Chapter 13
After visiting Angela yesterday, I returned to Uncle Pip’s ranch and then Noah met me for some practice runs. Later that evening, I carpooled with Easton to family night and watched the kids’ events—mutton bustin’ was my favorite. Afterward, he introduced me to some of the guys on his roping team and then I was in bed by ten.
This morning, after I check on Ranger and muck his stall, I meet Easton in the house for some coffee.
“Hey, how’d ya sleep out there?” he asks, handing me a mug.
“Good. I forget how quiet it can be out in the country.”
“Were ya scared?” he taunts.
I grab the carafe and fill my mug halfway.
“No, but I forgot my white noise machine, so I just listened to rain sounds on my phone.”
“That’s weird.”
“How so?” I grab the cream off the table and add it to my coffee, then stir it in.
“You’d think it’d make you have to pee all night.”
“Actually, you weirdo, it’s relaxing. Do you just sleep in silence like a psychopath?” I bring my mug to my lips and blow on it before taking a sip.
“I listen to a podcast, usually.”
“Hearin’ people talk would keep my brain awake. I listen to audiobooks and it helps with my focus during long drives.”
He lifts a shoulder casually. “Guess I’m used to it. I listen for about twenty minutes before I’m out.”
“Hmm, maybe I’ll try it on my drive home.” I take a seat at the table and scroll on my phone for one that might interest me.
“So what’re you doin’ today before you gotta bring Ranger to the rodeo?”
“One of the local 4-H clubs reached out and asked me to be a guest speaker at a future meeting to talk about my experience as a pro rodeo barrel racer. So I’m meetin’ with a couple of the leaders.”
Normally, I wouldn’t want to add to my already busy travel schedule, but coming back this way in a month or so gives me another opportunity to visit Angela.
“Ooh, aren’t you so famous,” he taunts. “Is it a paid event?”
“Of course not. I owe so much of my success to gettin’ involved with my 4-H club, so I love being able to pay it forward any opportunity I get.”
“Speakin’ of you being so awesome and shit, will you take a selfie with me for my social media pages? The competition will get jealous and know I’m way cooler than them.”
I sigh but nod anyway.
One of the downfalls of being in the rodeo spotlight is having to keep up with my social media. After each race, I edit my profile bio with Ranger’s updated lifetime earnings and post a picture of us from that event. In the caption, I write a quick thank you to the event sponsors, mention what place we took and then whatever prizes we won.
“You know when you talk like that, it really proves how much younger you are than me.”
“What? You’re only one year older!”
“I was talkin’ about maturity.” I smirk, then stand so he can take his stupid picture.
After I chat with the leaders about possible talking points for my presentation, they invite me to go with them for lunch. With dozens of food trucks in town for the rodeo, a handful of them parked down Main Street since the event doesn’t open until this evening. It gives the owners extra business and the locals who aren’t attending the rodeo a chance to enjoy the food, too.
But it’s so much more than a vendor fair. There’s a music stage with a band playing and all the small businesses have their doors open with tables of merchandise along the sidewalk. It’s still decorated from their parade last weekend with a Franklin Rodeo banner tied between two poles and mini flags on every post.
“I had no idea they did this,” I say to Brynn and Gabby. “I guess I never ventured downtown when I came here before.”
“It’s somethin’ the mayor only started last year. She wanted to drive more people to the local businesses so they didn’t feel the financial hit with everyone at the rodeo for four nights,” Brynn explains.
“Love that idea.”
And now I want to go into every shop and stop at each food truck for the full experience.
I check the clock on my phone, deciding how long I can stay before I have to get back to bring my trailer to the rodeo. I’ll have to do press thirty minutes before the race starts, but I should still have enough time to stay here for a bit.
I shouldn’t have had that churro dog, but it looked too good to pass up.
And the fried Oreos.
And the pulled pork nachos.
And I really shouldn’t have swallowed them down with a large fresh squeezed lemonade.
My stomach is battling for its life as I stand next to Ranger in one of the waiting pens. After sweating through my interviews, I found some water and chugged it, but it doesn’t seem to be helping.
I’ve been looking forward to this race for weeks, and now I’m going to get out there and throw up all over the barrels.
It doesn’t help that the arena is packed, and I’m already overstimulated.
“You alright, Ellie?” Sarah asks, coming over with her horse. Or maybe it’s Samantha.
