The Black Cat Knocks on Wood Read Free Page B

doing research or what?”
    This guy didn’t need to know the book I was working on was set in New England and starred a female FBI agent or my real reason for today’s visit.
    “Research, yeah,” I said. “This is my first time to the rodeo.”
    Tyanne gave me a look but didn’t say anything.
    “You from the city?” he said.
    “From Houston, but I live here in Lavender now.”
    He grinned some more. “I can show you around, Miss . . .”
    “Sorry,” Tyanne said. “My bad. Hayden, this is my good friend Sabrina Tate. Sabrina, Hayden is, believe it or not, the rodeo clown.”
    I forced myself to keep a straight face. “Wow, that sounds like an interesting job.”
    “Fun, with a certain amount of danger,” he said. “Rambo the wild bull strikes fear in the hearts of most, but I know how to handle that boy. C’mon, I’ll show you ladies around.”
    “I’ve been here before,” Tyanne said, adding a wink behind Hayden’s back. “I’d like to stay and watch the barrel racers.”
    “Okay.” I hoped she didn’t think I’d have any romantic interest in this guy. A man who bragged about spending time with a wild bull wasn’t exactly my type.
    I followed Hayden past the whitewashed building. We walked through a side gate to a large paved area with ticket booths on our left, concession stands on our right.
    “It’s a small operation,” Hayden said as we entered an arena lined with bleachers on two sides. “Brings a decent crowd, nothing like the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo.”
    The Houston rodeo was a huge moneymaking event that brought in famous singers and snarled traffic for about a month every winter, but I’d never attended.
    “To tell the truth,” I said, “I’m not really a fan of rodeos. I’m an animal lover.”
    “Most of us are,” he said, “especially Mr. D, the owner.”
    “I’m glad to hear that.”
    We walked the circle around the arena, and he pointed out the bull chutes and a barn where animals were kept prior to roping events.
    I cringed at the thought and averted my gaze. “What can you tell me about the upcoming senior rodeo?”
    Before he could answer, a loud voice hollered. “Birch, stop your lollygagging and get to working those horses.”
    I spun to see Cletus McKinney—Ace—approaching us.
    Hayden said, “On my way, Ace.”
    “Quit clowning around,” Ace said, “when there’s work to do.”
    Hayden looked at me and spoke in a voice too low for Ace to hear. “He loves saying that, but he’s just jealous. See you around, Sabrina.”
    “Thanks for the tour.”
    As Ace neared me, he said, “Sorry to break that up, ma’am, but this is a working rodeo, and it’d do you good to steer clear of that particular clown. I mean that in more than one sense of the word. He’s a bit too fond of the ladies.”
    My face grew warm. “I assure you, I have no interest in your clown. I came here to do some research.”
    “’bout what?”
    “The Senior Pro Rodeo,” I said.
    He looked me up and down. “You don’t look like a pro or a senior.”
    “I’ll take that as a compliment, but I need to know more about plans for the event.”
    “A couple champion riders from Dallas are comin’.” He rubbed his chin. “We signed up some locals to perform.”
    “All professionals, right?”
    “Mostly,” he said. “What’s your interest?”
    “My aunt and her friends are planning to take part,” I said. “I think she must be mistaken about your intentions for the event. Rowena Flowers.”
    “Yeah.” Ace lifted his hat and scratched his head. “I remember her. She signed up for goat tyin’.”
    “
Goat
tying?”
    He smirked. “You have a problem with that?”
    “As a matter of fact, yes. There is no good reason to rope a goat.”
    “All due respect, ma’am, it ain’t against the law. If it’s your aunt you’re worried about, I believe this is her decision. She can sign a waiver same as everybody else who performs here or bow out. Makes no difference to