Chasin' Eight (Rough Riders #11)(16)

Chapter Four

He wandered behind the barn and gazed across the pasture. Heavy winter snow allowed for green grass, a boon in the cattle business. Even the sagebrush had lost the dusty silver shimmer and looked brighter. The scrub oaks lining the creek bed were leafed out with dark green foliage. A few patches of wildflowers dotted the landscape, hues ranging from brilliant yellow to soft purple.
Stop admiring the posies and make the call, chickenshit.
Chase blew out a breath and dialed. As he listened to the rings, he paced in front of the fence.
“Hello?”

“Hey, Cash. It’s Chase McKay. Remember me?”

“Chase! ’Course I remember you. How you doin’? I heard you were on the PBR’s injured list.”

“Well, not really.” He forced a laugh. “It’s a long story. One we’re keeping on the down low, if you know what I mean.”

“So why you callin’ me, hey?”

“I need your help.”

A pause. Then, “Tell you what. You give me the truth about what’s really goin’ on with the PBR and I’ll let you know if I’m willin’ to help.”

“Sounds fair.” Chase let fly.
When he finished, Cash whistled. “Ain’t nothin’ the rest of us weren’t doin’ on the road, but things are different now. But I’m confused on how you think I can help you.”

“I need to get my ridin’ back on track. It seems I’m doin’ everything the same way I always have, but that ain’t the case or my scores would be better, or at least on par, not completely in the shitter like they are now. I wondered if you’re still holding a bull ridin’ school?
“Now and again. Why? You lookin’ to go back to school?”

“Yeah.” Chase slumped against the barn. “And before you get pissy and think this is a joke, I’ll tell you I’m dead-ass serious. I need an expert to look at my ridin’ objectively and help me figure out what the devil I’m doin’ wrong.”

“Expert.” Cash snorted. “But an old-timer like me ain’t immune to such smooth bullshit.”

Chase grinned. “You had a good run, what? Almost twenty years as a pro? With my buck-off average, I’ll be goddammed lucky if I make it another two.”

“So when you thinkin’ you wanna get started?”

“Bein’s I have time off and you’ve got a ranch to run, I’ll work around your schedule.”

“Sorry. I don’t have another training session scheduled until the end of next month. That probably don’t help you.”

Not only that, Chase didn’t want to train in front of rookies. Maybe it was an ego thing. A bratty thing. But he wanted one-on-one attention to his riding issues.
Before he could say thanks and hang up, Cash said, “But if you can get here in two days, I’ll put you on as many bulls as you can handle.”

“Really? That would be great. I wasn’t sure if you’d…ah, take offense to me offering to pay for a private session.”

Cash’s laughter boomed. “McKay, if I didn’t think you could afford it I wouldn’t’ve suggested it, because it ain’t gonna be cheap. But there’s one other thing.”

Seemed there always was a catch. “What?”

“I’m bringing your cousin Colby in on this. He’s been off the rodeo circuit for a while, but he’s still a pro to the core and I trust his judgment. Two sets of eyes would be better than one, doncha think?”

“Yeah. I guess.” Of all his cousins, Colby was the second least likely to blab to other family members, right behind his cousin Kane.