Rodeo Rescuer

He placed a finger over her lips. “I’m just teasing, Tonya. I’m glad you hitched the ride with me. To tell you the truth, it was good to have you there.” She saw his Adam’s apple bob. “I didn’t feel so alone.”

Tonya blew out an unsteady breath and glanced back over her shoulder as his words resonated within her. She had been concerned, downright terrified for him. She closed her eyes and willed her heart to slow its racing beat. Don’t be attracted to him. Don’t even think about it. Haven’t you learned your lesson with Daniel? The harsh mental reprimand didn’t slow her heart rate, but the memory of Daniel’s death allowed her to put some emotional distance between her and Seth. She took a step and glanced over at him. “I think we should go.”

“How? We don’t have a car.”

“That’s why God invented cabs. Or we can call Jake. He offered to clean out his truck for you.”

Seth wrinkled his nose. “No way. I’ll take the cab.” They started walking again—or rather, she walked while Seth limped along beside her. Tonya’s gaze bounced off each person within eyesight. She finally drew in a steady breath and decided maybe Hank had given up and left. She didn’t fool herself into thinking it was a permanent absence, but as long as she could get Seth home safe, that was all that mattered right now.

She pulled out her phone and looked up the number for the cab company. Seth shifted and a low grunt escaped him. “You should have taken that offer of the wheelchair,” she murmured.

He shot her an insulted look. “Not this buckaroo.”

Tonya rolled her eyes, then tapped the number that popped up onto her screen. Within seconds she had a cab on the way. “I’m going back to my RV and pulling out,” she said softly.

“Where are you going to go? What about your job?”

She groaned. He had a good point. As of today, her reputation on the circuit was stellar. If she left now, her name in the industry would suffer. Was she willing to let Hank do that? He’d already taken away just about everything she cared about. Was she going to let him take this, too?

She lifted her chin. Seth was right—she had to finish the show. Then she could disappear. “Okay, then. As soon as the rodeo’s over, I’ll leave.” And cancel her other obligations until it was safe to surface again. She bit her lip as they continued their slow progress toward the lobby, where the cab would pick them up. “I can cancel the contest I was going to compete in next weekend.”

“You’re winning quite a few of those, aren’t you?”

She shrugged and smiled. “It’s a way to earn some extra money and I like them. The element of danger isn’t quite so nerve-racking.” Her smile slipped back into a frown. “But what am I going to do about Hank? What if he shows up at the rodeo tomorrow?”

“When we get back, we’ll move your motor home to another spot on the grounds. We’ll talk to rodeo security, make sure they’re keeping an eye on your place. We’ll also be up-front and honest about the fact that you have a stalker.”

They reached the lobby of the hospital and Tonya kept her back against one of the walls while she watched for the cab to pull up in the circular area.

When it did, she slipped an arm around Seth’s waist. He allowed her to help support him without a word. Which said a lot to her about his pain level. And stubbornness. His breath warmed her ear, threatening to shatter her composure.

With a steadying breath, and a refusal to acknowledge her rapid pulse, she helped him into the backseat of the cab then went around to the other side to get in behind the driver.

“You’re strong,” Seth said.

“I have to be.” He knew that, but she could see it still surprised him. She turned in the seat to look out the back window. No sign of Hank. But she knew that could be deceptive. She’d thought he was gone from her life at one time and he’d shown back up with a vengeance. Fear shivered through her. What was she going to do? The thought of facing him down terrified her. Lord, show me what to do.

She gave the driver the address for the rodeo grounds. Seth leaned his head back and closed his eyes. Tonya started to reach for his hand and stopped. She couldn’t let herself care for him any more. She couldn’t develop any feelings for him. Or depend on him. Not just because she was leaving, but because he could break her heart.

But she silently admitted she’d always liked Seth, thought he was one of the cowboys who just had a special quality about him. She’d heard the rumors, of course, about his girlfriend leaving him after he broke his leg. That he’d been devastated but more determined than ever to make a comeback.

And he had. He held the fifteenth spot and she had no doubt he would continue to move up the list as he kept winning rodeos. He would be riding the NFR and she wouldn’t be around to see it. The thought made her inexplicably sad.

