Reunited With The Bull Rider. Christine Wenger

going to do more work on the barn and supervise fixing up the ramrod’s house. Luke said it needs a new roof and some remodeling inside. Then Jesse will take his turn and work on an addition to our bull breeding facility, and a new bunkhouse for the hired hands. The old one’s coming down.”

      “You’re just about rebuilding the whole ranch.”

      A waitress came and dropped off frosty classes of water. “Hi, Callie.”

      “How are you doing, Darlene?” Callie said then turned to Reed. “Dar’s grandparents retired here and Dar is living with them for the summer. She’s working and going to Oklahoma State in the fall.”

      “Nice. What are you taking up?” Reed asked.

      Her cheeks turned pink. “Um, uh...in hospital...hospitality, I mean. Hospitality.”

      Reed made eye contact with Callie, whose hands were over her mouth. She knew Darlene was having a hard time being a cool fan, whereas Reed was used to different reactions.

      Some fans were terribly nervous; others were blatantly sexually aggressive. Luckily, more were nervous. He could deal with those fans, but the young ones who came on to him? Well, those made him nervous.

      Darlene turned to Reed and giggled. “Uh... I’ve never done this before, but could I have your autograph, Reed?”

      “Sure!”

      “Wait here. Don’t move!” she ordered.

      Callie burst out laughing then sobered. “We’re eating here, so we’re not going to move. Did she forget that? I wonder if it’s your celebrity or your handsomeness that has Darlene so overwhelmed.”

      “It’s both. I’m sure it’s both,” Reed deadpanned, then raised an eyebrow. “But you think I’m handsome?”

      “I...um...uh...”

      Darlene returned out of breath and saved Callie from more stammering. She handed Reed a white foam take-out box.

      “A take-out box?” Callie grinned. “But, Darlene, we haven’t had our meal yet.”

      “I know, but this is all I could find for Reed to sign.” She handed him the box and a ballpoint pen. “J-just don’t press too h-hard or you’ll p-punch a hole in the top.”

      He wrote his usual “Thanks for being a fan! Best wishes, Reed Beaumont” then added the city and date. He also added her name.

      Smiling and holding out his hand, he waited several seconds before she realized what to do. She wiped her hands on her black apron and then held one out to him. They shook as she grinned widely.

      “I am sorry to bother you again, but can I take a picture of you?”

      “Absolutely.”

      She positioned her cell phone and pushed the icon several times. “Thanks, uh... Reed.”

      “But don’t you want to be in the picture, too, Darlene?” Reed asked.

      “Can I?”

      “C’mon.”

      Without a word Darlene handed her cell phone to Callie.

      Callie stifled another grin. “Sure, I’d be glad to take your picture with Reed.

      Callie took four pictures of Reed sitting in the booth with Darlene next to him, then handed back the phone.

      “Thanks, Reed.”

      “You’re welcome, Darlene.”

      Darlene scurried away, her cell phone next to her heart.

      Every once in a while, Callie realized what a celebrity Reed was. Not only did he receive bags full of fan mail, but obviously women fawned over him. Everyone knew that he was a real athlete in a very dangerous sport, but to Callie, he was Reed Beaumont, the man who chose riding bulls over her. Reed sat back in the booth. “Sorry about that.”

      “Sorry...about what? Oh, you mean about Darlene? You were very sweet to her. She’ll remember this moment for a lifetime.”

      “I hope not.”

      “I was her age once. I know.”

      “Now, what were we talking about? Oh, yes. The PBR and you, I think,” she said.

      “Since I had the summer off from the PBR, I wanted to catch a couple rides on some of the other circuits so I could boost my points, but my injury put a halt to those plans.”

      Callie nodded. “If you do what you’re supposed to, you’ll be healthy for the PBR when things start back up. It’s only the end of May. You can do it if you’d stay off of it and rest.”

      “Will you hold my hand if I have to go to the hospital?”

      “Oh! The brave, big-shot bull rider is too chicken to have surgery!”

      “No,” he said quickly, softly. “I’m just too chicken to go to the same hospital where my mother died.”

      Callie met his eyes. “I’m sorry, Reed. I didn’t think.”

      He put his hand over hers. “I’m sorry, too. I didn’t mean to blurt that out. I was the one who didn’t think.”

      She put her hand over his. “Obviously it’s bothering you. You could go to another hospital.”

      “And not go to the one that Great-Gramps Cyrus Beaumont built? I’d be drummed out of the family, or what’s left of it.”

      * * *

      SHE REMOVED HER hand when the antipasto came and he felt deprived of her warmth. He knew she was only embarrassed for what she’d said, but he liked the feel of hers over his.

      He looked down at the large platter. A mountain of lettuce was heaped high, a display of various meats, cheeses, tomatoes, tuna and veggies artfully piled on top.

      Reed sighed. “Does Al expect us to eat all this plus a meal?”

      “Yes. He does.” Callie picked up the big fork and spoon on the side of the platter.

      “No wonder it’s the romantic booth. We could live here in this booth for a week eating one meal.”

      “You on one side on the booth and me on the other?” Callie giggled. “That’s not very romantic! We should be on the same side at least, just like the front seat of a car.”

      “I remember many great times with you in the front seat of my car!”

      She laughed.

      Reed thought Callie’s playful spirit was slowly returning and that made him glad. She seemed so sad sometimes, and guilt would overwhelm him as he was responsible for some of that.

      He remembered how Callie was always hell bent on helping others and working hard, and he loved that about her, to a point. He didn’t want her to overextend herself and make herself sick. On top of that, he knew how much she anguished about her mother’s health, worried about her brothers and paying for their injuries, and was anxious about keeping a roof over all their heads. Nothing ever changed with her.

      But all that angst was part of Callie, but so was the laughter and joy, and the latter was what he wanted to bring out. He wanted to make her smile and laugh and forget about her worries for a while.

      The chicken parm came on two more platters, one for Callie and one for Reed. A mountain of spaghetti was stacked on the side.

      “It’s amazing that you, Jesse and Luke are the first three in the standings. What are the odds of that?” Callie asked twirling some spaghetti with her fork.

      Reed tried the chicken. Delicious. “I don’t have a clue about the odds, but I like the fact that the Beaumont Big Guns are in the top three. And Luke was even going to retire after he got married, but I’m guessing that he’s going to give the Finals another go. So, he’s riding in another circuit to keep