20. Twenty
Twenty
Rhett
The day before the rodeo was hectic, so I was grateful Kyla had Grace to keep her company. And by keeping her company, I meant sitting in the stands watching as we worked. But the moment the Ground Hog was brought out Kyla jumped from the stands. Even if it wasn’t the arena that needed it, she was still excited to drive it around.
While Lachlan directed her where to go, I leaned on the gate, watching in awe as Kyla seamlessly drove the tractor. The fact that she caught on to driving the equipment only engrained it further in my brain that she was meant to be here.
“Hey, Rhett.” I heard Grace come up behind me. She took a single step onto the gate, lifting herself to be taller than me .
“Hey, Grace,” I responded, squinting to shield the bright ray of the sun. Grace was fixed on me, a crease on her forehead as she eyed me up and down. I felt it coming. The interrogation. The warning from the best friend. I bit the inside of my cheek, hard enough to draw blood, as I waited for her to turn.
“I see the way you look at her,” she finally said. “You’re really falling for her, aren’t you?”
“Is it that obvious?” I winced, my finger and thumb began to spin the new ring on my left hand.
Raising her eyebrows, Grace tightened her lips and nodded.
“Is that bad?”
Shaking her head quickly she used her arms to stretch herself out on the gate. “Nope. It’s great. I meant what I said. I haven’t seen Kyla like this in a long time, and I am one hundred percent confident it’s all because of you. So . . . try to keep her. She may not admit it yet, but this isn’t temporary. I think she’s falling for you too. She just won’t admit it to herself.”
My gaze turned to Kyla, as she drove the Ground Hog. Lachlan waved her back, and she laughed—a beautiful, genuine sound I could hear even over the loud engine. A happy Kyla.
“You think so?”
“I don’t think, I know,” Grace finished, jumping off the gate. “Listen, I’ll support whatever it is you two decide to do. I’m on your team here. Just know”—she pointed at me, her eyes narrowing—“if you hurt her, I will cut off your favorite appendage with a dull wooden spoon.”
Well, that was . . . terrifying.
“Is that even possible? ”
“Anything is possible, Cowboy. Anything.” Grace narrowed her eyes and pointed at me. “Never underestimate the power of a best friend.”
“I can’t believe I let him talk me into this,” Abi grumbled as she knelt in front of Stetson, straightening his helmet for the tenth time. “How many concussions did you and Wyatt get from this?”
I laughed at my sister, watching the grin on my nephew’s face grow as the time for Mutton Busting grew closer. Looking around the arena, I was amazed with how full the stands were. Almost every seat was taken and the hustle and bustle behind the chutes was just as crazy. Cowboys from all over had signed up to join in on tonight’s Fourth of July rodeo, and with the barrel racing and bull riders, it was going to be a fantastic show. Even the fireworks at the end are going to be a hit.
There wasn’t a better way to celebrate tonight.
The only thing missing down here was Kyla.
“A fair few,” I remarked as Abi stood, her eyes heavy on her son. “You’ve fallen off your fair share of horses, Abi. At least he’ll be close to the ground.”
Abi turned her head and glared, her blue eyes stabbing into me.
“Oh, come on, Mom!” Stetson grumbled. “Don’t embarrass me. I’m ready for this.” He began to bounce up and down, his fists in front of him as he hyped himself up .
“See! The kid’s excited.” I motioned at my nephew. “I bet he’ll make it all the way across the dirt. He’ll win that first place ribbon.”
“He’ll get a ribbon no matter what,” Abi grumbled, folding her arms in front of her chest.
“Sure, but he wants to hang on the longest.”
Mutton Busting was the perfect event to start off any rodeo. Who wouldn’t love to watch kids hold on for dear life as a sheep ran across the dirt. The kid that held on the longest “won” even though they all got a ribbon of some kind. It was an event that I had participated in numerous times, and I couldn’t wait to see my nephew give it his all.
“First sheep and then bulls,” Abi grumbled under her breath, running her hand down her face.
“No Hartwell is a bull rider, and I doubt Stetson is going to be the one to start that.”
I knew Abi’s mind was going to her late husband. The bull riding was what pulled Sylas into this world. At one point, she loved the event, but now she wouldn’t stay to watch it. Thinking her son would follow in his dad’s footsteps wasn’t settling well with her.
“Nah, I want to do bareback like Uncle Lachlan!” Stetson shouted, raising his arms in the air.
“Oh, like that’s any better,” Abi snapped.
“It is, actually.” I shrugged my shoulders, agreeing with Stetson. “He’ll get Rookie of the Year.”
“Oh Lord.” Abi raised her chin to the sky, closing her eyes to exhale a deep breath. Her mom brain was moving a million miles an hour, taking in all of the things that could go wrong .
Pulling Abi close to me for a quick hug, I turned my eyes to the crowd. I knew Kyla was up there with Grace and my parents, but I wanted her down here with me. She had seen what I do from far away enough times, it was time to pull her in—completely immerse her with the rodeo world.
“Hey.” I rubbed Abi’s shoulder. “I’m going to go—”
“Yeah, yeah . . .” Abi stepped away, waving me off. “Go find Kyla.”
“Bring Miss Kyla here!” Stetson jumped.
“I’ll try.” I patted his helmet and took off towards the stands.
Knowing where my family always sat, I didn’t even have to think about where to go. Kyla was most likely seated right next to my mother, probably leaving a gap for Stetson when he returned. I glanced up at the stands, caught a glimpse of my mom quickly, and froze when I saw the yellow dress next to her.
