No Ordinary Cowboy (Mills & Boon American Romance) (Rodeo Rebels - Book 6) by Marin Thomas Page B

and Chicken on a Chain, the bull he’d ridden in Prescott that had vaulted him to the top of the standings.
    “Dad?”
    Cal Durango stepped from his office. His neutral expression turned into a glower when he spotted Tony. “What are you doing in my house?”
    “Tony’s here on official business,” Lucy said.
    “What happened to you?” Durango motioned to Lucy’s disheveled appearance.
    “I’ve been practicing my bull-riding skills,” she lied.
    The scowl on Durango’s face deepened and Tony waited for the older man to explode. Instead, he nodded to the paperwork in Tony’s hand. “I assume your boss sent you here with a warrant to search my property.”
    Michael’s father was a man used to calling the shots and he didn’t like not having a say. Tony placed the forms on the foyer table. “It’s a court order allowing border patrol agents access to your property for surveillance purposes.”
    Cal walked closer. “Lucy said you found a girl hiding in the mine today. What’s her story?”
    “Her name’s Nina. She was abducted while walking home from school in Nogales, Mexico.”
    “Were there other girls?”
    “Yes.” Tony refrained from giving any more details, because he didn’t want Durango using his power or political connections to interfere with the investigation. “I can’t share any information about the case other than we’d like you and anyone working for you to steer clear of the area near the mine for a while.”
    “Your boss had better keep his men out of that mine.”
    Only Cal Durango would worry about people stealing his gold dust. “We won’t be going into the mine.”
    “Tell your boss I want to be kept in the loop.”
    “Yes, sir.” Tony would be more than happy to leave Romero the chore of briefing Durango on the investigation. He left the house, his gaze bouncing off Lucy as he walked out the door.
    “Tony, wait.” Lucy stayed on the porch. “Where’s Maddie?”
    “I left her at the station with Nina.”
    “When you get tired of her, I’ll pick her up from your apartment.”
    “Maddie’s not staying with me. They don’t allow pets.”
    “Then where—”
    “My mother’s.”
    “Your mom doesn’t mind?”
    “She likes the company.”
    Lucy fidgeted and Tony worried she wanted to discuss the kiss he’d much rather forget.
    “I spoke with Shannon earlier today and asked where I could find a real bull to practice on. She told me to contact P. T. Lewis, who runs Five Star Rodeos.”
    “I’ve ridden a few of the bulls that ended up at P.T.’s ranch.”
    “So…”
    Tony knew where Lucy was going with the conversation and he wanted no part of it.
    “I called P.T. and spoke with his foreman, Clint McGraw. He said I could ride Curly, the same bull Shannon used to practice on.”
    Tony was aware of Cal Durango watching him and Lucy through the front window. “You’re not going to change your mind about this rodeo fundraising gimmick, are you?”
    “No. I just wanted you to know that I’ve got everything figured out,” she said.
    “You figure out yet how you’re going to keep from getting killed?”
    “I’ll be fine.”
    Fine, my ass. Tony hopped into his truck and shut the door before he said something he couldn’t take back. As he sped away, Lucy’s image in the rearview mirror grew smaller. She wasn’t going to give in and find a different way to raise money for her business, so Tony was left with no choice but to intervene and help her. Her safety rested squarely on his shoulders whether he wanted the responsibility or not.
    When he got home tonight he’d give Five Star Rodeos a call and find out when Lucy intended to practice on Curly. She wasn’t getting within ten feet of a bull unless he was there with her.

Chapter Eight
    Late Friday afternoon, Lucy slowed the truck as she turned onto Star Road, which led to the Five Star Ranch. The end of April had arrived and that meant Lucy had only two weeks to get ready for the first rodeo in Ajo. She