Page 11 of Wild & Worthy

"Nobody asked you," I snap.

"That’s never stopped me before. It’s part of the charm."

I ignore him, mostly because murder is illegal in this country. "Eli, explain to me how this is a good idea. Please. Walk me through the logic, because from here, it looks like you’re trying to ruin my summer, my career, and my sanity all in one go."

"He’s spent years on the circuit, Addie. He knows the players. He knows the grounds. He knows which arenas run a tight ship and which ones will try to cheat you out of your payout."

"He also knows every buckle bunny between here and the Texas border!"

Chace shrugs, unbothered. "Networking is a crucial part of the sport, Addie. You’d know that if you spent less time staring at your horse and more time talking to people."

Shae actually chokes on her beer, and I point at Chace again. "See? See what he’s doing? He’s going to be a nightmare. He’s going to be in my space, he’s going to be eating all my food, he’s going to be—"

"I’m excellent at sharing food," Chace interrupts. "I’ll share if you share," he winks.

"Eli, he’s a chaotic disaster! He doesn’t take anything seriously!"

"I take lots of things seriously," Chace protests. "I take my coffee seriously. I take good brisket seriously. I take the fact that you’re currently trying to murder me with your eyes very seriously."

"You flirt with anything that has a pulse."

"That is a gross exaggeration," Chace objects. "I’m very selective. I have standards. For instance, I’m not currently flirting with Eli, and he has a pulse."

"I am never going to hear the end of this, am I?" Eli asks, looking at his drink.

"You are the one who brought this on yourself!" I shout.

Shae raises her hand, looking like a judge presiding over the most entertaining case of the century. "I’d just like the record to show that I support this plan entirely. I think hearing about you two spending eight weeks trapped in a truck together sounds like the best reality show ever. I vote for cameras in the truck."

"You’re a traitor," I tell her.

"I’m a realist," she counters, grinning. "And I’m going to need you to text me every single time he drives you to the brink of insanity."

I look to Eli, but he’s already closed ranks—arms crossed, jaw set. He isn’t budging.

"He’s going," Eli says.

I stare at him, but he just stares right back. Beside me, Chace is practically glowing. He’s smug, satisfied—like he’s been holding the winning ticket all along.

He taps his bottle against mine in a mocking, slow-motion toast. “Here’s to an epic road trip, Sunshine.”

Chapter four

Chace

Addie wasn't exactly thrilled. Okay, she was downright pissed. I knew when Eli told me his plan earlier today that she wouldn't be happy, and I was totally there for it. Anything that pisses off Addie Dawson is a fun time.

I think about that as I push through the door of the Rusty Spur and into the cool night air of the parking lot. I knew she would dig her heels in on the idea of me joining her on the circuit, but I didn't anticipate her almost blowing the whole deal because of it.

I’m not really sure why her reaction is even bothering me at all. It’s just Addie. She’s been annoyed by my existence pretty much the entire time I have known her. I’ve never lost sleep over it before. It’s just that lately her approval, or lack thereof, has somehow felt different.

Whatever. In the end, she agreed. I need to stop focusing on her reaction and think about the fact that this arrangement puts me back on the circuit. Not as a bull rider, but I’ll still be there, soaking in the atmosphere of the world I love.

My meeting today with the circuit board did not go as I’d hoped. They denied my medical release information. All but told me my days as a bull rider on the circuit are over. It was clear as day they won’t take the chance on a washed-up bull rider with an injury. Too much of a liability.

One thing at a time. Focus on this trip, and what I can do to earn some money on the side along the way.

First, I need to haul a colt from Clark Ranch to a small town just outside Billings. That puts a few hundred extra dollars in my pocket. From there, I’ll meet up with Addie at the Billings fairgrounds on Saturday. Once the weekend festivities are over, we’ll haul out with her rig to meet Eli and Hazel at a truck stop a couple of hours outside of Billings. They’ll bring either my truck or Addie’s back to Ashford Ridge. It’s too expensive to drive two vehicles when we really only need one. Then, we’ll head out to Wyoming.