My breath completely stopped when I saw her. She stood next to Grace, a white cowboy hat on top of her head, white boots donning her feet. The yellow sundress fit her like a glove, with a tie around her waist showing off all her curves. Her brown hair fell from the hat, drifting just past her shoulders with a slight curl, and was blowing slightly in the wind.
You’re really falling for her, aren’t you?
I had already fallen. There was no doubt in my mind.
I had fallen for Kyla.
I scooted past Grace, who thankfully saw me and made it possible for me to get to Kyla, before I grabbed her wrist and pulled her to me .
She gasped, her free hand reaching up to hold on to her hat as she came in contact with my body. The simple feeling of her against me was everything I could ask for. This woman had been the only thing that occupied my mind since the first time seeing her at the bar, and the smile that grew on her lips made me want to take her right here. Let everyone in the area know she was mine.
“Hey, Cowboy.” Her laugh was like a drug as she placed her hand on my chest. I was addicted to the sound of her laughter and the feel on her palm against me. Nothing would ever be enough. I held her gaze as her smile grew. “Aren’t you supposed to be down there?” She pointed to the arena dirt.
“I had to come get my girl.” I ran my hand down her back, feeling her body loosen. “Come watch down where the action is.”
“You sure?” She arched her back and pushed away. “I won’t be in the way?”
“Trust me, no one will mind.” I knocked the rims of our hats together before taking a step back, turning to Grace, my hand still firmly planted in hers. “It’s okay I take her away, right Grace?”
“Please! Keep her as long as you’d like.” Grace smiled, giving Kyla a wink as she passed.
“Good evening, Hartwell Rodeo Fans!” Wyatt’s voice boomed overhead, making the crowd around us cheer. “Glad y’all could join us tonight for the annual rodeo, and the sold-out crowd makes this the biggest yet. I’m Wyatt Hartwell, up here in the box watching all the action from a safe distance as we track times and scores, and of course, we’re starting the night off with Mutton Busting. All the kids are ready and raring to go. They are jumping around and cannot wait, so, first up is Heather Cart, a four-year-old from Boise! ”
“Four years old!” Kyla shouted as the crowd cheered again.
“I was three.” I turned back to her. “Come on, you’re not going to want to miss Stetson.”
“A 77 for Heather, not bad for a first run! Up next Gavin Jones. He won best time last year if I remember right, so let’s see what he’s got for us tonight . . . Oooo, 75.” Wyatt was having way too much with this.
The noise from the crowd faded a tiny bit as we made our way behind the stands, back to where Abi stood with Stetson. Kyla had kept up with my pace, removing her hat as we quickly walked. She had two steps to my one larger step, and I had to force myself to slow down—to focus on her hand in mine as the crowd by the gates got thicker.
“And here we have my nephew, Stetson Acosta, who may be up for Rookie of the Year. I’m shocked my sister finally let him compete, but let’s see what he’s got and whoo there he goes!” Kyla let go of my hand and ran towards Abi, coming up next to her to watch Stetson, placing her hat back on her head.
The world disappeared as she jumped and clapped for Stetson—excitement radiating through her as she became immersed in the world around her.
The noises and crowds faded around us, and all I saw was her.
“An 89 for Acosta, sticking to the Hartwell rodeo genes!” Wyatt cheered, a small laugh to his voice.
Taking a breath to ground myself, I took a step towards Kyla, placing my hand on her lower back.
“Did you see that!” she screamed as she turned back to me. “He made it halfway! ”
“My heart has never pounded so hard.” Abi let out a deep breath, her hand to her chest. “This boy is going to get himself killed.”
“89, Abi! 89!!” Kyla jumped.
“Miss Kyla!!” Stetson’s small voice carried as he ran up, wrapping his arms around Kyla. His helmet was still on, but his left pant leg had ridden up past the top of his boots. The kid looked as if he were adrenaline in a bottle, ready to explode. “Did you see me!”
“I did, Stetson!” Kyla hugged him back as best she could while his arms were around her legs. “You were great. I can’t believe it!”
“That sheep was not happy,” he shouted, letting go of Kyla to turn to his mom. “I think I won.”
Abi, who looked ten times more relaxed now, bopped her son on top of his head. “I think you did too.”
“Mutton Busting now, bareback in ten years,” I remarked.
“Ten years!” Abi screamed. “Make it twenty.”
I laughed, slipping my hand in Kyla’s, the electric feeling seeping through my skin. She turned to me, her eyes full of life and a smile on her face.
“Come on. Saddle Bronc is first, then Steer Wrestling, Bareback . . . then Tie-Down. You gotta meet a few guys.” I leaned down to talk in her ear, her scent filling me. Vanilla with a hint of . . . lavender? That was new. I inhaled, taking her in.
She leaned, turning to look at me. Her lips close to mine, all I had to do was close that three inch gap and I would be kissing her. My breath hitched at just the thought of her lips on mine again. Glancing down at her lips, the light lip gloss made them shimmer, more enticing then I think they’ve ever been. All she needed to do was roll them together, and I wouldn’t be able to stop myself. Instead, she smiled.
“I so badly want to kiss you,” I whispered, admitting that truth my brain was crying out, leaning in a little closer.
She took a deep breath, her chest moving as she breathed in and out. She stiffened slightly, her eyes darting quickly as she looked at me. She tightened her lips—almost like she was holding in something she wanted to say. Had she ever been told someone wanted to kiss her? The words she had spoken on our first night rang through my ears. No one has ever talked to me this way before; I’m not used to it.
Resting my cheek against hers, I felt her sharp intake of breath. “Has anyone ever told you that?”
A shaky breath leaving her, she slightly shook her head.
“Mrs. Hartwell,” I whispered in her ear, gravel filling my voice, “I’m just getting started.”