Riverbend Reunion(38)

“Yep, we can,” Daisy answered, “but don’t tell Granny Stella or Granny Martha. They don’t believe in dancing.”

“Mama taught us how to dance,” Lily said.

“My lips are sealed,” Oscar chuckled, “and good for Risa. A girl needs to know how to dance, but I’m not so sure about bull riding.”

Wade nudged Jessica. “Want to put a mechanical bull in the space between the pulpit and the north wall? That would give Lily some practice.”

“Are you serious? Aren’t those things expensive?” Jessica leaned close enough to him so that she could be heard, and the electricity between them seemed to crackle.

She took a deep breath, cleared her mind, and tried to think about a beach to still her racing pulse. She hadn’t dated in two years, not since she got sent to her last duty station and her boyfriend was reassigned to a base in California. Two months later they’d figured out that long-distance relationships didn’t work for them. The split was amicable, and now he was married with a child on the way.

“Somewhere around eight thousand, but just think of the customers it would pull in,” Wade said.

Jessica glanced over at Lily and made another impulse decision. “We’d probably be the only ones for miles and miles with a bull. Let’s talk about it with the rest of the team. We’re the two supporting partners, but they should have a say-so, too.”

“Have you ever ridden one?” Wade asked.

“One time. I hit the sawdust in two seconds. He was named Fu Man Chu, just like in that old country song. I’m a little like Daisy and not very coordinated,” she admitted.

“Me either, but I really think a bull would generate a lot of money,” Wade said.

“How’s that?” she screamed over the noise of everyone screaming and yelling for the first bareback bronc rider.

“The night I rode one”—Wade leaned over close to her ear—“my friend bet me two beers I wouldn’t do it. Another one bet a shot of whiskey that I couldn’t stay on eight seconds at high speed.”

The warmth of his breath on her neck sent tingles dancing down her spine, and she had to keep reminding herself that they were business partners. Oh, yes, sir, she really did need to get back into the dating game so that she could get over this teenage infatuation with Wade.

“I had to buy a round of drinks when I didn’t stay on the full eight,” she said, “so I see your point. Let’s discuss it over breakfast tomorrow morning.”

“Everyone is free on Sunday, so there won’t be a breakfast,” Wade reminded her.

“Then we’ll talk about it Monday morning,” she said in a loud voice just as things got quiet.

“Talk about what?” Daisy asked.

“Putting a mechanical bull in the bar. We can all discuss it Monday morning,” Jessica answered.

“I’ll ride one of those,” Daisy said with a nod. “I bet I can stay on longer than Lily. She’s even clumsier than I am.”

“Am not! And you cannot!” Lily declared.

“Wait and see,” Daisy told her with a smug little grin.

“I bet you a root beer that I can beat you,” Lily said.

“You’re on!” Daisy nudged her sister with a shoulder.

“Point proven.” Wade chuckled and turned toward Jessica again. “Hey, are you going to church tomorrow?”

“I’m sleeping in until noon,” Jessica answered. “What’s your plans?”

“Since you offered to let me use the washer and dryer, I thought I’d do that and maybe organize the bar a little better,” Wade said.

“Look!” Oscar pointed. “Peyton, Cole’s cousin, is next up in bronc riding.”

“How do you know those guys?” Jessica asked.

“Their granddad and I were in the military together. We still play dominoes at the senior citizens’ center or cards at my house on Sunday afternoons after church,” Oscar answered. “After he rides, I’m going to the concession stand for a beer. Anyone want to go with me?”

“I’ll go,” Risa said.

“Me too,” Jessica added. “I’ve been getting a whiff of those nachos every few minutes, and I want some.”

“Yes!” Haley pulled a bill from her purse and handed it to Oscar. “I want nachos and a root beer.”

“We’ll go help bring it all back.” Lily stood up.

Daisy and Jessica both got to their feet at the same time.

“Burger with mustard and no onions for me”—Mary Nell handed her dad a bill—“and a beer.”

“I’m getting a hot dog.” Risa fell in behind the group. “What do you want, Wade?”

“A candy bar and a root beer.” He pulled a bill from his shirt pocket and handed it to Risa. “I’m not picky about the candy, just so long as it’s chocolate.”

Jessica repeated all the orders in her head a couple of times as the five of them made their way from the bleachers over to the concession stand. She had them memorized until she reached the wagon that traveled from rodeo to rodeo and saw Stella making nachos. She heard Risa suck in air behind her, and said, “I’ll take care of this. You and the girls go on back up to our seats.”