Chasin' Eight (Rough Riders #11)(63)

She flopped on the bed, turned on her computer and messed with the mockup websites for an hour before she called Hannah.
“If it isn’t Wyoming’s newest cowgirl,” Hannah said drolly.
“Hah! The joke is on you. I’m not in Wyoming.”

“Where are you?”

“Nebraska.”

“That’s actually worse because I’m from Nebraska. Anyway, you calling to rub it in you’ve gotten laid by a smokin’-hot cowboy or two?”

“I wish. The sex part of my summer vacation hasn’t happened.” Yet. “I’m calling because I need you to do something for me. Something that might be…well, not illegal per se, but a little on the shady side.”

“And what’s that?”

“I need you to make me a couple of press passes.”

“Okay. I’ll bite. What for?”

“So I can get access to the rodeo contestant area to videotape bull rides. It’s manned by security, but media is allowed. So I thought, Hannah deals with media passes all the time, she’d know exactly how to fake a couple of good ones.”

Hannah sighed. “Ava. I love you, but I’m not going to jail for you.”

“Jail schmail. Seriously, this will be a piece of cake. Alls I need is the name of the magazine, my picture and my name laminated on an official badge.”

“And no one will check to make sure you’re legit?” she asked skeptically.

“Of course they will. Are you by a computer? Sorry. Stupid question. Go to Faces of Rodeo dot com.”

“I’m there. What is it?”

“A new magazine I created,” she said with pride.
“Seriously, Ava, this is your brainchild?” Computer keys clicked in the background. “The Check back for more details on the main page is vague.”

“Which is perfect for my purposes. Anyone who checks it—and me—will believe this is a brand-spanking-new magazine, still working on a web presence. Ooh, now go to Behind the Chutes dot com.”

“Why do you need two fake magazines? Why not just one?”

“So I have options.”

“You’re scaring me. You did all this?”

“Yep. Thank God for cheap, quick and easy websites.”

“Behind the Chutes—all the news and current standings of the stars of the PRCA. Now that is a great magazine tagline.”

“Thank you.” Filled with nervous energy, Ava hopped off the bed. “So what do you say? Can you get these made up this afternoon and Fed Ex them to me by tomorrow?”

“I should say no, but I haven’t heard you this excited about anything in a long time. What name are you using for these? Ava Dumond?”

Ava paced to the window and peeked out the curtain. “No. How about just initials? A.R. Dumond. I’ll take a picture and email it to you. You can use it for both IDs.” She picked up the guest services guide and rattled off the address. “I know this is last minute, but I really need to have these in hand by tomorrow, because we won’t be staying anyplace this long for at least another week.”

“Who’s ‘we’?”

As much as Ava trusted Hannah, she hedged on divulging Chase’s identity. “A bull rider. He’s showing me the sights in exchange for me taping his rides.”

“Ava.” Hannah heaved an exasperated sigh. “Did you hit your head or something? You’re never this trusting. How can you be sure this dude isn’t taking you for a ride as a smooth-talking con artist?”