Florentine's Hero Page 7

  Florentine squeezed her eyes shut and counted to five, hoping Chantilly hadn’t heard.

  Chantilly threw a gotcha-and-there’s-no-way-out-of-your-lie-now look at Florentine. “Oh, really? You saw her before she brushed her hair?”

  Florentine squatted in front of Sarah. “Yes, she did, Chantilly. Sarah is a primo tangle wrangler. She helped me with my hair this morning when Cole picked me up to take us to the airport.”

  The less everyone knew, the better. No one knew how her sisters could sniff out deception faster than a heeler on an Angus.

  Sarah giggled. “You were cranky.”

  “I was, but not anymore, smarty pants.” Florentine crossed her eyes and stuck out her tongue.

  She stood back up, and the room swam. Cole put his arm around her back. She blinked and stilled while her stomach pitched. She needed to sit down, or she’d get sick in front of everyone.

  Chantilly picked up Florentine’s bag, and held out her hand to Sarah. “Why don’t I show you where I parked the Suburban? We can let your dad and Florentine talk by themselves so they can get their stories straight. Maybe Florentine will come up with a good reason why I shouldn’t make her sleep in the barn.”

  “With the horses?” Sarah looked up at Chantilly.

  Chantilly laughed. “You’re right. The horses don’t deserve to put up with her. Maybe my other sister, Margot, will let Florentine sleep with Harley.”

  “Who’s Harley?”

  Chantilly leaned down and whispered loud enough to reach Florentine. “A really big pig.”

  Sarah giggled and skipped off with Chantilly.

  Florentine knew Chantilly hid her irritation behind her sweet demeanor. It would take a lot of convincing to keep her sister’s nose out of her business. Cole’s presence complicated everything. She only wished she felt up to par to tangle with them all.

  “Are you okay?” Cole placed his hand on the back of her neck and gave her a few soft squeezes. “You’re pale and don’t look so good.”

  “I’ll be fine.” Florentine placed her hand on her stomach. “I probably should’ve had some food before we left. My stomach is a little upset.”

  “I’ll make you something when we get to your home.” He dropped his hand. “Chantilly mentioned there’s a cabin we could stay in?”

  “God, Cole. You’re not going to make me something to eat.” She shook her head, and then regretted the movement. “You’re not staying. We had an agreement.”

  “Yes, we did.” He motioned her to walk. “You didn’t live up to your end of the handshake. You lied to your sister. I can’t leave you in their care if you’re going to hide your injuries from them.”

  “Oh, come on.” She stopped. “I really don’t need this now.”

  “Let me out of the contract.”

  “Never.”

  “Then lead the way, Miss McDougal. It’s time to get you home.”

  “Dumbass,” she muttered.

  “I heard that.”

  “Good,” she said. She walked in silence to the revolving doors. “We’d better hurry before Chantilly drives away without us, and we end up hitchhiking to the ranch.”

  “Are you serious?” His mouth hardened. “Should I be concerned that my daughter is with her?”

  Cole had some serious over-parenting issues going on, and she couldn’t understand why he remained so cautious with Sarah. “Relax. Sarah’s fine. My family isn’t cruel. They’re more likely to spoil your daughter rotten. You really need to chill.”

  Two seconds later, he took his turn through the revolving door, stepped out beside her, and rifled through his bag. She waited for him a few feet away. He was getting on her last nerve.

  “Here.” He passed her a package of crackers. “Munch on those. They’ll help your nausea.” Once she took them from him, he pulled out a juice box. “Drink this, too.”

  “Are you kidding me?” She snorted. “You wouldn’t happen to have a nap mat in there, so I can rest before we get home?”

  He frowned, and a fleeting look of irritation gave way to forced patience. “No, but you can lean against me in the car if you want to sleep.”

  All of Florentine’s muscles constricted at the same time. She realized he was attempting to help her in his own way, and she gave up. Maybe she was being stupid for thinking he planned to come along only to make her life more difficult. He seemed to care about her comfort.

  “Come on. Let’s go.” She took the box of juice and tried hard to fight the grin. He was totally in dad mode.

