Texas Fierce (The Tylers of Texas 4)

Two more shots downed a huge steer before it could crash into the truck. One bullet left.

Beyond the truck, the herd crashed through the fence that marked the property line and fanned out over the scrubby open rangeland, where they would tire, stop, and be rounded up the next morning.

Now, finally, the stampede was thinning. As the last trailing steers raced past, Bull saw three riders emerge from the darkness. The man in the lead, mounted on a tall buckskin, rode toward the truck. Even at a distance, in the night, there was no mistaking Ferg.

Bull gripped his pistol, rage heating his blood. He had one bullet left—and if he could use it to kill one man in the world, that man would be Ferg Prescott.

His finger tightened on the trigger as Ferg rode up to the truck, reared the horse like the Lone Ranger, flashed Bull a triumphant smirk, and galloped away.

Bull lowered the pistol. Only the thought of going to prison for murder had kept him from firing the gun. Much as he hated the idea of retreat, there was nothing to do but drive away and take the boys back to the ranch. He would leave the water project until he could confront Ham and demand that Ferg be kept away from the property.

This weekend he would drive to Atlanta and do his best to win some desperately needed cash for the ranch. If Ferg was telling the truth about Susan, there’d be no need to fix up the house for her. But there were plenty of other places for the money to go.

Susan.

If she’d really gone back to Ferg, it was all over. He would never trust a woman again.

CHAPTER 14

“BUT WHY ON EARTH WOULD YOU WANT TO GET A JOB, DEAR?” Sitting in the shade of a blooming oleander, Susan’s mother stirred an extra spoonful of sugar into her iced sweet tea. “You certainly don’t need the money. Besides, you’ll be in school. You won’t have time to work—especially if you join a sorority. You are going through rush, aren’t you?”

“I don’t know. I haven’t decided.” At least living in a sorority house would get her out from under her parents’ roof. But even thinking about it all—the social pressure, the parties, the snootiness, the silly songs and rituals—made Susan want to squirm. Maybe she was afraid that a sorority would turn her into her mother.

“I was a Chi Omega, you know,” Vivian said. “They were lovely girls. I’m sure they’d be glad to have you. But you wouldn’t have to move. You could live at home with us until next summer when you marry Ferguson.”

Susan sighed, gazing across the blue-green expanse of the swimming pool to where her father, who was making a good recovery, was practicing his golf swing. Her parents had refused to hear her protests that she would rather go to prison than marry Ferg Prescott. She was young and didn’t know her own mind, they’d insisted. But sooner or later she would come to her senses.

She knew better than to tell them about the rape. They would only shame her and redouble the pressure on her to marry and make things right. They wanted a secure life for their daughter. But mostly they wanted the Prescott Ranch in the family. For that, they’d be willing to overlook a few sins.

Last week, when she’d learned she wasn’t pregnant, Susan had wept with relief. The worst part of her nightmare hadn’t come to pass. But the helpless violation she’d experienced under Ferg’s pumping, sweating body would be seared into her memory forever.

Through all this, she had never stopped wanting Bull. But if she was pregnant that would be the end for them. She couldn’t even risk trying to contact him until she knew for sure.

Now that the worry was gone, the longing to see him, or at least hear his voice, was becoming more urgent with every day. She needed him to anchor her to the earth, to hold her until the pain of awful memories eased. She needed to know they were still there for each other.

She knew he was coming to Atlanta—all it had taken was a few phone calls to find out he was scheduled to ride. She had her own car, and she could always tell her parents she was going with friends.

She could get there, all right. But what then?

What if he’d given up on her, or simply lost interest?

What would she do if Bull turned his back on her and walked away?

* * *

Bull gazed past the chutes into what he could see of the huge arena. This was the big-time—the big crowds, the top cowboys, and the big money. He didn’t have the talent to be here. He was too big, too slow, and too far out of shape. All he had going for him was grit and determination. But somehow, one miserable, bone-jarring ride at a time, he had made it.

By the skin of his teeth—and thanks to the bad luck of some younger riders—he’d qualified for the final round. But his two afternoon rides had been rough. The bulls here were champion buckers who could rack up spectacular points. But his body had taken a terrible pounding on both of them. He’d managed to hang on, though not with the style and control of the top riders who’d devoted all their time to the sport.

Going into the finals tonight, he had taped ribs, a strained back, and an old shoulder injury that was acting up. But he’d resisted the pain pills because he wanted to stay sharp. Two more rides remained if he could stay on. There’d be just one if he took a tumble. Either way, he’d be done for the season—and for good if he had any sense.

His next bull was ready. Geronimo, a burly black–and-white hulk, was banging the sides of the chute and tossing his massive blunted horns. Not a good sign. But for the few cowboys who’d managed to ride him, he’d racked up some impressive scores.

After securing his Stetson on his head, Bull straddled the top rails of the chute and, with the help of another rider, pulled his rope tight. Hearing his name, and Geronimo’s, on the loudspeaker, he took a breath, dropped onto the broad back, and gripped the rope handle with his gloved left hand. As Geronimo tried to smash his leg against the chute rails, Bull gave the nod. The gate sprang open, and the monster bull exploded into the arena.

* * *

Susan watched from the stands, her heart in her throat. Because she’d arrived too late for the semifinals, this would be the first time she’d seen Bull ride.