31. Thirty-One
Thirty-One
Abi
It had been forever since I’d been in a larger rodeo arena. The Hartwell Arena had nothing on this—and this was considered tiny. The stands were starting to fill. Slowly but surely, the people came, and just by looking at them, you could tell who was here for their first time, and you could easily spot the girls that were here for the cowboys.
I caught a glance of Oakes Ashford, who tipped his hat at me before following a group of men, winking at the group of girls who were off to the side. They giggled so loud, I could hear them from where I stood. Shaking my head at them, I drew my attention back to the arena. The groundhog was out, dragging the dirt once more before the events began. The two announcers were looking over their call sheets, getting ready to carry excitement. Pulling out my phone, I snapped a picture of them and sent it to Wyatt.
Me
Wish you were in that box. How’s Stet?
I hit send before I even registered that I called him Stet. For a fraction of a second, I considered editing the text.
Wyatt
I’m headed to Colorado. Get your boyfriend to change Quinn’s schedule. Stetson was as happy as could be with Kyla this morning going to school. Rhett said he’ll take him out on the land.
By the way, you called him Stet.
Abi
Don’t get used to it.
Wyatt
Never.
Rolling my eyes with a light smile on my lips, I pocketed my phone and turned back to the dirt. Cash was with Quinn and her horses, leaving me alone to take in the sights. After Sylas’s accident, I never went to a rodeo arena without Wyatt, or at least someone from my family with me. Last year, during the National Final Rodeo—The NFR—Kyla and Wyatt shoved me between them, the two of them creating energy that seeped into to me. But like always, I ‘had to go to the bathroom’ once the bull riders came on. Kyla was with Rhett by that time, and Wyatt was more than willing to go talk to the announcers. At the Hartwell Rodeo, I was always with Stetson and my parents. I never had a moment to sit and watch, to look and to just remember how much I loved this.
And I loved it.
I had a small suspicion that being here would bring up upsetting memories, pulling me back into that melancholy pain of losing Sylas. Taking a deep breath, I took in the smells. Closing my eyes, I took in all the sounds. Raising my chin to sky, I let the sun take over my skin, filling my entire body with warmth. Instead of sadness, all I could feel was how right it felt that I was here.
Rodeos ran in the Hartwell blood. My mother was a barrel racer, my father was a team roper. Rhett and Lachlan started our generation off with their events, even pulling Wyatt in against his will. Though he didn’t compete in a livestock event, he loved the rodeo just as much as the rest of us. Me? I would barrel race for fun, but my joy came from the stands, right where I was. I loved to watch. Adrenaline came in different ways. For Rhett, it was jumping off his horse and getting the calf. For me, it was watching them.
A part of me wished that Cash was competing today. Or that he’d compete in general. The way he was at home, I could see it in his eyes that he loved it. He deserved to be on the board, making a comeback. I convinced him to get in the saddle again. Maybe, just maybe, I could convince him to get on the board again. He could start with small rodeos—smaller than this one—and work his way up. He would tell me his leg hurt too much, or he was too old, but I knew this was the life for him.
And I wanted to see it.
“Well, if it isn’t Rhett Hartwell’s little sister.”
A deep Southern accent drew me from my sun. I turned to see Rhett’s friend, and fellow tie-down roper, Zeke leaning against the railing. I smiled. I had known Zeke for a while now; he had been roping alongside Rhett since he started his career, and even though I hadn’t seen him in a long time, my smile grew when I met his eyes.
“Zeke!” I stood from my seat to wrap my arms around his neck. “I didn’t know you were going to be here today.”
“I thought Rhett was out for the season. What brings you here?”
“He is. I’m actually here with Cash.” I pulled away from him, taking him in. He hadn’t changed one bit.
“Callahan?” He raised his eyebrows in question. “He’s competing?”
“No.” I tapped the rim of his hat. “He’s training Quinn Compton.”
“Aw, man. I would love to see him compete again.”
“Me too. Maybe you can help me convince him.”
“I’m on it.” He placed his hands on his hips, giving me his award-winning smile. “I know just where to find him.”
“Hopefully getting Quinn set up.”
He gave me a single nod. “I guarantee you he’s over by the bunnies that rally up around the trailers before the show.”
I pinched my eyebrows. “Why would he be over there?”
“Abi, come on. You know the guy. That’s where he was all last year.” He tilted his head at me, the grin on his lips shifting to a cocky ‘you know what I mean’ smile.
I raised my eyebrows. “Well I hope he’s not over there…”
“Wait.” He stopped. “You came with Cash. Are you guys together?”
“It’s still new,” I replied, feeling the blush tint my cheeks. “Very new…”
“I never would have put the two of you together.”
“Neither would I honestly.” I shrugged my shoulders, forcing the blush to stay down. “I should probably go find him. He said we’ll watch from a certain area.”
“Oh, of course, I’ll walk with you. Families, trainers, agents…all the important people watch from the ground, don’t know why you insist on higher up.” Zeke placed his hand on my shoulder.
