“He’s a very nice young man, with a lot on his plate.”
Lyric rolled her eyes. “I call bullshit, but let’s move on anyway. Have you given any thought to what we talked about the other night? Lost Cowboy followin’ his story?”
She had, but she didn’t want to admit it to Lyric. She reminded herself that whatever decisions Bullet made in his life couldn’t be because of a potential Lost Cowboy sponsorship.
“No,” she lied. “I haven’t.”
“Too bad. ’Cause, if you ask me, his story would make a good one.”
“I don’t think he likes me very much.”
“That isn’t it. It’s more that he doesn’t like himself when he takes a look through your eyes.”
“You’re overstating it. I hurt his feelings. He doesn’t know how to get around it. Rather than accepting my apology, he’s sulking.”
Lyric rolled her eyes. “Okay, let’s move on. Who ya got?”
Tristan had spent the previous evening doing her own research. She had a handful of cowboys and cowgirls she wanted to run by Lyric, but looking at the list in front of her, Lyric had almost twice the number she had.
“It isn’t as though you’re going to sponsor ’em all. It’s just a starting point.”
“Good. You scared me for a minute.”
Some, they crossed off the list without much discussion. Others, they debated, and others stayed on the list without hesitation. In the end, they had ten potentials. Six cowboys, and four cowgirls. Tristan wanted it to be equal, so they went back to look through the barrel racers one more time.
“What about a female bull rider?”
“I don’t know of any other than Mags Parker.”
“There are a few more out there. Some up-and-comers mainly. Maybe you should talk to your daddy about two levels of sponsorship. One for the guys and girls who are already at the pro level, and another for the ones just startin’ out.”
It was something they’d talked about many times. For Lost Cowboy to get big names on their team, they had to recruit them early in their career. Once they achieved a certain level, Cinch or one of the other major clothing sponsors would be all over them.
“Good idea,” Tristan murmured.
“What’s up? You aren’t as focused as you were last night.”
“I’m giving your suggestion some thought. It’s a good idea.”
“Yeah, I’m like that,” smiled Lyric. “I’m full of ’em. But which one, in particular, are you talkin’ about?”
“Where’s Bullet living?”
“Scre-e-e-e-ch. Whoa, girl. You gotta give me some warnin’ before you bounce off the subject wall.”
“Sorry. He’s just on my mind. I tried to talk to him before you came in, but he wouldn’t listen to me.”
“He rented a place in town yesterday. It’s furnished, which is a good thing. He doesn’t have time for furniture shoppin’.”
Tristan assumed he didn’t have the money either. Crested Butte was not an inexpensive place to live.
“I’d like to talk to him before I leave tomorrow. You know, clear the air.”
“What are you sittin’ here for? Go find him.”
Tristan thought it over for a minute, and then grabbed her jacket from the coat rack and went out the front door. The ranch was a big place. Who knew where he might be working?
She caught a glimpse of someone leading a horse into the arena. The man was built like Bullet, but she couldn’t see his face. As she got closer, she saw he was working with a bronc.