Blame It on the Rodeo Read Free Page A

Mommy.” She kneeled in front of one child, jammed his pudgy foot into the shoe and fastened the Velcro closure while looking over her shoulder at her other restless child. “Steven, come here.”
    The words were all it took for the child to giggle loudly and take off down the terminal. The woman stood to chase after him, catching her purse strap on the chair.
    Shane ran after him, smiling at the boy’s duck-waddle steps. For a moment, he felt like he’d time-warped to the days when he thought Dylan was his son. The sudden ache in his heart caught him off guard when he swung the toddler into his arms. The woman quickly caught up with him, frustration creasing her brow.
    “Thank you.” She reached out for the boy. “I can’t believe they made me take their shoes off. Really, thanks again.”
    Before he responded, the woman went on her way down the terminal.
    A few minutes passed once he arrived in the designated waiting area and the gate door opened. A flight attendant emerged with a lanky dark-haired, ice-blue-eyed preteen in tow. Shane approached them and gave Hunter a hug.
    “It’s good to see you again.” Shane released him to get a better look at the soon-to-be man. “You’ve shot up these past few months.”
    Shane had met Hunter Rathbone and his parents in Denver during a high school rodeo clinic he’d led in April. Hunter raved that Shane was his idol, and when Shane mentioned he was opening the Ride ’em High! Rodeo School, Hunter practically begged his parents on the spot to let him attend the school’s inaugural session. Shane kept the Rathbones apprised of the school’s progress and even flew out to a couple of Hunter’s events. He was drawn to the kid’s talent and natural ease in the saddle. The fact that Hunter and Dylan were close to the same age caused Shane to wonder more in recent months about the child he’d lost.
    Hunter beamed. “I can’t believe I’m actually here with you. This is a dream of a lifetime.”
    “Easy, kid, you have a whole lot of living to do.” Shane winked at the attractive flight attendant and handed her his license and gate pass. “Trust me when I say you have much better things to dream of when you get older.”
    “I wasn’t sure if you were picking me up or if someone else from the school was. I’m so excited we’re staying in bunkhouses. Just like real cowboys.”
    “You are a real cowboy.” Shane tousled the boy’s hair. “Half your class is coming in from out of state. You and one other are flying in, the rest are driving. And since you’re our first official student, I thought I should be the one to meet you.”
    Shane wondered if he’d see Dylan’s name on the student manifest one day. An impossible pipe dream considering Tab probably knew more about the rodeo than he did. He hadn’t come across Dylan on the circuit yet, but with a bull-riding champion for a father, rodeo coursed through the boy’s blood. He’d heard Tab retired, married and had more children after he gained full custody of Dylan. As far as he knew, Dylan had a good life, and in the end, that’s what mattered most to Shane.
    There were days he wondered if Dylan remembered their time together, and realized it was unlikely. Dylan had just turned a year old when Tab left with him, and after the way Shane had shoved Sharon out the door, he wasn’t sure he wanted to be remembered for treating the child’s mother that way. Not that she’d win any parent-of-the-year awards. Rumor had it she was down in Brazil trying her hand with another country’s cowboys.
    “I hope you’re ready for a month of hard work?” Shane asked while they rode the escalator down to the baggage claim area.
    “Tight!” Hunter said with enthusiasm. “I can’t wait to get started.”
    “Tight?” Shane stopped walking and looked at Hunter’s feet. “Are your boots pinching or something?”
    “Huh?” Hunter tilted his head and slowly looked from Shane to his feet. “What are you talking