Read Online Learning the Ropes by T. J. Kline - Free Book Online

in his criticism.
    “Hey, Dad.” He pretended to be happy to see him but he knew he’d never been good at hiding his feelings.
    “You seem kinda cheery for a loser.”
    David clenched his jaw and inhaled slowly, reminding himself of the people surrounding them and why he couldn’t say what he was thinking right now.
    “We didn’t lose, Dad. We just didn’t place in the money.” He started back toward the trailer. At least there wasn’t an audience there.
    His father looked down his nose at his much shorter son. “If you don’t get paid, you lost.” His father sighed loudly. “It wasn’t even you that lost it. I don’t understand why you and your brother can’t just rope together. Why’d you go and pick this kid for your header?”
    “Stop,” David warned his father.
    His father hadn’t agreed with his decision to rope with Chris instead of his brother. Even though his brother suggested the arrangement—one of the only times they’d defied their father—before buying a cattle ranch and settling down with his high school sweetheart. His father still wasn’t able to accept the decision. David wished he could put his foot down to his father the way his brother had; however, now that his brother retired from professional rodeo, their father was even more determined that David carry on the NFR torch.
    David caught a glimpse of Alicia and Chris walking back toward the trailers, her reins held loosely in her hand as her gelding followed like a dog on a leash. He saw her head fall backward with laughter at something Chris said and jealousy churned in his belly. She was exactly the kind of woman he hoped to find someday and settle down with—kind, determined, ambitious, beautiful inside and out. He hadn’t known her long enough to believe she was “the one” but he sure didn’t want to miss the opportunity to find out if she might be.
    Chris slid his arm around Alicia’s slim shoulder and gave her a squeeze. It was a friendly gesture but there was something in the way Chris looked at her that troubled David. There was an eagerness in his friend’s eyes he didn’t like. He’d seen the same look in Chris’s eyes last night on the dance floor. Chris couldn’t be interested in Alicia. Why would he have set them up if he were?
    “Are you even listening to me?” His father’s gruff voice broke into his thoughts. He followed the direction of David’s gaze. “Tell me you aren’t getting distracted by some bunny.”
    “She’s not a bunny, Dad, and no, I’m not losing focus. I know what I need to do and I’m doing it.” He didn’t want to throw Chris under his father’s scrutiny any further by pointing out that he was the one who’d lost focus this morning. “Everyone is entitled to an off day.”
    “Not if you want to get to the Finals.” His father frowned at Chris and Alicia. “And he needs to remember he’s here to rope cattle not women, even if they do throw themselves at him.”
    “She is not throwing herself at him.” David clenched his jaw. “They have been friends for years.”
    “Yeah,” his father scoffed, “they look like friends .”
    David had had enough and spun on his father. “Was there a reason you came? Or do you just want to criticize?”
    His father narrowed his eyes, ignoring David’s question. “You’re falling for some gold-digging barrel racer?”
    Colt Greenly was far too observant for his son’s liking but David wasn’t going to give him the ammunition admitting the truth would offer. He quirked a brow at his father, waiting for him to say what he wanted so he could leave.
    He chuckled. “You’re a fool, boy. Leave the bunnies alone and stick to the job at hand.” He moved down the last few metal steps of the stands. “I’m moving onto your brother’s property. We’re putting a trailer on the place and I’m selling the ranch.”
    “What? Why?” David couldn’t hide the surprise in his voice. Their ranch had been passed down from father to son