Twisted (38 page)

“Jeffrey and Michael are both excellent cowboys.”

Jeanette looked at him. “You can say that again, Rob.”

“It’s Robert.”

“That’s what she said.” Mike winked at Jeanette and then smiled at Robert. Debbie, Jeanette’s friend, was also a rodeo cowgirl.

“You three had a great day. One or the other of you are in the lead for flag racin’, steer, bull, and bareback bronc ridin’.”

“We’re just good, ain’t we, Mike, Jeannette?”

“Damn right, Jeffy!”

Lonnie chuckled. “Don’t shine them buckles yet, boys, you still got tomorrow to go.”

“Lonnie, you know buckles are nice to have, but they don’t matter. Me and my buddy here are havin’ fun. That’s what’s important.”

“I guess it’s time to change the subject before you three get big heads. So Bryan, David, AJ, you three were the first guests at the ranch. How did you like it?”

“We had fun.” David stared at Lonnie when he said it. Bryan nudged him.

“It was a lot of fun. From the skiing, to Jeff and Mike teaching us about cowboy culture and their arts, to the staff, everything was really nice. The food was fantastic too,” Bryan added.

“You can say that again. It was great.” AJ winked at Lonnie.

“Hmmm. Maybe I’ll have to meet you there, AJ.” Lonnie smiled at AJ, and Robert cleared his throat.

“I imagine it would be interesting to go there as a paying guest.”

“You’re always welcome, Rob, and I promise, no son-of-a-bitch stew this time.”

“Michael, my name is Robert.”

“That’s what I said.”

Robert looked from Mike to me, his expression serious. “With the news seeming to focus exclusively on the West Coast Cutter, and even knowing some of the victims, it might be a nice escape to visit the ranch and forget about serial killers for a while. It was really sad about the police officer.”

“It really was.” Lonnie had a long face. “What does that bring the total up to now?”

“Twenty-six confirmed victims, but they think there might be quite a few more. To have killed that many people and gotten away with it, the guy must be a lot smarter than the police.” David’s opinion shocked me a bit.

“Why do you say that, David? He’ll get caught sometime.” Lonnie seemed a bit perturbed with David’s statement.

David stuttered an answer. “To kill so many people and get away with it.” Bryan frowned at David.

AJ spoke up. “I saw a show about serial killers on TV the other day. They say that when the victims are just chosen at random or are peripheral to the killer, the crimes are a lot more difficult to solve. I guess, David, if you mean the Cutter is smart enough to choose his victims so as not to cast suspicion on himself, you’re right.”

“Quite frankly, I think the idea is terrifying. If a trained officer of the law could fall to this person, the rest of us should be very concerned.”

“You’re right, Robert. It is kind of scary. I reckon we all just got to be careful.” Lonnie put his arm on AJ’s shoulder as he spoke. AJ smiled. It was obvious they were really attracted to one another.

Bryan looked from me to Mike. “You two are awful quiet. What do you think? Do you think the guy is smart or just lucky?”

“I reckon he’s gotta be a bit of both.”

“Yeah, I reckon Mike’s right, a bit of both. I just hope his luck runs out, or he makes a dumb mistake.”

“He scares people.”

“That he does, David. Now guys, how about we change the subject. Lonnie, are you gonna buck in any rodeos this year?” I was glad Jeanette had jumped in. Lonnie must have been too. He looked relieved.

“Yeah, I reckon. My arm and shoulder will be better by the Denver Rodeo in July. Then I’ll compete in the ones after that. What about you guys?”

“We’re thinkin’ on Texas next month, then the rodeos in New Mexico, Nevada, and California.”

“What about you Bryan, David?”

“We already have plane tickets for Denver, San Diego, Albuquerque, and Reno.”

AJ jumped in. “I’m gonna have to go to another rodeo or three. This is fun.”

We continued to talk over dinner and then went to the bar as a group with the shuttle bus from the hotel. As we walked into the bar, Jeanette, Debbie, David, and Bryan went to get drinks for us all. The rest of us found a place over by the dance floor.

I had to laugh when I heard the DJ announce the next song. “This next one is for all of you out-of-towners visiting us for the rodeo.” The song he played was “I’m Just Talkin’ About Tonight,” by Toby Keith.

“C’mon, buddy, I’m not just talkin’ about tonight. I’m talking about forever.” I grabbed Mike’s hand and led him out onto the dance floor. The next song was one of the occasional pop or disco numbers they play, “Amor a la Mexicana,” by Thalia. Mike and I were still on the dance floor, and the rest of our little group joined us. After a few minutes, we were wedged in like sardines. It just meant that I had to get closer to Mike.

