Cowboy Strong Read online

  “Yeah, it’s fine with me.”

  “Great. Pick us out a table, Miss Casey.” Natalie tucked her things away, then picked up the tray with her drink on it.

  Casey led them toward the buffet and they dropped their things off at the table. She waited patiently for Austin, just a few feet away, edging close to the station where the plates and utensils were stacked.

  “Thank you, Natalie. She was pretty hungry and I hated to take her out of here. I really hope I find my wallet. I do have a checkbook in my motorhome, but I know this place won’t take a check. I can pay you back right away.”

  She shook her head. Her auburn hair was pulled away from her face with a clip. “It’s no big deal. I’m glad I could help.”

  “You have my eternal gratitude.” He joined Casey by the plates and they picked out one red, one blue. He helped her at the different dishes, then they carried the plates back to the table.

  Natalie joined them after a moment. For a slender woman, she’d packed her plate and carried a salad plate. “Find a bunch of goodies?”

  “I like this restaurant. Mostly because of the desserts.” Casey began digging into her food.

  “I love them too. I make myself a little sampler plate and work my way through them. Why stop at one?” Natalie started eating her salad. “I drove in from Kansas. Not too far, but long enough that I didn’t relish the idea of staying in my motel room all evening. I’m boarding my horse Moose at a friend’s place while we’re here.”

  “We bring a portable pen for our horses,” Casey piped up. “We hardly ever leave them anywhere. It costs lots of money and Daddy doesn’t trust just anyone.”

  “Gotta respect the horses. They don’t have any control over where we go, so we have to make them as comfortable as we can.” Austin cut his fish filet into bites. “They’re our friends and part of our team. No horses, no rodeos.”

  “You can usually trust a man who takes good care of animals. Something important to remember, Casey.” Natalie winked at the girl. “You have a motorhome that you’re staying in at the Expo Center?”

  “Yep. We go all over the place in it.”

  “Sounds homey. It has to beat some of these motels you find along the interstates.”

  “It’s okay.” He shrugged. “About time to upgrade.” How we’re ever going to find the money for that... He shoved the negative thought away. Even if he had to take some odd jobs, he’d find a way to keep them floating.

  “I’m thinking about getting one of those trailers with living quarters. I don’t need a lot of stuff when I’m on the road.” Natalie stabbed a bite of mashed potatoes. “Simple is better. So where are you from when you’re not following rodeos?”

  Austin sucked in a breath. “Not too far from here. Ever heard of Swells, Oklahoma?”

  Her brow furrowed. “That’s the little town that Miss Rodeo USA is from too, right?”

  “Yeah.” No matter how much Alaina would like to forget it. Her parents had been divorced and she claimed Tulsa as her hometown, but they’d grown up together in Swells. High school sweethearts, right up until she’d stabbed him in the back.

  “You know each other?”

  “You could say that.” He cast a quick glance at Casey.

  She’d cleaned her plate and sat anxiously watching him. They almost never talked about Alaina. Not since he’d gotten tired of Casey’s almost never-ceasing questions and he’d snapped at her one evening after Jacko turned up lame.

  Casey seldom cried--at least where he could hear her--but she’d gone to her bunk in the back of the motorhome that evening, smothering sobs in her pillow. He’d apologized, and they’d moved past it, but he still felt rotten for snapping. And it was clear Casey hadn’t forgotten.

  “I love traveling the circuit and meeting new people. I haven’t crossed Alaina’s path yet. Maybe this time. Oh, I guess I could’ve told you that I’m from Big Cabin. So, we’re all Oklahoma natives. It’s always good to be in the state.” Natalie smiled. “Love my hometown and I’m proud to represent it.”

  “We don’t get back to Swells much. It’s small. Not a lot there. I think there’s a committee trying to revitalize it. My parents aren’t alive anymore. Just me and Casey. Home is wherever the motorhome settles.”

  “Can I have dessert now, Daddy?”

  He wasn’t supposed to let her go to the food bars on her own, but she was so grownup, he didn’t feel bad about it. They were only a few feet away. She could hardly get into any trouble.

  “Sure, Princess. Be careful, okay?”

