More Than a Cowboy (Reckless, Arizona) by Cathy McDavid

Author:Cathy McDavid [McDavid, Cathy]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2014-07-01T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Nine

“I appreciate you talking to me, Joe.” Deacon cradled the phone between his neck and ear while jotting notes on a piece of paper.

“Just wish I could’ve been more help,” the man on the other end of the line said. “I always did think it was strange that Ernie went over to the bull pen when he told everyone he was going home. And that electric shocker I found on the ground. I knew the Becketts didn’t condone the use of them.”

In the two years Deacon worked at the arena, the use of electronic shocking devices had been strictly forbidden. Some cowboys and handlers believed that giving bulls a zap before releasing them from the chute made for a better ride. The Becketts didn’t subscribe to any practice remotely hinting of animal mistreatment.

“What did Sunny say when you told her?”

“Never brought it up,” Joe continued. “Seemed wrong, what with Ernie getting all busted up like he did and almost dying.”

Deacon pondered this development. As an attorney, he deemed the discovery of an electric shocker to be important and relevant. Sunny and the insurance investigator should have been told. Saying something now would make no difference. And there were those—Ernie, for one—who might say Deacon had used the shocker on the bull.

Deacon decided to file the information away for the time being.

“On the contrary,” he told Joe. “You’ve been a big help. And I’m looking forward to seeing you at the Helldorado Rodeo next week.”

“Wouldn’t miss it. I’m interested in checking out the operation now that Mercer’s back in charge.”

“I think you’ll be pleasantly surprised.”

“Him and Sunny sure did wonders with that place. Barely more than kids themselves when they bought it.” Regret tinged his voice. “For a hundred years, the Easy Money was the best rodeo arena in the state. Then it was sold and sold again. Mismanaged and misused until it was no more than a pile of timbers. Sunny and Mercer, those two had the touch. Turned the arena completely around in just a few years. While raising two youngsters of their own to boot. A real shame when his dad died. Heart attack out of the blue, they say. These things happen, but Mercer, he couldn’t deal with his grief and took to the bottle.”

“Yes, sir.” Deacon didn’t interrupt Joe’s recollections. He owed the livestock agent that much in exchange for the information he’d supplied about the electric shocker.

Joe Blackwood had been at the arena the day of the accident to inspect the bucking stock for his employer, a rodeo organization out of Tucson, and negotiate a new contract. A big fan of the sport himself, Joe had stuck around to watch the young cowboys practice their bull riding for the upcoming state finals. He’d been, and still was, familiar with anyone making a name for themselves.

He’d been watching Deacon and Ernie in particular, as two of the arena’s most promising competitors, and seen Ernie head over to the bull pen shortly after Deacon finished feeding and locked up.

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