Читать книгу Rodeo Rescuer - Lynette Eason - Страница 14

FIVE

Friday morning dawned hot and humid. Tonya stood at the window of Mia’s little kitchen, looking out over the area. Trailers, motor homes, RVs and fifth wheels filled all the slots. She breathed in the smell of bacon and coffee. Coffee. Her one vice. Okay, one of two vices. She seemed to have a thing for bull riders, too. Her lips twisted. While she loved coffee and drank a lot of it, she needed to avoid the buckaroos. Especially a tall, good-looking, blue-eyed bull rider.

She moved to the table and shoved aside the deck of cards and poker chips. She shook her head and frowned.

She sipped on her second cup and thought about her life. God, I believe You’re in control and nothing is happening to me that You don’t allow. But this is a hard one. Hank Newman. Just thinking his name sent shivers up her spine. And not the good kind. Not the kind being around Seth Starke elicited.

“You ready?”

Tonya gave a little start and lifted her head at Mia’s voice. Her friend was already up and dressed, her dogs prancing near their leashes hanging on a peg next to the door. “I’m ready.” She gestured to the cards and chips. “I didn’t realize you were into gambling.”

Mia hesitated a moment, then shrugged. “Not me. Monty. He plays with some of the guys occasionally.”

“I appreciate him bunking with someone else so I could stay here last night.” There was barely room for two people, much less three.

“Of course. He probably preferred it.” She gave a small smile. “He says I nag him too much.”

“Who? You? You’re kidding.” Tonya let the teasing sarcasm slip into her tone and Mia gave a short laugh.

“I know, right? I can’t help it. I’m his big sister. I’m supposed to take care of him.” She frowned and took a deep breath. “These days I just can’t seem to do a very good job with that.”

“Monty’s a grown man. He can take care of himself.”

“Yeah.” She waved a hand to dismiss the subject. “Now...he’s not going to mess with your concentration, is he?”

Who? Seth or Hank? “No. I refuse to let him.” The answer fit for either man.

“Have you decided what you’re going to do about that creep, Hank?”

“No, I’m still thinking.”

“Okay, well, while you’re thinking, I’m going to get the day started.” Mia hooked the dogs’ leashes on, grabbed her scooper and a plastic bag and opened the door. “We’ll be back.”

“I’ll be getting ready.”

Mia left, leaving Tonya alone with her thoughts once more. And those thoughts kept leading her to Seth. In a way he reminded her of her brothers. Strong, caring, protective. She grimaced at the last word but had been grateful for that particular trait last night.

Tonya dressed for the day, still trying to decide what to do, where she would go. She had one more show to do; then she could either take some time off and go into hiding for a while, or she could take her chances and fight back. For a moment she considered calling her family. Her brothers would drop everything and rush to her side. But then she remembered Hank’s threats. “All it takes is one bullet,” he’d hissed. “And I’ve got plenty of those.”

Mia came back and let the dogs inside. Shaggy, the white-and-brown terrier mix, leaped up onto the couch and settled himself on the end. Scrappie, a larger golden retriever, gave Tonya’s hand a wet kiss. She scratched his ears and smiled. Animals were such innocent and sweet creatures. She had to admit it would be nice to have your every need catered to. And to not have to worry if someone was trying to kill you.

Or if they’d eventually succeed.

“You all right?” Mia asked as she hung the leashes on their hooks.

“I’m hanging in there.” Tonya forced a smile.

“We have about an hour before we have to be at the arena. Did you eat?”

“A granola bar. I’m not hungry. I think I’m going to go ahead and go over there. I want to check my barrel and get into costume in the dressing room.” And avoid thinking about last night.

Mia frowned. “All right, let me grab my bag and we’ll go together. You probably don’t need to be walking alone.”

Tonya hadn’t planned on it. She’d already decided to ask Seth if he’d walk with her. But maybe it was better this way. She’d already spent entirely too much time thinking about the handsome buckaroo. Not just in the past twenty-four hours but over the past year since Daniel’s death. Seth had been one of the first ones to offer his condolences in the face of his own grief over losing one of his best friends...and she hadn’t forgotten that. Only now her feelings had started to turn from friendship to more of an attraction. A romantic interest.

The very idea scared her to death. She gathered her bag and scolded herself for her thoughts. There was no way she would put herself through that again. She refused to love someone who rode a bull for a living. Her heart had only just healed from losing Daniel. And while the grief had faded some, the guilt hadn’t.

And besides, Seth was still nursing his own wounded heart. Tonya knew Glory had dumped Seth soon after he’d broken his leg. He hadn’t even been discharged from the hospital and she’d already written him off and walked out. Tonya had never cared much for the woman, but after that incident, she avoided being around her as much as possible.

“I’m ready when you are,” Mia said. “Come on. We’ll take the golf cart. I don’t feel like walking. It was a late night.”