Chapter 23
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
hayden
MAY, SOPHOMORE YEAR
Sierra started competing with us right from the beginning of the spring rodeo season in March.
Over the past six weeks, we traveled around the state to compete in various rodeos, and I absolutely loved it.
I could see this being a career I pursued in the future, despite my parents wanting me to go to school to get an education first, just in case.
It was a sunny day in the Gallatin Valley, just outside of Bozeman. This rodeo was duly named the Bridgers Rodeo and was one of my favorites. The area reminded me of Goldfinch, and the crisp mountain air always had a positive effect on my nerves.
“Have your parents come to any of these?” I asked while we sat around eating peanut butter and jelly sandwiches.
She shook her head as she lifted a hand to her mouth, still chewing a big bite.
“Oh, that’s too bad.” Alyssa gave her a sympathetic glance.
I didn’t think Alyssa noticed, but I saw the flash of annoyance in Sierra’s eyes as she swallowed.
“It’s not that big a deal. I don’t need them to be here.”
“And you have my parents,” I added, hoping to reassure her. I didn’t exactly know why her parents didn’t come to watch her, but it frustrated me a little. Sierra was really good, and it was unfortunate that her family wasn’t here to witness it.
Her eyes flicked away before she stood, crumpling up the plastic bag her sandwich was in. “Yep.” She walked over to the trash can to throw it away and didn’t come back, disappearing around the corner instead.
“She’s interesting, isn’t she?” Alyssa stood up and placed her hands on her hips.
I shrugged. “I guess.”
The way she said “interesting” made it feel like an insult. Was Sierra shy? Sure. Guarded? Absolutely. But she wasn’t weird like Alyssa’s tone insinuated, at least not to me.
“I wonder what her deal is.” She was still staring, even though Sierra was long gone.
“What do you mean?”
She shrugged. “It’s odd that her parents wouldn’t be here, or at least come to one of the rodeos she competes in. Especially with how good she is. And they have to know about them. They signed the paperwork.”
The urge to defend Sierra, even though the same thoughts had just rolled through my head, rose to the surface. “Maybe her parents work on the weekends. They could just be busy. I don’t think it’s that deep, Alyssa.”
She raised her brows as she exhaled through her nose in amusement. “You’re right, that’s my bad. I shouldn’t have made assumptions.” Folding up her sandwich bag, she stood. “Well, I’d better go get ready to compete. You should, too. Go find Keenan.”
I nodded, finishing the rest of my sandwich and handing her my garbage before standing and brushing the dust off my jeans.
Keenan and I had done pretty well, landing in the top five of the leaderboard. We weren’t quite at the top, but it wasn’t a bad spot to be in toward the end of the season.
“Our next young lady comes to us from Goldfinch, Montana. Sierra Bayley, let’s do it!” The announcer’s voice echoed, and my attention shot to the rodeo arena as Sierra and Buttercup exploded into a run. “I need you with me, folks! Let her hear you!”
The pair made it around the first barrel with ease, dust particles flying into the air as music played through the speakers and the crowd roared.
She looked like a natural out there. Her face was set in determination as they rounded the second barrel and charged toward the final one.
“Yup!” The announcer clucked his approval, but as she cut around the barrel, her saddle slipped, falling slightly to the side of Buttercup’s flank.
“Oh, shit!” Keenan yelled, pointing toward the pair.
I jumped up from where I was sitting, but it wasn’t like I could have done anything.
Sierra held her own, though, keeping her balance so she didn’t fall out of the saddle.
“Whoa there! Looks like this cowgirl almost took a tumble, but she’s managed to hang on, folks. Help her home, everybody!”
Sierra managed to finish the run, albeit slower than normal.
“Eighteen-point-four-seven for Sierra Bayley. Next up is—”
I blocked out the announcer’s voice as I ran over to the alleyway to check on Sierra, Keenan hot on my trail.
“What happened?” The thought slipped from my mouth as we reached her and Buttercup.
Keenan pointed to her cinch. “She didn’t tighten her cinch enough. Actually, it’s almost like you skipped over it entirely.” He chuckled. “Hey, that’s what we can call you. Skip.”
“Oh, shut up,” she snipped, her nostrils flaring. “It was an honest mistake. I got ahead of myself.”
Keenan continued. “You’re just lucky you didn’t fall out there, Skippy.”
“Hey! I still finished the run, didn’t I?” Sierra drew back her elbow to hit him, but I intervened, stopping her before she caused rib damage.
“Come on, Skip.” I winked, and even though she rolled her eyes at me, a soft smile pulled at her cheeks. “Let’s get out of here.”
“That nickname isn’t going to stick, you know,” she muttered as we walked toward the horse trailers.
I shrugged. “I kinda like it.”