  She approved of his choice of snacks. She also had to admit food would help. On the circuit, no one put themselves out to help her, mostly because she preferred it that way. If even Reggie made her do for herself, she’d never look weak to her competitors.

  But Cole surprised her. She’d left her family at seventeen years old to ride the amateur rodeo and liked her independence. Earlier on in her career, she’d learned to tough it out and keep her whining to herself. If she confessed to her family how hard living on her own could be sometimes, they would’ve dragged her back.

  Confessing to her family about her injuries? Nope. Wasn’t going to happen this week. She was fine, headache and sore muscles aside, and she saw no need to get everyone riled up right before the wedding.

  Besides, her sisters would do whatever was in their power to keep her home, and there was nothing for her in Pike. If she didn’t have bull riding, she’d be working the ranch, serving beer at Valenciennes’ Place, or answering phones at the Double M Veterinary clinic. She’d be bored within a week.

  She sipped the juice and scanned the small lot for Chantilly. The two-toned blue Suburban with the McDougal Ranch logo on back was easy to spot. She led Cole to the parking space and opened the package he gave her. The salty cracker hit the spot, so she took another one out and popped it in her mouth.

  “Thanks again.” She held up the snack. “Putting some food in my stomach is helping.”

  He grinned, and she couldn’t help smiling back. His little quirks were charming when he stopped bugging her about dropping the contract. Another time and place, and she would’ve had fun driving him crazy.

  “What are you thinking?” He kept watching her.

  She laughed. “You wouldn’t want to know.”

  “It’s nice to see you smile. Being home is good medicine.” He stopped at the back of the truck and threw the bags inside. “I know this is hard on both of us, and it might seem like I’m bullying you—”

  “You are.” She leaned closer and lowered her voice. “Not another word. I don’t want my sister knowing what’s going on.”

  “Too late,” Chantilly said.

  She glared at Cole before turning around to find Chantilly standing behind her. “What’s too late?”

  Chantilly reached out to poke along Florentine’s arms and ribs, and leaned over to prod her legs. Florentine pulled on Chantilly’s shirt to get her to stop. She wasn’t the one who deserved her sister’s anger. It was Cole’s fault. If he’d let her come home alone, this wouldn’t be happening.

  “Stop.” Florentine blew out her breath. “Just stop inspecting me. I swear, I’m fine. A few bruises—that you’re not helping—that’s all. Now quit it!”

  “The heck I will.” Chantilly sidestepped her way in front of Cole and poked him in the chest. “What’s wrong with my sister, and so help me if you lie to me, you won’t be alive to see tomorrow.”

  Her game plan was over.

  “I took a tumble in the arena.” She leaned against the car.

  Cole frowned. “She got bucked off and kicked in the shoulder.”

  “It happens.” She rubbed her forehead. “Chantilly can see that I’m fine.”

  “She also has a concussion. That’s why she’s irritable,” Cole crossed his arms. “The doctor wants her to take it easy for two weeks.”

  “Ten days. Don’t exaggerate because you want out of the contract.” She slapped Chantilly’s hand away when she tried to touch the back of her
head. “You’ve gotta promise me, you won’t tell the others. Margot deserves to have a carefree wedding, and she won’t if she’s worried about me. Swear to me as my twin, you won’t tell our sisters.”

  Chantilly narrowed her eyes. “Florentine Lace, you’re hurt. They’d want to know.”

  “Swear it, Sis. Please,” she whispered.

  “I don’t like this, and when the others find out—and they will eventually—they will string us up.” Chantilly shook her head. “I hate when you do this to me. I’ll keep it secret, but Cole is going to stay and make sure you take care of yourself…whatever you did to yourself this time.”

  Florentine left Cole and Chantilly to duke out the details themselves, and climbed in the back of the car. Family drama was not what she wanted to deal with on top of a killer headache. Sarah smiled at her, and she sighed.

  “Want some?” She held out her bag of crackers. “They’re good.”

  Through the shelter of the car, the muffled voices came in snatches. Enough that Florentine could get the gist of the conversation. She leaned her head back on the seat. There was no use worrying about keeping the extent of her injuries from Chantilly any longer. Cole never left out a single detail.

