Quickdraw Slow Burn (Battle of the Bulls #3) - T. S. Joyce Page 0,46

and he said, “Here. You can eat these on the way.”

When she looked inside, there were several individually wrapped fried pies.

“I’ve got thermoses of coffee for us, too.” He shrugged up one shoulder. “My dad always got me and my mom cherry fried pies for my early morning practices.”

“They’re part of the tradition?”

He nodded, and from the vulnerability in his eyes, she knew this was another thing he didn’t share. She took one of the pies from the bag and smiled. “Cherry is my favorite flavor.”

“I’ll have to do better keeping you fed,” he rumbled, brushing past her into the bathroom. Under the sink was a first-aid kit, which he pulled out and then twitched his head for her to come closer.

Confused, she stepped up beside him. He pulled her hand under the tap water. She’d completely forgotten about the bite because it didn’t hurt. It didn’t feel like anything, but it looked rough. It was red, and the skin was torn in a perfect bite pattern.

As if he’d doctored wounds a hundred times before, he cleaned it with solution, put gauze on it, and then wrapped it with a bandage.

Straightening his spine, he told her, “I don’t like that you’re hurt, but on this one, I wouldn’t take it back.”

Her heart beat faster. “So, you don’t have any regrets?”

With a shake of his head, Quickdraw said, “Not even one.”

Tears prickled her eyes, but she didn’t know why. It was a mixture of relief and joy, but also fear of his reaction when she told him the real reason behind her feeling nauseous.

That had to wait until after he bucked. Right now, he needed to have his head in what he needed to accomplish.

And she was going to be the best cheerleader in the world for him.

Holding their thermoses, he led her out of the warm RV and into the chilly night. Or early morning, she supposed.

It was dark as tar out here, yet she could see her breath freezing in front of her face. Quickdraw opened her door for her. She took the thermoses from him and set them in the cupholders as he made his way to the driver’s seat.

And then with country music playing low and his hand around hers, he drove them a few towns over to a private property. An old man waiting on the porch of a log cabin near the bucking chutes waved at them.

After parking the truck, Quickdraw led her to the house and said, “Morning Russ. Thank you again for letting me use your arena.”

“Ain’t not skin off my back, but I didn’t know you would be bringing a lady with you.”

Quickdraw frowned. “That a problem?”

Russ’s bushy eyebrows raised, and he shook his head. “No, no, no problem at all. A couple of my bulls don’t like people who are shorter in stature, so maybe keep her steered clear of the holding pens on the north side. I don’t want them riled up too early or I’ll never get back to sleep, the loud motherfuckers.”

Quickdraw nodded. “Will do. We’ll be three-up three-down on practice bucks and then be out of your hair.”

He handed him an envelope, and Russ opened it and checked the cash.

“Good luck,” he called out as they walked away. His tone was dry.

When they were out of earshot, Annabelle asked, “He doesn’t like women much, does he?”

“I guess not. I’ve known him for years, and he’s always been squirrely.” Quickdraw grabbed some worn ropes out of the back seat of his truck. “He used to be a stock contractor for our circuit. He bred and trained bucking bulls for the riders to practice on when they were prepping to ride one of the shifter bulls. He retired a couple years back, but his son still keeps some bulls here in the pens. He takes on the bulk of the work now.”

Quickdraw grabbed a camp chair and a rolled-up blanket from the tool chest in the bed of his truck. Annabelle followed him toward the dark arena. Thank goodness for her werewolf vision because there were no lights on out here. The lack of illumination didn’t seem to bother Quickdraw, though.

“I’ll be a few minutes stretching, and then do you want to tighten my flank strap and yank the chute gate open?”

“Of course! Whatever you need.”

“My bull won’t hurt you. Not now. Just pull it open when I’m ready and climb that fence over there to give me room. I don’t usually use the rope when I’m doing solo