  A smile perked up the corners of her mouth. “It’s just right there. You’ll be able to see me the whole time.”

  “I know. Grab something good for me.”

  “I will.” She slid out of her chair and went to get another plate.

  Natalie watched her go. “Cute kid.”

  “The best.”

  “She’s quiet. Well-mannered. So few are these days.”

  He shrugged. “She mostly has me for company. I feel bad about it. She really doesn’t have any friends her age. It must be boring to hang out with me all the time.”

  Natalie scoffed. “She has her dad and her own horse. She gets to see the world. What more does a little girl want?”

  A permanent home? A mom? A yard to play in? Hell, maybe someday she’d like to ride a real bus to school instead of muddling through the homeschool course work he’d set her up with so they could keep moving. He wasn’t a genius by any means and he had to work almost as hard as her to keep up with the curriculum.

  “If you’re still worried about that money, Austin, don’t. There’s no need to freak out over it. If you don’t even pay me back, pay it forward to someone else.” Natalie peered at him over her glass. “Karma will pay you back tenfold.”

  He laughed. “You believe that?”

  “Totally.”

  “You seemed so down to earth a minute ago,” he teased.

  “Okay, okay, maybe it’s not karma so much as how you look at things. I try to stay positive because what’s the point of being a downer all the time?” She sipped at her straw.

  He lifted his shoulder in a half shrug. “I just try to stick with the present and live in the moment. If something good happens, great. If something bad happens, I do my best to fix it. I never thought it might have happened because of my earlier actions. This is too much philosophizing for me. I have a tiny brain.”

  “Oh, stop. You’re probably as smart as the average man, at least.” She winked at him, then turned her smile on Casey as she returned. “What’d you bring?”

  He wasn’t too smart or he wouldn’t keep falling all over Alaina every time they were close to one another. She clearly had no use for him. Certainly no use for her own daughter. If he had any brains at all, he’d forget Alaina. Maybe it would be easier if her mother didn’t send him money from time to time for Casey’s care. It would be a lot easier if they didn’t keep running into one another at the same rodeos. Or maybe it would never get easier because he was a fool.

  “You want a bite?” Casey held a forkful of cheesecake in his direction.

  “Absolutely.” He leaned forward and took it. He met Natalie’s smiling eyes.

  She propped her elbow on the table and rested her chin on her palm. At least she seemed amused by them sharing a dessert plate. Alaina said it lacked manners and helped spread diseases. Natalie excused herself to get her own plate.

  “She’s nice.” Casey stared after the other woman. “I hope we see her again.”

  “She is nice.” Most of the people they met were, although there were some types he didn’t want hanging around Casey. “I’m sure we’ll see her around.”

  “We could watch her event.”

  “Maybe she could give you some tips if you want to try breakaway roping.”

  “That’s okay. I don’t want to bother her.” Casey dropped her gaze. “She’s busy, I bet.”

  That had been Alaina’s excuse for far too long.

  He di
dn’t get the feeling Natalie would say anything like that. “I’ll ask her. All she can say is no. If she does, then no big deal, right?”

  Casey shrugged. “If you want.”

  “She was nice enough to buy us dinner. I doubt she used up all her nice.”

  Casey glanced up. “I don’t know…”

  “Don’t know what?” Natalie set her plate on the table. “Were you two talking about me?”

  “Well, to be honest, we were.” Austin leaned forward. “Were your ears burning?”

  “Only a lot. Did he say nice things about me, Casey?”

  Casey nodded. “He did.”

  “Oh, good. So, what did he say?”

  Austin nudged Casey. “Tell her.”

  “He said you’re really nice and maybe...maybe if you weren’t too busy, you could show me how to do breakaway roping?” Casey squeezed her hands together. “But we don’t want to bug you. It’s okay if you can’t. I might not even be good at it.”

  “Not good… She sets a horse better than most adults!” Austin leaned back. “She’s a natural.”

  “I could show you. It’s not like I have a busy schedule or anything. I only have one event. Not like your dad with his team roping and his broncs. We should definitely hang out.”

  The sparkle that came into Casey’s eyes almost melted Austin’s heart.

  “Thank you, Miss Natalie.”