  “Florentine?” Sarah patted her arm. “Do you think my dad is going to let me watch the fireworks at your ranch?”

  Florentine lifted her head and stared at Sarah. The only way Sarah would know about the McDougal’s Fourth of July celebration was if Chantilly already invited her to stay at the ranch in the fifteen minutes since they landed. Couple that with Chantilly wrangling Cole into taking care of her, and there was no doubt that the Reardons were staying at the ranch.

  She groaned but turned her displeasure into a smile for Sarah’s sake. “I don’t know. You’ll have to ask your dad. But it looks like you’ll be sticking around for the party.”

  “Cool!”

  Florentine glanced behind her. By the back window, Chantilly stood with hands on her hips, and she had Cole backed against the Suburban, lecturing him on the basics of using a telephone. Florentine sank down in the seat. Cole should’ve let her handle her family by herself.

  “Are there any kids at your ranch to play with?” Sarah asked.

  She snorted. “Sure. I have four sisters. They’re like big kids. You’ll like Margot, she’s a veterinarian. She’s always packing around some animal and caring for it. Bisette sings. She’ll probably teach you a new song. Val’s having a baby, so watch out for her. She’s all googly-eyed over kids. She’ll probably ask you lots of questions. And Chantilly, well, you just met her.”

  “And there’s you. That’s five kids.” Sarah squirmed. “I wish I had lots of sisters.”

  The front door opened, and Chantilly slid into the driver’s seat, casting a dirty look at her in the rearview mirror. Florentine glared back. She wouldn’t be bullied the way her sister manhandled Cole.

  He opened the door and slid into his seat, casting Florentine a glance. “Guess what, Sarah? We’ll be staying the week with the McDougals.”

  “Awesome!” Sarah smiled at Florentine and raised her hand in the air.

  The few crackers she ate sat heavy in her stomach. The situation was out of her hands. She lifted her drink and tapped it against Sarah’s hand in a high five. “Cheers, Sarah. Welcome to Pike, Montana.” Otherwise known for the next week as my personal hell.

  Chapter Nine

  On the McDougal Ranch, in the most beautiful hours of summer, the crickets’ serenade filled the night and kept Florentine company in the dark. She sat in the porch swing, stretched out her leg and kicked off the rail, propelling herself into motion. Thankfully, Cole had let her spend the first full day back home inside with her family. She could even move around without her head pounding now.

  Like a grounded teenager, she’d lounged in the house most of the daylight hours while Chantilly glued herself to her side and gave her the look. She’d put up with her sister’s smothering to keep the peace, but tonight she realized having someone love her really was the best medicine. Where this morning, she questioned her ability to compete again in less than two weeks, tonight she was charged and ready to win the final. She couldn’t wait to go back and take the championship.

  A mosquito landed on her, and she slapped her arm. She could only hope with the wedding and the party on the same day, she’d be able to avoid Cole.

  A slight breeze caressed her bare arms and legs, cooling her warm skin. She inhaled deeply. Out here, in the open, alone, she could finally relax. She hummed and swung her leg back and forth to keep the seat swaying. The rodeo seemed miles away, Cole couldn’t do a thing about the contract, and she could enjoy her family.

  It pleased her to return to Pike and find her sisters happy and in love. She smiled. Their contentment reinforced her need to obtain her own dreams. Soon, she’d leave her mark in the world, join the other McDougals in the long line of doing good for others. She hoped in her lifetime to at least match everything her dad gave of himself to his children, the community and those he helped in the ranching industry. He’d left big footprints to fill.

  Her dad had given her support when others told her she couldn’t make it in a man’s sport. It was because of him, she never gave up when everyone told her girls weren’t supposed to ride bulls. It wasn’t until she was a freshman in college and listening to a motivational speaker that she realized she could use her skill in bull riding to touch the lives of young girls everywhere.

  A dark shadow moved in the yard. She sat up and planted her bare feet on the porch. She squinted into the night. Was Jack having problems with one of the animals?

