Roping Melanie by Melissa Ellen

4

Nash

Dudley’s was no more than a large metal building and a neon sign situated just outside of the Billingsley city limits. It was about fifteen minutes away once you turned off the county road that led to my property. The parking lot was currently empty other than a single beat-up car parked near what I assumed was the back door. The surrounding area was nothing but grassy fields and open sky.

The bar and dance hall reminded me of something I might find back home in Wyoming. It was the local joints like this that had initially caused me to fall in love with the small town of Billingsley. It was the kind of place you looked for when searching for somewhere to call home. The charm, the land, the people, they all made you feel a sense of belonging. They were the type of folks who would treat you like family, even if you weren’t. It was nice, considering I’d be so far away from mine.

Tucker had mentioned Dudley’s was owned by a buddy of his as we’d walked inside. It took my eyes a minute to adjust after stepping out from the bright morning sun into the dimly lit bar. The place was empty. Not surprising given the time of day. Rome and I followed Tucker as he led the way across a dance floor to a table not far from the bar. After taking our seats, I glanced around and took it all in.

The building was a wide, opened room with various height tables that surround the concrete dance floor in the center. Tucked in the back corner near an old jukebox were pool tables and darts. A stage was at one end of the room, with the bar at the opposite end. Each anchoring the space.

A beautiful brunette walked through a door behind the bar. The steady rhythm in my chest stalled. I had to be dreaming. One of those types of dreams you hoped to never wake from. I swore the gorgeous woman behind the bar was the same woman I’d spent years fantasizing about. The same woman my thoughts had wandered to earlier this morning. It was as if those very thoughts had conjured her.

Before I could get a good look, her back was to me and she was talking to a guy standing behind the bar with her.

“Does that work for you?” Tucker asked, pulling my attention away from her.

“That sounds good,” I replied, having no idea what I just agreed to. I turned my eyes back to the bar, but my chance for a second glance was gone and so was she.

The man she’d been talking to made his way to us.

“Hey, Tim,” Tucker said. I assumed the man was the friend and owner Tucker had mentioned.

“Tuck,” he replied in greeting, sliding the coasters onto the table in front of each of us. Then he gave Tucker a firm handshake, followed by a friendly clap on the shoulder. “What brings you in so early?”

“Looking for a cold drink while we go over some plans.” Tucker slanted his head toward me. “This is Nash Evans and his buddy Rome Alves. Guys, this is Tim Hudson, a good friend and the owner of this place.”

I’d barely caught Tim’s name, my thoughts still lingering on the woman he’d been talking to. I did my best to shake her from my head. I’d likely only been imagining things, anyway. The result of wishful thinking.

“No shit?” Tim smiled. “I didn’t know you had friends in high places.”

Tucker shrugged.

“It’s an honor to meet you guys.” Tim held out an open palm, giving us each a handshake. “I watched you both ride a few years ago. Been following you for a while now.”

“Thank you,” I said. “Tucker tells us this is the best place to get a drink and hang out.”

“More like one of the only places, but I’ll take the compliments however I can get them,” Tim said with a chuckle. “What brings you guys this way?”

“Tucker here will be building my house.”

“This guy somehow convinced old man Taylor to sell off a piece of his land,” Tucker added.

“Nice,” Tim said. “Well, it’ll be great having a new face around here.” A phone rang in the distance, pulling his attention from us. “I better get that. Might be the wife. What did you guys want to drink?” he asked while taking a few backward steps.

We gave him our drink orders before he took off sprinting toward the bar to grab the phone.

“His wife is pregnant with their first baby,” Tucker informed us once Tim was out of earshot.

“That’s awesome. When is she due?” I asked.

“Not for another five months. They just recently married.” Tucker started rolling out the construction documents on the table. “But he’s been in love with the woman since we were kids.”

“Well, I’m happy for him.” I meant it, even if I barely knew him. I could tell he was good people. Years of touring from city to city, you learned to recognize a genuine person when you met one.

Tim returned a few minutes later with our beers. Both Tucker and I pulled out our wallets, fighting to buy the first round. Tim took one look at the both of us before shaking his head. “First round is on the house. A little welcome gift.”

“Thanks, man,” I said, returning my wallet into my back pocket.

Tim stuck around for a bit, shooting the breeze with us, before excusing himself to work. Tucker and I went over the plans for the house, making a few changes until I was happy with every inch of it. Rome threw in his commentary from time to time. Afterward, Tucker gave us the details of his history with Abby, but only after a lot of arm-twisting on Rome’s part.

Hearing the story, only confirmed for me we all dodged a bullet. But the twinkle in Rome’s eye said he still wasn’t dissuaded. The man liked his women the same way he liked his bulls: mean and crazy as hell.

“What are your plans for tonight?” Tucker asked as we all stood. He gathered up the plans and tucked them under his arm.

