The Bull Rider's Twins by Tina Leonard Page B

concentration had gone to hell.
    He’d gotten thrown so easily a child could have ridden better. Judah slowly wandered over to the rail, slapping his hat against his leg. And somehow, he didn’t seem to care. He wondered if Darla had opened the box with his offering in it. A man had to be prepared to fight like a soldier, and Dr. Tunstall was nice enough, but Judah understood women. And what he understood best about women was that a big sparkly diamond sometimes won the fair maiden.
    Dr. Tunstall hadn’t ponied up yet, so Judah had no compulsion about trying to get the jump on the competition. He’d called Harry Winston’s and given a description of exactly what he wanted, then flown to pick it up. And it was a sparkler, like a star plucked from the sky.
    No woman could resist it.
    â€œAnd you know,” he said to Sidney when the doc came over to check him out, “I went for the biggest star I could find.”
    Sidney looked at him. “How do you feel, Judah?”
    â€œLike a winner,” he said. “How do you feel, Doc?”
    Sidney grunted. “Let’s get you where I can take a look at you.” He slipped an arm under Judah’s, and helped him to a seat.
    Then he passed one finger in front of Judah’s face. “How many?”
    â€œHow many what?” Judah asked.
    â€œFingers?”
    Judah sighed. “I see five fingers, which are going to be a knuckle sandwich, Doc, if you don’t get your bony hand out of my face.”
    Sam came over to stare into his eyes. “Hey, bro. Hearing little birdies or anything? Faraway music? Fairy whisperings?”
    Judah drew in another deep breath. “I don’t have a concussion. I wasn’t paying attention and I got thrown. That’s all.”
    Rafe bent to stare into his face. “That was a doozy of a toss you took. Hit your head or anything?”
    It was impossible to convince anybody that his problem wasn’t in his head. His problem was in his heart. “If everyone will get out of here, I’m going to get ready for my next ride.”
    â€œAssuming I approve you to ride,” Sidney said, and Judah glared at him.
    â€œIf you don’t pass me to ride, I’ll kick your ass.”
    Sidney nodded. “Unprovoked aggression. Loss of concentration. Could be a concussion.”
    Judah narrowed his eyes. “Don’t pull that doctor mumbo jumbo on me. If you keep me from riding, it’ll only be because you’re trying to keep me from winning. You don’t want me to win because you know ladies love cowboys who do. And I am in a serious position to be loved.”
    Dr. Tunstall shook his head. “I should let you ride. It would serve you right if I let you land on your already cracked head. Maybe it would knock some of the hot air out of you and serve to flatten that outsize ego of yours. But as it is,” Dr. Tunstall said, “you’re going to have to scratch.”
    â€œI will not scratch,” Judah declared, and Sidney said, “Then I’ll scratch you myself. Either way, your rodeoing is over for the next month.”
    â€œMonth!” Judah hopped to his feet, heading after the departing doctor. “You can’t keep me out for a month. I need to ride to make up the points for the finals. You know that as well as anyone.”
    â€œI do.” Sidney glanced at him before he went back out to the arena to observe the next riders. “Go home and rest, Judah. Don’t do any handsprings or jump off any houses, and you should be fine in a few weeks.”
    â€œI don’t remember hitting my head,” Judah muttered, glaring after him. “He’s trying to keep me out of the rodeo.”
    â€œWell, that’s a shame,” Sam said. “Now you’ll just have too much time on your hands to hang around Diablo and convince Darla that you’d make a better husband than a cowboy.”
    Light dawned. “Yeah,” he