Harlequin Love Inspired September 2016--Box Set 1 of 2 by Jo Ann Brown

Author:Jo Ann Brown
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781488023002
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2016-02-15T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER TEN

Cody rested his elbows on the top rail of the metal arena fence as hoofbeats and snorts echoed around him. The mid-September sun warmed his back as the early evening cooled off.

The bull lurched to the right, flinging his student in the air. Cody pressed the button on his stopwatch as David landed in a heap in the dust. The young man got up quickly and dashed to the fence as two pickup men headed off the bull and drove him to the gate.

“That’s better.” Cody checked his time. “Almost three seconds.”

David hung his head. “Less than half of what I need.”

“We’ll get there. It takes time and practice to work up to eight seconds.” All Cody had to do was get the twenty-year-old past his fear. If David could relax in the saddle, he’d achieve his dream. “Just be patient.”

Gravel crunched in the drive behind him. Cody turned. A white truck neared the exit. It had to be Ally. No one else in Aubrey drove a truck with the distinctive mobile-clinic box in the bed.

“My hour’s up.” David climbed the fence.

“Don’t worry—we’ll get it. See you Monday.”

“Thanks.” The teen headed for his truck.

Cody pulled out his phone and jabbed in Ally’s number.

“Hello?”

“Am I watching you pull out of famous singer Garrett Steele’s driveway?”

“Where are you? I mean—I have no idea where Garrett Steele lives. And if I did, I wouldn’t tell anyone.”

“Uh-huh. Well I’ll let you in on a little secret. I teach bull riding at his private ranch. Why don’t you come over to the big barn to your left and watch me work?”

“I need to get back to the clinic.”

He glanced at his watch. “It’s six o’clock. Don’t tell me you have more patients scheduled.”

“No. But I need to work on the float.”

“We’re not working on it tonight. You said you needed to get ready for your big pet photography day tomorrow.”

“You’re right. So I better get to it.”

“I’ll help you prepare if you’ll come help me out. My student might perform better with an audience.” Not exactly true, since David had already said his goodbyes. But Cody wanted to see her. Again.

Silence ticked past in seconds. “Okay. But I can’t stay long.”

The line went dead. Cody’s heartbeat filled the silence.

David was almost to his truck. The chute boss swapped stories with the two pickup men still on horseback.

“Hey, guys, can you stick around for one more?”

They looked at each other. Then all three nodded.

“Hey, David, want to go one more round?”

“My time’s up.”

“I won’t tell if you won’t.”

“Sure.” A wide grin spread across the young man’s face and he jogged back to the arena. He neared the chute as Ally parked in the small lot. “Oh, I see. You need me to help you impress the lady.”

“Something like that. Give me your best.”

“Yes, sir.”

Ally strolled toward him. “Will this give me nightmares?”

“It’s about as safe as taking a calf from its mama,” he cracked, as the chute boss corralled a fresh bull. Metal clanked against metal as the beast tried to buck in the small space.

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