Thrown: Studs in Spurs, Book 6 Read Free Page A

Skeeter’s eyes popped wide. He hadn’t been on a barrel in years. Not since his lessons with Cooper back in Arkansas.
    “I never joke about bull riding.” Mustang’s brows rose high. “Just do it, kid. Trust me.” He knocked back the brim of his cowboy hat and was gone.
    Ride a practice barrel like the little kids who weren’t old enough to ride bulls? Skeeter had ridden to a sold-out arena in Las Vegas. He’d competed in front of stands packed with thousands of fans. And now, he’d be reduced to riding a barrel in the backyard.
    “You okay?” Aaron’s voice brought Skeeter back from where he’d been wallowing in his misery.
    “Nope.” If Skeeter could stand to admit to himself his career could very well be over, at least at this level of competition, he might as well admit how miserable he felt about it to his best friend.
    “Yeah, didn’t think so.” His traveling partner let out a breath.
    Make that former traveling partner. Aaron would still be following this tour circuit, while Skeeter was going back in the touring pros.
    “I’m gonna go get out of this stuff.” Helmet in his hand, Skeeter turned and headed for the back. He could pack away his chaps and his vest in his gear bag. There’d be no championship round for him today.
    His path to the riders’ dressing room took him down a hallway lined with life-sized posters of past world champions. Some of these men had long since retired from the sport. These were the men Skeeter had grown up idolizing back when he only dreamed of competing pro. Back when his mom had taken on extra shifts to pay for his equipment and later, when he started to compete, for his entry fees. All while he’d mowed every lawn he could find in walking distance to earn money to help.
    Some of the champions pictured were still competing. Skeeter had traveled, joked, eaten and prayed with them for the years he’d been with this tour. He’d ridden alongside champions, competing at their level—until now.
    Now, it could all be over. His mom’s money and hard work gone to waste. All of Cooper’s countless hours of coaching—all for nothing.
    Hoping none of the guys would be in the dressing room, Skeeter bit his lip and fought against the hot sting of tears, not brought on by sadness but anger. Anger at himself. Who else did he have to blame? He’d somehow let this happen, though he had no idea how. Just like he had no idea how he was going to fix it.
     
    Riley Davis fingered the braid hanging over her right shoulder and watched Skeeter’s shoulders slump as he made his way to the back. The sound of the cowbell bouncing across the floor as he dragged his bull rope behind him echoed off the walls of the hallway. There was nothing sadder than watching a rider walk down that long hall after a buck off.
    Poor guy. Usually, he always had a smile and a howdy for everyone. Skeeter was the sweetest, most outgoing and friendly guy Riley had ever met. Not today. Not after having been kicked off the tour.
    She wasn’t too happy about that herself. She’d be lying if she didn’t admit she’d found herself looking for him during events. A few times, he’d glanced her way and those big blue eyes of his had met her gaze. Then she’d had to pretend it was an accident. That she hadn’t just been caught staring, even though she had been.
    Truth be told, once or twice she’d let herself think what it would feel like to run her hands through those sandy curls of his. His tousled hair made him look even younger than his twenty years. Or maybe he was twenty-one by now. Either way, at nineteen, she was younger than him. He’d never look twice at her. Not with all these other girls hanging around trying to get the riders’ attention at every single event. There were always a good amount of female fans who came to watch the cowboys behind the chutes, not the rides in the arena.
    “Steer clear, baby girl.” Her father’s voice broke into her thoughts.
    All of her ponderings about