Roping Her Christmas Cowboy

Mills stared at him. “What did he say to you?”

“To quote him, ‘The last thing you ever want to do is get hung up on one of those rodeo beauty queens. They’re in love with their own image and probably have been all their lives. The dude who’s hooked and can’t see through it is doomed to be an afterthought, if that.’

“Later on, I realized he’d said that while he was in a bad place, but after hearing what you’ve just told me, maybe there was some truth to his words.” Toly didn’t know what else to say. His friend needed to try to get over Denise or he was going to be miserable for a long time.

Mills stood up. “In the beginning I would never have thought of her like that. But the more I think about it, there has been a pattern of high expectations and bitter disappointments she can’t get over. Your brother might have had a point when he gave you that advice.”

“Mills? What’s important is that you move on for your own happiness.”

“You’re right. Thanks for the talk. I’m sure as hell not going to let her ruin what you and I have worked so hard for. I promise I won’t let you down.”

Toly patted his shoulder. “You couldn’t do that. See you in the morning. Try to get a good sleep.”

It was great advice to give Mills, but Toly knew he wouldn’t be falling off anytime soon. He went back to the kitchen, hoping Nikki would come home so they could talk. No doubt some guy was detaining her.

Starting tomorrow morning, Toly wouldn’t be seeing her for the next three days. He wished they were all driving down to Vegas together, but Mills had never suggested it. From the moment the two of them had starting riding the circuit together, Toly had sensed Nikki was off-limits to him. Naturally he was friendly with her when they were all together here on the ranch, but he kept things professional. That’s why they’d all gotten along so well.

But Toly wanted more than that. The only thing saving him was the knowledge that the three of them would be together in Las Vegas for ten whole days and nights. He had plans despite what Mills wanted.

After waiting another twenty minutes while he watched the news on the small TV in the kitchen, he decided Nikki might not be home for hours. Not if that dude at the dealership was holding her up.

She could sleep in tomorrow while he and Mills had to take off early. So much for a talk with her before he went to bed. That would have to wait. Hell.

Chapter Two (#uae922a2e-462b-58ef-b6f6-ecb169d4e5f1)

At three o’clock on Tuesday afternoon, the airport shuttle pulled up to the magnificent new Cyclades Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada. Four huge, white rounded windmills with their pointed brown roofs and blades—the famous trademark advertising the Greek islands—formed the facade around the entrance. A sign on the marquee said, Welcome Wrangler National Finals Rodeo Finalists.

December 6 was finally here. Nikki climbed out of the limo following her two-hour flight from Great Falls, Montana, and was instantly met with whistles and a barrage of photographers taking pictures. She ought to be higher than a kite to be here at last, on the verge of possibly winning the national championship. But her spirits couldn’t have been darker. Not after the conversation she’d accidentally overheard between her brother and Toly Clayton the other night at the ranch house.

She hadn’t been able to put it out of her mind and would have given anything in the world for her loving parents to still be alive so she could talk to them about what Toly had said. She was afraid he’d been referring to her when he’d made certain remarks. But there was no such miracle for her and somehow she had to find the strength to get through this experience on her own.

Being a finalist required she had to be prepared to look the part. That meant wearing specific brands like her white Stetson, Justin cowboy boots, and Wrangler jeans and Western shirt. It also meant putting on a smile when it was the last thing she felt like doing.

A doorman reached for her two suitcases and accompanied her inside the lobby decorated with Christmas trees and thousands of twinkling white lights crisscrossing the ceiling. She’d almost forgotten the holiday season was upon them. He put her luggage next to her and went back out in front.

One of the clerks at the counter approached her. “Welcome to the Cyclades Hotel.”

“It’s good to be here. My name is Nikki Dobson.”

The clerk’s smile broadened as she signed her into the computer. “You’re one of this year’s barrel racing finalists. Congratulations!”

“Thank you.”

“We have the Delos Island suite ready for you and a rental car. When you’re ready to pick it up, their office is down the north hall next to the double doors leading to the indoor pool and gym.

