Her Knight, Her Protector: a western romance (Rodeo Knights Book 1) Read online

  “Nine times out and he hasn’t been ridden yet.”

  “Ah, but your real prize is Tenacious,” Stoney said with a laugh. “He’s a top contender for Bull of the Year. He’s made a real name on the circuit.”

  “Yes, he has. You’ve been keeping up on rodeo even though you’re not competing anymore.”

  Stoney glanced at Melanie. “Well, my wife isn’t too happy about me breaking my neck, or any other body parts, on a bull. She wants to have babies.”

  Melanie reached over and playfully smacked him, making him laugh.

  Carly envied them. Having someone special in your life was a luxury she longed for especially now since she was alone.

  “I’ve seen you both at some of the events I’ve been to recently. That’s how I knew to call Melanie.”

  “I’m glad you did,” Melanie said, leaning forward in the chair and resting her hand on the desk. “Is that the report?”

  Carly picked up a few pieces of paper on her desk. “Would you like to have a look?”

  “May I?”

  “Certainly.”

  Melanie eased back in her chair and began to read the report. Jesse glanced around the room as Carly gave a quick recap of the veterinarian visit. All the wood was dark stained and polished fine. The stone fireplace on the far side of the room was probably where most of Zebb Duggan’s deals were made. Next to the fireplace was a wooden cart on wheels where bottles of liquor were filled high and set behind fine crystal glasses and a decanter. Jessie couldn’t help but think about all the bourbon that had been poured in this room during the negotiation of deals that included everything from the sale of shares of a prized bull to the sperm for breeding if that bull turned out to be a champion like the potential that Carly’s prized bull, Tenacious, had.

  Everything about the way the office was decorated spoke of being a man’s place. Glancing at Carly Duggan, he decided she looked completely out of place. But the space wasn’t hers. Not really. There was something petite about her compared to the big leather chair she sat in. Her sandy brown hair was pulled back in a loose braid that fell halfway down her back. The cotton button down shirt she wore was too loose for her frame. But Jesse quickly decided that anything tighter would have shown delicate curves that would end up being a distraction to any of the number of ranch hands he’d seen milling about when they’d arrived.

  But that was just looks. As soon as Carly spoke, all thoughts of the contrast in her delicate features and small stature disappeared. She knew her game.

  “I told you there wasn’t much,” Carly said as Melanie finished reading the report. “If I’d known this was all it was going to be, I would have just faxed the results to you. I’m sorry for the inconvenience.”

  “I’d like a copy of the report anyway, if you don’t mind. Just to have on file.”

  Carly drew in a deep breath. “I realize I was the one to call you, Melanie. And I do appreciate you jumping on the matter quickly. But I hope you can understand that if word got out—”

  “It won’t.” Melanie said quickly. “This report is for my eyes only until there is a need for me to mention it my boss. And then, only if there is some relevance to what we’re seeing in the field. You have my word.”

  Jesse pulled his attention away from the room décor and glanced at Carly. “Something tells me you’re not convinced,” he said.

  She picked up a pencil from the blotter and began tapping it lightly on the paper, leaving a gray lead mark. “It’s not uncommon to have a bull die young for any number of reasons.”

  “But…”

  She eyed him speculatively. Her blue eyes flashing suspicion he’d yet to see. “Why is it that you’re here?”

  A smile tugged at his lips. “Curiosity.”

  “Just curiosity? You don’t have a stake in any of this?”

  Carly glanced at Melanie and then back at Jesse.

  “Jesse Knight is—”

  “Wait,” Carly said, putting her hand up to stop Melanie. “You’re the Jesse Knight who went on to the finals in Las Vegas…what…ten years ago and then just disappeared?”

  He didn’t want to be flattered that she knew his name. His rodeo years were many years behind him. But he was. “I went into the military.”

  She cocked her head just enough for him to see the movement and then said, “Everyone thought you’d have your shot at the World Title.”

  “Everyone?”

  She rolled her eyes quickly and then smiled. “Okay, my father thought you would.”

  “And you?”

