*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.