Just a quick author's note to say that the National Finals Rodeo is in December every year, but for the sake of this story, I wrote it happening in September. Also, it was in Houston this past December because of Covid, but is normally in Vegas (and should be back to regular in Vegas this year). So forgive me the creative liberties in regards to the rodeo schedule. :)

Chapter 24

Ezra lightly splashed some water towards Kaylee. She looked at him and smiled, but he could see she was still distracted. Her skin was warm from the desert sun when her bare shoulder brushed his. She sat on the edge of the motel pool alongside him, bare feet dangling in the water.

She looked back out at JD and Casey, involved in some sort of wrestling match in the middle of the pool, but didn't say anything. The closer it got to that night's competition, the quieter she became.

"Are you nervous?" Ezra asked her.

Kaylee didn't answer right away, a move that was so out of character for her, Ezra's concern grew. But then she drew herself out of wherever her thoughts had taken her and asked him a question instead of answering. "Were you nervous your first time at Finals?"

Ezra nodded. With anyone else, he would have brushed off their question or lied outright. He rubbed a thumb against Kaylee's hand. "Petrified."

She raised an eyebrow. "I find that hard to believe."

Ezra held a hand to his chest as if making a pledge. "Honest to goodness. I was terrified. I had a run of unfortunate luck and needed some money. I think that pressure made it worse."

Kaylee's lips puckered at his words. "And you won? And the money made the difference?"

Ezra nodded again. "It turned things around for me. Three hundred thousand dollars makes quite a difference."

He could see the wheels turning, but couldn't imagine what she was thinking. "I have no doubt you'll win," he said slowly. He wasn't sure what to make of her when she got like this. Quiet, lost in her thoughts, unwilling to let him in. He forced himself not to push. To give her space, time to confide in him. "But you know you aren't in the same situation you were previously?" he asked. He thought back to when they first met. Kaylee had been desperate, her truck and trailer gone, stranded in a town and willing to gamble her last couple hundred dollars away in an effort to turn things around. The look on her face still held that desperation far too often. "I won't leave you destitute," Ezra said, not sure how to assure her he would care for her, support her in whatever she pursued. "Whatever I have is yours. Ours."

For some inexplicable reason, Kaylee turned back to the water. "That's really nice of you, Ezra."

He wanted to tell her he meant it. And then ask her what was troubling her. But before he could speak, Kaylee was pulling her feet from the water and standing.

"I'm going to head back to your hotel room. Start getting ready for tonight."

Ezra frowned. "Our hotel room," he amended.

Kaylee nodded. "Right," she said.

Ezra started to stand, but Kaylee shook her head. "It's fine. I can get a cab. I need some quiet, then have to go get my shoulder taped."

Ezra stood anyway. "I can—"

"I'll be fine, Ezra," Kaylee assured him. And then enough of her smile broke through to chase away the tense expression over her features.

"I'll see you before your run tonight," Ezra said.

"Yep," Kaylee said. She dried her feet on a motel towel, then pulled on her socks and boots. "And you'll see me after," she said, leaning in closer, her lips brushing against Ezra's and leaving no doubt as to her meaning.

Ezra circled his hands around her waist, pulling her close, deepening the kiss, assuring himself nothing was wrong. Kaylee returned the kiss without hesitation, one hand skimming along the hem of his t-shirt, her fingers brushing just enough of his skin to elicit a groan from the back of his throat.

"Hey!" A tidal wave of water crashed near enough to get their attention.

Casey looked up at them from the pool, a teasing grin on her face. "Get a room!"

JD's face flushed red and he looked anywhere but at Ezra and Kaylee.

Kaylee laughed then, the last of the shadows chased away. "I'll catch up with you later," she said to Ezra, stepping back, her usual sunny smile lighting up her face.

Ezra watched her go, telling himself everything was fine. If it wasn't, Kaylee would tell him.

#

Kaylee sat on the edge of the bed she shared with Ezra the night before, looking down at her phone.

She should never have turned her phone back on after breakfast. She hadn't listened to the voicemails, hadn't answered the two calls earlier that day.

Her phone buzzed to life in her hand again and she tightened her grip around it, debating hitting the power button and leaving it off. But she knew Cletus would be angered already by her two week silence and she couldn't risk him any angrier.