  She hesitated for a second. “I was in high school. I wasn’t paying attention.”

  “But you remembered my name.”

  “Don’t flatter yourself.”

  He sat up straighter in the chair and smiled wider. “Oh, but I am. You and my mother are probably the only two women in the world who remember I was ever a bull rider. And my mother only remembers because she wants to make sure I never go back to it.”

  “Really? Is that why you joined the military?”

  “The marines. No.”

  She glanced at Melanie and Stoney as if she suddenly realized they were both still in the room.

  Her expression softened. “I met your father once at a rodeo a few years ago. He was with Gordon Matthews. Both he and Gordon were on the board of the WRC.”

  “He’s a family friend. Lives near my parents, well, my mother’s ranch.”

  “I’d heard some time ago your father passed away. It wasn’t too long before my father was it?”

  “It's been five years. Something we have in common.”

  “Besides an interest in bulls, you mean?” Carly said, raising her eyebrows.

  He chuckled and glanced at Stoney and Melanie, who had remained silent during this whole exchange.

  “Are you accusing me of something, Carly?” Jesse asked.

  “Gordon Matthews may not be the person who chooses contracts for stock companies, but he’s very influential on the board. Thanks to my father, Duggan Stock Company has a good reputation of bringing healthy and hardy bulls to the rodeo so there has never been a problem in the past. I’d hate to lose that reputation.”

  “There’s no reason you should,” Jesse said, finally getting the meaning of what Carly was saying.

  Her gaze bore into him, but he held her stare.

  “Isn’t your brother Sean Knight, the veterinarian who travels with the WRC?”

  He chuckled. “You know he is.”

  “Of course I do. All stock companies know who cares for their animals on the road in case there is a problem. And there has never been a problem with Duggan Stock Company bulls.”

  “Until now.”

  “What are you getting at, Jesse,” Melanie asked. “I saw the report. There are a lot of toxic plants in Wyoming that can make livestock sick. Cattle sometimes ingest Larkspur or one of the other dozen toxic plants in the Wyoming mountains. Cotton-Eye probably ingested something.”

  “Every stock company worth their contracts knows what those toxic plants are. They never let their stock, especially a futurity bull, graze anywhere near pastures that contain those plants. At least not where there are plants in high enough concentration to make an animal sick. A bull is a pretty big animal. Taking a few mouthfuls of a toxic plant isn’t enough to cause poisoning.”

  “True,” Melanie said.

  “I don’t need to see that report to know the levels of toxicity had to be high in order for a two-year-old bull to collapse and need medical attention. Isn’t that right, Carly?”

  Her lips, a sweet shade of pink, thinned as she spoke. “What are you getting at?”

  “Nothing. Just curious.”

  Carly shook her head. “Out with it. You came here for a reason, Mr. Knight—”

  He groaned. “I’ve been demoted to Mr. Knight?”

  “If you keep on the path you’re on, you’ll be demoted out the door. But I’m the one who is curious enough to want to know what you think you know.”


  “Ms. Duggan, I wasn’t just a marine for eight years. I was a military police officer. So you’ll forgive me if I’m a little suspicious.”

  “A little? I think you’re a bit more than a little suspicious. You’re stopping short of being accusing.”

  “I didn’t mean to offend you. It’s in my nature to look at evidence in a different way.”

  “Is that your way of apologizing for being rude?”

  He frowned. “Rude? Carly, I don’t think you understand the gravity of this situation.”

  “And you do?”

  “Yes. I wouldn’t be here otherwise.”

  She heaved a sigh that showed her impatience. “Why are you here? Oh, wait. You said curiosity.”

  “That’s right. And I’m also curious as to why you’re so quick to pretend your bull wasn’t intentionally poisoned.” *

  As handsome and sexy as Jesse Knight was, and Carly was having a hard time convincing herself otherwise, he was annoying as hell. But he was also dead on about what Carly’s own suspicions were. And that scared her. If Jesse Knight, a former bull rider who hadn’t been on the circuit in nearly ten years could figure out something was amiss, then the board of the WRC could too if they got too close to the truth about what was happening.

