The Bull Rider's Brother Read Online Free PDF Page B

by the knees.
    Now that’s love.
    James felt his heart swell at the sight. He hadn’t been close to his father, but times like this, he missed the old guy. His dad would never know the joy of grandchildren. JR’s gramps was a lucky man. James watched closer, trying to identify JR’s grandfather, but the man and boy were walking away. Hell, he’d probably met him sometime or other. He’d grown up here for God’s sake. Something about the man niggled at the edge of James’s mind.
    “James, can you help me with this saddle?” Bud Carpenter, an old friend, dragged what looked like all the tack he owned through the middle of the barn.
    “Where are we going?” James grabbed one of the saddles throwing it over his shoulder. Bud had sponsored the rodeo club when the boys were in high school. From the looks of things, he still took an active part. “Don’t tell me you’re still riding?”
    “Out to the truck, where do you think? And what, you think I’m too old?” Bud offered him a grin that was missing two bottom teeth. “I’m joshing you. My kid’s in the barrel racing. She’s pretty good.”
    “Of course she is. You probably had her training as soon as she could walk.”
    “Like you and your kid. Think he’ll be able to win the mutton bustin’ tonight? There are a lot of kids entered this year.”
    “My kid?” James blinked, confused for a second. Then he realized Bud must have seen him talking to JR. He lifted the saddle into the back of the truck. “Oh, that’s not my kid.”
    “Could have fooled me.” Bud shook his head. “He looked exactly like you the first time your dad brought you here. You had the same look of fear.”
    “It’s like jumping into a cool river on a hot day. You never forget the shock.” James leaned on the truck and glanced back at the barn. “I don’t know how Jesse keeps going. I stopped competing years ago.”
    “Maybe he’s waiting for you to say uncle and get out altogether?” Bud slapped James on the back. “It’s nice to have you boys home, even if it’s only for the weekend.”
    “I’ll see you tonight around town?” James started walking back to the barn to find Jesse.
    “I’ll be there. A cold beer will sound good after today.” Bud waved and got in his truck.
    James heard the truck chug to life as he walked through the cloud of dust and smoke Bud left in his wake. The man never had a truck that ran worth a damn. Funny, Bud thinking JR was his kid. Sure the kid had brown hair and eyes like him, but seriously, so did half the population.
    “Where you been?” Jesse stood at the barn entrance, leaning against the oversized redwood door.
    “Helping Bud move some saddles.” James pointed after the faded red truck.
    “Ah.” Jesse turned. “Let’s get back to town. The parade starts in an hour and Lizzie’s pancakes made me hungry.”
    The two men walked back through the stands to where they’d left the truck.
    “Hey,” James asked suddenly, “who were you talking to in the barn?”
    Jesse started and shot him glance then dug a hand into a pocked for his keys. Eyes on the ground he said, “Just some guys.”
    Seriously? Jesse was going to lie to him? “Who was the one with the grandson?”
    Jesse unlocked the door and climbed into the cab. “A local. We were talking about the bulls.”
    “Does the local have a name?” James pressed. He loved seeing Jesse squirm, even on something as minor as this. For some reason, Jesse hadn’t wanted James to see him talking to the guy and now he was trying to weasel out of it.
    Jesse started the truck, ignoring the question. “Want to hit Daisy’s Café for lunch?”
    “Sounds good.” James still couldn’t put a name with the old man’s face and it bugged him. His stomach growled. “Guess I’m hungrier than I thought. I hope they still serve those huge burgers and homemade onion rings.”
    “You lived on Daisy’s food senior year. That’s all you wanted when Dad asked where we were