Exhaustion swamped her, but she still had a long night ahead of her. She glanced at her phone. Mia had called four times. She called her friend back.

“Are you okay?” Mia demanded. “Where are you?”

“I’m fine. I went to the hospital with Seth.”

“That was some crazy move you did over that fence.”

A small smile curled her lips. She felt relieved she had a reason to actually smile about something. “I suppose I should thank my parents for all of the gymnastics classes in my youth.”

“Is there anything you need?” Mia’s voice had lost its edge, softening now that her worry was eased. She could picture her best friend’s forehead creased with worry. Mia’s tall, lanky build disguised her ability to move with speed when faced with an angry bull. Her friend’s agility in the arena was amazing and she had fans who came from all over to watch her perform.

“No, I’m on the way back with Seth. The bull bruised Seth’s leg, but we’re grateful it wasn’t broken again.” She paused. “Mia?”

“Yeah?”

“You know that man I told you about? Hank Newman?”

“Hank Newman? No... Wait. The guy who tried to kill you in college? The one you said stalked you?”

“Yes.”

“What about him?”

“He was there today. At the rodeo.”

“What? Are you sure?” Mia’s skepticism came through loud and clear.

“I’m sure.”

“But...why?”

“I think we know why.”

“Did you call the police?”

Tonya sighed. “No. Not yet. I haven’t had the chance. But, I mean, what’s the point in calling them, anyway? If past experience is anything to go by, it’s not like they can do anything. All he’s done is come to a rodeo. That’s not against the law.”

“Surely the fact that he tried to kill you before would hold some weight in what they could do, wouldn’t it?”

Tonya thought about that. She was still so shaken that Hank had found her, she wasn’t thinking straight. “I don’t know. Maybe. I’ll have to find out.”

“I think you really should. Be careful, Tonya. You never know what he might do.” She paused. “Actually, you do know what he might do. Best to avoid that.”

She hung up with her friend and closed her eyes.

“You okay?” Seth asked.

“I’m scared,” she admitted without opening her eyes. “I can do high-wire acts, let someone springboard me out of a cannon and face down ornery bulls, but the thought of coming face-to-face with Hank Newman paralyzes me with a fear I don’t know what to do with.”

She felt his hand close around hers with a gentleness that disguised his strength. The instant comfort she felt surprised her—warmed her. “We’ll go to the police if you see him again.”

“At first I didn’t think going to the police would even matter. But Mia pointed out the fact that he has been jailed for trying to kill me, so maybe...”

“We’ll get a restraining order.”

She sighed. “Like I already told you, I’ve done that before. And I’ll do it again, of course, but he doesn’t care. It didn’t stop him from tracking me down at work the day he got out of prison, and I’m afraid it won’t stop him now.”

“My brother is a sheriff’s deputy in Wrangler’s Corner. I’ll ask his advice.”

“Okay. Thanks.” She’d let him do that but didn’t hold out much hope that it would help. After all, she’d already been down that road once before. She knew it led only to a dead end.

* * *

Seth’s leg burned with an ache that kept him tossing and turning, trying to find a comfortable position on the mattress. He finally threw the sheets off and sat up. 1:40 a.m. He sighed and debated about taking a pain pill. He hadn’t bothered filling the prescription the doctor had given him earlier, but he had a few left from his first fall.

If he was honest, it wasn’t really his leg that was bothering him as much as it was what he’d learned tonight about Tonya Waters. Someone had tried to kill her—and apparently that someone was back. He shook his head. There were some crazy people out there.

During the cab ride back to the rodeo grounds, he’d gathered his strength and called Jake, whose trailer was right next to Seth’s. After Seth explained the situation, his buddy had agreed to swap sites with Tonya.

“That’s way too much trouble,” Tonya had protested.

“What if I need something during the night? What if something happens and I need you to come help me out?”

She’d narrowed her eyes, clearly not buying it and knowing as well as he did that Jake would be there for him if he needed it. But she’d sighed and shrugged. “Okay, you win.”

“It’s not about winning, Tonya—it’s about making sure you’re safe. And besides, security is close by, as well as some of the other bull riders. If anything happens, you’ll have help.”