"Hello?"

Cletus responded with a foul curse. "About time."

Kaylee didn't apologize. He didn't want an apology. He wanted the money she owed him.

"You want your mama to go to prison?" Cletus asked without preamble.

Kaylee gripped the phone tighter. "No! No, I told you, you don't need to do anything to her." Her words tumbled out. "I have your money."

"Then where is it? Where are you?" he asked.

"I mean, I don't have it yet. But I'm going to get it. This week. Almost everything left that I owe you." Her heart thudded against her ribs. Hoping that promising Cletus almost two hundred thousand dollars was enough to gain her some space. Her mom some safety.

"I've heard that before," Cletus snorted. "I mean it. You get me at least 20k by Friday or I call the cops and make sure there's at least four kilos found in your mom's place."

"Ok. Ok. I'll make sure you have it by Friday. Just leave my mom alone."

There was a long silence and for a terrifying moment Kaylee thought Cletus was going to change the terms of their agreement. She had been sending him all her winnings for five months now. It had been enough to keep him at bay, but she didn't have any options if the drug dealer decided to make good on his threat.

"Friday," was all he said before he disconnected.

Kaylee let out a long breath. She tossed her phone to the side and dropped her head into shaking hands. Her breath came in unsteady gasps.

Everything she had done, she had done to protect her mom. From taking the drugs Cletus was stashing at their place and selling them for money to get them food, keep the roof over their head, to paying him back for the drugs as a high interest loan.

She shoved her hands through her hair, her nails digging into her scalp. She was tempted to think of what would have happened if her mom hadn't gotten involved with Cletus. But that would lead to thoughts of what if her mom hadn't been hooked on heroin since Kaylee was a toddler, if she hadn't had multiple failed stints at rehab, if she had been there for Kaylee. And if Kaylee understood anything, it was that thinking of what she wished could be was useless.

Pushing up from the bed, Kaylee went to the marble bathroom and splashed cold water on her face. She looked in the mirror long enough to make sure she had a steady expression. She would manage a smile if she needed it. Whatever it took to keep Ezra from knowing how much trouble she was in. How much trouble she really was bringing to his life. She had seen how his mother had looked at her, knew what she thought of Kaylee. Kaylee knew it was probably what most people thought. Kaylee had nothing and had somehow tied down Ezra and wouldn't need to worry about money every again.

Kaylee straightened and went to change into her clothes for the rodeo. She loved Ezra. With everything in her, she loved him. And she wouldn't do anything to make him think that his mother was right and Kaylee was using him.

There was a knock on the door as Kaylee finished buttoning up her lightweight cotton shirt. She quickly crossed to the door and pulled it open.

Vin stood there. "Hey."

Kaylee gave him a smile, shoving thoughts of Cletus back to Nebraska where they belonged. "Hey."

"I hope I ain't interruptin' nothin'," Vin said, glancing over her shoulder then back to her. "JD said Ezra was with him earlier."

"Ezra's not here." She swung the door open wider, but Vin shook his head.

"Just came to see how you were doin'. If you're nervous." Vin grinned. "First time at Finals is a big deal."

Kaylee didn't know how to tell him she wasn't nervous for the runs. She knew how to ride, was happy to have made it. But she was nervous she wouldn't win. Wouldn't get the money she needed.

Vin's grin fell into concern when she didn't answer right away and Kaylee quickly recovered. "How can I be nervous when my first go rounds are with the world's best bulldogger?"

Vin answered her smile, but the concern remained in his eyes.

"You need a ride over to the arena?" Vin asked.

A sudden need to find Ezra, have him at her side, drove away any earlier thoughts of needing to be alone. Her phone call made, she wanted nothing more than Ezra by her. Needed Ezra by her.

"I'll call Ezra," she said. "I'll see you over there."

Vin nodded his agreement. "See you there." He started to leave, then turned back to Kaylee. "You sure you're good?"

Kaylee willed him to see her bright smile and nothing behind it. "Of course," she answered.

No one needed to know if she wasn't.