“If you’ll follow the bellhop, he’ll show you to your room off the east patio. You’ll find literature on the coffee table to answer any questions you might have. Here’s your card key.”

Nikki thanked her again. The bellhop picked up her suitcases and she followed him past a coffee shop and the crowded casino to a set of glass doors at the other end of the lobby. They led outside where a charming, miniature Greek village greeted her vision.

The whitewashed cubed houses built next to each other, with some being double storied, had been designed in the Cycladic style around several swimming pools lined in Greek tiles.

What a stunning change from the high-rises of many other hotels! She liked the architecture and was glad she didn’t have to deal with crowded elevators and happy people. After the blizzard she’d left behind in Montana, she had to admit the high-fifties temperature here in the desert felt balmy by comparison.

As soon as she was shown to her two-bedroom suite with its blue-and-white decor, she paid the man for helping her with her bags. If Mills got tired of sleeping in the rig, he could spend a night here in the other bedroom. But in his depressed state, she had no idea what her brother would want right now.

Once she’d closed the door, she sat down on a chair by the coffee table in the small sitting room to text Mills that she’d arrived at the hotel. She knew he was expecting to hear from her.

Next she phoned Santos and Andy, the crew all three of them were sharing. They’d driven her rig and quarter horses here from the Dobson ranch. She knew from an earlier text that they’d arrived at ten that morning and had pulled into the RV equestrian park in Las Vegas. It had several big arenas, nine barns and all the amenities to work with the horses like steer dummies and practice barrels. It saved having to go over to the Thomas and Mack Center all the time where the National Finals Rodeo was being held starting the day after tomorrow.

“How’s it going, Santos?

“Despite a flat tire and a long wait while a herd of migrating elk crossed the highway, we’re fine.”

“Do I want to know how bad it really was?”

“Nope. You’ve got enough on your mind.”

What would she do without their crew. They were her greatest support. “Is Bombshell settling in?”

“She’s good. So is Sassy. But Duchess is missing you.”

“I’m not surprised. Now that I’ve checked in to the Cyclades Hotel, I’ll pick up my rental car and drive over so I can exercise her.”

“That’ll perk her up.”

“If all goes well, I won’t be riding her during the competition. But I need to keep her happy and in shape, just in case of a problem.” Though Duchess was fast, she required more cosseting than the other two.

“You can always expect something will go wrong, Nikki.”

“Don’t I know it.”

She’d learned that when her parents had been killed, and again when she realized she couldn’t marry Ted, not to mention the pain inflicted when she’d overheard a certain conversation the other night.

As for her rodeo experiences, she’d been riding horses on her own from the time she was seven. Her childhood dreams were all to do with riding in the rodeo one day. At fourteen she’d competed in the teen rodeos. At eighteen she’d started college and had begun competing on the state and national circuit.

For the last six years Nikki had gone through everything that could go right or wrong personally and professionally during her exhausting schedule. It still wasn’t over and anything could happen until this competition came to an end after ten grueling nights. Then she’d retire in order to promote the rodeo in a brand-new way with her brother who was also a rodeo champion along with his famous team roping partner.

When the pro rodeo championship finals were over, Mills planned to retire as well and go into business with her. The two of them had talked about it a lot. Neither of them had been lucky when it came to romantic relationships that were destined to last. His recent breakup with one of her best friends, Denise Robbins, had torn him apart. She was glad that when Finals were over, they had each other to rely on for the future.

“Any sign of Mills yet?”

“Yeah. He and Toly pulled in at noon and parked their rig next to yours.”

She guessed he hadn’t had time yet to answer her text. Technically it was Toly Clayton’s rig. They’d lived out of it while doing the circuit this last year. He was the youngest son on the renowned Clayton Cattle Ranch located at the base of the Sapphire Mountains outside Stevensville.

“I’m glad they got there safely.”

“Their horses are stalled right by yours. It’s a good thing you guys made reservations last January. The place is full up.”