She’d bitten her lip and nodded. Then fought the tears he’d seen gathering in her pretty blue eyes. “All right. I’m not going to be stupid. Thank you.”

The process had taken a grand total of thirty minutes. One thing about living on the road: buckaroos and bullfighters had the art of moving down to a science.

Now Tonya was tucked in her motor home next to his.

And he still couldn’t sleep.

He walked into the kitchen to grab a cup of water. Standing at the window, he studied Tonya’s motor home. She had one she drove—a Class C. Seth looked around his fifth wheel. Space-wise, his was larger, roomier than Tonya’s, but he had to haul his behind his truck. But he didn’t mind. When he wasn’t on the circuit, he was home in Wrangler’s Corner, his fifth wheel parked in a space on the property where he could hook up and have his own privacy. One day he’d build a house there.

A house for his wife, his family.

He couldn’t help glancing at Tonya’s motor home one more time. The light was still on, the brightness peeking around the edges of her pulled curtains.

He’d heard the rumors, of course. That after Daniel’s death, she’d closed herself off from any romantic entanglements with those in the business. He sighed. He understood it. He felt the same way. After Glory’s betrayal, he’d vowed that he’d make sure a woman loved him for himself, not his name or the money in his savings account. He grimaced and massaged the muscles above the bruise on his sore leg. Why was he even pondering these things? He was being silly.

No. He was lonely. He wanted a wife, a marriage. One like his parents’. They’d been married thirty-seven years. They’d had good times and bad, but they’d stuck it out and stayed together. Which was exactly what he was looking for.

Too bad the women he seemed to be attracted to didn’t feel the same way. Except maybe Tonya.

“Enough.” He swallowed the last of the water in his glass and headed back to bed. If he was going to ride tomorrow, he needed to sleep.

* * *

Tonya jerked awake, heart pounding, blood rushing. She shoved into a sitting position on the couch where she’d dozed off and rubbed a hand down her face. She hadn’t meant to fall asleep. She couldn’t sleep until she was in a safe place. Right now Hank knew where she was. He might have to hunt a little to find her motor home, but she had no doubt he’d find her. She’d just bought herself a little time with the move. But how much time?

Tonya got up and grabbed her laptop. She opened the lid and powered her phone on to use as a hot spot for the internet.

Once she had her search engine up, she typed in Hank Newman. Several options came up. The newspaper article detailing his arrest record, the police report, the restraining order. Nothing she didn’t already know.

Next she typed in Tonya Lewis. Her birth name. The name she hadn’t used in over four years. She’d thought she’d be safe. Her major in college had been agriculture. Once she’d finished school, she’d gone to work for a business and had an office job.

And Hank had found her. Through the cracked blinds of her office, she’d happened to look up and see him walk in to speak to the receptionist. Tonya’s heart had dropped to her toes when the woman had pointed straight at her office. Tonya’d grabbed her purse and her personal laptop and escaped through the back door. She’d never gone back.

And during the course of their three dates, she’d never shared her passion for bullfighting with Hank. Which was why she’d thought she could hide out on the circuit.

And it had worked till now.

A creak at the back of the motor home swung her attention to the bedroom. She could see straight back, so she knew someone wasn’t inside. It was just the wind blowing. Clouds had darkened the sky before the sun had set and a storm was predicted for early morning. But she couldn’t help that her nerves jumped at every sound. She knew they would until she got out of Nashville.

But where would she go? What would she do now that her very livelihood had been threatened? This was her job, her life now. She couldn’t go back to an office.

Another scraping noise set her heart pounding. Again the sound came from the back. But that wasn’t the wind. She’d pulled the coverings over the windows at the front and the back. No one could see in, but she couldn’t see out either.

Tonya moved, her legs shaking. She tested the lock on the door. Secure. The door opened outward. No one could kick it in, so no one was coming in that way. Her breathing quickened.

A sound at the window over the couch made her spin around. In a flash, she knew what was going on. Someone was going window to window trying them. Seeing if he could find one unlocked. The windows slid left to right and had a flimsy screen over them. Easily removed.

And the windows were large. Someone could climb right in if he got one open. She waited, listening, trying to discern where he was. A thump overhead? A footstep?

