Corralled (Blacktop Cowboys 1)

Dusty’s reaction left her unsettled. She understood the EBS was half Lariat’s source of income, but wasn’t it hypocritical for an organization devoted to healing to turn a blind eye when one of its own workers was the injured party?

Hank dragged her to the vending machine to load up on snacks. Back at the room, he tucked her against his big body so they touched from head to toe. He held her, constantly soothing her with his loving caresses while they waited for her cell phone to ring.

“Whatcha thinking about?” Hank murmured.

“I don’t want to get on a plane and fly to Salt Lake City.”

“I don’t want you to either.” He stroked the bend in her elbow. “Given what happened to you, I expected Dusty would insist that someone besides you could finish this fill-in gig.”

“He offered; I declined,” she lied, knowing Hank would be even more infuriated if he knew the truth: Dusty hadn’t mentioned finding her a replacement. There wasn’t anyone else in the company who could drop everything and fly off at a moment’s notice. Not because she was indispensable, but because she was cheap, she had no other life, and she wouldn’t say no.

“Please reconsider,” he said gently. “I’ll drive you to Colorado Springs myself.”

Lainie turned and looked at him. “Aren’t you supposed to be in Kansas City?”

“Yes. But the CRA would understand.”

“What about the EBS?”

Hank hesitated. “I don’t know if I can—”

Her cell phone rang. She disentangled from Hank’s arms and glanced at the caller ID. Not a number she recognized. “Hello?”

“Is this Melanie Capshaw?”

“Yes. Who’s this?”

“This is Bryson Westfield of the EBS.”

Her heart thumped and she scrambled to the edge of the bed.

“I just got off the phone with your boss, Doc Bowman. He indicated you’d had an unfortunate incident with an EBS rider last night.”

“Yes, sir.”

“Can you explain what happened?”

Lainie resented having to prove that she’d been attacked. She’d done nothing wrong except show up for work. After she finished, Bryson Westfield put her on hold.

Five minutes later he clicked back on the line. “Thanks for holding. You said Ace Newharth was responsible? He wasn’t listed on last night’s docket of riders.”

“I’ve treated Ace in a medical capacity, so I know who he is. The other Lariat employees can verify that he was in the room with his friend Jake Nelson last night during the event.”

More muffled sounds.

“I assure you, Miss Capshaw, I don’t condone Ace’s behavior.”

“But are you going to condemn it?” she demanded.

“I’ll ask that you refrain both from filing charges with the local police department or from contacting your legal counsel until we’ve thoroughly investigated this matter. Naturally I’ll keep you informed of how the investigation proceeds.”

Her mouth nearly hit the floor. “That’s it? Ace attacks me and he won’t be reprimanded at all?”

“I didn’t say that,” he cautioned.

“You implied it. At the very least I would expect Ace would be suspended from EBS events pending a full investigation.”

Silence.

Hank hopped up and paced in the small walkway between the beds, practically growling his displeasure.

“I’ll oversee Mr. Newharth’s disciplinary action personally.”

“Thank you.” But she didn’t feel relief; she wasn’t sure he wasn’t feeding her full of shit.

“In the meantime, I’ll expect the usual discretionary measures. No media alerts.”

“I’m not looking for publicity, Mr. Westfield. I prefer this to be handled as discreetly, expediently, and fairly as possible.”

“Consider it done. Someone from my office will be in touch with you soon, Miss Capshaw.” And he hung up.

Hank crouched in front of her. “What happened?”

“They’re checking into it.”

“What’s to check into? Ace attacked you. End of investigation.”

Lainie rubbed the ache between her eyes. “Can we just forget about this whole shitty mess and snuggle up until it’s time for me to leave?”

Emotionally drained, she rolled over and faced the wall. If she could just make it through the next two days, she’d be home free. The clerical job started Monday.

“Talk to me. What aren’t you telling me?”

“My position with Lariat is changing. Which is why it’s ironic that this happened at one of the last events I have on the road.”

“Last events? Are you . . . quitting?”

“No. I’ll be working in the Lariat offices full-time, not traveling the circuits.”

“How long have you known?” When she didn’t jump right in with a response, Hank said, “Since Lamar. Dusty offered you the job and told you to go on vacation for three weeks before you started.” Pause. “When were you going to tell me?”

“I’d planned to tell you. Things were going so great between us that I didn’t want it to end on a bad note.”

End hung in the air like a dirty cloud.

The mattress moved beneath them as Hank draped his arm over her side and pulled her flush to his body. His warm breath teased her ear. “Well, darlin’, we don’t have much time left today. I sure as hell don’t want to spend it fighting with you.”