*He saw caution slide over her.
That was something different. This caution — keeping a guard on what she was saying, even what she was thinking — was comfortable for her now, where it never had been before. Not worn in so deep yet that it was completely part of her, but so familiar she wasn’t even aware of pulling it on.
She tried turning aside his question with one of her own. “What about me?”
“Well, a couple things.”
He waited. Eventually, impatience and a flick of irritation nudged the caution aside. So there was that.
“What couple of things?”
“First, what are you doing here?”
“Told you. I’m here to learn the ropes of being a rodeo secretary from Aunt Vicky.”
Did that come too fast, too glib?
“Thought you were teaching in Montana?”
“How’d you hear that?
“Same way you heard about me getting hurt, only in reverse.”
The flip of her hand said she accepted that. No need for her know how he’d kept track of her over the years.
“With summer break, I thought I’d see how I took to training as a rodeo secretary. Since I like rodeo and always have,” she finished with emphasis.
That had been something different, too. He’d goaded her good, trying to turn her from poking at his hows and whys. She had risen to the bait, though not as fast as he’d expected. And she kept coming back to her point.
This might be trouble.
“What do your folks think about this?”
“I’m a grown woman. Even if they for some reason had a problem with it, it’s my decision.” An impish smile that was among his first memories of her flashed across her face. “Besides, they’re in Colorado. You know about Dad working for the U.S. Olympic Committee?”
He nodded.
“What about your folks? What do they think about what you’re doing?” she asked.
“They don’t think anything of it. Only one who knows is foreman on my ranch. Bought a place down near Far Hills. Nice country.”
“Your father and Sue don’t know you’re on the circuit? How can you do that?”
“They’re at their ranch, I’m at mine. Good bit of distance between us. I talk to them on the phone regular, they think it’s from there.”
“I didn’t mean how could you keep it a secret, I mean how can you shut them out that way?”
“I’m doing what I’m doing. You have no say in this, Reggie.”
“I do have a say. I could give you away in a heartbeat.”
“Will you?”
“No.” Then she added. “Not just to give you away, anyway.”
“And I won’t tell folks you hate rodeo — used to hate rodeo. Though that comes in handy now,” he added. “Not many on the circuit these days would remember you or our connection.”
Hell, they hadn’t remembered him after a lot less time. That had been both a benefit to keeping his low profile and a kick in the pants of his ego. Course he’d been careful to start where he didn’t know people, but still…
She stood. Not jerking up like she was mad, but slow like she was determined.
He lifted one eyebrow. “Going somewhere?”
“Back to work. Vicky has to be told about you before you can register or she’ll end your charade on the spot. I’m going to tell her that—”
“You’re right she has to know. But I’m the one to tell her.”
“Then you better do it now, while she’s on break. And I’m coming with.”
“No need to check up on me, Regina.”
“I’m coming with.”
“Suit yourself.”
*
Reggie knocked on the door of the small back room.
“My break’s not over,” came from inside.
“I know, Vicky. It’s me. Reggie.”
“C’mon in. As long as you’re not bringing any work that can’t wait another ten minutes. What’s up, Reg—?” Her eyes went wide as Chapin came in behind her, removing his hat and driving his hand back through his hair.
“Hey, Vicky.”
They met in the middle of the tiny room for a hug.
“Chapin. What are you doing here?” Her gaze ping-ponged between the two of them. “And with Reggie.”
“He’s not with me. He’s—”
“I’m telling this, remember?”
She flapped a hand at him, inviting him to proceed, but to hurry up about it.
Waving Vicky back to her chair, he told it. Quickly, smoothly, openly. Each and every detail she’d dragged out of him, he volunteered up to Vicky like they were nothing.
At the end, Vicky asked one question: “Have you told Walker and Kalli?” referring to the married couple who ran Park Rodeo.
“I called Walker before I got here. Haven’t seen him or Kalli yet.”
Of course he’d called Walker Riley.
The man had never been a household name … unless your household was rodeo-crazy, as Chapin’s had always been. Plus, Chapin was among a stream of rodeo cowboys and cowgirls coming through the Park Rodeo who the Rileys’ had mentored and otherwise helped.
No way could Chapin have hoped to pass as Bill Johnson without the Rileys going along.
“They’re okay with your charade?” she asked.
“They understand.”
Not quite a direct answer.
She added talking with the Rileys to her mental to-do list that was topped by talking with each of the other two suspects and, yes, digging deeper into Chapin’s situation.
Vicky stood and said, “Well, we better get you registered then.”
“I thought you were still on break.”
“Like a rodeo secretary’s ever really on break. There’s another lesson for you, Reggie. That’s one Roberta taught me years ago when I trained with her here. You’re never really on break and be ready for everything. Though I never before had to learn to call a cowboy I know is Chapin by the name of Bill.”
*
That afternoon, Vicky pulled her aside and into the break room. “Slow down. If I didn’t know you better, I’d say it was something other than running into Cha—Bill — again that’s got you wound up.”
“Just proves you don’t know me, because I’m fine with seeing him. No problem at all. Not a tremor. But remember, I told you I have three prime suspects?”
“Uh-huh, but you wouldn’t say who because you don’t trust me to pull off acting normal around them when I see them.”
“That’s not fair. I don’t want to put that burden on—”
“No fear, girl. But if you’re saying that Chap— That’s a hard habit to break. —W.C. Johnson is one of them, then that makes everything one-third easier because it trims your suspects to two.”
“No it doesn’t. He’s still a suspect.”
“Oh, c’mon. You know that man. Have done your whole life.”
“Not the past decade. Besides, my knowing him or not is moot. He fits the profile. He’s been out of the money in events leading up to each and every one of those robberies, yet he’s had enough to keep traveling and enter the next rodeo. Where’s he getting that money?”
“Probably from the bundle he earned those six, seven years he was riding high. You don’t think he blew it all on wine, women, and song pining for you, do you?”
“Not pining for me, obviously. But he could have dropped a lot on wine, women, and song. Not to mention extensive medical treatments and buying and running a ranch. None of that comes cheap.” She tapped a pen against her chin, pleased that she was thinking so analytically. “And he never got the super lucrative endorsements he could have had if his rise hadn’t been cut short. Maybe that’s why he’s really trying to climb back in.” She spun around to Vicky. “Did you know he hasn’t told his folks he’s on the circuit?”
I’m doing what I’m doing.
Would he have been that sharp if he didn’t have some doubts about cutting out his father? Okay, and even Sue.
Not that it mattered to her investigation.
Vicky snorted. “That doesn’t surprise me. Just be careful not to tell my sister. You know that grapevine’s an express lane to Sue. But if you think money’s motivating William C. Johnson, you’re right — you don’t know him anymore.”
“Money might not be motivating him, but it is what he needs to keep competing in order to go out on his terms.”