Should she get out of the motor home? Cause a ruckus so people would come investigate? She crept toward the door. The handle rattled, sending every nerve in her body skittering with fear. She jerked her hand away and grabbed her cell phone. Shaky fingers punched in 911. Her breath came in low pants. The knob rattled again. Then footsteps leaving. She bit her lip.

“What’s your emergency?”

“Someone’s trying to break in my motor home. I’m at the rodeo fairgrounds arena.” She gave the address and prayed the woman could hear her. “He rattled my doorknob and tried my windows. I heard his footsteps leaving, but I don’t know if he’s gone or just trying to figure out another way to get in.”

The loud crash at the back of the motor home startled her into fumbling the phone. She dropped to her knees next to the device, her clumsy fingers grasping for it.

She looked up to see a man step out of her bathroom. He rushed toward her and for a moment she froze, paralyzed with fear. Then she spun for the door. Dropped the phone but got her fingers around the knob.

The sickeningly sweet odor of his familiar cologne took her back to the day she almost died. She twisted the lock.

Felt a hand in her hair and he yanked her back.

Tonya screamed.

FOUR

Seth slammed the door of his fifth wheel shut behind him. He started to sit on the top step when the scream that came from Tonya’s motor home froze him for a split second. Then he snapped into action. He ignored the arching pain in his leg and raced across the short strip of red dirt to pound on her door. He tried the knob and found it locked. “Tonya! Open the door!”

A loud crash came from within. Seth stood on the second step, gripped the railing on either side for balance, leaned back and gave the door a swift kick with his good leg. It shuddered but didn’t even come close to opening. “Tonya!”

Lights in nearby motor homes flipped on. “What’s going on out there?” someone called.

“Call the police!” Seth shouted.

The door flew open, catching Seth in the shoulder. He moved back slightly and caught a glimpse of Tonya’s terrified face. A man in a ski mask tried to reach out to grab the door to close it, but Seth was faster. He bypassed the door and snatched the man’s wrist. He yanked and the masked intruder stumbled forward, out the door and down the steps. Seth shot out a fist. The man ducked and kicked, grazing Seth’s injured leg. Seth lost his balance and went down with a grunt. He rolled and stuck out a hand to snag the man’s leg. And missed. Sirens sounded in the distance.

Seth managed to get to his feet. Sleepy residents were moving slow, not realizing what was happening yet. But some of the other bull riders Seth had alerted to the fact that there might be danger were moving fast. The man in the ski mask fled. Two of the bull riders went after him.

Seth gritted his teeth against the renewed throbbing in his leg and lifted his head to find Tonya headed toward him, tears streaming down her cheeks.

Bruises had already started to form on her throat and rage ignited within him as Seth deduced what had happened. The man had broken into her motor home with the intention of killing her.

Just as he’d tried to do four years ago.

Seth reached for her and she stumbled into his arms to collapse against his chest. He wrapped his arms around her, balancing himself and her on his good leg and taking his weight off the one that screamed at him. “Shh,” he whispered against her ear. “It’s all right. He’s gone.”

She clung to him fiercely, her shoulders shaking, not making a sound. But he could feel the warmth of her tears soaking through his shirt. He held her close, trying to offer her the comfort and safety she so desperately needed. Officers descended. Security and rodeo personnel arrived. Seth drew in a deep breath, the scent of her strawberry shampoo mingling with sweat and fear making him tighten his grip.

She finally stirred and brushed a hand across her wet cheeks. “Are you all right? Your leg?” she whispered.

His heart stuttered. She was concerned about him when she’d been almost killed? He simply nodded. “I’m fine.”

“Ma’am, can you tell me what happened?”

Using the palms of her hands, she scrubbed the rest of the tears from her cheeks. Seth rested his hand on her shoulder, just to remind her that she wasn’t alone.

Her jaw tightened and her eyes narrowed. She seemed to shrug off her fear, but Seth could still feel the fine tremor beneath his palm. “I can tell you exactly what happened,” she rasped, then cleared her throat. “I heard a noise, like someone checking to see if any of my windows were unlocked. They weren’t. I decided to call 911 when I heard someone on the roof. He came through the overhead bathroom vent.” She spread her hands and shook her head. “Just crashed through and came out the door and...there he was.” A shudder ran through her. “I tried to get to the door and he grabbed me.” She touched her bruised throat.

