One Texas Cowboy Too Many (Burnt Boot, Texas #3)(64)

The preacher reminded Rhett of an old-time snake oil salesman as he held the microphone close to his mouth and motioned to the young men with his hand. If he’d been selling a healing elixir, he could have probably made millions from the crowd, who was hanging on every word.

“That’s my cue. Remember the way?” Rhett asked Leah.

She kissed him on the cheek. “If you get there before I do, don’t give up on me.”

“I’ll hear that song playing in my head the whole time I’m dodgin’ and duckin’.” He laughed.

The country music tune played through his mind as he sat down on the edge of the trailer and handed his boots to Gladys. She tied them together with a zip tie and handed him a ticket stub. “Put this in your pocket and don’t lose it.”

“Yes, ma’am.” Rhett grinned.

She patted him on the shoulder. “Good luck, Rhett. I already heard several women sayin’ as how they’ve memorized that shirt you’re wearing, and they’re going to be after you. You better have some fancy moves.”

“I’ve got something better. I’ve got a plan.”

Tanner stepped up beside Gladys and handed his boots over to her. “Here you go, Miz Gladys.”

“Thank you. You know the rules, right?” Gladys asked.

“I do. I’ll get my boots back as soon as I get the cuffs off.”

“Line ’em up, boys!” the preacher yelled into the microphone. “See the line made out of duct tape right there under the banner? Put your toes on the tape and get ready to run. You’ll have fifteen minutes, but if a pretty girl winks at me, I might get trigger-happy and you’ll only have five minutes, so you better run fast, boys. When you hear the second shot, you’ll know the ladies are on the run. The third shot is the all-clear shot.”

Tanner lined up beside Rhett and said, “I hope you aren’t a poor loser.”

“I don’t intend to lose,” Rhett said.

“Okay, ladies, here’s this year’s pickin’s,” Emory said. “Take a long look at them and get a picture of what they’re wearing in your mind so you don’t go tackling the wrong cowboy. We’ve got three whole minutes for you to walk up and down the line to talk to them. No touching, but you can ask whatever questions you want.”

What happened next reminded Rhett of speed dating. Half a dozen women gathered in front of him, asking him what his favorite foods were, and if he liked picnics or restaurants best. Thank goodness Betsy Gallagher wasn’t one of them.

“Time’s up, ladies. Back to the sides, so these guys can get their proper head start,” Emory said. “On your mark.”

Rhett bent like a track runner.

“May the best man win,” Tanner said.

Rhett didn’t answer but kept his mind and eyes set on the goal.

“Get set,” Emory yelled.

The gunshot startled some of the guys so badly that they looked back at the preacher, who shooed them on with a wave of his hand. Soon, guys were tearing down the road like football players on their way to the goal line. Rhett stuck to the plan and was already on the path headed for the barn when he stepped on one of those Texas grass burrs called a goat head. He plopped down on the path and pulled the sorry sucker out of his heel and stood up to run again, only to feel half a dozen more poking into the ball of his foot.

“Dammit!” He swore and sat back down to pull them out. He didn’t remember those rotten things sticking to his jeans when he and Leah had made the practice run. He thought back to the night before and frowned.

“There weren’t any. I’d swear on a Bible that there weren’t, and now Leah is going to get them in her feet too,” he said. “I’ve got to go back and warn her.”

*

Leah handed her flip-flops off to Gladys and tucked her ticket into her hip pocket before lining up with Honey on one side and Betsy on the other.

Betsy cut her eyes at Leah and winked. “I’m planning on having dinner at Wild Horse with Rhett tomorrow.”

“I wouldn’t bet on it,” Leah said.

“I would put five hundred dollars on it if you want to put your money where you mouth is,” Betsy said.

“Okay, ladies, I really want to see these guys hauled in here before they die of heatstroke, so let’s get this show on the road a few minutes early. You know the rules. Bring home your man, and he’s all yours for supper tonight and dinner tomorrow. Get on your mark!” the preacher yelled.

“Well…” Betsy nudged Leah.

“I’d hate to see you lose your money.”

The preacher lowered his voice like he was telling a big secret. “They’re out there hiding from you, so look under every rock, under the hanging limbs of every willow tree, and you might even check the river for signs of air tubes. These are some wily guys, ladies. You should keep your eyes wide open and search for signs. We don’t care what condition you bring them back in, long as they’re handcuffed to you. Get set!”

The gun blasted, and Leah followed the path exactly as they’d practiced. Rhett was supposed to be waiting in the barn, so she didn’t have to hurry.

*

Rhett’s feet hurt, but he was making good time when he heard the second shot and knew the women were on the way. He kept his eyes on the path in front of him, hoping to see Leah at any time, when suddenly someone ran up behind him and cuffed his hand to hers. Breathing a sigh of relief that she hadn’t gotten into the dangerous area, he turned around and looked down into Betsy Gallagher’s emerald-green eyes.