Bulldozed (4 page)

“You keep trying to outmuscle the bull. I’ve got inches, pounds, and muscle on you, and I can’t do it that way.”

“What exactly would you suggest I do?” Her voice was sharp as a sliver of ice.

“I could make a rider out of you if you’d just listen to me.”

“I’ll make you a bet. You feeling lucky this weekend?”

“Oh fuck.” Trey groaned. “Yes, as a matter of fact, I am feeling lucky for once, although I get a bad feeling you’re about to change that.”

“Okay, if I fall off in the first round, I will go with you to any nearby practice pen, get on the bull you pick, and do exactly what you say.”

“And if you score?”

“You will ride your bull wearing a sequined bra.”

Trey busted out laughing. “At least you have a sense of humor about it. How’s anyone ever going to see the bra under my shirt and safety vest?”

Dolly’s smile was malicious as she jerked a thumb at the arena. “Of course you’ll take off the vest and shirt after your ride and strut around that ring in that sequined bra like a goddamn showgirl and like it.”

“Done, and I’m only taking this stupid bet to light a fire under your ass. It’d be worth looking like a damn fool to see you score.”

Dolly blinked her eyes rapidly. “Why, Trey, I do believe you kind of like me.”

“Don’t flatter yourself.”

“Look who I found!”

Dreading that Smoke had come back with Rowdy Stetson, blond angel-boy on the prowl, Trey looked up to find Smoke was indeed standing there, but arm in arm with Alex. What a beautiful couple they made, woman and man, white and black, angel and devil. He and Dolly were the bowwows in the foursome. “Woof.” No one seemed to catch it, which was just as well.

“Hi, love. Have any trouble wrangling those drag queens into compliance?” Dolly asked.

Alex bent down and kissed her. “Hi, sweetie. No ropes required. They’re very quick on their feet and used to learning new choreography. They just wanted an outside opinion on how their kick line looked.” She settled next to her girlfriend and finger-combed her long blonde hair into place, leaving Smoke with the outside seat.

“Why were you riding herd on the drag queens at all?” Smoke sat down.

“It’s my rep. Because I cheered all the way through high school and college and then went pro with the Dallas Cowboy Cheerleaders for a while, they figure I know what I’m doing. I was the third blonde on the left.”

“Your left or our left?” Trey joked.

“Audience left as you sit in front of the TV,” Alex said. “Those were the days.”

“The days of what?” Smoke asked.

“I was in the best shape of my life and the most miserable ever. Men are pigs.”

“Can’t argue with that.” Trey chuckled.

“Present company excepted.”

“Don’t be too sure, precious.” Smoke leered at her. “You just don’t have the right bait for a horny gay man.”

“The bait she’s got works for me.” Dolly put her arm around Alex. “Got a bet down, babe.”

“Who? Who?” Alex bounced in her seat with excitement.

“Trey.” Dolly explained the bet.

“You’re in luck.” Alex leaned across Dolly to speak to Trey. “I know right where you can score a sequined bra too. With so many drag queens here, we’re bound to find one that fits you.”

“We? Do they have an assisted suicide center I could report to instead?” Trey glared at Dolly, who bore up well under it. She stuck her tongue out at him and grinned. Foiled, he transferred the glare to Alex. “You two been planning this long? Were you down there scouting for one?”

“I’m determined to get you into a sequined bra.” Dolly grinned.

“I admire your optimism, Dolly,” Smoke said. “It’s good to get up in the morning as if your hair was on fire. But how does a sequined bra work into bull riding?”

“Dolly’s a sucker for a girl in a sequined bra,” Alex said. “Or guy in a pinch.”

Her expression was knowingly smug, making Trey desperate to avoid hearing any personal details on the subject. “I said I’d do it, sugar lips, but I didn’t pack any of my show-off lingerie.”

Smoke sniggered. “All in the wash?”

Trey glared at him.

“No problem, I can totally score a bra for you,” Alex assured him with enthusiasm.

“What a relief,” Trey muttered sarcastically.

“Bastard. But maybe you can help her stay on.” She squeezed Dolly’s hand and looked into her eyes. “I’m dying to see my honey get a buckle this time out.”

“Yeah, me too.” Trey really meant it, and he’d done worse things than wear a sequined bra anyway. As the ring ushers rolled the pink barrels into position, he realized barrel racing was the first event of the day. “Aren’t you supposed to be riding in this, Alex?”