“Did you recognize your attacker?” the policeman asked.

“He had on a mask, but I know it was Hank Newman.”

The officer lifted a brow. “How do you know that if he had on a mask?”

“Because I recognized his cologne. And—” she drew in a deep, cleansing breath “—it’s not the first time he’s tried to kill me.”

“Oh.” The policeman frowned and wrote something in his little notebook. “All right. Anything else?”

She looked at Seth. “When you pounded on the door, it startled him. He loosened his grip enough for me to get away and get the door open. Thank you for that,” she whispered.

“Hey, I owed you. You saved me from a trampling today.” He gave her a gentle smile. Her tension lessened by a fraction. She smiled back but it was shaky and tight.

“I just wish I could have kept him from getting away,” Seth muttered. His leg was on fire, but not so intensely he was unable to ignore it. For now. Tomorrow would be worse, he knew.

An EMT approached. “Ma’am, would you like us to take a look at you?”

She shook her head. “I’ve been through this before. There’s nothing you can do for a bruised throat.”

Seth finished telling his side of the story and the officers left, armed with Hank Newman’s photo, but Seth knew they didn’t have enough evidence to arrest the man. He’d had a mask on. Tonya might believe it was Hank, but without solid proof, the creep would continue to be free to terrorize her.

Unless Seth did something to protect her. He mulled that thought over while friends and fellow roadies hugged Tonya and told her they were there for her.

“Tonya! Tonya! Where are you?”

* * *

Tonya spun to find herself engulfed in Mia’s slender arms. She winced at the tight hug, her new bruises protesting, but she didn’t pull away. Her best friend finally let her go and stepped back to give her the once-over. “Are you all right? I just heard someone broke into your motor home.” Her eyes landed on Tonya’s throat and widened. “What did he do?”

“Tried to strangle me. Again.”

“Again?”

“Yes.”

“So you were right. He was here.”

“Is here. I saw him earlier on the grounds and at the hospital. I have no doubt it was him in my home.” She swallowed hard. “He’s back and apparently he wants to see me dead.”

Mia paled. “What are you going to do? You still have a show to do tomorrow. Not to mention the contest in a couple of weeks.”

“Don’t worry—I’m not going to leave you in the lurch.”

“Are you kidding? Your life is more important than some stupid show. I can handle it. And there are always other contests out there. You just do whatever you need to do.”

Tonya’s heart gave a grateful beat. “Thanks, Mia, but I think I’ll be all right. Hank is probably long gone by now.”

A slight pause. Mia eyed her. “You don’t really believe that, do you?”

Tonya sighed. “No, not really, but I refuse to let that loser send me running again. I’m not going to let him ruin my reputation in this business. I’ve worked hard to get where I am.” Even though the thought of standing her ground and fighting back terrified her.

“But—”

“But nothing. I’m staying.” Saying the words made it so for her.

“Okay, okay.”

Tonya pulled in a deep breath. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to snap.”

“No, it’s fine. Let me know if you need me to do anything. You want to come stay with me?”

Tonya considered that. “What about Monty?”

“I’ll kick him out. He can bunk with Jake or one of the other guys.” When Tonya still hesitated, Mia rolled her eyes. “Come on. You know my brother won’t care.”

“All right. If he says it’s okay, I’ll stay with you. Thanks. I’ll have to get something to cover up the hole in my roof and then I’ll get someone to walk me over.”

“Great. I’ll go get your bed ready.”

“Thanks, Mia.”

“Of course.” Tonya watched her friend walk away, still in shock over the events that had transpired. Fortunately, Mia’s fifth wheel was only a few rows over.

“I have some tarp I can put over the hole until you can get someone out here to fix it,” Seth said.

“Thank you.” She bit her lip and let her eyes linger on his handsome face. He really was a good guy.

“I’ll walk you over to Mia’s and then come back and do it.”

She frowned. “I can help you.”

“No need. Won’t take but a few minutes. You need to rest.”