  She frowned when she heard Cole’s voice. The firm yes and no discussion piqued her curiosity.

  “Tell Hudson to go to the meeting for me.” Cole stopped in front of the porch. “No, I have urgent business I have to attend to before I head back.”

  Minutes later, he slipped his phone in his pocket and turned toward the porch. She shrank back out of the moonlight, hoping he wouldn’t see her.

  “Florentine?”

  She stiffened and held her breath. He’d have no idea who he was talking to, and she wasn’t prepared to exchange words with him tonight. She needed more time, so she fell back on an old trick she and her twin used to use to check the integrity of their dates.

  “No…it’s Chantilly. Is somethin’ wrong?” She scrunched up her nose at how accommodating she, or Chantilly in this case, sounded. How did her sister sound so sweet all the time? It’d drive her nuts.

  The clunk, clunk, clunk of Cole’s boots came up on the porch and stopped a few feet away from her. “No, everything’s fine, Florentine.”

  She sat back, crossed her legs, and pasted on a smile. “I really am Chantilly, but don’t feel bad, everyone mixes us up, especially in the dark.”

  The deception brought back memories of the many times they’d helped each other feel out boyfriends. If they came on to her, they failed the test. If they kept their distance, she approved and Chantilly was free to date them without any hassle from her.

  She raised her brows and watched Cole expectantly because that’s how Chantilly would have acted. Chantilly…her very married sister.

  If Cole were any kind of cowboy, he’d skedaddle back to the cabin and forget about jawing with Jack’s wife if he wanted to live another day.

  Without asking, Cole stepped in front of her and sat on the swing. She pressed her back against the wooden slats, carefully avoiding contact with him. It wasn’t the easiest thing to do when he took up more than half of the double seat.

  “I came out to see if anyone was still awake and could tell me how you were doing. It’s good to see you taking it easy. How’s the head?”

  She sighed. Her cover was blown. “A lot better. No headache today. My shoulder is stiff and a little tender, but it’ll heal.” She kept her head turned and stared into the dark, unable to take the way he studied her. “What gave me away? Usually only members of our family can tell Chantilly and me a
part.”

  “It’s easy. You can’t hide the kind of spirit that compels you to take charge of your life, to stand up to me, and still remain graceful and beautiful. I’ve never seen a woman like you before.” He spoke softly, barely above a whisper.

  During his explanation, she’d somehow leaned closer and strained to understand what he was saying. It took a few seconds for his words to sink in, and when they did, she stood up in a hurry. “I’m not sure what to say.”

  “No response needed.” He hung his head, rubbed the back of his neck, and then gazed back up at her. “Do you think we can talk about the contract for a few moments, before I have to get back to Sarah?”

  “The contract is signed, sealed, and no way in hell going to be opened.”

  “Is there a way I can buy my way out of our deal?” He cleared his throat.

  “No. I have the final events to ride in, and then you’ll be free to walk away.” She leaned back and pulled her feet on the swing. “I’ve fought too long and hard to get to this spot, and I won’t give up my goal.”

  “Bull riding means everything to you?”

  “Reaching my dreams means everything to me. When my mom died, my dad had us dreaming and planning as a way to keep going on. He wouldn’t let me feel sorry for myself. I’ve always ridden animals and when I was in high school, I learned I was good at riding bulls. I want to take what I love to do and share it with others who need someone to encourage them to keep dreaming and to reach their goals. To never give up, no matter how many times life bucks you off and leaves you bleeding on the ground.”

  “I see,” he mumbled.

  She hadn’t imagined he’d be like everyone else. It felt a little like a betrayal. He assumed she was a tough, no-nonsense female, and wouldn’t allow himself to learn that she had other interests besides riding with the men. She stared over his shoulder for a second before her gaze was drawn back to him. He made it difficult for her to deal with the nice side of him. At least she knew where she stood when he only had one thing on his mind.

  “Do you know how many girls have given up their dreams because they were told women don’t ride bulls or become science teachers? I want to show them they can do anything they want, and for them to believe me, I need to succeed. I need to excel. I don’t want them to feel like they’re alone. It’s a sad place.”