“Shoot no. I’ve given it up. I have so many bruises and scars on my legs from the barrels, it’s not even funny. Besides, it’s hell on my nails.” Alex held out her hand so he could see her perfect manicure. “I need to look good for work.”

“Don’t you miss going down the road to the rodeo every weekend?”

“Of course, but there comes a time when you have to hang up the saddle string,” Alex said. “I’ve had a lot of fun in my time and won my fair share of buckles. Our local rodeo association at home asked me to be a judge, though. I start next month, so it’ll be good practice for me to watch from the sidelines.”

Maybe it was his imagination, but Trey thought Alex’s jaw tightened while she explained. Retirement was the R-word in rodeo: no one wanted to think about it, let alone admit the time had come.

“Yeah, I was planning on this being maybe my last year riding bulls too.” Smoke spoke casually, as if he wasn’t dropping a major bomb. “I was thinking of going out after the finals.”

The news hit Trey hard. Until now he hadn’t realized just how much he looked forward to seeing Smoke at events. Smoke was a bright spot in his life, and the thought of losing him…. He looked up at the sky and swallowed hard.

“But you’re riding so well,” Alex said.

“So are you.” Dolly patted Alex’s shoulder.

Smoke grinned at Alex. “So we go out on top.” He leaned forward to look at Trey. “What about you, Trey?”

Trey cleared his throat. “Guess maybe I’m tougher than you. Or I need the money more.”

To Trey’s relief, Miss Demeanor climbed back up onto her stage and grabbed the mic. “Welcome to the Twentieth Annual Gay Rodeo Association event here in Oklahoma City, the only place in the US of A where the audience really knows what they’re watching.” She paused to let the roar of approval from the audience die down. “That line works like a charm in every city. Ba-da-bump! This is the last event before the finals in Vegas, and I am honored to be your announcer. My name is Miss Demeanor, and I’m here to crank this up to a felony!”

When the audience applauded again, Trey joined in, jogged out of his gloom by the sound of laughter.

“But for that, we’d have to bring on the boys, and we’re starting off with the gals today. To help us all cheer the cowgirls on, please welcome the Rainbow Drag Queen Cheer Squad!”

Seven drag queens danced onto the field holding hands. They were dressed in identical outfits, except that each one was garbed in a different color of the rainbow, from their wigs to their pom-poms down to their high-heeled sneakers. The Squad went through a short routine while Alex watched intently, mouthing the words of their cheer along with them.

“Nice work, babe,” Dolly said when the drag queens finished and retired behind the announcer platform to take their seats.

“It wasn’t all me,” Alex said modestly.

“Let’s hear it for our drag queens!” Without leaving time for applause, Miss Demeanor plowed on. “Our first event in this weekend’s competition is barrel racing, and joining me to give an insider’s expert commentary is past five-time GRA World Barrel Racing champion, Trixie Wheeler!”

Dolly whipped around to Alex indignantly. “They should have asked you!”

“Yeah, you’ve won five times at the GRA too,” Trey said.

Alex gave him a tight, glittering smile. “That’s okay. I pulled out of the competition too late for them to ask, I guess.”

“And one day maybe you’ll come out of retirement and ride again,” Dolly said.

“Maybe.” Alex’s offhand tone was betrayed by the way she stared longingly down into the arena.

“We’ll just bore you with a few stats and predictions first while we wait for the gals to get ready,” Miss Demeanor said. “You know how it is with us ladies and a mirror. Trixie Wheeler, who’s going to win the barrel racing this weekend and why?”

While Trixie Wheeler announced the order of the contestants and gave commentary on their horses, Alex started her own running narration when the first rider shot through the gate and into the ring. “That’s Mary O’Reilly, she’s usually so good.”

The first rider struggled, knocking over two out of three barrels. Alex groaned along with the rest of the audience as each barrel toppled over. “Cutting it too close, Mary,” she muttered as the woman urged her horse to the finish. “Probably gonna be fifth place after everyone goes.”

The next rider held in her seal-brown horse as it pranced sideways toward the entry gate, eager to get started.

Alex said, “Here’s Jenny Drummond on Espresso. She’s riding hot this year.”

“Never as hot as you, honey,” Dolly said. Alex flashed her a big smile.

