“The Muldoons are good people,” Red allowed, mostly because he was becoming aware that others were leaning in closer, listening, hanging on every word. He didn’t recognize anyone, but that didn’t mean the strangers didn’t recognize him. Red wouldn’t give them the chance to walk away and say he didn’t defend his employer.
Nylen grinned, as if that was exactly what he’d hoped for. “I don’t know much ’bout that boy, the cowboy. He weren’t around when I was there. And there’s a younger one that I’ve never met. But she looked pretty in pictures.”
Red watched the arena shift as the first cowboy took his leave, preparing for another rider.
“But that Peyton, she sure was a spitfire.”
Do. Not. Engage.
“More horse sense than the rest of the family combined, far as I could tell.”
Red nodded agreeably. “She’s a good boss.”
Nylen chuckled. “I’m guessing that’s cause she’s got a fine pair of tits.”
Red’s hands balled—the only thing keeping him from swinging was the scene it would cause.
Nylen seemed to realize he had Red by the short hairs. He couldn’t react without causing a scene, which wouldn’t do anyone at M-Star any good. “I’d let her boss me around anytime. In bed, anyway.”
Red stood slowly, brushing a little dust from the knee of his jeans before straightening slowly. Others were watching. Others would take this conversation away and chew on the gossip for a week. And it would only hurt Peyton if he didn’t play it right.
“Well, Nylen,” he said, grabbing the post by him and jumping down to the hard packed dirt below the stands. “I’m guessing you’d need the instruction in bed.”
He walked away, refusing to smile at the sight of Nylen’s red face and pissed gaze until he was well out of sight.
Peyton flung herself at Trace, knocking him back against the rig’s side. “We did it!”
“We didn’t do anything,” he argued with amusement, but he squeezed her in a bear hug all the same. “I don’t see any first place trophies coming home with us.”
“No.” Peyton stepped back and grinned. “But I did grab a third place. And you were kicking some ass, too. Tough competition. But the fact is, we showed our best and I’ve been talking nonstop to people who want to know more about M-Star. I had one guy whip out his phone and look at our website right in front of me. That’s the point!”
Trace tapped her nose. “I’ve had the same. People asking where I’ve been, asking about the place, the stock. It’s good.” He smiled slowly. “Real good.”
“Better than good. You both exceeded my expectations.”
Peyton’s insides melted a little before she had a chance to shore them back up and turn to face Red. “Why, thank you. Good to know you have such high expectations of us.”
Red just shook his head and looked at Trace. “Are all women capable of turning a compliment into an insult like that?”
“Every female I know,” Trace answered with a smile.
Peyton slugged him in the shoulder. “Nice back up, big brother.”
He flicked her hat, sending it flying into the dirt. “Welcome, little sis.”
Red picked up her hat and dusted it off, handing it back easily. “If you two are done playing sibling, I wanted to run through the schedule. We’re leaving tomorrow morning, around dawn, right?”
Trace started shuffling his feet. A sign, Peyton knew, that he was feeling guilty. “Yeah, about that . . .”
Peyton sighed. “You wanna head home right now, don’t you?”
His neck flushed but he nodded resolutely. “I do. I mean, Lad and I are done. You and Ninja are done. And the rest is all mouth work. Right? And scouting to see what’s what.”
“That’s about it.” Peyton crossed her arms. “So you want to ditch and run.”
“I want to take the horses back with me and make sure everything is okay at the ranch,” he corrected. “Plus, you’d still have Red here. Nothing difficult about that. Being away another two days won’t kill you. But dammit, I miss my son.”
He’d said it, and he looked so fierce about it, she couldn’t even tease him. “Okay,” she said softly. “Go home and give Seth a hug for me.”
“Thanks.” He gave her a kiss on the cheek and shook Red’s hand, then climbed behind the wheel. As the dust settled after his quick exit, Peyton realized that he had left her with a long drive back and only Red for company.
That could be awkward.
Red stretched out in the passenger seat, laced his fingers behind his head, and closed his eyes. “Sure you don’t want me to drive?”