  “Pfft. We’re friends. It’s just Natalie, Casey.” She took a pen from her purse, then jotted down her phone number on her receipt. “Call me any time. I have a demonstration tomorrow at two in the afternoon if you guys want to watch. You can meet my horse. He’s a big, goofy guy, but serious about his job. Come get me early. We can do lunch.”

  She fairly bubbled over with enthusiasm.

  “We don’t want to take up too much of your time.” His events were a couple of hours apart, both in the evening tomorrow. They had all day to do whatever. Getting there to see Natalie rope was no problem.

  “Oh, please? It’ll be fun.” Natalie folded her hands together as she coaxed him. “You know you want to.”

  He laughed. And it felt good. He and Casey were both serious types. They did like a good comedy movie and they loved the antics of their horses, but it seemed like lately they hadn’t had much to laugh about. Natalie changed that. “Okay, okay. We’re in.”

  “Great!”

  Casey beamed. “I can’t wait.”

  “Me either. This will be so much fun. I can already tell you’re going to be great at breakaway roping. I’ll bet you come by it honestly since your dad’s been roping so long.”

  Austin’s good humor faded as tension built in the pit of his stomach. He forced a smile. “You bet.”

  “I’ll try my best,” Casey promised.

  “We should get going and check on the horses and for my wallet again. Let Natalie finish up her dinner. I’ll give a you call tomorrow.” He rose. “C’mon, kid.”

  “Thanks for entertaining me.” Natalie stood as Casey did. “Hug for my new friend?”

  Casey looked at him quickly, then stepped around the table into Natalie’s embrace.

  Natalie hugged the girl like they were old friends who had been apart for a long time.

  “Thanks again.” He tipped his hat at Natalie.

  “Any time. I mean it.”

  He almost hated to leave, but it was obvious Casey was getting tired and he had to find his wallet. Besides, it wasn’t like Natalie was all that interested in him. She’d taken a shine to Casey. Which could be both good and bad. Casey needed a strong female influence. But she almost might be heartbroken when they pulled out of Tulsa at the end of the week.

  If only Alaina hadn’t become such a bitch…

  He’d spent too much time thinking about that. Wasted way too many years hung up on her. Now all he could do was focus on Casey and hope he was doing right by her.

  CHAPTER TWO

  Natalie rubbed her hand down Moose’s blaze. Her long-legged sorrel gelding bobbed his head, then stuck his head into the feed pan she’d given him. Moose loved his breakfast.

  “Hey, Natalie. What’s up?” Eddie Hale, one of her dad’s friends, let her board Moose with him while they were in Tulsa for rodeos and events. He tipped his hat at her. “The Moose is looking good.”

  “He’s hungry. But he always is after a little workout. Things are going good. How are you?”

  “Fine. You need anything, give me a holler. We’ll fix you up.”

  “Say, I do have a question.” She shouldn’t ask, because it wasn’t any of her business, but she was always too curious for her own good. “Do you know Austin Locke? He’s a team roper and a saddle bronc rider.”

  “Sure. The Locke brothers. Nolan’s his older brother. They’re pretty good.”

  “But do you know him? Like what’s the story with him and his daughter?”

  “Oh.” Eddie frowned. “Yeah, I guess a lot of people know about that. He used to rodeo in high school. Hung out with that...what’s her name… Oh, you know. That Miss Rodeo gal. Blonde, big boobs. She looks good on paper, but if you ever meet her, she’s not a real nice person. Stuck up higher than a light pole.”

  “Alaina Rey,” she mumbled. “Hmm.”

  “Her.” Eddie frowned again. “They were together for a few years. She disappeared for a while, but came back and started campaigning for her title. It took her a while to get it. That beauty pageant stuff. Supposedly she’s a big advocate for girls in rodeo and helping out the less fortunate. Then she dropped Austin like a hot rock. Next thing I know, he’s turned up with a baby. Never said much about where he got her or why he’s dragging her across the country. I guess they get by. You want my opinion, that’s Alaina’s kid, but I can’t prove it. That’d put a black mark on her Miss Rodeo career real quick.”

