sat at her kitchen table, eating Rocky Road ice cream and balancing her checkbook. For so many years, she’d been used to a way bigger paycheck, a lot of which she shoved into savings. Good thing, because these days there wasn’t much left over past her basic living expenses.
At least things were looking up at the shelter.
Over the past few weeks, where animal adoptions were concerned, Luke had shifted into high gear. They had fewer animals on the premises than they’d had all year. In fact, Luke was accomplishing so much around there that she couldn’t imagine what it was going to be like when he was gone. There was something about turning around and seeing a fence fixed or the stock tank full before she even had a chance to say anything about it that made her feel as if things were slowly getting under control.
Then she heard a knock at her door.
She shoved the ice cream into the freezer and went to her living room. She opened the door and was surprised to see Luke standing there. Even more surprising was that Todd was with him.
“What are you guys doing here?” Shannon said, opening the door wider for them to come inside.
“Todd and I are going to a rodeo tonight,” Luke said.
“A rodeo?” Shannon said, smiling down at Todd. “Sounds like fun.”
“We thought you might like to come along,” Luke said.
“Come along? Tonight?”
“Yep.”
“It’s kind of short notice.”
“We just decided to go this afternoon.”
“I was balancing my checkbook.”
“Oh. Sorry. We wouldn’t want to get in the middle of all that fun.”
Shannon looked down at the khaki shorts and beat-up T-shirt she wore. “I’m a mess,” she said, shoving a strand of hair out of her face. “You expect me to go out in public looking like this?”
“We have a few minutes to spare. Jeans, boots, and you’re ready to go.”
“I’ve never been to a rodeo.”
“Well, then. All the more reason to go. It’s a high school rodeo. Not exactly the big league, but I need my fix.”
When Shannon still looked undecided, Luke looked down at Todd. “Todd? Tell Miss Shannon why she has to come with us.”
Todd gave Shannon a shy smile. “Luke says when a guy goes to a rodeo, he’s got to be with the prettiest girl.” Todd glanced up at Luke, then looked back at Shannon. “It’s a rule.”
Shannon raised an eyebrow at Luke. “A rule?”
“That’s right,” Luke said. “You don’t want us breaking a rule, do you?”
Shannon shook her head. “You’re relentless.”
Todd whispered to Luke. “What does that mean?”
Luke whispered back. “It means Miss Shannon is coming with us.”
Shannon told herself this didn’t mean anything, particularly when they had a six-year-old chaperone. But she couldn’t say she hated the idea of spending the evening with Luke. But just as friends.
Friends.
Chapter 15
Whenever Shannon saw Todd at the Pic ’N Go, he usually hid behind the counter and peered at her shyly. Tonight he chattered more than she’d ever heard a six-year-old chatter before. Luke asked him a dozen questions, then listened to his answers and asked him more. Todd was so excited to be going to a rodeo even though he barely knew what one was. By the time they arrived at the rodeo grounds, Shannon found herself sharing his enthusiasm.
As they got out of Luke’s truck, the sun was dipping low on the horizon. Shannon led the way as they climbed the stands to sit several rows up, only to have that tingly I’m-being-watched feeling overcome her. She looked over her shoulder and realized her butt was at Luke’s eye level and his gaze was fixed directly on it.
As they sat down, she leaned toward Luke and whispered, “What are you staring at, cowboy?”
“Your ass in those jeans,” he whispered back.
She did an obligatory eye roll, but she couldn’t help the shiver of delight that went through her. She knew Luke appreciated her for what was between her ears. But she also liked knowing he appreciated the rest of her, too.
Soon the Grand Entry began, with horses and rodeo queens and flags and a lot of other things Shannon could barely keep track of. Todd watched it all with the kind of wonder only a six-year-old could feel.
Then the action started.
Steer wrestling was first, which involved a man jumping off a horse, grabbing the animal’s horns, and throwing him to the ground. After a few kids managed to bring their steers down, Todd said, “What if the cowboy misses?”