  She stood up. “I appreciate you all coming by today. This gives me food for thought.” Turning to Melanie, she added, “If there are any other developments, I’ll give you a call.”

  Melanie stood, reaching out her hand to shake Carly’s. “I appreciate that.”

  The man was unnerving. Both Melanie and Stoney were standing, ready to leave her office. Jesse Knight sat in the chair across from her desk with his elbow propped up on the arm and his fingers rubbing the stubble on his chin. Stubble that look entirely too sexy on the man.

  “Was there something else?” she asked Jesse.

  He shook his head. “No, you’ve been more than patient with me.”

  Patience had nothing to do with it. She wanted him off her ranch. There was no reason for her to think Jesse Knight would go blabbing to his brother or the head of the WRC board about a sick animal on her ranch. But she didn’t need that kind of attention, especially after the letter she’d received this morning.

  She heard the sound of boots moving quickly down the hall toward the office and then Doris, the housekeeper that had been working at the Duggan ranch since Carly was a little girl, yelling at whoever was running. “Come back here! You didn’t scrape your boots!”

  Thad appeared out of breath in the doorway of her office.

  “You need to come quick, Carly,” he said.

  “What is it?”

  “Colin and Rod just found Lightning Strikes in the pasture. Same as Cotton-Eye only worse. Lighting Strikes is dead.”

  Jesse glanced over at her. “Do you still think I’m being too suspicious?”

  #

  Chapter Three

  Colin paced back and forth in front of the bull lying in a heap on the ground.

  “In all my years,” he said, “I’ve never seen anything like it. No siree.”

  “This couldn’t have happened at a worse time,” Carly said, cursing under her breath as she peered down at a beautiful animal that was in its prime.

  “Lighting Strikes was having a good year,” Colin said. “I couldn’t believe it. I went to bring him in from the pasture with all the other bulls we’re taking to the rodeo this weekend. He just collapsed right in front of me. Never seen anything like it, I tell you. And I’ve been at this a long time.”

  Carly glanced over at Colin. “Have Rod bring the tractor.”

  Colin was still shaking his head as he walked away.

  Melanie crouched down and touched the bull as he lay there. “Do you mind if I take some samples before you bury him? I have my kit in the truck.”

  “Go right ahead,” Carly said as frustration rose up inside her. “If you can give me any kind of an explanation for this, I’ll be in your debt.”

  “I’ll help you carry it out here,” Stoney said.

  They both walked across the pasture to the parking area. When Carly and Jesse were alone, she said, “Colin is right. I’ve lived my entire life on this ranch. I have lived and breathed stock for rodeos, learned about their nutrition, their breeding, their behavior. I’ve gotten so I can spot a good bucker before any of the trainers do. My father used to have me come out to the paddock and watch the cowboys buck the yearlings. He taught me everything he knew about how to spot a good bucker. I’ve never seen anything like this. Lightning Strikes wasn’t the best of my bulls. But he was a good bull. Rank. Cowboys loved him because he was consistent and gave them high scores.”

  She heard the sound of the tractor firing to life and shook her head.

  “I can’t watch this. Come with me to the office?”

  As they started walking, Carly saw Melanie and Stoney walking toward them. Stoney carried Melanie’s lab kit. She stopped walking when they reached her. “Meet me back in the office when you’re done?”

  “Sure thing. I’m sorry, Carly.”

  Carly sighed. “Me, too. I hate seeing an animal go down like this.”

  She waved down Rod Nolan, a ranch hand who had been working for her father for nearly ten years. Rod stopped the tractor.

  “Just dig the hole for now and then wait a bit. I want Melanie and Barry to check Lightning Strikes before we bury him.”

  “Doc Cunningham might not get here for hours. Just so long as you know I’ve got work that ain’t getting done while I’m waiting on them.”

  “Just do it, please?”

  Clearly annoyed, Rod sighed and then nodded as he put the tractor in gear. The tractor jerked forward and left Carly and Jesse in a haze of exhaust.