  “Oh.” Natalie twisted the end of her braid. “I’ve never met her. I only met Austin and Casey last night. They seem nice.”

  “Nolan is too, if you run into him. Good people.”

  “Okay, thanks. I just wondered. Casey seemed interested in breakaway roping, so I said I’d show her some things.”

  “You’re a real gem, Natalie. Don’t ever change.” Eddie patted her shoulder affectionately. “Not like that Alaina Rey. What a cold fish. Forget her. If you see the Lockes, tell them Eddie said hi.”

  He waved, then walked away toward his house.

  “Will do.” She retrieved the brushes for Moose’s coat and started grooming him. Her stomach twisted in knots as she digested what Eddie had said about Austin and Alaina. It sounded like two high school sweethearts gone wrong. Had Alaina really abandoned her baby?

  She shouldn’t have pried. It wasn’t fair to gossip about Austin behind his back. It kind of explained why Casey seemed so shy and why she hadn’t wanted to bother Natalie about the roping. Maybe Casey didn’t see her mom much. The Miss Rodeo USA duties would keep Alaina pretty busy. But who didn’t have time for her own daughter? Unless Casey wasn’t Alaina’s at all.

  Natalie shook her head. Not her business. It would be rude to ask about Casey’s parentage. She didn’t want to endanger her new relationship with the Lockes. Life on the road could get lonely. It paid to make friends along the way.

  She finished grooming Moose, then moved her things back into the tack room. As she stepped out again, her cell phone rang. She pulled it from her pocket and smiled at the unfamiliar Oklahoma number. It had to be Austin calling.

  “Hello?”

  “Natalie? It’s Austin. Are you busy?”

  “No. I’m waiting for Moose to finish his breakfast before I trailer him over to the Expo Center. What’s up?”

  “Just checking to see if we were still on. Casey won’t admit it, but she’s pretty excited. She asked if she could borrow my rope. My brother got here a while ago. He’s got one of those steer heads you can practice on. To be honest, she’s not great. It’s driving Nolan crazy not to comment, but I’d rather you give her some pointers.”

  �
��Can you give me about half an hour? Will Nolan last that long?”

  “Oh, I guess I can wrangle him for that amount of time. Poor guy. Hurry, if you can. He wouldn’t be mean to Casey. They get along like a house fire, but he’s a perfectionist and it kills him to stay quiet about stuff like this.”

  “I’ll be there as soon as I can. Take care, Austin.”

  “Great. You have my eternal gratitude. Be careful and thanks.” He cut off the call.

  She spent a moment getting his number into her contacts, then walked back to Moose’s corral. “You ready to go for a ride, big boy?”

  Moose looked up at her with his big, liquid brown eyes.

  “You’re always ready. Good boy.”

  * * * *

  Natalie pulled the horse trailer over to the bus-gone-motorhome. Another truck with a horse trailer attached sat near it. A big blood bay gelding stood in the shade of the trailer. Behind it, a girl put a pony through its paces. Two men in lawn chairs watched her.

  Austin, in profile, cut a handsome figure, stretched out in his chair, long legs extended. He clutched a can of soda dripping with moisture in one hand. The white straw hat on his head shaded his dark blue eyes and his tanned face. He had a mouth made for smiling, although he’d seemed so serious at dinner last night. His mouth was relaxed as he watched his daughter.

  The man seated next to him leaned his elbows on his knees. Intent. His lips were pushed together, but he didn’t seem angry.

  “Hi, guys.” She waved as she approached. “You must be Nolan. My friend Eddie Hale said to tell you hi.”

  Nolan rose. He was a little taller than Austin. His clothes were ironed, the print of his western shirt a lot fancier than Austin’s t-shirt. His boots appeared new and his hat didn’t have a crease that shouldn’t have been there. Almost as though it was a dress hat instead of an every day one. “Eddie Hale. Boy, I’ll have to stop in and see him. You must be the breakaway roper Casey told me about.”

  Austin stepped forward. “Nolan, Natalie. Natalie, my know-it-all older brother.”

  “Hey.” Nolan elbowed Austin. “I’m not a know-it-all. Just well informed about the things I like.” He looked her up and down. “I’d like to get to know you better.”