“Rome here is getting back on the road. He’s riding this weekend in a rodeo in Corpus. And I’ll probably just take it easy. Hang out in my motel room and catch up on some tapes.”

It was how I spent most of my Friday nights. It didn’t bother me any. I loved being a professional bull rider. It’s what kept me at the top of the PBR rankings. That alongside a lot of training and focus. When I wasn’t working out or doing practice runs, I was watching tapes of past events to help me improve my technique.

It wasn’t about the money or fame. A man didn’t tempt fate every time he climbed in the chute for money. Money came and went. There were other ways to earn a dollar. Better ways. Ones that didn’t involve riding a nearly two-thousand-pound pissed-off bull ready to trample you at the first opportunity it got.

It was an addiction. At age twelve, staring into the bull’s eyes as he tried to intimidate me for the first time, it started. The feel of his adrenaline pumping the same way mine was as I climbed onto his back sealed my fate. I was born with the heart of a bull rider. The same as my father, and his father before him.

Tucker gave Tim a wave as we headed out, Rome and I did the same.

“Well, if you get bored, you have my number,” Tucker said as we neared our trucks. “I can’t promise hanging with me and the family will be much fun, but you’re always welcome.”

“Appreciate the offer,” I said and shook his hand.

“Rome, be safe on the road.” Tucker nodded toward him before climbing behind the wheel.

“Will do,” Rome replied with a tip of his hat.

With a final wave goodbye, Tucker closed his door and drove away.

“Seems like a decent guy,” Rome said as we watched his tail-end disappear down the state highway.

I nodded. “Yep. I lucked out finding him.” I turned to face Rome. “Thanks for stopping by, man. And good luck tonight.” I shook his hand. “You’re gonna need it if you expect to have any chance beating me at the championship this year.”

“Shit. I ain’t that far behind you, brother.”

I chuckled. “Ride safe.”

“Always.” He opened the door to his truck. “See you in Nampa?” he asked, referring to the invitational in Idaho in two weeks.

“Wouldn’t miss it.”

He gave me a nod and then he was off. I lingered a few seconds once he was gone, turning my attention back toward Dudley’s, tempted to go back inside and search for the woman from earlier. But as soon as I noticed the old beat-up Mazda no longer sat in the parking lot, I figured it was a lost cause.

Instead, I climbed up in my truck and headed toward town to check-in at the motel I’d be staying in for the next few days.

As I drove past the city’s welcome sign, I chuckled a bit after reading it.

WELCOME TO BILLINGSLEY

Whether acres or inches, size matters.

The perfect place to plant your seed.

Yeah. I was definitely going to like it here.

After taking a detour to the motel to explore the town and grab some lunch, I pulled into an old motor lodge inn that had been recently renovated. The exterior was clad in white board and batten that transitioned into a horizontally installed cedar plank wainscot. Each of the doors had been painted a sky blue. Vibrant colored flowers overflowing their oversized pots sat between each room along the covered sidewalk, along with a few metal chairs that matched the color of the doors.

There were only a few other cars parked out front, which was more than I expected, considering this wasn’t exactly a popular tourist location.

The building was single story and L-shaped with the lobby at the front end. I drove under the portico to park. Grabbing my black Stetson hat from the dash, I slid it over my head and climbed out before heading inside.

A jingle rang overhead as I opened the door to the lobby and stepped inside. An elderly lady appeared from a room behind the desk with a bright smile on her face.

“Howdy, ma’m,” I said, removing my hat and setting it on the counter as I stepped up to it.

“Hi, there,” she replied. “What can I do for you?”

“Well, I’m hoping you have a spare room I could use for the next few days.”

“I just might. You looking for a single or a double?”

“A single if you have it, but I’m not picky. I’ll need it through Sunday, though, checking-out on Monday.”

“All right. Let me see here . . .” She sat down in a stool at the counter, her fingers click-clacking furiously over the keyboard.

As she did, I took the opportunity to glance around the room, spotting a small station set up with a mini fridge loaded with bottled waters. On the counter sat various snacks and treats, one being an assortment of cookies. They must have been fresh baked. I’d smelled their scent the moment I’d stepped through the door, originally assuming it was a candle.

“Looks like you’re in luck. I’ve got a single with a king-size bed available.”

“I’ll take it,” I said, turning my eyes back to her and pulling out my wallet. I handed her my license and credit card all too familiar with the process, having spent so much time on the road.

“So what brings you to Billingsley, Nash?” she asked, having read my name off my ID.

“I’m buying some land from the Taylors and planning to build myself a house here.”

Her gray eyes flashed up to mine, wide with surprise. “As in Scott Taylor?”

“That would be the man.”

She humphed. “Never thought I’d see the day.”

I quietly chuckled.

“Are you kin to him?” she asked, her eyes doing a quick sweep over me as if looking for any resemblance.

