Chapter 50
“With a warm welcome, will everyone rise, remove your hats, and shut your traps.” The old man chuckles as his gruff voice cascades through the speakers around me. “Miss Summers will now sing the National Anthem to ready our contestants for today’s competition.”
I look around before spotting Sage walking out to the middle of the arena.
Her hair is warm, a mix of gold and strawberry blonde pieces loosely braided down her back.
She wears a soft yellow sundress and her lips curl up into a bright delicate smile.
On her feet are a pair of brown cowboy boots complete with yellow rhinestones.
A pair I made, thanks to Daisy. I can’t hold back the swell of pride at seeing one of my designs in front of so many people, and even more so when I hear someone whisper they want a set.
“Afternoon, y’all.” Her voice is gentle and kind as she greets the crowd. “I’m honored to sing for y’all today, and good luck to the talent that hits this dirt after me.”
She lowers her head ever so slightly as the music starts to play and I can see her take a deep breath before her time to sing.
The crowd is captivated by her as she remains not only confident, but also on key.
Some sing right along with her, their hats placed proudly over their chests.
The anthem comes to an end, the crowd erupting into cheers at her performance.
I guess this place isn’t all bad.
I’m still nervous as hell though, my fight or flight response feeling like it could be triggered at any second.
Taking a deep breath, I push back the worry threatening to swallow me whole.
Having an open mind to my new beginnings is fine and all, but just because I’ve fallen head over heels for a cowboy doesn’t mean I’m ready to embrace rodeos as a whole.
I search around the indoor arena looking for Rhett.
Meeting him here was an awful idea and so was not riding with Sawyer and Daisy.
As my eyes scan the faces that surround me, I look further into the sea of people before spotting him, but not the him I was hoping for.
Maybe I shouldn’t have fucking come here at all.
I knew this was a bad idea before I ever left my house, yet my dumb ass thought…
what exactly? That he wouldn’t be here? That, somehow, I wouldn’t run into him?
How could I have been so stupid? He’s always here.
Besides himself, it’s the only thing he’s ever loved.
I watch, from a distance, the father I used to know embrace a woman I assume is his new wife.
She’s pretty. Her smile is filled with joy, and for some reason, that hurts more than seeing him kiss her.
Maybe because the idea of him kissing someone who isn’t Mom isn’t anything new, but the love in his eyes while he does it is.
Her glossy red hair rains over her shoulders and sways just as they both do while she’s in his embrace.
Leaning back, he takes her in one more time, twirling her in a circle, and plants another kiss on her forehead once she makes her final revolution back into his arms.
He turns my direction and I do my best to not only avert my gaze, but also position myself behind someone much taller than me.
Out of sight out of mind. Well, at least unless he knew what my hair looks like now so many years after his departure.
It feels weird to hide from someone I did nothing to, but my heart doesn’t feel ready to meet his gaze, let alone have him register who I am.
I work my way through the people around me in search of Rhett once more. I wade through kids and parents, many of which all wear light tan cowboy hats just like his.
“Where ya off in a hurry?” Rhett’s deep, familiar voice brings me back down from the ledge I felt I was hanging on. I swivel toward him and meet his brilliant white smile.
“I was looking for you,” I say, forcing a smile of my own to my lips while simultaneously trying to not show how much I want to leave. “But then the anthem started and it’s rude to rustle around during that.”
He chuckles. “Yeah, I can think of plenty of other times and places that rustlin’ around would be much more appropriate.
I don’t ride for a bit, but I had to toss my shit in my locker so that I wasn’t luggin’ it around.
Sorry for keepin’ ya waitin’.” He tugs my hands, pulling me in for a hug.
“This is a nice change of pace. I got two good-luck charms today.”
“Oh yeah, and what are those, Casanova?”
“Well, you, of course, and I also brought that lucky buckle ya gave me.”
Nausea hits me like a tsunami, flooding every part of my brain.
I’m now regretting not taking the chance to talk about this when I had the chance.
I should’ve brought my dad up, I should’ve made sure he knew it was no happy accident to find that buckle, but the light in his eyes stopped me in my tracks.
And up until this point, I assumed we’d never be in the same place with him.
I’m an idiot for believing that, or at least convincing myself to.
“Ya alright?” Worry creases around his eyes as he squeezes my hands.
“Yeah, just a little overwhelmed, there are a lot of people here.” It’s not a lie, the place is packed shoulder to shoulder.
Contestants, animals, fans, and journalists all mill about, filling the space while a jarring disarray of conflicting sounds bounce throughout the arena.
Music and laughter, grunts and cheers. It’s so damn loud, the noise seems amplified by my anxiety.
“It can be a bit much at first, but I promise ya get used to it.” Positive and gentle, like always, he brings warmth to my worry and nearly washes it away. Until a familiar face walks right behind him, turning the warmth to ice cold fury in the course of a single heartbeat.