Diamonds and Spurs [The Callens 9] (Siren Publishing Ménage Everlasting) (10 page)

Lilly shook her arm. “You okay?”

“Yeah.”

“You kind of spaced out.”

Whoops
. “So tell me about this fundraiser.”

* * * *

Mandy didn’t know if she was more excited to lead kids around on horses, watch the bull-riding and calf-roping contests, or see Cam and Vince. Lilly had promised to take a double shift if it meant Mandy could spend more time with the men.

She decided all three enticed her.
Be honest
. Okay, being with the men would provide the biggest rush, but she didn’t like getting her hopes up.

Trinity drove her and Lilly to Sam’s parents’ ranch. She’d never seen the other Callen estates. As they neared, she sat up and scoped out the place.

“Oh, my.” Cars and trucks parked on the land hundreds of feet from the house.

“Guess we’ve got to hoof it, ladies.”

Mandy had come prepared with walking boots and a lightweight shirt. This August day was bound to be hot. As they neared the estate, music blared. “This is some affair.” About six large, white tents sat next to each other. “How many will be here, do you think?”

Trinity glanced to the sky. “Five hundred to a thousand, maybe. Almost all who show up donate a sizable amount, unless they’re here to participate in the contests.”

Lilly smiled. “You should have seen Sam last year. She won the calf-roping contest for the women.”

“Her time was only a second longer than the men’s winner,” Trinity added.

Sam was pregnant this year. “I’m hoping she’ll only be spectating this time.”

Trinity stepped off the road to let a horse pass. “She’d better. I know some of the other women are thrilled to have a chance to win the prize.”

Once they entered the fenced ranch, Mandy looked around for Vince or Cam, but she didn’t spot them. Finding anyone in particular would be hard in this large crowd.

Lilly wrapped an arm through hers. “Let’s head inside the house. I’m betting that’s where Sam will be. She’ll give us our assignments.”

“What about all the other girls?” Sam had fifteen employees.

“Everyone has a job, some more exciting than others.”

Being low man on the totem pole, she expected the most menial job. Inside, cool air greeted them, as did high ceilings and a huge house. “Wow.”

“I know, right?” Lilly looked around. “What I wouldn’t give to live here.”

“Large homes aren’t all that wonderful. Someone has to clean them.”

All three laughed. Sam waddled out. “Hey, ladies.” A woman who looked a lot like Sam followed her, wearing an apron.

“Mandy, this is my mom.”

They shook hands. “Nice to meet you, Mrs. Callen.”

A threesome burst through the door laughing. “Hi, Mom.”

Sam gave all three a hug. “You know Trinity and Lilly. This our newest recruit, Mandy Duncan. Mandy, this is my sister April and her one of her husbands, Taylor. April is in med school.” She wrapped an arm around her sister’s shoulders. “We’re all very proud of her.”

“I have a long way to go before I get the letters
MD
at the end of my name. We’re looking for an extension cord for the band. The one they brought isn’t long enough.”

“You know where it is. Help yourself.”

The trio left and Sam faced them. She pulled a piece of paper out of her pocket. “I want everyone to have a good time. If you want to split your time between work and fun, that’s fine. Here’s the schedule. The kiddie rides will be from one to five. Decide between the three of you when you want to take your shift.”

Mandy loved how Sam treated them with such respect. She took the flyer and glanced at the events.

Mrs. Callen wiped her hands on her apron. “Don’t forget to grab food when it suits you. We always have leftovers.”

“Thanks.” With their instructions in hand, the three of them left.

“Let’s check out the rodeo setup,” Mandy said. Gunshots sounded, but they appeared to be quite far away. “Is there a sharp shooting contest?”

Trinity leaned over. She tapped the paper. “On the north end of the property. It’s a rifle competition. I watched last year, but the bull riding is the most fun.”

Lilly spoke up. “My favorite is the calf roping.”

Mandy was curious. “Do either of you ever enter?”

Lilly shook her head while Trinity nodded. “Years ago I did the calf roping, but it’s hard on the back jumping off the horse and then trying to wrestle that poor calf.”

“Years ago? How long have you worked for the Callens?”

“Only three, but I entered when I worked elsewhere.”

They reached the large fenced area. Stadium seats rimmed the arena. “This is amazing. The Callens really went all out.”

Someone tapped her shoulder and she spun around. “Vince!”

He gave her a hug. “Come to watch me tame the bull?”

Her jaw lowered. “You’re riding a bull?” That was barbaric. “You could be crippled for life sitting on top of one.” Craig loved to watch the rodeo. They’d been introduced to a few riders. All they talked about was how many operations they’d had for broken bones. Every one had back issues.

“I’ll take my chances. With you watching, I’ll stay on extra long.”

“I wouldn’t miss it.”

As soon as he disappeared, Mandy and the girls climbed on the stands. They picked a seat high up, mostly because the lower seats were taken.

“Popular event,” she said.

“It’s probably the reason why most people come,” Trinity said.

An announcer at a table in the stands across from them tapped the microphone. “Welcome to the annual calf-roping and bull-riding competition. Let’s get started.”

Several pretty girls on horses came out in their cowgirl finery and waved. She recognized many of them as Sam’s ranch hands.

Lilly leaned over. “Only the senior most women have the option to ride.”

Maybe someday, she’d be one of the girls. Next up was the calf roping. First the women and then the men competed. Her gaze never left the rider, and the easy way she maneuvered the horse. Some missed lassoing the calf altogether, but of the ones who succeeded, maybe half were able to tie up all four legs. The first woman to succeed received a standing ovation.

Mandy checked her phone for the time to make sure they wouldn’t be late to the kiddie rides. Next came the men’s turn to rope the calf. One of Sam’s husbands, Wade Watson, took his turn.

Trinity nudged her. “He won last year. He’s amazing.”

