Chapter 21
COLTON
“All right, everyone, thank you so much for coming,” Lucy yells into a bullhorn from the middle of the pasture.
“I really appreciate your help getting set up for this year’s annual hay bale obstacle course.
As y’all know, this event is one of the farm’s biggest fundraisers, and we couldn’t do it without your help. ”
The small crowd around us cheers, and Lucy pauses to smile at them. “As you can see, we have a record number of hay bales this year, and I can’t wait to see everything come together.”
“I’m gonna divide you into sections and come around to give you the plans,” she continues, holding up pages of plans she and I worked together to create. “I’m really proud of what we have in store for this year, and I think it’ll be our best one yet.”
“All right, here’s those plans. Other than that, just let me or one of the other Cedar Creek employees know if you need anything.”
The crowd disperses as Lucy walks around, handing out the plans and sending everyone in their respective directions.
Looking around, I shake my head at the number of volunteers who brought their tractors and other farm equipment to help make this event a reality.
I’m starting to recognize a few faces, and it makes me feel like I belong in this quirky little town.
I watch Lucy interact with the crowd, and it becomes clear that everyone here loves her.
“You know, she’s something special,” Miss Louise says, hobbling over to me on her cane.
“Yes, she is,” I agree under my breath before staring at the elderly lady in surprise. “Now, Miss Louise, I’ve gotta ask, what in the world are you doing here? Don’t tell me you’re going to lift any hay bales today?”
“No, but that doesn’t mean I’m gonna stop participating in town events.
I’m not dead yet, dear,” she declares, and I resist the urge to laugh at her tone,“I’m just here for moral support,” she continues, shaking her cane in my direction.
“I’m sure it’s no surprise to you that people tend to do what I say. ”
“I have no doubt,” I laugh, as Miss Louise leans in closer.
“Now, you don’t need to say anything, because unlike most of the nosy old bitches in this town, I don’t usually feel like I need to make everyone’s business my own.
But I just want you to know that if the look on your face is any indication, you’re a goner for that girl.
And let me just tell you, you better not fuck it up.
Women like that don’t come around more than once in a lifetime, do you understand me? ”
I stare at her in shock for a moment, completely caught off guard by the turn that this conversation has taken, before just nodding silently.
“Good, now that that’s taken care of, I’m off to go do my directing duties. Have a good day, dear,” she says, patting my face and heading off to a small ATV.
I stand there for a moment, shaking my head. The people in this town are so damn full of surprises.
Eventually, the crowd thins until it’s just Lucy and me standing in the middle of the field. “All right, I think that went well, right?” she asks, walking over to stand beside me.
“I think so too,” I tell her honestly. “This town really comes together to help each other out, doesn’t it? I can’t believe how many people came out to help.”
“Yeah, it has its perks sometimes,” she says with a laugh.
“Before my dad died, we used to do a smaller version that he set up all by himself. It was still a tradition, but it was nothing compared to what it’s turned into.
The year after he died, we said we were going to discontinue it.
It was just too much for us, you know? But instead, the town came together and made it even bigger than any of us could’ve imagined. ”
“I know he’d be really proud,” I tell her, pushing a stray piece of hair back behind her ear.
“Yeah, I think so too. This event was one of his favorite traditions, and despite how hard it was at first, it makes me feel closer to him. And now that we’ve grown so much, we’re able to donate a portion of the proceeds to charity in his name.”
“That’s incredible,” I tell her honestly. “So, where do you need me today?”
“Hmm, if you don’t mind checking on the groups around the perimeter, that would be great. I’m sorry it’s just us today. Mama wasn’t going to be any help on her crutches, and Amelia cancelled at the last minute.”
“I’m sorry, Darlin’,” I tell her, dropping a quick kiss to her forehead since we’re alone. “She’ll come to her senses soon, and then everything will be fine.”
Lucy nods, not looking convinced as she forces a smile on her face. “Yeah, you’re right. Enough about her. Let’s get going. Once we get everything set up tonight, I’m totally gonna kick your ass on the course.”
“Oh, you’re totally going down, Cowboy,” Lucy gloats as soon as the last car pulls out, leaving us alone with the newly assembled maze.
“Baby, I know you haven’t seen my competitive side, but I didn’t become a six-time world champion with a hope and a prayer.”
“Yeah, yeah,” she says, rolling her eyes. “Now I know during the real thing everyone competes one at a time, but I suggest you and I go head to head. What do you say? Or are you scared?”
“Fine by me,” I agree, shrugging my shoulders. “It doesn’t matter. Either way, you’re going down.”
“We’ll see about that,” Lucy gloats, lining up to start the course. “Are you ready?”
I nod, and Lucy takes a deep breath. “Okay then. On your mark. Get set. Go!”
We both take off, running as fast as we can to the first hay bale. I’m faster than she is, but I know that she can make up the time at the obstacles. As soon as I’m close enough, I jump, struggling to push myself on top of the first hay bale.
“See ya, babe,” Lucy teases, easily scrambling up the bale and leaving me behind as she starts to leap from bale to bale.
I curse and ignore the pain in my bad arm as I finally make it to the top. I watch Lucy ahead of me, gaining on her as she jumps down and slips into the sack for the sack race. She starts jumping, losing her balance, and falling over onto the bales beside her.
“You okay?” I call out, stepping into the burlap sack and passing her while she’s down.
“I’m fine,” she grumbles, pushing herself up and struggling to straighten herself from where she got twisted around.
