Fall With Me (Sugarland Creek, #3) (88)

I'm so damn proud of my wife.

As soon as the music blares through the speakers, Ellie and Ranger sprint into the arena and the crowd cheers louder than I've heard them all week. She's decked out in her signature sparkly pink hat and boots, one of her new buckles, and she put her hair back in pigtail braids today.

Everything about her is stunning.

“Let's fucking gooooooo!” Noah screams at the top of her lungs, jumping up and down while holding a large sign that reads Finish faster than a man and you can't lose!

A little inappropriate considering this is supposed to be a family event, but it’s hilarious, nonetheless. I'd expect nothing less than my sister, honestly.

Standing next to her with Magnolia on my other side, we watch as she flies around the first barrel effortlessly before charging to the second.

We continue screaming for them, but then I hold my breath as they wrap around the third.

I exhale when they clear it.

Thank God.

“Go, go, go!” I shout with Noah as they bolt to the finish line.

Everyone looks at the screen.

“Thirteen point three seven!” Noah shouts—more like screams—in my ear as she jumps.

“Holy shit…” I whistle. “That's her fastest yet.”

“There's no way that doesn't bring her to number one, right?” Magnolia asks. “That was like the speed of lightning on crack!”

“She's currently at the top for this round, but it depends on how the other girls do. Once everyone races, they'll determine the tenth-round winner and then their final averages,” Noah explains to her. “I'd say it's very close though.”

We continue watching the rest of the racers, mostly holding my breath, and hoping none of them beat her time.

Two girls knock over barrels and won't win.

When the final racer enters, we all watch with bated breath.

This is it…

Thirteen point five six.

“Yes! That should make her the round ten winner!” Noah shouts, jumping around and making the sign smack me over and over. “Now we wait for them to calculate the averages.”

Nerves and anxiety take over and I wish I could be with Ellie right now. But I will be soon.

The final lineup for the round appears on the screen, showcasing Ellie as the winner. We cheer again, hoping she hears us. I know she'll still be happy with that. Winning the rounds pays out good earnings and prizes, too.

Ellie had an amazing year leading up to this. She's worked her ass off nonstop and deserves all her success.

The biggest scandal of the year was six months ago when Sarah and Samantha, the Smith twins, got disqualified from the PRCA for unethical behavior. Someone found proof and turned them in for drug and alcohol use which is strictly prohibited for safety reasons.

Not sure who could've done that…

Karma's a bitch.

When the screen changes to reveal the overall average times, my breath catches in my throat, and I swear my heart stops beating for a solid ten seconds.

1. Ellie Donovan - 13.5

She fucking crushed it.

And won the championship.

Our section roars with cheers, jumping and screaming for her, and exchanging hugs.

This is unreal.

“We need to go find her!” Noah shouts and our entire group rushes out of the arena.

Ellie's already on her way to us and when she sees us, we swarm her.

“You did it, baby. I knew you would,” I say in her ear. “I'm so proud of you.”

She's sobbing by the time I pull back. I know she hates crying and we're overwhelming her, but she deserves the recognition even if it's over the top.

She just won her first National Finals Rodeo championship.





“Why’re you so glued to your phone lately?” I ask Waylon, nudging him to pay attention before he walks into a pole. “Especially at seven in the morning.”

“None your business.”

I roll my eyes at his cocky tone. “C'mon. I tell you everything, so share with the class.”

“Yeah…” Wilder adds though he sounds utterly clueless.

Though I don't blame him.

We got three hours of sleep before we had to get up for the airport. Ellie's driving the trailer back with Fisher and Noah while the rest of us fly home so we can get back to the ranch sooner.

But we spent most of last night celebrating Ellie's domination. Then we went back to our hotel and had a little naked party by ourselves.

“It's a chick, ain’t it?” Wilder asks.

“Technically, it's a group chat. But there's one in here who always flirts with me.”

“What kind of group chat?”

“My friend, Jake, added me to this horse club he's in. They mostly talk about random shit, horses, and some rodeo stuff.”

“A horse club? Are you sure that ain’t code for something else…” Wilder taunts, waggling his brows.

Give it to his twin brother to mock him. I can't remember the last time Waylon dated someone or even been interested in more than a fling.

“Sounds suspicious to me…” I join in.

“Fuck off, it's not.”

“Do y'all have a code word?” Wilder asks. “Big Donkey Schlong or Monster Horse Dick.”