"Finally done with my rodeo schedule," I said to Sully as he lay at my feet. I got up and pulled my boots on. "Second night, another thrill." I tucked my tank top in and put on my favorite pearl snap shirt.
I put my hat on and my belt. I stepped outside, leaving Sully to sleep inside. I put my saddle on Reno and wrapped her legs. I took her halter off and replaced it with her bridle. Several men passed me with chaps and spurs. "Hey, babe, why don't we roll around in the hay later?" A man said. "In your dreams, 'babe.'" "Only in my dreams." He replied. "Ugh."
I turned back to my horse and untied her. Barrel racing was again first, and I was up first. I got there and started warming Reno up. Several other women were warming themselves up too. Colt and two other men were watching all of the women.
Max was at the other end. I could tell he was licking his lips at most of them. Disgusting. One of the women came beside me. "If you want to do with him. He's already planning on it." "Yeah, just like every woman here." "I'm Izzy, and this is Harlequin." "I'm Hedli, and this is Reno." "Nice to meet you. I couldn't help but notice earlier today that you were handing Colt's horse? Is that right? Because he never really lets women and girls mess with his horse."
"I, well, I guess that's exactly what you saw." We finished warming our horses up. We lined up, and Izzy was last.
"Ladies and Cowboys, let's get ready to rodeo!" The announcer said. "Up first to start our night is the ladies' barrel race. Cowgirl up."
"Hedli Drouten." An elderly man said. I moved a prancing Reno into place. "Ready?" I nodded and took off. I rounded the first barrel. Winking at the boys while doing it. I went around the second and finally the third. I kicked it home and listened for my time.
As soon as I heard my time, I hurried to put Reno up and put my vest, chaps, and spurs on. I jogged back to the arena just in time to see Colt ride a bull. "Oh my gosh," I said. "He's so hot." A woman said behind me. I was more into the way he moved with the bull as it tried to throw him.
Max came up behind me and grabbed me by my waist. "Hey, sweetheart, whatcha doing later?" He whispered into my ear. I saw Colt coming this way and broke Max's grip on me. "Maybe some other time," I said, smiling while scrunching up my nose.
I walked away from him to congratulate Colt on his ride. Izzy came up next to me. "Nice move, pull another one like that and he's going to push you up against a wall." She said. "He does that, and he'll be on the ground in pain if you know what I mean."
I stopped at the fence and let Colt come the rest of the way. Max followed and completely wrapped his arms around me. "Remove your hands or I will remove them for you." "Ooh, someone's becoming feisty."
That's it. I turned around and wrapped my leg around his and cut him with my spurs. "How does that feel?" He winced in pain as he fell onto the fence. "Dude, you should have that looked at." I jumped when Colt said something.
"Did you mean to do that?" He whispered into my ear. "He was trying to pick me up." "Like this?" Suddenly, I was thrown over his shoulder. I shortly screamed. "No, not like this." "Oh, then like this." He switched shoulders. "This is manhandling." He shrugged.
"Hey, Colt got your girl?" A man asked. "Not yet." "Ugh," I said as my head hit his strong back. Izzy was right behind him the whole time. "Help?" "Sorry. You're on your own." I felt something hit my butt. "Did you just spank me?" I asked. "Depends. How mean have you been?"
He was in reach, and three, two, one. I spanked him just as five women walked by. "Did you just spank me?" He asked. "Nope, it was those girls who walked by." "Just for that." He spanked me again. "You get that." He walked a few more steps before setting me down.
"Hey, Colt got a new one?" Another man asked. He looked like he was Mexican American. I looked back at him. "I wish I had an answer, Mikey." He said. I rolled my eyes. Max came limping over to the man named Mikey. He whispered something to him before walking off.
"Bronc riders to the chutes."
The horse-drawing came around. This time I got the one Colt rode last night. "He's a nice choice. He'll get you places." Colt said from behind me.
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It's the last night. For 17 days I've been here. I had to go to the dry cleaners last week to get my pearl snaps and jeans cleaned. I just finished my barrel run and was waiting on Izzy. "Woooo," I yelled to her.
"That run puts Hedli Drouten in the lead."
I walked over to Izzy. "Great run!" "Thanks you too." I was first tonight and for the past week. I already had my chaps, spurs, and vest on, waiting to be called for broncs.
Many of the cowboys were cussing at me since night five. I still haven't been able to beat Colt at broncs, but I plan on it. I've been getting closer and closer to him. He and Max have been fighting since the second day.
Suddenly, I was pinned against the arena ring. Max stared straight into my eyes. "I don't know if it was just your rodeo background or if you're just that good, but stay out of my way. Understand?" I nodded, and he released me.
He glared at me before leaving. Izzy came up behind me. "What's his problem?" I asked. "I don't know." She said. I turned and walked over to my usual place where I watched the bull riders.
Colt was last tonight. I watched as he got onto the bull. It was tense and looked mean. "That bull didn't look like that the other night when I saw him," Izzy told me. "Yeah, I know something's up."
Colt wasn't out of the chute yet. I saw him nod before the gate was opened. I counted the seconds as they slowly went by. When I reached seven, he was thrown hard.