Once Jenny had her horse lined up at the entrance, she let out her rein and the horse exploded into the ring, galloping hard for the first barrel. They rounded it successfully, but Jenny cut too close to the second barrel. Her horse nudged it, but as they skidded through the turn, Jenny reached down, caught the barrel with one hand before it fell, and pushed it back upright. Her horse sprinted for the last barrel, and Jenny leaned to the outside, correcting for the turn, and then her horse galloped hell for leather to the finish like a thoroughbred.

Alex stood up and pumped her fist enthusiastically. “Atta girl! Good save, Jenny. Ride that pony balls to the wall, just like it should be done!”

Trey winced at Alex’s colorful metaphor but grinned at her enthusiasm. He nudged Dolly. “She doesn’t miss it too much, does she?”

Looking worried, Dolly only sighed and shook her head.

“HATE STEER
wrestling.” Alex crossed her arms and turned her head away from the ring. “I always feel so sorry for them with those big, dumb cowboys coming down on them.”

“Let’s get some supper,” Dolly said. “I’m hungry enough to eat a bull.”

“Hush up that kind of talk at the rodeo—they’ll hear you,” Trey said. “Maybe that’s why the critters work so hard to throw you off.”

“Maybe if I ate the next one that did, the others might behave themselves,” Dolly said.

“You already got plans for supper, Smoke? Or are you willing to be seen with us?” Alex asked.

Trey could have kissed her, in a completely chaste and brotherly way, of course. No way would he have been able to invite Smoke along, no matter how much he wanted to. He sucked in a breath and held it, hoping Smoke wasn’t planning to meet someone else. Someone who might or might not have been sucking on a frozen banana.

“Thought you’d never ask, princess.” Smoke swept his hat off and bowed.

“About time we double-dated.” Dolly stood up. “I need a steak.”

“Sounds good,” Smoke said. “A man needs his protein, especially before a hard, sweaty ride.” His eyes glinted with glee when he winked at Trey.

Trey kept a straight face and pretended he hadn’t caught the inference. Smoke stood aside to let Dolly and Alex by and then followed them down the stairs, leaving Trey to bring up the rear.

Once outside the venue, Smoke insinuated himself between Dolly and Alex, politely offering each an arm. “I know this great little barbecue place. Ladies, if you’d honor me….”

Alex giggled. “I can see why you have no trouble getting more than your fair share of action.” She slid her hand under his elbow and clamped onto his bicep.

Dolly shrugged at Trey and linked arms with Smoke. “Lead the way, Smoke-man.”

Trey fell in behind them. He was used to being the odd man out, and there was no room to walk four abreast on the sidewalk anyway. Dolly and Alex chatted and giggled with Smoke all the way to the restaurant, but Dolly turned around once to tell Trey to shake a leg. “I’m not waiting on you for supper if you lollygag along the way.”

He relaxed a bit when Smoke led the way to a rusty Quonset hut with a bunch of shiny motorcycles lined up along the side. Trey always preferred a local dive to a chain restaurant. Inside, the floor was black-and-white checkerboard linoleum, and the seats were covered in red vinyl. He tensed again when he realized the members of the motorcycle gang parked outside appeared to be the waitstaff, but as always, Smoke was entirely at ease. With a big smile, he asked for a table for four. At least Trey didn’t feel conspicuous; the place was mixed, with black, white, and Hispanic customers.

The intimidating head biker at the front desk scowled ferociously when Smoke asked for a table, but she was flirting with him by the time she led them to their booth. Trey rolled his eyes to the ceiling. Even a biker dyke couldn’t hold out against the trademarked Smoke Charm.

Then the biker chick glared at Trey and Dolly, flexed her biceps when she slapped menus on the table, and stalked away, as if making up for the smile.

“Fearsome,” Trey said.

Dolly nodded after the woman. “Load the ammunition and take a look at those guns. Bet
she
could stay on a bull.”

“Bet she couldn’t.” Trey shook his head reprovingly. “Not about strength, Dolls, it’s all in knowing how. Besides, if you’re fishing, your muscles are bigger than hers. I bet you could take her.”

She grinned at him. “Every now and then, you say something so sweet I remember why I like you.”

“Gag me,” Trey muttered.

She grabbed his arm and squeezed. “You
are
sweet.”

Smoke stood aside to allow Alex to slide into the booth and then sat down next to her. He gave Dolly an impudent wink. “Guess I’ve got me a new girlfriend.”

Glancing around the restaurant at the people looking at them, Trey came to an embarrassing conclusion and tried to get his arm back. “Get off me, Dolly. People think you and me are a couple.”