Gamble on a Cowboy by Melissa Keir & D’Ann Lindun

Author:Melissa Keir & D’Ann Lindun
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Melissa Keir
Published: 2021-03-20T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Two

After Bailey and Lyle unloaded and fed the new horses, they walked toward a log house her grandfather had built with his own hands. Sarah, Lyle’s fiancée, met them at the door, greeting Bailey and with a kiss and hug for Lyle. Bailey tamped down a second of envy. They belonged together. She liked Sarah a lot, so much so she’d hired her from the bar where she’d been employed to take care of the office work Bailey hated.

“Any news?” Bailey walked toward the kitchen, longing for whiskey, but choosing coffee instead.

Sarah followed her. “Actually, yes. The coordinator of the Steamboat rodeo called.” Sarah hesitated until Bailey looked at her with a quirked eyebrow. “He said they’re going to go with someone else.”

Bailey’s hand holding the cup froze. “Did he say who?” She feared she already knew.

Sarah nodded. “Some guy named Maverick Cartwright.”

“Hollywood! Damn it!” Bailey set down her cup with a hard thud, splashing liquid on the counter.

“What?” Sarah looked confused.

“That’s what she calls him,” Lyle supplied as he entered.

“I’m going to call the coordinator myself. I’m not letting that nobody steal one of my contracts.” Bailey stormed toward her office, coffee forgotten.

In her office, she flipped through her cell phone until she found the name and number of the person she wanted and hit SEND. In a moment someone answered. “Carl speaking.”

“Carl, this is Bailey McKlellan,” she said. “I just got home from the sale in Wyoming and I hear you’re wanting to cancel with me for this year.”

Carl cleared his throat. “Well, uh, Miss McKlellan, another contractor is a bit cheaper and comes highly recommended.”

“How much cheaper?” she demanded.

“Two thousand,” he admitted.

“I’ll match the price,” she said immediately, knowing by doing so all profit at this rodeo would be lost. But she wasn’t going to let Hollywood steal her long-term contracts.

“Well...” Carl acted like he actually had to think it over.

“Come on, Carl. I’ve provided excellent bucking horses for you for a decade. You know my animals and my reputation. You really want to risk your show on some newbie whose horses might not be half the caliber of mine?” She bit her lip. Bailey McKlellan did not beg.

“That’s true,” he said.

She waited.

“Okay, I’ll tell my secretary to FAX you the contracts. You’ll do it for the lower price?” He sounded smug.

“Yes,” Bailey managed.

“Good doing business with you.” Carl hung up.

Bailey dropped her phone on the desk. “Son-of-a—.”

“You’re going to take a cut just to beat Cartwright?” Lyle leaned on the door frame, holding a cup of coffee.

“I am.”

“Is that wise?” He lifted the cup to his mouth. His silvery eyes held no judgement. Lyle reminded her of a wolf in the way he moved, quick and silent, to his light gray eyes, to his long, lean frame.

“Probably not, but I can’t have him stealing my contracts, either.” She sighed. “But I can’t take too many cuts on pay like that, or I’ll be broke before long.”

“Steamboat’s a big one,” he reminded her unnecessarily.

“I know.” They both understood they needed the exposure for her broncs.

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