With rapt attention, they watched Wade race after the calf, rope him on the first toss, and upend him in seconds. The finished time was eight seconds.

“Good luck beating that time,” Trinity offered.

In the end Wade won, beating out Sam’s other husband, Heath. Mandy wanted to see Vince ride, and then she’d check if anyone wanted to ride a pony. Vince was the fourth bull rider. The first three lasted only a few seconds. Hooves smashed the gate, and she spotted Vince climb on top.

Mandy covered her face. “I’m not sure I can watch.”

Lilly rubbed her back. “Don’t worry. Those two men on horseback are there to see nothing happens to him.”

The gate opened and the crowd cheered. She lifted her gaze. With one hand on the horn, Vince rode the bucking steer. Her back ached just watching the bull dip his head and spin, trying to dislodge him.

“Go, Vince!” she yelled.

The bull won and threw Vince. Her heart lodged in her throat as the men on horseback descended on the wild beast and led him away. Vince jumped up, slapped his hand against his leg, and waved.

The announcer stated Vince’s time as seven point six seconds. To her, he’d ridden a good minute.

“I’m going to check on the pony rides. I’ll take the first shift.”

“Sure,” Trinity said.

Mandy made her way to the ground. As she turned to go around the corral, gloved hands grabbed her from behind and lifted her off her feet. She laughed. He set her down and spun her around. “Vince. Great job.”

He grinned. “If I win, do I get a kiss?”

She might like to give him more than that. “You got it.”

“I want to watch Walter Simmons take his turn. He’s my biggest competitor. Mind if we watch for a second?”

She could afford to watch one more. “Sure.”

“Let’s step over here. We can see from the gate.”

They were halfway to the entrance when a sharp pain sliced her calf. “Ouch.” Mandy halted.

Vince clasped her arm. “What’s wrong?”

She lifted her foot to check out if perhaps she’d been bit by a snake. Blood gushed out of her calf. “Oh, my God.”

Vince swept her up. “Carlton,” he shouted to someone nearby. “Find Jenny or the medic.”

As he raced with her toward the house, her leg aching in earnest, she asked, “What happened?”

“Shh, darlin’. You’ll be fine. Someone shot you.”

Vince rushed Mandy into the house. “Anyone here?” His heart pounded, not from having Mandy in his arms, but from the fact she’d been shot.

Sharon as the culprit came to mind, but the princess was inept with guns. However, if she’d pawned one piece of Callen jewelry, she could have hired someone to do the deed.

Sam’s mom raced in from outside. “Vince? What happened?”

Aunt Victoria would fuss if he let her examine Mandy. “Can you find a towel for us?”

“You bet.”

As she hustled off, Vince placed Mandy facedown on the sofa. He sat at the foot of the sofa and lifted her leg. The blood had mostly caked, implying the wound wasn’t too deep. “It’s just a scratch.” The wound was oblong. While he wasn’t about to probe the area for a bullet, it appeared as if she’d only been grazed.

“It hurts.”

“I’m sure it does, darlin’.”

The porch door banged open. Jenny rushed in. “How is she?” The medical student knelt in front of the sofa and studied the injury. “I’ll get the med kit.”

Accidents happened at a ranch, and every owner had a decent-size kit. His aunt returned with two towels, one wet and one dry. She handed both to him.

“What happened?” His aunt worried her hands together.

“I’m not sure.”

To clear the excess blood, he swiped the wet towel over Mandy’s leg, but more blood bubbled. Immediately he placed the dry towel on top and applied pressure. She whimpered.

Vince stroked her head. “Easy, darlin’.” He looked up at Aunt Victoria. “We were about to watch the bull riding competition when Mandy was hit. The crowd noise from the corral muffled the report.”

“Do you think it was an accident?”

He shrugged. Voicing his opinion about the off chance someone might want to harm Mandy would only scare his aunt.

Jenny came back with the kit. “I need to clean her calf.” She lifted the towel and more blood oozed out. “Press on this while I get out the iodine and pads.” She glanced up at him. “Did you call the paramedics?”

Mandy waved a hand. “I don’t think it’s very serious.”

For her sake, Vince wasn’t about to disagree. An infection could occur. “No. Should I?”

“Let me examine her first.”

Footsteps sounded. Cam arrived. “Holy shit. What happened?”

“Mandy’s been shot.” Vince raised his brows.

Cam knelt and stroked her back. “How are you doing, angel?”

“I’m fine,” Mandy said with her forehead resting on her arms.

Cam looked at him, and Vince nodded.

“I came to tell you Sharon’s here. Thought you should know.”

His gut soured, but he wasn’t ready to accuse her of something this terrible. “What’s she doing here?” His aunt wouldn’t have sent a personal invitation, not after how she’d treated both him and Cam.

“Said she came to donate to the cause.”

“Damn. You think she had anything to do with this?” He kept his voice low as he nodded to the wound.

Mandy lifted her head but dropped it down. “You’re scaring me guys. I’m betting it was a random shot. Maybe someone’s gun just fired.”

Vince rubbed her back. “That’s not how it works, darlin’.”

Cam chewed on his lip. “Could tell the direction from the sound?”

“I heard nothing.”

“You think the shooter used a silencer?”

“That’s my guess.”

“Where were you standing?”

His tone wasn’t accusatory. “Next to Mandy. In fact, we were heading to the gate to watch more of the bull riding when she was hit.”

“Could they have been after you and hit Mandy instead?”

He didn’t care for that scenario. “Anything’s possible. Whoever it was, he was a lousy shot if he meant to kill one of us.”

Jenny placed tape over the gauze pad. “All set. Mandy, the bullet only grazed you, so no surgery necessary. Try to keep off it for a few days. Cover it when you shower, at least until tomorrow.”

She nodded.