Yvette shrugged. “They’ve been decent so far. Family reunions aren’t nearly as wild as college reunions.”
Tobin groaned. “Don’t remind me. Last year the University of Wyoming’s rodeo team held their twenty-year class reunion here. Not only did them guys demand rough stock competitions every day, they partied hard afterward. I swear there was wife swapping goin’ on. Me’n Hugh had to take turns acting as security guards because we caught couples goin’ at it everywhere. Doin’ it in the laundry room. Another couple was making carpet angels right in front of the fireplace in the main room.” He nudged Hugh with his knee. “But your discovery was the best. Tell ’em.”
“I had a colicky horse in the barn so I did a final check before bed. I heard the damndest noise. In the last stall I saw the former Miss Rodeo Wyoming on her knees . . . ah, servicing the former All-Around cowboy, while her husband watched and cracked a bullwhip.”
Harlow’s eyes grew wide. “Omigod. Did you intervene? Did he plan on using the bullwhip on her?”
“For all I know, he might’ve been warming it up for the guy to use it on him. None of my business either way, as long as they weren’t messing with my livestock. Different strokes for different folks.”
Fletch laughed and Hugh grinned.
Holy crap. Hugh had a beautiful smile. First time Tanna had ever seen it from the gruff-natured foreman.
“I ain’t the type to one-up ya,” Dave said, “but I saw the champion tie-down ropers showing off their rope skills . . . not on a calf. But I gotta admit the woman they had trussed up sure sounded like she was enjoying herself. Gives new visuals for the terms header and heeler.”
The guys laughed.
Harlow said, “Bullcrap,” with a sneer. “That sounds like something you guys made up, doesn’t it, Tanna?”
“Nope. Sounds like a typical Saturday night on the rodeo circuit to me.”
More laughter.
“You saw wild things like that?” Harlow said with disbelief.
“Darlin’, I participated in those wild things and then some. Heck, I acted as ringleader most of the time.”
“So the rumors I’ve heard about what goes on on the road are true?” Tobin asked.
“Completely true. And usually toned down in the retelling.” She swallowed another drink of beer and looked at Hugh. “You’ve hauled stock to rodeos all over the country. Tell Miss Chicago over there we aren’t exaggerating about what goes on behind the chutes.”
“No, ma’am, we are not.”
Harlow still didn’t look convinced. “These women are so hot to get with a cowboy that they just let these guys rope them up? Who likes that sort of thing?”
Tanna raised her hand.
The guys chuckled and Fletch made a growling noise in her ear that traveled straight to her core.
“It ain’t only girls who like that sorta kinky thing,” Hugh said. “A few years ago, I’d forgotten some paperwork, so I had to go back to the rodeo grounds after everyone had left. Or so I thought. I heard whack whack whack. Naturally I got a little closer to the noises and I saw this couple banging by the buckin’ chutes. The guy’s jeans were around his boots and he’s got the woman pinned against the corral, goin’ to town on her. Then I heard whack whack whack again and realized she was smacking his ass with a ridin’ crop. Them barrel racers got a serious thing about getting their money’s worth outta their crops.”
“Hey, I didn’t think anyone was around that night,” Tanna protested. “That was a private moment.”
Everyone laughed again.
Tobin shook his head. “I knew I shoulda joined rodeo club instead of chess club.”
“Chess is much more civilized,” Harlow assured him. “And I’m sure you’d never misuse your knowledge of ropes and stuff to hold a woman against her will.”
“Don’t be too sure about that.”
Harlow looked at Hugh. “What about you, Grumpy?”
Hugh leaned back and cocked his head, measuring Harlow from head to toe. “I’ve been complimented on my tie-down skills a time or two. Never had a lady complain or try to get away.”
Harlow’s mouth fell open.
Hugh, who laughed as rarely as he smiled, emitted the sexiest and most evil-sounding laugh Tanna had ever heard. “Don’t knock it ’til you try it, hippie-girl. And if you wanna try it sometime . . . all’s you gotta do is ask me real nicely.”
“Don’t hold your breath,” Harlow retorted.
Tanna wondered how much Hugh had been drinking. He never gave in to Harlow’s taunts. Poor girl should’ve known better than to poke the bear. It’s the quiet ones you had to worry about.
“And with that . . .” Dave and Yvette said good night.
She took another drink of beer and set the bottle on the ground.
Fletch caressed her arm and murmured, “Tired?”
“Yeah. Working and today’s physical therapy session was killer.” He’d kept his promise to make sure she did her PT at least every other day.
He gently draped her legs off to the side of his chair, curling her body into his. He kissed the top of her head. “Rest your eyes for a bit.”
She nestled her face into his warm neck. He smelled so good. She’d never been with a man who coddled her like Fletch did and she liked it way more than she wanted to admit. When she sighed softly, his hold on her tightened.