The Ranger's Rodeo Rebel

“Okay, that was easy,” Chance said. “What’s next?”

“Bill the Barrel Man. He’s going to play the part of bad guy.”

“Yeah, but he’s not here.”

“You’ll have to use your imagination.”

“I didn’t know that man was still around,” Chance said.

“Still going strong after all these years. We follow the same rodeo schedule, which is why this’ll work out great. He actually seemed a little excited about joining in on our routine. Said we can practice it when we’re at the rodeo this next weekend.” Colt turned toward the middle of the arena and pointed. “Bill’s going to be off on the sidelines dressed as Dastardly Dan.”

“Who?”

Colt waved away his brother’s question. “You’ll be just finishing up your act with Teddy. The Galloping Girlz will be announced. Carolina will ride in as if all is well. She’ll stand up on Rio’s back, only Bill will jump out of his barrel and grab her horse’s bridle or something. We’ll have to work out the details of that. I want it to look kind of like Pitiful Pearl.”

“Pitiful Pearl?” Chance asked.

His brother released a long-suffering sigh of impatience. “You know, like those old black-and-white movies without the sound. Overacted skit. Lots of arm waving and facial expressions. Caro will be perfect.”

“Caro?” Chance asked, eyeing her anew.

She had a hard time meeting his gaze. “It’s what my friends call me.”

He smiled wickedly. “I could be your friend.”

Oh, dear Lord in heaven.

He was teasing, she knew that, just as she knew his words shouldn’t affect her, not after everything she’d been through. Yet they did. The man was too gorgeous for his own good.

“Anyway,” Colt said, eyeing the two of them askance. “Caro will be pulled from her horse...somehow. I want you to swing up on Teddy and rescue her.”

“Rescue her how?”

“You know, ride up to her at breakneck speed, clasp her hand, then swing her up behind you. Like in the movies. Then you’ll ride back to the trailer and Caro will grab a rope. She’ll stand up on the back of Teddy and the two of you will set off, and she’ll rope Bill and drag him back to his barrel, or maybe out of the arena. I haven’t decided yet. And not really drag. He can sort of be walking, but pretending to fight you the whole time. We’ll have to see what looks best.” He turned toward his brother. “My biggest concern is your riding skills. We’ll need to work on them. It might take a while before you’re in the proper shape to lift Caro up from a run.”

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