Back Where You Belong by Vonnie Davis Read Free Book Online Page B

of jealousy pierced her heart. “Here comes my grandfather.” She motioned toward him so Olivia could pick him out of the crowd.
    Grandpa made slow progress on the steps, not because of his age, but because he was deep in conversation with Polly Fitzhugh. She had no clue what her granddad was saying, but the widow’s cheeks bore a delighted blush as she shook her head.
    You go, Grandpa .
    He raised a hand when he saw her. As the two approached, she heard Mrs. Fitzhugh refer to him as an “old rascal.” She bit the inside of her cheek to keep from laughing at the two senior citizens playing a round of the flirtation game. Too bad she didn’t know how to flirt, but then batting one’s eyes and flinging one’s hair was so old-fashioned. Still, if she thought those silly actions would grab and hold Tyler’s attention, she’d bat her eyes ’til her lashes fell out.
    “Polly, darlin’, you remember my granddaughter Lacy, don’t you?” He had his hand on the small of the woman’s back, escorting her into the row of bleachers.
    “Of course I remember our barrel riding state champion.” She leaned to air kiss Lacy’s cheeks. “How you been?”
    Mrs. Fitzhugh still wore her grey hair long. Her red silk shirt sported black fringes. No wonder she caught Grandpa’s eye. She projected an easy-going, engaging spirit.
    “I’m fine, Mrs. Fitzhugh. I’ve been busy taking care of the ornery man with you.”
    Polly chuckled. “Well, I can see how that might be a fulltime job. Now, you call me Polly, please.”
    Lacy introduced Olivia to grandpa and Polly. Once again the teen projected good manners. Tyler had certainly taught her well.
    The announcement over the loud speakers caught their interest. “Attention! Attention! Ladies and gentlemen. The event you’ve all been waiting for. Bull riding. The most dangerous eight seconds in sports.”
    Cheers erupted and continued during part of the announcer’s oration about the event. Most everyone was familiar with the history of the sport and the rules.
    Within minutes, the first bull, Devil’s Spawn, charged out of the chute, head low and hind legs kicking. He spun to the left for several spins and, when he suddenly jerked to the right, his rider flew in the opposite direction, landing in a heap, ending his four-point-four second ride. One rodeo clown diffused the potentially dangerous situation by diverting Devil’s Spawn’s attention so the other clown could help the rider retrieve his hat and exit the arena.
    Next up was Susannah’s Revenge. When the bull didn’t deliver the desired spirited ride, the rider kicked him with his spurs. Suddenly, Susannah took its revenge with a series of bucks and kicks. The unsuspecting rider lost his balance, and in an effort to right himself, lowered his hand and inadvertently touched the steer with the hand he was required to keep raised. Folks in the stands cheered his automatic disqualification.
    As more and more riders were eliminated or achieved the eight second ride, Lacy tensed. If anything were to happen to Tyler it would be her fault for coming. Didn’t something bad happen every time she was around him? Granted, they were small things, harmless in their own way, still…today he’d be riding a two-thousand-pound bull.
    Her heart pounded in her ears, and she wiped damp palms on her skirt. Maybe she should get out of the stands and walk around, taking her jinx away from Tyler.
    Before she could stand, a battered tan Stetson came into view. Olivia grabbed her hand and squeezed.
    Tyler straddled the steel fence around the chute. Someone handed him a container of rosin to rub on his riding hand to make it sticky. Then his glove was tugged on and fastened to his riding hand since the force of the ride could tear the glove off. More rosin was applied to the glove to increase his grip on the rope.
    With practiced ease, Tyler lowered himself from the steel rail onto the bull.
    She prayed for agility and a good eight-second ride,