  Carly pulled off her cowboy hat and waved it in front of her as if she were clearing a path through the dirty air in order to get to the house. Once inside, Carly glanced back at the pasture where Lightning Strikes lay, feeling an ache in her chest. He wasn’t one of her best bulls. But he was a beautiful animal.

  “This way,” she said, ignoring the fact that Jesse had already been to her office. But anger surged through her as she walked down the hall, making it hard to think clearly.

  When they were inside the office, she led Jesse over to the chairs by the fireplace instead of the chairs by her desk.

  She sat down on the leather wing chair opposite him. “I’ve always felt more comfortable sitting here than behind that desk.”

  “It’s a big desk. You looked a little lost behind it.”

  She shrugged. “My father was a big man. He left some pretty big boots to fill.”

  “I’m sure you’re filling them just fine.”

  She smiled at his compliment. “When I was little, I used to sneak down here in my pajamas. My mother never saw me. I’d come into my father’s office and he’d be sitting here in this chair smoking his pipe and reading a magazine or the newspaper. He hated it when I got out of bed after being tucked in, but he never yelled at me about it. He just picked me up and carried me back to bed and would say, ‘Now don’t tell your mamma.’ I miss him. I miss both of them.”

  “I’m sure you do,” Jesse said. His hazel eyes were filled with sympathy.

  “Tell me the real reason you’re here.”

  He frowned. “I told you. I was at Black Rock when you called Melanie. I was curious.”

  “So you didn’t hear this from someone else?”

  “No. Should I have?”

  “Let’s hope not. I’m going to be honest with you, Jesse. I don’t believe these bulls got sick naturally. They may have eaten something. But it isn’t something native to this ranch or the pastures they graze in.”

  “Why do you think that?”

  “I’ve never seen a bull act the way Cotton-Eye did out in that pasture. You heard Colin. Even he is shocked. And he didn’t even want to tell me about the first bull.”

  “First bull. Cotton-Eye?”

  “No, Dusty Mule. He’s a goo
d bull, but not my finest. He’ll bring in some good seed money when he’s done performing on the circuit next year but it won’t be anything stellar. That doesn’t lessen my regret for what happened any. No animal should be treated that way.”

  “I agree.”

  “But this could be a catastrophe for Duggan Stock Company should word get out about Lightning Strike and Cotton-Eye. Don’t get me wrong, I’m grateful Cotton-Eye is getting better. I’d be afraid of losing all my stock if the ranch had been somehow infected with a virus, but Barry Cunningham’s report shows otherwise. But…”

  “What?”

  She blew out a frustrated breath filled with all the emotion she’d held back for the past twenty-four hours. “I don’t like not knowing. What if one of the other bulls gets sick? What if it didn’t even happen here?”

  “What do you mean?”

  “Lighting Strike competed regularly along with Widow Maker and Tenacious. Cotton-Eye hasn’t left this ranch except for the times we’ve trained him for trailer travel. When we do that, we automatically pick a place to unload the stock for several hours, let them get their rest and feed. Then we load them back into the trailers and bring them home. Before we can enter them into a rodeo, we need to see if they can tolerate travel. But that’s it. He could have eaten something other than the hay and feed we have at one of these stops. The same for Lightning Strikes. Except Lightning Strikes was fine yesterday. He hasn’t been to a rodeo in over a week. And I don’t yet know the cause of death. I won’t know until Barry gives me his findings.”

  “I see your dilemma.”

  “Do you?”

  “You’d have to call each and every one to see if there have been any other incidences of bulls getting sick. Word gets around quickly.”

  “And quite frankly, that scares me.”

  “You didn’t call the police?”

  “The police would do an investigation.”

  “As they should. I would.”

  “Good. I was hoping you would say that.”

  Jesse frowned, making his hazel eyes darker and blend with his dark brown hair. “Why?”

  “If word gets out that I’ve had two sick bulls with no indication of what they’re sick from, and one dead bull, it could jeopardize my contracts with the WRC. I believe that is exactly what someone wants.”