#

Vin watched Kaylee. Everything about her was on edge and he could see that Ezra knew it, too. From the way Ezra stayed close to her side and leaned in to speak quietly into her ear. The way fine lines framed his eyes when he looked at her. But Vin could also see a new side to Ezra. One he didn't think Ezra had ever let anyone see before. One that showed how much he really cared about Kaylee. For that, Vin was happy for his friend.

"You 'bout ready?" Vin asked, approaching Kaylee.

Her sunstreaked hair hung between her shoulder blades in a braid. The blue in her western cut shirt highlighted the light coppery color that threaded through her hair. She nodded without hesitation and Vin gave her a smile, hoping it was enough to shore her up against the nerves he was worried were getting the better of her.

Ezra wrapped an arm around her waist and pulled her in for a kiss. Vin turned away, pretending he didn't hear the quiet "good luck" from Ezra meant for his wife.

"

Kaylee fell into step with Vin. "You're going to win big," she predicted. The horses were saddled, had been warmed up and ready for Vin's go-round.

Vin didn't bother to tell her he didn't care too much about the prize money or the buckle. He competed because it was what he knew. Because his family was the men—and now Kaylee—on the rodeo circuit. "Can't lose with a hazer like you," he answered.

Some of Kaylee's worry fell away and she grinned up at him after releasing a pent up breath. "Let's hope so."

They swung up onto Vin's horses and headed for the chutes. The last thing Vin saw before turning his focus toward the arena and the steer that was going to be busting out of the chute was Kaylee settling Smoky and a look of determination setting her jaw.

Then it was the background noise of the crowd yelling, the chute clanging open, hooves pounding and Vin was leaning down headfirst to grab onto the steer.

He knew exactly when things went wrong. His heels planted in the dirt, but the angle was wrong, the steer changed speeds. A blinding pain ripped through his right leg. With a yell, Vin lost his grip on the steer's horns and hit the dirt. He rolled over on his side, grabbing at his knee that felt like it had been torn in two.

"Vin!?"

He wanted to tell Kaylee he was fine, but couldn't get words out between his gritted teeth.

Kaylee was on her knees next to him and he caught a glimpse of her worried face leaning down over him, felt her light touch on his arm, his shoulder, his face like she didn't know what to do. He had the brief thought that she really was like the little sister he never had. The person who was by his side and worried about him when he would have been on his own otherwise.

He could feel sweat beading on his upper lip. Spots danced in front of his eyes.

"Vin, I'm so sorry! The steer took a turn and I couldn't stop it and I'm so sorry!"

Kaylee's words didn't make any sense. Of course she couldn't have stopped the animal from doing what it could to shake him. It wasn't her fault he planted his feet wrong, either. "It ain't—" he couldn't get the words out. Nausea started turning his stomach with the strength of the pain. He cut off his words with a groan.

"Easy there."

Nathan's voice came from behind the fog of pain that was starting to cloud Vin's mind. "Let's get you out of here. You going to try and go out upright?"

He sucked in a breath between gritted teeth and nodded. He'd sooner blow out his other knee before he let himself get carried out.

Nathan took the brunt of Vin's weight when they stood, Vin's arm looped over Nathan's shoulder. Kaylee took his other side, and Vin did all he could to keep from leaning on her smaller frame. But also didn't send her away from him. Not with the way she kept looking at him like she was terrified he would collapse.

Vin made it out of the arena before dropping onto the gurney at the back of the ambulance.

Nathan frowned as he pressed on Vin's knee and the sides of it. "I think you messed it up real good this time."

"Gotta keep you in business," Vin managed to grind out.

"Between you, Chris, and Kaylee, I'm staying plenty busy," Nathan said, not sounding impressed by the job security.

Nathan nodded to the two medics. "Give him something for the pain and bring him over for imaging."

Vin wanted to argue that he could make it through to the end of the night. He could wait until after the barrel racing at least and see Kaylee's run. But the way his knee hurt, he was half afraid he'd pass out like a frail woman in front of everyone.

Without warning, Nathan jabbed a needle in his thigh. "It might put you to sleep," he said unapologetically. "You're heading out now."

Vin tried to argue but couldn't get anything else out. The pain was taking over he looked at Kaylee before he finally gave in and fell back against the stretcher. "Win it," he grunted.

