw him the night he—”
“Turned into a bear? Yes. A bull had jumped over the fence and into the stands. Suddenly, there was a big grizzly in the middle of the crowd. It was...scary.”
“Yeah, I bet it was. Well, my old man never rode any bulls because bulls always brought out the bear in him. Rory, he rode bulls because he wanted to prove to the world there was no bear in him at all.”
“What about you? Why do you ride?”
Dean checked his rearview mirror and frowned. “Hey, you don’t think your mom would have called the cops, do you?”
“Why?” Marisol’s head whipped around. “God! How long has that cruiser been following us?”
“A few miles. But I’m doing the speed limit.”
“I don’t know. Even if she did call the sheriff, what would she tell him? That her grown daughter has left the house? I don’t think that’s illegal.” Marisol sighed. “I know she’s just worried about me but...I’ve got too much on my mind to worry about her. And you didn’t answer my question.”
“What question was that?”
“Why do you ride?”
“Because I want to. Would you do it… if you had the chance?”
“Ride a bull? Hell yeah, I would.”
“Of course you would. And there’s just nothing else like it.”
“Not even sex?”
“It depends on the night. Depends on the ride.”
Marisol’s laugh was cut short by a wide yawn.
“Are you tired?” Dean asked. “Why don’t you get some sleep?”
“I’m okay, I’m just—” she yawned again and blinked at him. “I think it’s the road.”
“Go ahead and close your eyes. When you wake up, we’ll be there.”
Dean was true to his word. When she opened her eyes again, they were parked outside of Rory’s secluded cabin in Jackson. The sun was sinking lower and the shadows were long over the man’s face as he walked out to meet them.
“I still feel sleepy,” she muttered.
“I know. Rory needs to talk to you, then you can take another nap,” Dean promised as he stepped out of the truck. She was still blinking heavily when he opened her door and helped her to the ground. Rory offered his hand with a warm smile.
“Howdy, ma’am. You had a long drive. Can I get you some water? Or maybe a beer?”
“Water, please.”
Rory was a tall man and he absolutely towered over Marisol. He offered his arm, escorting her up the gravel driveway to his cabin. Dean followed a few paces back, listening as Rory asked about the drive up from Cody. Marisol answered, shooting a curious look over her shoulder to Dean; he nodded and gave her the most reassuring smile he could. Marisol returned his smile, but he could see the trepidation in her eyes. She was probably wondering when the exam would start, but Rory knew everything he needed to know by the time they reached the cabin’s door.
He ushered Marisol inside and paused to take Dean by the arm. “I need to talk to this girl. Go out to the shed and get my rawhide bag. The one by the door.”
“Is she…?”
“We’ll know soon enough. Now go. Don’t dawdle.”
Dean was already taking long strides across the yard. His phone sounded just as he reached the shed. A text from his brother. There’s been another murder. They’re looking for a bear.
Dean wrote back. Sit tight. Keep your head down. Everything will be fine.