4. Royal

Chapter 4

Royal

Je vous salue Marie, pleine de graces…

Seconds before Onyx Alpha rammed the gate, Royal managed to lug Easton to safety from the bull and whatever the fuck it was that he thought he saw hovering in the dust above the arena floor. Perhaps when his pulse ceased racing, he'd be able to make sense of what he'd witnessed. But for now, he'd settle for Easton being out of harm's way. Thank the heavens Easton had gotten up. Many cowboys wouldn't have—at least not immediately. But adrenaline spurred spectacular feats.

Onyx Alpha trotted around the rink in a victory lap—victorious in that it had successfully tossed Easton like a rag doll. However, Easton had held on by the hair of his chinny chin chin long enough to be scored. It was ugly, but ugly counted. Ugly earned a payday.

Royal's eyes darted to the jumbotron for the replay. " Hrump ," he grunted. On the screen, the dust looked like dust. No weird form. No distinct shape. Just dust.

"You okay?" Marcel huffed, climbing the steps with a gaggle of the crew following to the bleachers where Royal and Easton were.

Shit! Royal still had Easton in his arms. Quickly, he let go and stiffened.

" Pshaw. He's fine," Royal quipped, taking the lead on whether it was true or not, and he doubted that it was. But he'd felt Easton trembling and knew his friend would be honte and mortified if anyone suspected he'd been rattled. Plus, Royal wasn't sure how permissible it would be for Easton to state what he'd seen. People may think he'd whacked his head one too many times and stick him in an asylum. At the very least, he wouldn't be allowed to ride until cleared by a shrink, and God only knew how long that would take. Again, it required a certain amount of insanity to willingly mount a two-ton beast that wanted to draw blood. Admitting to seeing apparitions would short-list him to a padded cell. Nope, floating supernatural entities were best kept quiet.

"He wanted to show off his acrobatic skills," Royal continued. "Besides, he landed on his ass. He's got some cushion back there."

"Hush it." Marcel waved him off. "East, talk to me."

"Yeah, I'm good," Easton answered, straightening himself and diverting his eyes from Royal, the color slowly returning to his face. " ?a marche . Just got the wind knocked out of me. All limbs accounted for and balls intact."

Marcel nodded. "Your mama will be glad to hear that." He reached out his hand to Easton, who was still on the floor. "She nearly skint me alive last time I had to tell her you'd been hurt. Chewed my butt good. I'm surprised I have any left. Had me swimming in the head, I tell you. She'll be wanting grand-youngens."

"It would be funny to see you walking around like the Headless fucking Horseman," Upton snickered. "With your Stetson on your shoulders all yaw ways and shit."

"Quash it," Marcel griped, pulling Easton to his feet. "You always yacking your trap when you ought not. All of yas." He cast a glance at the men around him. "I don't know why I stick around."

"I already said. Cos you love us," Royal replied, standing. "We are the beacons of sunshine in your life. We're your oxygen and the wind in your sails. The gold at the end of your rainbow. The?—"

"Pains in my rump is what y'all are. And you—" He pointed at Upton. "—need to watch your mouth. This is a family-friendly event."

Uh-huh. Where parents bring their crumb-snatching tax deductions to watch us get slung about like a third grader's boogers.

After looking Easton over, satisfied nothing was broken or out of place, the lines in Marcel's face relaxed.

Royal planted on a smile to lighten the mood, but not because he felt it. His legs still felt wobbly, and a lump was lodged at the base of his throat. That could have gone so very wrong. Easton shouldn't have ridden. Royal shouldn't have covered for him. That bull was too damn mean for this sport, and that thing… . What was that? A shiver raced up his spine. Pull it together.

He focused on the jumbotron. A score of 94.6 scrolled across the bottom—good enough for a solid second. He turned and grinned at Easton. "Told ya you wouldn't outride me, baw ."

"Yeah, yeah." Easton dusted himself off. "Easy to say when you pulled a docile calf."

Royal laughed. "Don't be jelly cos you couldn't own that dainty little sugar dumpling you pulled." He glanced at Onyx Alpha still prancing around the ring. "He's so agreeable. You must didn't whisper sweet nothings in his ear."

Easton made a face, stifling a smile. " Embrasse mon cul ."

"All right, all right," Marcel interrupted. "Let's get back to the locker room. I want the doctor to check you to be on the safe side."

Upton grunted. "No sides are safe."

"I'm fine," Easton protested.

"It's not a horrific idea," Royal said mildly. However, the quick glare from Easton let him know his words were seen as traitorous.

"No. I'm not having any doctors prodding and poking on me. I'll take it easy for the rest of the night."

"Now you listen here," Marcel bit out. "That's exactly how little problems develop into huge problems—by not checking."

"He seems to be okay, but I'll stay with him to make sure he's not seeing double or anything," Maddox offered.

Where had he come from? Royal frowned and cast an incinerating gaze at the unwelcome bystander. Who asked you anything? " J'ai ?a . I got this," he repeated in English, realizing Maddox hadn't understood.

Maddox smiled coyly. "Brown said you guys were going out, and I'm sure East…"

East? Who gave you permission to call him that? You don't fucking know him like that.

"…wouldn't want you to change your plans. I was planning on staying in, so it's really no problem. We can hang out, watch TV, and get to know each other better."

You son of a ? —

Marcel nodded. "Well, I guess that would be better than nothing."

The hell it is.

Folding his arms across his chest, Royal protested, "He doesn't need a babysitter. I'll stay."

Maddox's eyes narrowed, and his mouth quirked in a humorless smile. "If he doesn't need a sitter, what does it matter who stays with him? Besides, I'm certified in basic first aid."

Royal noted the deceptive saccharine quality in Maddox's tone. Why you ? —

Before Royal could respond, Easton nodded. "Maddox is right. You shouldn't change your plans because of me. You deserve to celebrate your win."

"Good. That's settled," Marcel stated, bringing the matter to a close. "Let's finish this shindig up."

No, nothing's settled.

"I'll meet you at the hotel," Maddox confirmed.

That slithery, no-good, conniving bastard!