I cross the sack race finish line first, but she’s not far behind me. Ditching the sack, I run as fast as I can to the wall, groaning as I struggle to push myself on top of the hay bales with my arms. Damn it, this is really annoying.
Lucy catches up to me, easily pushing her small frame up and over the bales like she’s done it a thousand times. Which, knowing her, she probably has.
“Told you you were going down,” she yells over her shoulder. Her words push me, and I finally make it to the top of the wall, carefully lowering myself back to the ground.
As soon as my feet hit the ground, I take off toward the maze. Lucy’s right in front of me, and I push myself to pass her as we race through the maze we designed.
“Come on,” I mutter to myself, pushing my legs to run faster. Lucy’s right beside me as we come to the end of the maze, but she crosses the finish line we painted on the ground seconds before me.
“Hell yeah,” she screams, panting for breath.
“Damn it,” I mutter, knowing she’s never going to let me hear the end of this.
She holds out her hand for me to shake, her smile wide. “Good job. That was a great effort for such an old man,” she teases, causing me to laugh.
“Congrats,” I tell her. “That was a lot of fun.”
“Yeah, it was,” she agrees, leaning over to drop a kiss on my lips. “Sorry, we can’t all be winners.”
I laugh, shaking my head at her. “At least you’re not letting it go to your head.’
“Come on,” I yell, rattling the feed bucket and pouring it into the weathered trough. “Dinner time! Come on!”
Standing back behind the gate, I smile, watching the cattle pour into the enclosure, as two of the older calves chase each other around in the open pasture.
Diesel walks up to me, sticking his large head through the gate to get my attention. I reach out, rubbing the snout of his nose. He lets out a contented sigh, and I shake my head at him. “You aren’t anything but a big baby, are you?”
He blows out a breath of hot air onto my hand as I continue to pet him.
“You know, most bulls aren’t known for wanting pets, buddy,” I tell him, and he shoots me a look of judgment.
“I didn’t say there was anything wrong with it,” I laugh, continuing to run my hand across his head.
I know I sound crazy standing out here talking to my animals, but I feel more at peace out here than I have in a long time. “You know, old bud, you and I aren’t all that different, are we?”
The bull looks at me, like he’s waiting for me to continue.
“Well, the way I see it, we’re both figuring out what life looks like after the rodeo, you know?
I didn’t think I’d know who I was without riding, but I’m realizing that, while it was a major part of my life for years, it doesn’t mean it’s all of who I am. ”
“I don’t know if you know this, but I had a rough time after the accident,” I admit, saying the words out loud for the first time.
“I didn’t want anyone to know because all I kept hearing was how lucky I was to have survived.
And I’m grateful, don’t get me wrong. But no one prepares you for what it feels like when everything you’ve worked for goes away. ”
Diesel moves closer, rubbing the gate with his shoulder. I continue to pet him as I say, “I held it together pretty well in the hospital. But when I got out, I had this moment of, ‘holy shit, everything about your life has just changed. I know you probably know what that feels like.”
The bull blows out another quiet snort, and I take that as confirmation. “Yeah, I figured you would. But as much as it sucked, I think we both ended up right where we’re supposed to be. What do you think?”
He blinks back at me, and I laugh. “Yeah, I know you can’t respond, but I’m pretty sure we’re on the same page. And just so you know, I don’t blame you for how it all ended. You gave me one hell of a last ride. Oh, and thanks for the whole not killing me part.”
Diesel blows out one last snort and ducks his head in a gesture that looks pretty damn close to a nod before turning and making his way over to the full trough.
Damn, I’m officially spending too much time alone, I think, watching the cows continue to eat.
Since last weekend with Lucy, I’ve been desperate to have more time alone with her, but with the craziness of opening weekend and all the planning that’s gone into tomorrow’s obstacle course, it’s been impossible to steal more than a quick kiss from her.
The desire to slide into her bed each night has been almost impossible to ignore, but I meant it when I told her that I wanted to give this thing between us a real shot.
Despite the fact that we’re living together, I’m determined to keep her from feeling like I only want her because she’s convenient.
The truth is, I don’t remember this time I was this twisted up over a woman.
I’ve never craved slow mornings, sipping coffee in the kitchen the way I do with her.
I’ve never looked forward to planning date nights or enjoyed the anticipation that’s been building between Lucy and me, the longer we’re forced to keep our distance.
But I’m tired of waiting, and I don’t know how much longer I can keep my hands to myself. My cock is desperate to finally slip inside her, and I’ve become obsessed with thoughts of all the different things I want to do with her. Pulling out my phone, I type out a quick text.
Colton: I’m pretty sure we’re falling behind on our official list duties.
Lucy: Colton, we have all month to knock the other things off.
Colton: Right, but what if something comes up? I think it’s better to be prepared.
Lucy: You think so?
Colton: Yep. So I was thinking. We should knock off the pumpkins task this weekend after the obstacle course.
Colton: Think of it as our first official date.
Lucy: Hmm, I don’t know. I’ll have to check my schedule.
Colton: What if I told you that I’m a little desperate to have some more time with you?
Lucy: You do realize that we live together right?
Colton: Come on, Darlin’, don’t make me beg.
Lucy: Well, you know how much I love it when you beg, Cowboy.
Lucy: But I’m kidding. Sunday night would be great.
Colton: Sounds good. I’ll take care of everything. Just meet me outside at seven.
Lucy: Sounds like a plan.