He came out still walking. I came up behind him as he leaned on the ring. I got a bottle of water from my trailer before coming back. I gently tapped on his arm. He turned around and saw me. I held out the water for him to take.
He generously took it from me. "How'd I look out there?" "You looked fine." I hesitated before saying more. "The bull didn't look normal." He looked down at me. "How so?" "Well, the other nights he was rode, he didn't have bloodshot eyes and a major temper." He slowly nodded before handing me the water, three-fourths gone.
I followed him back to the chutes. Once we got there, the cussing began. I, of course, have learned to ignore it like in past years. I looked back in the stands. Grandpa and Thomas were there.
I drew my horse. Wiley Dicktard. Shiz. This horse is going to be the death of me. Several of the men were smirking. They knew I had drawn a real wild horse. It was like a wild card; you didn't know what or how the animal was going to act.
Once it was my turn, the guy tried to get me to back out. I ignored his warning and got into the chute. This life is full of risks and chances. I was risking a chance to live every time I got onto a bronc. I nodded to the gate man after I was adjusted right. Leaning to the right, ready for him to shoot me straight.
The gate was opened, and the horse did just as I thought. I got lost in the thrill that I didn't hear the buzzer sound. Before I knew it, I was off the horse and to the sidelines. I climbed over the railing and landed smoothly.
Izzy was the first to congratulate me. Then a few other women. I spotted my grandpa and Thomas and met them halfway. I was wrapped in a bear hug between the men. "I'm so proud of you, Hedli May," Grandpa said. "Nice job, RQ," Thomas said. I saw Colt standing down by the ring, waiting for someone.
"Would you like to meet someone famous?" I asked Thomas. "Who?" "I'm pretty sure he's your idol." "Wait, you've met Colt Ray?" "Met? He's a buddy of mine." I led them down the stands and over to Colt. I tapped his shoulder.
Colt's P.O.V.
I felt a tap on my shoulder and turned around. They were standing with an elderly man, and another, who looked younger, was Hedli. I had seen her ride. "Well?" She asked. "I think you have a chance of beating me." Her face lit up.
"Oh, this is my grandpa and my friend Thomas." Her grandfather shook my hand while Thomas just stood there. "Thomas is one of your many fans. He admires how you bull ride, bronc ride, and calf rope." She added.
"Well, Thomas, it's so nice to meet you." I said before, adding, "Wanna take a picture together?" He nodded joyfully and came and stood by me. Hedli took a picture of us on his phone. "Thanks so much!" Hedli was bright with her smile. It hurt so much when she smiled at all, especially like that.
"So, where are you heading next, Hedli?" Her grandfather asked. "Oh, I'm going to Marshal, Texas." She said. "Huh, that's where I live. I'll let you stay at my place at night if you don't mind." I said to her. Her eyes got big. "U-um, grandpa, can you take Sully home with you when you leave. I'll be leaving in the morning." She said. "Sure, what time are you leaving?" "Well, I plan on getting up at seven. If you want to join me for breakfast, you can, and that includes you, Colt. Then I'm coming back here. Pack up and leave. So I'll take him with me when we go for breakfast." She said.
I loved how she included me for breakfast in the morning. Once they left for the motel, I walked her back to her trailer. My back was sore from being thrown earlier. "Sore back?" She asked. "Yeah, I might go to bed with the massager on."
She grabbed my hand and led me inside her living quarters. "Sit." I sat down on the edge of her bed after she had taken her boots off. I took my vest off and threw it onto the floor. Then I felt her small, soft hands massaging my shoulders. She started going lower and lower. I groaned when she reached the spot.
"Would you like to lie down?" She asked. I could feel her hands move me to the side, gently putting pressure. I lay down on her comfy bed as she finished. Now I didn't want to move. "Feel better?" I nodded.
I texted Max asking him if he had a girl. He did so, I asked a question of my own. "Would it be fine if I stayed here tonight?" "As long as you'll stay at my place when you go to Stillwater." "Where's that?" "In Oklahoma." "Oh, so you're an Okie." "Make that a Texomie." "What's that?" "A Texan who has lived in Oklahoma for most of their life." "Mm."
"Wait, do you live in Stillwater?" I asked. "Yeah. I've also got season tickets to their games." She was silent before adding. "I usually get three tickets in the mail. Thomas and I used to go with my grandpa, but now he plays for them. Would you like to go?"
"As a date? Or just as friends?" "It depends on what we are by that time." I liked the sound of that. "Sure, why not?" She got off the bed and out of sight. I heard rustling around before she was on the bed again.
I rolled over and took my belt, boots, and chaps off. I lay back down on my stomach. My back felt better after she rubbed it. Her sheets smelled just like her. It was intoxicating. After she had drifted off, I pulled her close to me. Her body felt just right in my arms.
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Hedli's P.O.V.
I woke up next to a familiar face and in my trailer. After a second, I realized what had happened. My eyes went straight to my clothes. Good, I was still dressed. I carefully got up. The clock read six forty-five. I pulled my boots on and my hoodie.
Colt was still asleep on the side of my bed. I stepped outside just to be slammed against the door. "Hello, baby girl, nice seeing you here." My eyes got big at seeing Luke.