Kaylee started to shake her head, but Vin saw Ezra and Chris running up toward them and knew they'd keep her on track.

His only regret was he wouldn't get to see her in her first national run. But he saw Ezra at her side, saying something in her ear, the way she was holding onto Ezra and listening to whatever he said to her, and Vin relaxed back against the gurney, assured that Ezra would keep Kaylee on track.

#

There was no getting Kaylee on track. Ezra watched her pace another frantic lap outside the arena. It didn't matter how many times he told her what he was sure she already knew- that steer wrestlers got more injuries than most other rodeo competitors. Vin's wrenched knee wasn't uncommon for the men who dragged their heels through the dirt to change the momentum of a charging beast. It didn't matter if he tried to assure her it wasn't her fault.

Ezra heard the sound of spurs and turned his attention from Kaylee long enough to see Chris' form coming out of the arena toward them.

Chris came to a stop next to Ezra and Ezra stiffened. It didn't take much to imagine what the older man was thinking as he watched Kaylee start to fall apart within two weeks of marrying Ezra while Ezra stood by helpless to reassure her.

"Kaylee," Chris barked.

His sharp call did what all of Ezra's reassurances and cajoling hadn't managed. It brought Kaylee to a stop.

"You want to go see Vin?" Chris asked bluntly.

Kaylee nodded.

"Go ride your event then Ezra will take you over there."

As if Ezra hadn't said that very thing several times over. But Chris' no nonsense order paid off. Kaylee hesistated only briefly, then nodded uncertainly.

Chris' tone gentled then. "Vin'll never forgive himself if you miss out on your first ride at finals. You do your best for him."

Ezra watched Kaylee's shuddering breath, waiting until she nodded, this time with more certainty.

"JD's got your horse ready. Go inside."

Kaylee nodded again. She started to obey, worried lines creasing her forehead, but she stopped and looked at Ezra. She looked lost for a minute, wavering in the absence of another order from Chris.

Ezra quickly stepped forward, tipped his head down so his forehead rested against hers, ran his hands down over her arms. "You're going to have a great ride for Vin. Then we'll head over to the hospital and make his night, telling him about your win." He rephrased Chris' directives in a gentler way.

Some of the worried lines fell from Kaylee's face. She nodded with more certainty. He pressed a kiss to her lips, felt more of the tension drain from her. When she pulled back and looked up at him, she had her game face on and Ezra squeezed her hands in a silent show of confidence.

He started to follow her into the arena, but Chris stopped him with a hand to his shoulder.

Ezra stiffened and turned to face Chris.

"Things get complicated as soon as that ring's on her finger," he said. "Half the job's knowing when to give her space and when to push." A slight smile played at his lips like he was remembering something. "And when you choose wrong, you're gonna have hell to pay."

With those dubious words of encouragement, Chris headed inside. Ezra dragged a hand over his face, sure he wasn't anything close to what Kaylee needed in a husband. But also sure he had never wanted anything more than to prove to her he could be what she needed.

#

Kaylee could hear the crowd. She had tuned them out when she was in the chute waiting for the steer to be released for Vin. But now she could hear the buzz reverberating through the huge arena.

Alcott danced in place and Kaylee shifted to keep her seat, bringing the mare back under control. She thought over the two seconds it took for everything to go wrong with Vin. She couldn't think of anything she could have done differently, but was sure there was something. If she had eased away from the steer slightly, maybe it wouldn't have—

Her thoughts were cut off by the announcer's voice. She brought Alcott to where they needed to be to get their running start up the corridor that led into the arena, getting the mare settled in the right place.

"…from Nebraska, Kaylee Standish…"

She missed whatever else Murphy was saying over the speakers. Her eyes shot up to the oversized screen at the opposite end of the arena. Her picture and stats filled the screen as expected, but there was her name—her new name—in bright letters.

She quickly swung her gaze to the men at the rails until they landed on Ezra. She could see the hint of a smile on his face and knew his eyes would be brightening to a greener shade at her surprise.

Her agitation about Vin's injury faded for the moment in the face of Ezra's surprise for her. She looked up to the jumbotron screen again, reading over her married name. Looked again at her husband.

She gathered the reins more securely in her hands, leaned down over Alcott's neck and got ready for her ride.

#