“No, ma’am. I randomly met him in Dallas not long ago. I’d been looking for a place to buy some land and settle. It was a stroke of luck is all.”

“You must be one lucky man if you convinced that old goat to sell even an inch of dirt to you. Or a very charming one.” She handed me back my credit card and driver’s license with a sweet smile on her lips, causing the wrinkles around her eyes to deepen. “My name is Dolores. If you need anything, you just let me know. It’ll be nice having a new face ’round town. Especially one as young and handsome as yours.”

I grinned. “Thank you, Dolores.”

She handed me a key card. “It’s room nine. Best one we got.”

“I appreciate it.” I tucked all three cards into my wallet and picked up my hat, placing it back on my head.

“Feel free to grab yourself a cookie or two. They’re fresh from Ida’s Bakery just up the road in the main square. It’s a great place for a quick breakfast if you’re in the need. Otherwise, I’d suggest Kathy’s for a hearty meal.”

I thanked her once again, snatched a few of the chocolate chip cookies, and made my way to the door. I gave her a tip of my hat as I left.

I moved my truck, parking it in front of room nine. I’d barely unloaded my bag and settled in when my phone started to vibrate in my pocket.

“Hey, sis,” I said as soon as I connected the call.

“So, you really did it?” Meg asked in way of answer.

“Well, not officially yet, but yeah. Come Monday morning, your brother will be a ranch owner.”

“You know they have land in Wyoming you could’ve bought. Or better yet, you could take over things here. We all know it’s pass time for Dad to retire.”

“We both know that man will never retire.” Of course, I’d considered buying my own place in Wyoming. But there was something about Texas that called to me. Plus, I wasn’t interested in fighting over the Evans Ranch with the rest of my siblings. It was fifty-five hundred acres of beauty located not far from Jackson Hole. There was plenty to go around between the six of us siblings. Still, I wanted something that was all my own. That I’d built and bought on my own.

“What am I going to do with you being so far from home?” she continued.

“I’m sure you’ll be just fine. Same way as you always are. Besides, you’ve got Mom, Dad, and the others there with you. It’s not like I’ll never see you again.”

The other end of the line was silent. I pulled it away from my ear to make sure the call hadn’t dropped.

“What’s going on?” I asked when I pressed it back to my ear.

“It’s nothing.”

“You really gonna lie to me right now?”

She sighed heavily into the phone. “I’m overreacting is all.”

“Alec?” I asked.

Her husband wasn’t my favorite person. They’d been together since high school. I hated the guy from day one. Not just because he was dating my twin sister. The man was a privileged asshole. She could do better as clichéd as that sounded coming from her brother. Alec didn’t know when he had a good thing right in front of him. He never treated Meg right in my opinion. He’d cheated on her a time or two while we were young. But she took him back every time, despite my encouraging her to cut him loose once and for all. She’d made excuse after excuse for him. Mostly that they were only kids back then. She claimed he was different now that they were married and had their daughter, Samantha. I still had my doubts.

“He’s been working late a lot. It’s just hard with Sam is all,” she said, referring to my niece.

If the man was stepping out on her, I’d strangle him with my own two hands. I’d make a special trip to Wyoming to do it.

“Plus, I miss you,” she admitted, unknowingly reeling me back in from the dark turn my thoughts had taken. “It’s not the same without you. Never is when you’re on the road. But at least before I knew when you’d be coming home. Now . . .” she trailed off.

“I miss you too, sis.”

It would be hard being so far from my family. We were all close. Always had been. Especially Meg and me. Being twins our bond was special. But in my heart, I knew this was where I was meant to be. It also meant less distance to travel to rodeos, considering a good portion of the PBR events happened throughout the state.

“Tell you what, let’s plan a trip for you and Sam to come see the house as soon as it’s finished.”

“That’s months from now, Nash.”

“True. But I’m sure we’ll find a time before then to see each other. I’ll be up in Nampa in a couple weeks. And I’ll be spending time in Wyoming after until the house is done.”

“Sure. Okay. I’ll see about some time off and look at flights to Texas.”

“Perfect. And don’t worry about the cost. I’ll cover it.”

“I don’t need your money, Nash. We do just fine on our own.”

“Not saying you do. It’s the least I can do, though, if you two are making the long haul out this way.”

I could almost hear her eyes roll through the phone. “We’ll see,” she said, neither conceding nor arguing further. There was a faint cry in the background. “Sam’s up from her nap. Talk later?”

“Sounds good. Give that girl a kiss from Uncle Nash.”

“I will. Love you.”

“Love you too.”

Not even a second later and she was gone. I tossed the phone on the nightstand, falling back on the mattress with a sigh and closed my eyes. It didn’t take long for my mind to wander back to the brunette in the bar. With every passing second I was more and more convinced it had been Melanie. What were the chances, though?