“You don’t mind me dancin’ so close, do ya, Mike?”

“Hell no, Jeffy. I’d mind it if ya didn’t.” As the song came to an end, the slow and sultry sounds of “Black Velvet” filled the air. I grabbed Mike and spun him around.

“What are you doin’?”

“This is called a shadow dance. We both dance in the lead position.” I took his right hand in mine, grabbed his left and put it around him. We began a slow two-step. After a few steps, he was in perfect form, and we moved together. I put my chin on his shoulder and whispered in his ear. “You like?”

“Yeah, I do. It’s nice bein’ in your arms. I like the way I can touch you here and hold your hand and stuff, and people are okay with it.”

“I just like bein’ with you.” When we got back to the group, there was another round waiting for us. It was gonna be a fun night. Bryan and David danced a few, and it was fun watching Lonnie teach AJ how to two-step. Robert danced with both Mike and me. When the sounds of “Wild Wild West” came over the speakers, we all went out on the floor for the barn dance, a dance where there are two circles, and you change partners, one circle moving one way, the other in the other way. Robert had stayed behind and had gotten yet another round for everyone, including shots of tequila. “Cotton Eye Joe” came on, and we formed a line of all nine of us.

About midnight, Mike and I decided to take the shuttle bus back to the hotel. We agreed to meet everyone for breakfast tomorrow in the hotel restaurant at seven. Mike was pretty tipsy as we walked out of the bar.

“Jeffy?”

“What’s up, bud?”

“Thanks. I’m havin’ lots of fun.”

“Me too, buddy.” We shared a kiss that got us a few catcalls as we boarded the bus.

“Now let’s get to the hotel and get some sleep. We just about used up this day.”

Chapter Sixteen

M
IKE
leaned against me as we sat together at the picnic table. It was day two of the rodeo. Today was quite a bit cooler than the day before. It had clouded over. Today’s high was forecast in the low sixties. The clouds did nothing to stop the omnipresent dust of South Phoenix. Jeanette sat on my other side, and AJ and Lonnie were cuddled together across from us. Robert was walking over with something he’d bought from one of the vendors, and Bryan and David were still in line.

I turned to Mike. “I am bone-tired and sore, buddy.”

“Me too, Jeffy. We did pretty well in the events so far today, though.”

“That we did. It looks like you’re gonna get the buckle for chute doggin’.”

“Are you goin’ all modest on me? You’re in first place on bull ridin’. That’s the only event left. You already got buckles in bareback bronc ridin’ and flag racin’. We already got the buckles for team ropin’.”

“You two over there gloatin’?” The twinkle in Lonnie’s eye belied the words he said.

“I can’t help it, we’re good.”

“You’re humble as ever, Jeff. I wonder if it’s you’re so good or the other guys are just weekend cowboys.”

“Probably a bit of both.” I took another bite from my burger. It was good, but greasy as hell.

Mike leaned up against me again. “I’m gonna be happy to take some vacation time and see Arizona.”

“Me, too.” I leaned a little closer and lowered my voice. “I’m gonna be happy as hell to get outta this jock strap. It’ll be nice to take my boots off for a bit too.”

“Here I was hopin’ you’d leave the jock strap on for me.”

“Once we get home, all you gotta do is ask.”

“Believe me, I will.”

I stretched. Robert looked over. “Jeffrey, did I hear you say you and Michael are taking a small vacation?”

“You did—”

Before I could finish, Mike cut me off. “That’s right, Rob. We’re gonna go down to Tucson, and then to Bisbee and Tombstone. While we’re in that area, Jeffy wants to show me Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument. Then it’s on to the Grand Canyon and some of the stuff in north Arizona. It’ll be a rushed week, but it should be fun.”

“My name’s Robert, Michael. And you’re correct, it does sound like fun. I hope you enjoy yourselves.”

“That’s what I said, Rob, and thanks for the well wishes. So what’s the awards ceremony this evenin’?” Mike turned his attention to me.

“They hand out the buckles and prizes and stuff. So have you enjoyed your first gay rodeo?”

“Yeah, I have. I don’t like it when guys come on to you all the time. Other than that, I’ve really enjoyed it though.”

“Mike, please get over it. I can’t help what other people say and do. I reckon I haven’t encouraged ’em in any way, and I always make sure everyone knows you and I are partners. When someone gets all hot and bothered by you, it’s a compliment to me. You’re with me and not him.”