“Yeah, I’m great.” I force myself to smile so she doesn’t know I’m lying. She doesn’t need to know I stress ate all afternoon after Noah texted and mentioned Landen’s new girlfriend randomly showed up at their campsite last night.
Well, she didn’t say it exactly like that, but it was implied her arrival was unexpected.
I shouldn’t care. I don’t, but it makes me anxious enough as it is when Landen’s around. I don’t need some chick he’s hooking up with to watch me, too.
“Are you sure? You look sick,” she says but then quickly adds, “No offense!”
“I’m one hundred percent perfect.” And somewhat offended.
The other twin walks up carrying a bag and thermos in her hand and then offers it to me. “I drink this when I’m nervous before races. It’ll settle your stomach and nerves.”
“What is it?” I eye her suspiciously, curious as to why they’d want to help me when I’m their biggest competition, but she looks genuine, as does her sister.
“It’s licorice root tea. It’s good for digestive distress,” she explains.
I cautiously take it from her. “It’s not gonna give me diarrhea or anything, is it?”
“No, of course not. It has a lot of great health benefits. We drink it every day and look at us!” the other one says.
Okay, well, not sure that’s a selling point, but if it’ll keep me from upchucking in front of a thousand people, I’ll try it.
After the first cautious sip, I decide it’s not as bad as it sounds and drink more.
“Do you take a daily probiotic?”
“Um…no.”
Is that something I should be taking? I thought I had another five to ten years before I had to worry about pumping my body with extra vitamins. But considering they’re in their thirties, maybe that’s why they know more about it than I do.
“Hold on…” She kneels, digging into her backpack before she reveals a Ziploc bag with a few pills. “Take these.”
I eye them suspiciously. “For what?”
“They’re for digestive health,” she explains.
The other twin adds, “They also boost immunity.”
“And regulate your bowels.”
I scratch my cheek, contemplating turning around and walking away.
“And not that you need it for this, but it’s known to support mental health,” one of them continues.
Blinking a few times at the way she says those words, I decide to hold out my hand for the pills to get them to stop talking.
Once I’ve swallowed them down with the licorice root tea, I thank them for their help and excuse myself to find a bathroom.
I ask one of the other girls if she’ll watch Ranger and once she agrees, I head out to the closest restroom.
When I look in the mirror, my face is paler than usual, but not on my deathbed sick. I smack my cheeks a little, not wanting to smudge my makeup, but hoping that brings out a little color.
By the time I return to the waiting pen to grab Ranger, they inform us there’s been a delay due to the previous event running over and them still needing to drag the arena to level out the ground before the junior division can start.
Though I’m excited to race, I appreciate the time for my stomach to settle, especially since I’m the second runner.
Noah
You holding up okay?
When I read her text, I give it a thumbs-up reaction.
Ellie
Just fine.
No need to worry her or give her a reason to come out here. My stomach and head are battling for which one’s going to take me out first, but as long as they wait until after the race, I won’t complain too much.
Noah
Okay, well just let me know! Landen and I are in the VIP Corral ready to cheer you on…and wait till you see my sign!
I shouldn’t ask.
It doesn’t matter.
But I can’t help myself.
Ellie
Is his girlfriend with y’all, too?
I want to slap myself.
Noah
No, I guess she had to leave early to make the trip back for work tomorrow.
Ellie
Oh, how disappointing she’ll miss the rodeo.
Noah
Yeah, pretty sure she didn’t come for the rodeo.
I didn’t need her winking emoji for me to know what she was implying.
After fifteen minutes, the junior division starts. Between the music coming on and off and the crowd cheering, a wave of nausea hits me.
Instead of focusing on it, I give my attention to Ranger so he doesn’t get anxious. He tends to know when I feel off and I need him on his A game tonight.
Once the final rider races, they declare a winner, and then it’s finally time.
I jump back on Ranger, give him his usual pep talk to rile him up to get pumped up, and then wait for the first girl to go.
“Good luck!” one of the Smith twins says as I ride past her.
I’m too focused on leading Ranger toward the gate to respond.
“You ready for this, buddy? We got this.” I lean down and pat his neck.
He stomps and rears when the music grows louder.
“Almost, hold on…” I pull the reins back, trying to keep him settled until it’s time.
As soon as the first girl returns, I lead him into the alleyway.
“Wait.” I listen for the emcee to announce my name and then… “Let’s go!”
I click my tongue, give him a little kick, and then he shoots off like a cannon into the arena.