Chapter Thirty-Four
Penny and I practiced most of the morning yesterday, then Billie and her horse joined us in the afternoon.
Now we’re lined up and ready for this event.
Billie is the header, I’m the heeler, and it’s time.
We’re gonna destroy everyone who competes in that arena today.
I’m not trying to be cocky—but we haven’t skipped a beat and just like old times… we’re winners.
“Third in line baby.” Billie chimes as she sits next to me, on top of her horse. “The two idiots in front of us think they’re the best in the state.” She rolls her eyes. “They never were. But when we demolish their time, they’re gonna get a fat reality check.”
I laugh out loud and Penny bobs her neck up and down letting us know she agrees, I’m sure.
“Who the hell are they?” I ask. Because I truly do not know.
People come and go from small towns and there’s probably a bunch of young turds out here thinking they’re going to the next NFR. I can only see their backs from here.
She points her finger. “That little bitch on the left is, Jasper. And the guy next to him is Junior Montoya—Jasper’s little padawan.
” I can see they’re having a conversation.
But when Jasper turns to look over his shoulder, my fight-or-flight response tries to kick in, and I pull back on the reins.
Penny obeys, moving us further away. “Dee… you okay, girl?” Billie looks confused and concerned at the same time.
“Remember how I up and left town all those years ago, without a word?” My voice is confident and steady.
“Yeah… we haven’t talked about that yet. What’s that got to do with Jasper though?” Her brow furrows deeper and I know this isn’t the time or the place to explain it all. So I give her the answer, short and sweet.
“He, and two of his buddies pinned me down after I beat ‘em at the graduation rodeo. I got pregnant, lost the baby, and I never even knew his name.”
“Shit! That’s going to be a lot for me to unpack with you later, but girl, people have raked you over the fuckin’ coals long enough.
It’s time. You’ve got Chris now, you’ve got me, and by damn we’re going to kick his ass when we go out there!
Then we’ll stomp on his balls when we’re through.
” She looks back at him, then to me. “He never went to jail, so I’m assuming you didn’t turn him in.
It’s ok though, he’s got a cell in hell waiting for him.
In the meantime—are you ready to do your worst? ”
I lock my jaw hard, look at her and say, “You bet your ass I am.” I search the stands for Chris, I need to see him. The first team gets announced over the microphone and seconds later I hear the buzzer.
Come on, come on, come on! Where are you, boss?
Then I hear his voice. “Hey, blondie.” And he’s beside me, hand on my thigh.
I see myself in his golden brown eyes and lean down—grabbing his handsome, bearded face and kissing him like I’ll never get to again.
Penny obliges, dipping her neck and releasing her breath from her nostrils, probably annoyed.
I let go of him, sitting back up straight.
He sees my face and knows something isn't right. I toss my head forward to the team on either side of the chute, ready to race out after the steer. He sees who it is. Nothing else needs to be said. “Win.” He demands. “I’ll take care of the rest.”
I don’t know what that means, but I don’t think he’d give me the details, anyway.
The buzzer sounds, the steer is loose and the riders chase.
Junior misses the head, and the team gets a, no time, a failed run.
And since there are not multiple rounds at such a small town event—Jasper and Junior score a big, fat, zero.
Chris grins, then steps back giving me a final wink.
He blows me a quick kiss with his lips, then we move to take our places where a new steer is being held.
We never miss. This time when I win, it’s going to be his body laying flat on the ground, not mine.
Billie grins at me, I grin back at her—the buzzer sounds, and we race.
Billie ropes the front of the steer faster than I’ve ever seen a cowboy do it.
She sets me up for a perfect catch. The rope flies over my head, down and around both of the steer’s legs—he’s tied.
Perfect execution. We left the arena on a high, that was a thrill.
I’ve missed it. We stable our horses, then wait for all the other teams to finish.
Billie and I take our seats in the stands, but again, I can’t find Chris.
Whatever you’re doing, please don’t get caught.