Cowboy Charade: Rodeo Knights, A Western Romance Novel by Barbara McMahon

Author:Barbara McMahon [McMahon, Barbara]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Rodeo Knights, A Western Romance Novel
Publisher: Barbara McMahon
Published: 2017-06-19T18:30:00+00:00

Chapter Seven

Toby found Jesse sitting in the sliver of shade by his trailer, working on a laptop.

“Anything?” he asked.

Jesse shook his head. “Still waiting for more intel. I'm expanding the search parameters to include those who follow the circuit but who aren't involved as contestants. For all we know the smuggling operation has nothing to do with the rodeo, just some smart operators taking advantage of the traveling most contestants do.”

Toby sat in the empty chair next to him.

“Where's Susannah?” Jesse asked, glancing around and then looking at Toby.

“She and a friend are wandering around to meet all the cowboys. They're taking Radar in hope he'll alert for drugs.”

Jesse shook his head. “And if he does?”

“They say they'll call the cops.”

“Unless the guy is wise to drug dogs and know he's been made. No telling how far someone would go to escape detection.”

Toby nodded. “Still, with all the people milling around, it's unlikely he'll do anything overt, right?”

“From your lips,” Jesse said, closing the laptop. “Let's get in some practice. It's been a while since I roped anything, much less a running calf.”

Three hours later Susannah and Maggie plopped on their beds in the motel.

“I'm more tired than if I'd competed a dozen times today,” Maggie said, eyes closed.

“Me, too.” Then Susannah laughed. “So far we only identified two guys and they were smoking pot when we approached them.” She reached over the side of the bed and petted Radar. “You did good, boy.”

“So much for my brilliant idea,” Maggie said.

“Well, all's not lost, remember Brian Dougherty, he wanted to get to know you better.”

“As if I'd become involved with a rodeo cowboy. Unlike you, I'm staying clear of guys whose first love is chasing the buckle.”

“I'm the same way,” Susannah said lazily. A quick nap wouldn't hurt anything.

“Except for super hottie Toby Palmer.”

Her eyes flashed open. She'd forgotten their charade.

“Well, he's different,” she said.

“Yeah, he's a winner, good looking and he seems head over heels for you. What's not to like?”

“If he and Kyle win enough money this year, they plan to buy a ranch and settle down.”

“Ah, perfect timing for forging family ties. When's the wedding?”

Susannah was silent for a moment thinking about what it would be like to be courted for real, to marry Toby, a man who understood her own aspirations on the rodeo circuit. Who spoke her language so to speak. She loved Walt and Sherry on the Bootstap Ranch, but to have a place of her own, a home to raise kids in. It was something she rarely dreamed about.

“Did you fall asleep?” Maggie asked softly.

Susannah closed her eyes and feigned sleep. It saved having to respond to the question.

A knock on the door woke Susannah up. She rolled over and looked at the clock. It was after six! She had actually fallen asleep.

Maggie stumbled from her bed and opened the door. “Oh, it's you,” she said, and turned around to flop on the bed again.

Toby stood in the frame, smiling at the picture in front of him as Radar came over, his tail wagging.

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