Spurs and Heels(Divine Creek Ranch 5)(64)

ticket booth and got her ticket. She heaved a sigh of relief when the

man in the ticket booth assured her that she’d not missed the bareback

riding event and would have plenty of time to find her friends and get

settled.

When she reached the top of the ramp he’d directed her to, she

turned and looked up into the crowd, locating Teresa and Angel and

their group when they all waved at her. As she joined them, she felt a

wave of inexplicable happiness come over her. It felt so good to be

wanted and accepted by this group. She’d always been on the

periphery, limited because of her hours in how much she could do

with them.



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Heather Rainier

That feeling of acceptance was tempered by the sad realization

that when she saw Ash, it was usually on her turf, either at the store or

her house. She rarely made time to come out to the ranch and usually

only saw her friends when they came in the store. She loved being

here and had to question why she did not make more time for them in

her life.

Nobody mentioned her attire, but she regretted not having the time

to go home and change, wishing she’d had the forethought to bring

her change of clothes with her to the store that morning in case she

ran out of time. She smoothed out her skirt as she sat next to Teresa,

and Teresa leaned toward her, nudging her in the shoulder.

“You look fine.”

“No, I should have brought my clothes so I could change.”

“So you’ll remember tomorrow. You look great, and you know

Ash likes it when you’re dressed up like a city girl.”

“Huh? He does?” That was news to her.

“Sure! I guarantee you he won’t mind a bit when he sees you

dressed up, especially with those heels. They’re hot on you.”

Juliana giggled and thanked her, and then their attention was

drawn by the announcer as the rodeo began. It had been years since

she’d been to a rodeo, and she thoroughly enjoyed the pageantry and

entertainment.

Bareback bronc-riding was one of the first major events. Teresa

updated her on what had happened the night before and described in

detail how Ash and Joaquin had done compared to the other riders in

their respective events.

Nerves knotted in Juliana’s stomach when the first rider climbed

into the chute. Teresa pointed Ash out to her, standing on the pipe

fence, helping out. Seeing him dressed in his chaps and gear with his

number placard pinned to his back made her insides quiver. Damn,

but he is hotter than hell.



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171

Teresa giggled. “I know, right? There is just something about

chaps and spurs on Angel and Joaquin that gets me a little fidgety,

too.”

Had Juliana spoken out loud? She looked over at Teresa, who was

blushing, and had to laugh with her and nod.

She sent up a quick prayer for Ash when she saw him climb up on

the side of the chute as a bronc was placed in it from the other side.

He was completely focused. His actions were swift and sure as he

tightened up his grip on the rope then signaled he was ready.

Her body froze in place when the bucking bronc exploded from

the chute, all four hooves leaving the ground. Ash kept his seat, riding

the animal in swift grace, and Juliana could not help her visceral

reaction as she watched his body move with the animal.

She had intimate knowledge of the strength and agility of those

finely honed, muscular thighs and that incredibly muscular torso. She

felt moisture flow between her legs as his body twisted and turned

each time the animal tried unsuccessfully to unseat its rider.

“Don’t forget to breathe, Juliana,” Teresa whispered in her ear,

but her eyes stayed riveted on Ash as he completed his ride. He leapt

from the horse after the buzzer sounded, landing on his feet and

dodging the horse as it continued to buck for a few more seconds

before one of the pickup riders herded it toward the exit.

He climbed back up onto the pipe fence with the other cowboys

and scanned the crowd in their section while he waited for his score.

She rose and waved at him, and he smiled happily and waved back

then blew her a kiss as the crowd cheered his high score of ninety

point five. By the end of the night, both Ash and Joaquin were assured

a place in the final round the following night, and Juliana was glad

she’d be able to be there to see it.

Their group was slowly making its way through the crowded

concourse, toward the rear of the arena, when Juliana spied Ash in the

crowd. He and Joaquin stood together, talking with a group of

enthusiastic rodeo fans and signing autographs.



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Heather Rainier

Juliana was intrigued by this part of Ash she knew very little

about. He and Joaquin were better known in the rodeo circuit than