“I reckon so. Still bothers me though.”

I changed the subject. “So, you thinkin’ on catchin’ up to me in bull ridin’?”

“I’m gonna leave you in the dust in bull ridin’, Jeffy.” He grinned at me.

I chuckled. “We’ll see.” We were waiting for the bull riding. It was our last event and the last event of the rodeo. We watched the people go by until we heard the call for bull riders. We headed off to the chutes. I had a thought and it caused me to chuckle. Mike looked at me questioningly.

“You remember you thought it would be nice if we dressed alike?”

“I remember,” he answered guardedly, since when we’d talked about it, it was very obvious I didn’t think it would be fun to dress alike.

“I reckon we’re gonna at least have one set of matchin’ buckles for the calf ropin’.”

He looked at me, happiness written all over his face. “I never woulda thought a year ago that I’d be in a relationship with a man who I can rodeo with.”

“Just remember though, that man is gonna whup your ass at bull ridin’.” Today, I was riding first, and Mike was second. Jeanette was up before either of us, and she stayed on, the only woman today to do so. The buckle was hers. Soon it was my turn. It took me a while to get settled on the bull. My heart was racing in anticipation, and I could feel an adrenaline buzz. I’d watched the bulls closely yesterday and had a bit of an idea of the “book,” or bucking pattern, of the bull I was riding today. I looked up at Mike from my seat on the bull inside the chute. I nodded and yelled, “Pull!”

The gate swung open. It seemed I was in a tornado. Bull riding (or bareback bronc, or steer riding) makes time seem to go in slow motion. The six or eight seconds you’re on the animal’s back seems hours. Time was now in that foggy, slow-moving period. I instinctively felt what the bull was doing and compared it to my memory of his book to anticipate his next move and balance. It didn’t keep me from being tossed around. The world around me was a blur. I could taste the dust the bull was kicking up, smell the hay-and-cattle smell of him. All I could hear was his grunts as he attempted to throw me. I felt myself fly up into the air. I twisted and landed where I thought I should be. I was right, and that made the bull even madder. I reckoned that the buzzer must be broken. I was holding on tight with one hand, and with each buck it felt as if my arm was going to get pulled out of the socket. Just when I thought time had stopped completely, I heard the buzzer. I’d covered! Now I just had to get off the bull. I was about to jump when I saw the pickup man beside me. I leaned toward him and grabbed his outstretched hand. He pulled hard, and I half climbed, half was thrown behind him. He galloped a bit away from the bull, that was now focused on the two rodeo clowns. He set me down close to the chutes, and I jumped over the arena fence.

“Good ride, cowboy!” he said to me as I was jumping the fence.

Mike was there and threw his arms around me. “Yeah, real good ride, Jeff. You were in perfect form.” Jeanette nodded when Mike spoke. “I reckon you’re gonna get fifty points there, Jeffy.”

“I flew up in the air a bit once.”

“Yeah, but you landed back on the bull in perfect form.”

“We’ll see.” We sat together on the rail of the arena waiting for the judges to announce my score.

“The judges are done now, and we have forty-nine points for Jeff Connolly out of Winslett, Washington. Jeff’s an actual, real, working cowboy, sponsored by the Lucky Jeff Ranch. He’s competed with us for quite a few years now. Good ride, Jeff!” Jeanette was clapping me on the back. Mike gave me a big kiss. I heard several clicks. Folks were taking pictures of us.

“You all but got the buckle. You were tied for first place one day and first the other day.”

“You still gotta buck yet, buddy. You might come out on top.”

He grinned at me and winked. “Now that’d be a damn pity.” I laughed and so did Jeanette.

We went back behind the chutes. The bull Mike was set to ride was in the chute. He got his gloves on and grasped the rope around the bull and then moved around, trying to settle on the bull, in a way he’d have the best balance. The bull tried to buck but couldn’t, due to the small size of the stall. Mike looked up at me.

“Good ride, cowboy. Come back safe to me.”

“You got it, Jeffy. Pull!” The gate swung open and the bull sprang out. Mike had gotten a good bull. I noticed right quick that he wasn’t quite as balanced as he could be, and with every buck it took him just a millisecond longer to get back on balance. After a few times of being thrown up in the air, he couldn’t get his balance. I gasped as he went flying through the air. I could hear the thud when he hit. The bull came down, and I saw its hind leg hit Mike’s thigh with a hard, though glancing, blow.