Full Rigged (Lost Creek Rodeo #4) - Rebecca Connolly Page 0,77

processes have bumps. Don’t beat yourself up, okay?”

“Are you sure I’m not in letdown from a surge?” Brynn asked, afraid to completely give in to the hope that was pressing against her chest.

“Pretty sure,” Kellie returned with a wink. “I’m not in your head, but I think you’re just feeling guilty for getting mad, and guilt can spiral a lot like letdown. You’re okay, Brynn. I promise.”

Brynn managed a smile at that, and hugged her friend and therapist tightly. “Thank you.”

“You’re welcome.” Kellie rubbed her back, then pulled away with a smile. “Be kind to yourself. Rule number four.”

“Is that written somewhere?” Brynn asked her with a furrowed brow.

She nodded, rising to climb back up to her seat behind her. “Yep. Kellie’s Ranch Rules. It’s on the back of my door.”

Brynn reared back at that. “Who’s going to see it back there?”

Kellie raised a brow. “I am, of course.” She grinned and turned her attention to the first event of the evening.

It took Brynn a bit longer to focus, but eventually, she was able to tune back in and cheer for Reid as he competed in the insanity that was bareback bronc riding.

After he escaped without injury, and with a score that was good, though she didn’t understand how, it was time for the steer wrestling.

Her heart jumped into her throat and would not budge, no matter how she swallowed or cleared her throat.

She watched every competitor before Ford, her fingernails digging into her palms as she curled her hands into hard fists of nerves.

Please let him be safe. Please let him be safe.

“What’s he doing right now?” Brynn whispered to Shay. “What’s his pre-ride process?”

Shay’s left leg was bouncing anxiously in her seat. “He’s been watching every rider go, standing with his arms folded and taking mental notes. He’ll remember the time of every guy before him, but it doesn’t affect his psyche. He’s not competing with them, he’s competing with the clock. He doesn’t care. He likes to see how they ride and what their technique is. It won’t change how he rides tonight, but he might practice new tricks tomorrow. Since it’s almost his turn, he’ll be standing over by the chute, away from everyone else, and doing a run in his head.”

Brynn tried to picture it, could almost see Ford staring off at nothing, visualizing his run, stoic and ready to go.

He could do this. He could absolutely do this.

Of course, he could do this. The man had been doing this, and she’d watched him do it two nights in a row. Why in the world would tonight be any different?

Shay exhaled slowly, bringing Brynn’s attention up. Ford’s name was on the board now, and she looked down at the arena quickly.

Time seemed to slow as she watched. Ryan and the steer were suddenly loose, Ryan riding by its side, just like he was supposed to do. Then Ford came bolting out of the chute, looking powerful and intense, completely attuned to the steer and its progress. It was amazing to watch how he could keep riding when his hands were free, then suddenly lurch off and grab the steer by the horns.

The steer flipped almost at once, its feet flopping in the same direction.

Ford jumped up, completely unharmed, which made Brynn’s heart settle enough to look over at the clock.

Shay started screaming beside her, and the crowd around her erupted, but Brynn could only blink at the time.

Three-point-four-two.

Three-point-four seconds. Everybody who had gone so far had been a low four or a high three. Ford had told her he wanted to get a three-point-five-second time this season, but he wasn’t sure he’d get there.

He’d just gone beyond that.

Stunned, Brynn looked down at him, slowly rising to her feet.

Ford had already headed out, but when the announcer reiterated that Ford had just broken the arena record, the officials had him go back into the ring and take a wave for the crowd.

He raised a hand in greeting, acknowledging the cheers, his face fairly impassive, though he did wear a tightlipped smile. When the crowd only cheered louder, he took his hat off and gestured a bow with it before putting it back on his head and patting his heart in thanks. Then he turned in their direction, and his eyes found her and Shay.

He broke out into a broad grin, kissed two fingers, and pointed them up at them.

There was nothing like that to make Brynn want to rush down there and kiss him in front