Randall Pride by Judy Christenberry Page B

was caught by a shout from Lonnie. “Ready!” he yelled in return and clicked the stopwatch.
    Sally stood silently beside him as they watched Lonnie rope another calf and tie it up.
    “Better,” Toby called when Lonnie turned to look at him. “Five-two. And that calf fought you a little. Good job.”
    “I’m going again!” Lonnie said, a smile on his face.
    Toby nodded.
    “I’m looking for a partner,” Sally said, surprising him. “You interested?”
    That question brought his attention back to the woman beside him. “Uh, I’m going back home at the end of the week.”
    “Why? Why did you leave rodeo in the first place?” Sally asked.
    “I was tired of this life. I missed my family.” Hewouldn’t have had the nerve to say that when he was younger. But now he knew what was important.
    Sally slid her arms around his neck. She was a beautiful woman, strong and fit. Many considered her the best-looking woman on the circuit. “I could be your family.”
    Toby held back his laughter. He didn’t want to hurt her feelings. “Sally, honey, you’re a beauty, and you know it. Half the cowboys here would fall down at your feet if you just smiled at them. But I’ve got a huge family, and I want to be with them. I can’t stay…even for you.”
    “I don’t want just anyone. I want you. I’ve always wanted you. That’s why Wes was never very friendly to you. He knew how I felt.”
    Toby was appalled. What kind of hell was that, married to a woman who wanted someone else? He took hold of her arms and lowered them from his neck. “I’m sorry, Sally, but I’m going home.”
    “Must be a girl there.”
    “Maybe.” He’d been trying to do some thinking about that situation while he was away.
    “Ready?” Lonnie called.
    Toby waved and clicked the stopwatch as Lonnie urged Cocoa after the calf. He kept his eyes on his friend, but he felt Sally drift away. He was glad. He’d been approached by several women since he’d gotten back. Whether for a night or for a year or two, they’d all offered to take him in and provide some entertainment, too.
    He’d turned them all down. Clicking the time when Lonnie finished, he called, “Four-nine. Now you’re cookin’.”
    Around five o’clock, when he figured Elizabeth would be home, he called the ranch.
     
    E LIZABETH had just gotten a cup of coffee and headed for a seat at the table when the phone rang. “I’ll get it,” she called to Red. After all, she was already standing.
    “Randall Ranch,” she said.
    “Elizabeth?”
    “Yes, who—”
    “It’s Toby. Have you forgotten me already?”
    “No, of course not. How are you?” she asked, turning her back to the others, in particular, B.J. Once she discovered it was her son on the phone, she’d want to talk to him.
    “How’s everything at the ranch?”
    “Fine. They brought in the herd of steers you were rounding up yesterday. The brothers were pleased.” That was how the second generation referred to the original four Randalls.
    “Good.”
    “How—how are things there?”
    “Good. Lonnie placed last night in both events. He’s thrilled with Cocoa, of course. Wants me to train him a horse.”
    “Uncle Pete was talking about that on Sunday.”
    “He was?”
    “Yes, he thinks you should make it a business,” she said. Probably she should have left this conversation to Pete, but she wanted to give Toby a reason to come home.
    “Good idea. How are your classes?”
    “Fine.” Then she remembered something he might be interested in. “Russ is thinking about working with Bill Johnson in town a few hours a week.”
    “Really? What brought that on?”
    “Uh, I did. I thought he wanted something else to do besides the ranch work and he’s always been good with numbers.”
    “So he’s happy with it?”
    “I think so.”
    “That really leaves the brothers shorthanded. I’d better hurry back.”
    Elizabeth almost cheered out loud. She wanted him to have lots of reasons to come back.
    “Are