Page 46 of Buckin' Around

Montgomery.

And his crew.

I brace before hitting the ground for the second time.

Tuck and roll, Spencer.

Easier said than done in chaps, but I manage to land without hurting myself. I spin on my seat to find Logan Montgomery, our lead bullfighter, and his crew of three guys coaxing Carnivore away from his latest prey.

Thank fuck.

I push to my wobbly feet.

The crowd cheers for the fact that I got up.

I know how lucky I am to be standing after a ride. Many have fared much, much worse.

I raise both arms into the air and the crowd cheers again. Jogging for the return gate, I tug the chinstrap lose and pull the helmet off.

I’m bummed, sure.

But like I said, the stakes aren’t as high for me as they are for some of the other cowboys. Hadley’s year was probably one of the tightest of any we’ve seen on the circuit. Add in the fact he was fighting to save his ranch... Don’t know how he did it. That’s a heavy load for one man to carry.

My thoughts flick back to the two girls I left in my apartment this morning. Ivy sure is something I wasn’t expecting.

A responsibility I didn’t anticipate. Babies are damn hard work. Being out here tonight, the freedom to be in one place, chasing a wild dream, while she’s home and being taken care of?—

My chest tightens.

“It was almost a decent ride, Kenny.” Knox smirks at me.

Fucking Cowboy Ken. I’m guessing the new nickname is a derivative of that. I almost get it. Truly. Must be hard being the bad boy of the PBR circuit. I can see how he would be jealous of the golden boy.

“Yours was nearly as good, Kadey, my lady.”

“The fuck . . .” he mutters, wandering away.

I huff an amused laugh.

Kade Knox can dish it, but he can’t take it.

Pity he’s a damn good bull rider.

One of the best. I stare at his receding back as Brady appears by my side.

“What’s got his goat?” Brades says, looking at Knox’s back along with me.

“Ah, nothing. Just my charming personality.” I give him my best grin, rubbing a hand through my messy hair.

Brady snorts a laugh. “Bud, hate to break it to you, but that personality of yours has landed you in a ton of shit, last time I checked.”

“Way to bring the mood down, Brades. Geez, what, did you wake this morning and think how can I fuck with Spence today?”

He slaps my back and adjusts his hat, not looking at me as he says, “Spence, the last person I was thinking of this morning was you, bud. Promise.”

Chapter 12

Riley