Free The Cowboy's Healing Ways (Cooper Creek) by Brenda Minton Page B

truck and a SUV were parked out front.
    “Mom is great. She’s the glue that holds this family together.”
    “I can imagine.” Laura slowed her pace as they neared the stable. “I don’t have boots. And I’m seriously scared to death.”
    “There are boots in the tack room, and the fear will be gone as soon as you settle into the saddle.”
    “You think?”
    He grinned at her. “I know.”
    He opened the stable door and motioned her inside. She walked into a world she’d never experienced but immediately loved. The stable was wide with stalls on either side of the center aisle. There were several doors midway down on the left. She assumed it was the tack room and whatever else could be housed in a building such as this one. To the right was an opening that led to the rest of the building. She slowed to get a look at the arena.
    “They’re bucking out a few bulls that Jackson recently bought,” Jesse explained as he led her past the opening to the arena.
    “Bucking out?”
    He smiled and turned her down the aisle and to the edge of the arena. On the opposite side were risers for spectators to sit on. To the left were chutes, and behind them were a few pens. Bulls bellowed and loud voices could be heard over the sound of the animals.
    “Bucking out.” Jesse pointed to the chutes and she saw a bull being run in. “Basically a practice session. My brother Gage rides, or gets tossed, depending on the week. We have a couple of neighbor kids who are learning. They’ll ride the bulls—it gives them and the bulls some training.”
    “I see.” She leaned to watch. The chute opened and a gray bull spun from the opening. The rider on his back moved with the spins and bucks, holding tight with one hand, the other in the air. The men clinging to the gate near the chute yelled at the rider as a man in the arena stayed close to the bull. The arena filled with the sounds of hooves pounding, men shouting and then the buzzer.
    “Do you ride bulls?” she asked as she watched the commotion.
    “Nope. I guess Blake and I are the only two Coopers who haven’t.”
    The rider jumped and fell and the bull turned on him. The man in the arena threw his hat at the bull, distracting him for a second but not long enough. The bull went back for the rider, gave him a good shove and began to stomp with hooves that looked deadly as far as Laura was concerned. A couple of guys jumped over the gate and into the arena as the bull continued his rampage and the rider crawled fast to get clear of the animal.
    Jesse opened the gate and hurried into the arena as the bull ran from the enclosure and back to his pen. Laura followed Jesse to the rider, who had made it to the fence but remained on his hands and knees, head down.
    * * *
    Jesse squatted next to his brother. “Gage, you with us?”
    Gage took off his hat and brushed a hand through shaggy blond hair as he turned and sat. “Yeah, I think. Help me up.”
    Jesse ran a hand down his brother’s neck. “Neck and head okay?”
    “Yeah, he didn’t get my head. He went for my legs.” Gage reached for the fence behind him, straightened his left leg and pulled himself to a standing position with Jesse holding his arm. “Why do I keep doing this?”
    “That’s always been my question.” Jesse slipped an arm around Gage, and Gage leaned on him. Laura stood nearby, unsure, eyes watering, mouth opened. He doubted she’d ever be a fan of bull riding after this.
    “Who’s the woman?” Gage leaned in close and whispered so loud people in the next county heard.
    “Laura works for me.” He smiled past Gage, connecting his gaze with Laura’s and winking in hopes she’d relax and not go all female on him.
    “She’s a nurse?”
    “Housekeeper,” Laura answered as she moved in close. “But I’m a good shoulder to lean on if you need more help.”
    Gage winked and Jesse felt a strange urge to slug his brother.
    “I’d love to lean on you but not because of a bum knee.” Gage shot