Free Rough Road Home (The Circle D series) by Audra Harders Page A

fellow who’d given her the key. “Jake here said Nick Davidson was stayin’ at the lodge. We thought he was bluffin’. Shoot, come on over”–-he waved them over-–“I’ll front ya a can.”
    “Nick,” Rachel whispered as he stepped up close behind her. “Your adoring fans await.”
    He dipped his head until his breath tickled her ear. “After you.”
    “Oh, go on,” she urged, confused over his hesitancy. No bull rider worth his weight in Stetsons ever turned down a chance to revel in war stories. “Every bull rider lives for the glamour. That’s why you ride.”
    “What makes you such an expert?”
    Uncertainty niggled at her as she searched his bruised face, the face that offered irrefutable evidence of the danger of his sport. “I just am.”
    “Not always.”

 
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
    CHAPTER SEVEN
     
     
    Nick surveyed his audience of seven men, each appearing to be well past that first beer. Great, the last thing he wanted was to swap war stories with a bunch of guys that probably couldn’t identify the business end of a bull and know enough to keep away from it. He stiffened his spine, squeezed Rachel on the shoulder and crossed the room. Some kid barely sporting peach fuzz moved to one side and offered him a seat in the overstuffed, fake-fur upholstered couch. As the questions began, Nick glanced up and caught Rachel’s puzzled frown before she turned in search of the kitchen. She might know some cowboys, but she didn’t know this one and he needed to set the facts straight.
    For the next half hour, Nick listened to more armchair rodeoing from the boys than sharing his own exploits. By the time Rachel reappeared around the front desk with a cardboard box covered by a towel, Nick had lost the battle to keep his good ol’ boy grin plastered on his face. Pain speared the muscles around his swollen eye. A ringing in his ears compounded the pressure in his head that threatened to explode at any second. He’d paid his dues. Rachel had bartered him for a roof over their heads and Nick swore he’d compensated for their lodging in spades.
    “Nick?” At the sound of her voice, all turned their attention to her and away from him. Nick closed his eyes in relief only to be reminded of his ribs aching from too many good-natured slaps on the back. Her soft voice held the attention of every male in the room for which Nick would be eternally grateful. Or maybe not. If it hadn’t been for her, he wouldn’t have been here in the first place.
    “Boys,” she continued slowly. Nick managed to open his eyes and focus on the sweet curve of her smile. Her smooth city polish creased her denim and flannel in all the right places. He gave a quick glance around the room. The boys didn’t stand a chance against the charms of this cultured pearl.
    Her luminous green eyes talked louder than her words. “I really hate to ruin this bonding moment, but we’ve got to go. Nick needs his rest if he wants to ride in Casper next weekend.”
    “He won’t get no rest,” a burly man still sporting his camouflage vest cut in. “Not if he’s goin’ home with you.”
    Obnoxious laughter filled the room. Rachel stood her ground, her eyes wary. Nick forced himself to his feet and crossed the sea of whooping sportsman, ready to deflect the advances of any enthusiastic hunter. Rachel may have been a pain, but she was his pain, and he protected what was his.
    The sounds of knee slaps and belly howls continued until he came to a stop in front of her, turned, and cleared his throat.
    “Fellas, you might think I travel with a whole en-tour-age of women at my beck and call,” he drawled in his best cowboy-ese. The laughter died as he scanned the men until an uncomfortable silence filled the room. “But I’ve got to level with you. That bull back in Rapid City roughed me up pretty bad. If it wasn’t for this fine lady delaying her own plans to give me a ride, I’d still be back there