I shrugged and gave him a smile. “Better view.”
He returned my smile, nodding in agreement. It was true, sitting higher let me see the entire arena, not just the chutes.
“Listen, we all go out after events. We’d love to have you and Cash join us? I can try to convince him to get back on the board.”
“Oh, maybe. I’ll ask Cash—if I see him before the event starts.”
Zeke laughed. “Even then, drag his ass out.”
“Ok, okay. I’ll have to find you after.”
“Please do.”
He began to talk about his family, catching me up on his wife and kids. I was shocked to learn he had four kids now, and that his wife was happy being a stay-at-home mom. They would come to events closer to home, but mainly it was just him on the road. If Cash ever got back into this world, I didn’t want him to do this alone. I wouldn’t want to only attend certain events. I’d want to come to all of them.
“You still at the ranch?” Zeke asked, and I rolled my eyes slightly. As if I’d be somewhere else.
“Yup…my parents are retiring soon actually. We’re splitting it between the three of us—”
“Abs, there you are!” Cash came jogging up to us. “Oh hey, Zeke.” He came to a stop in front of us and reached forward lightly to touch my hand. “You found her for me, she wasn’t at the stands.”
“She was settled higher up like always.”
“Taking it all in.” I took a single step towards Cash. “It’s been a long time since I’ve been in an arena like this. The one at home is nothing compared to this.”
“You coming to Days of 47 this year? You remember that arena—right Abi?” Zeke asked, referencing the biggest rodeo the state of Utah put on. If I remembered correctly, Kyla called it a TARDIS…bigger on the inside.
I looked over to Cash, who was wearing the most perfect smile as he lightly shook his head. “By that time, I’m hoping Quinn doesn’t need her trainer booking her events.”
Zeke let out a laugh. “Girl needs an agent if she can’t handle her own bookings. I told Abi we all go out after, and I’ve been tasked to convince you to compete again.”
Cash pulled me close to him, his hand finding the small of my back as he looked down at me.
I smiled. “What? We’d both love to see you compete.”
He shook his head. “Nah, I’m retired.”
“Too bad, man…too bad.” Zeke shrugged his shoulders he turned back to me. “I tried Abi.”
“Not hard enough.” I elbowed Cash gently in his side.
Zeke laughed, shaking his head as his smile grew. “Find me after, okay? Come out with us and let loose a little.”
“Let loose. Ha, sure.” Cash agreed, giving him a pat on the shoulder as he walked past. “Let me guess,” he whispered as soon as Zeke was out of ear shot. “He told you I was by the trailers, so you had to come find me?”
“He did say you were there, but that's not why I wanted to find you.” I faced him, wrapping my arms around his middle. “Thank you for letting me come. I’d forgotten how much I loved the rodeo arena.”
“You’re welcome.” He titled his chin up, his eyes still firm on mine. “I was near the trailers though.”
Rolling my eyes, I moved, using my fingers to pinch his sides, feeling nothing but firm muscle. “I bet you were.”
“Not for the bunnies. That’s just where Quinn was.”
“Uh huh…sure…” I stepped back. “Let’s go get a drink before it starts.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
Once the rodeo started, I started beating myself up for staying away for so long. The one we went to with Stetson was fun…but my focus wasn’t on the event. Then I was hyper-focused on Cash and Stetson and how much I was in love with being with the two of them. But here, I was immersed in the events. Jumping and cheering when a roper got a good time. Booing when a barrier was broken, and sending Kyla videos of the mutton busting to show Stetson.
Kyla
Oh, he’s already roped Rhett into a few training sessions.
Me
Of course he has.
When the barrel racing started, Cash’s demeanor changed completely. He studied each rider, focusing on where they turned, how they handled their horse and their body language as they rode. I even caught him counting out loud, stopping right when the buzzer went off. When Quinn came, he furrowed his brow and sat up straight on his seat. She held his entire attention, and she didn’t even know it.
She burst through the gate, hitting the first and second barrel with ease, then moving towards the third, curling around it like a knife spreading frosting and then she raced back to the entrance. Her smile filled the entire arena. She was back. The eight weeks she took working with Cash had finally paid off. He pumped a fist and turned to me, shouting.
“She’s in second.”
I cheered loudly in his ear, clapping even louder.
“I take it you're having fun?” he asked, leaning into me.
I kissed him, taking him completely by shock. “I am. Thank you.”
He kissed me again, deeper this time, his hands cradling my chin as our lips danced against each other. The spark was radiating through my body, heat traveled everywhere, and I knew Cash could feel it as his fingers threaded through my hair. I hummed against him, breaking the kiss and placing my forehead on his.
“I’m having the best night of my life,” I admitted, remembering him using those exact words with me. Every night with him was becoming the best night of my life.
“That’s setting the bar high.”
“You can break it,” I smirked, giving him one last chaste kiss.