Sorrel
Imove through the living quarters of my horse trailer like a mad woman as I get ready. Space is tight, and it’s hard to keep organized, but it’s my home away from home. I’ve made it as cozy as can be, but it’s not nearly as cozy as my cabin back at the ranch.
I rinse off the arena dirt and sweat sticking to my neck and face.
It’s been a long day, and between the heat and my nerves from earlier, I’m a hot mess.
I throw on some makeup, a clean pair of jeans, and a baby-pink tank top.
Next, I work on the rat’s nest that’s my hair.
My braid came undone during my run, and my hair is all tangled.
I start at the bottom brushing through my long blonde hair. I work at the knots until it’s smooth.
Dad realized he would just have to raise us to be tough enough to work on the ranch, and he did just that.
Each of us girls is as handy as the ranch hands that are hired.
Especially Sutton. She’s as gritty as they come and one of the hardest workers I know.
But I think Sable would prefer not to work at all if were up to her.
It’s not that she isn’t handy, but she enjoys doing her makeup and shopping more than she enjoys ranch work. I think I fall somewhere in the middle.
Dad finally got his boy of the family when Sutton and Ryder had their baby boy, Trotter.
I’m so obsessed with my nephew. He filled a space in my heart I didn’t know was missing.
He’s already a hardworking little cowboy like his mom and dad.
That was one of the many reasons I couldn’t wait to get back to the ranch.
I hate being away from him for too long.
I hear footsteps walking up to my trailer. My chest twists—for a moment I worry it might be Huck and he’s found me. I peek out the tiny window on the front door and let out a breath when I see it's just Charli. She’s back early and I flip the latch to unlock the door.
Fuck, I can’t keep living on edge like this, and I know it’s just a matter of time before I run into him at a rodeo now that I’m entering again.
Montana’s pro rodeo circuit has thirty-two sanctioned rodeos. All of which I had planned on entering this summer. After my breakup with Huck, that didn’t happen. I was so hung up on him and everything that happened between us. I couldn’t bear the thought of seeing him.
The first rodeo I entered, someone mentioned he was there, and it anchored me where I stood—I froze up.
I couldn’t breathe and my chest was on fire.
Charli helped me through a huge panic attack.
She loaded up my horses, and we hauled ass in my truck and trailer as far away as we could get.
She let me cry the entire drive and listen to depressing country songs about stupid cowboys who cheat and break hearts.
It was actually quite therapeutic. We decided that night to camp out in the middle of nowhere.
We drank two bottles of wine, cried, and sang our hearts out all night long.
After that, I decided I would jackpot and work on the ranch the rest of the summer.
I couldn’t handle another panic attack like that, or a hangover for that matter.
No more wine and crying over cowboys for me.
Unfortunately, I couldn’t hide forever. I hadn’t been winning shit at jackpots and I needed to enter a few pro rodeos to stay in good standings and keep my pro card.
Then Charli convinced me to enter the Livingston Roundup this weekend.
It’s the biggest rodeo of the summer. But I knew the odds of running into Kenzington were growing by the hour.
I’m ready just in time, as Charli swings the door wide open.
She does a little twirl and hair flip, showing off her outfit.
She has on a denim miniskirt and a halter shirt that makes her boobs look amazing.
Paired with her “going out” cowboy boots that give her height a little boost. They’re squeaky clean and not covered in horse shit.
The sunset makes her golden brown skin glisten.
I give her a whistle. “You look amazing. Have you been working out? Your quads are massive.”
“I have a new trainer at Mountainrange Fitness. His name is Kody,” she says, eyebrows dancing.
“Flavor of the month?” I ask with a smirk playing on my lips.
Her heart-shaped mouth curves into a wry smile. “You know I don’t kiss and tell, Saxxon.”
I tilt my head back and let out a howl. “Charli Kutler thinks she’s sneaky now does she?” I deadpan.
She walks away laughing, her patience with me wearing thin.
Dash paws at my boot—his way of beginning me not to go.
He tugs at my heart strings and I feel especially guilty after leaving him alone in the trailer for most of the day.
I give him some extra food in his bowl to make up for it.
I know I can always win him over with food.
He’s already forgotten all about me leaving.
Charli calls for me from outside the open door. “Sorrel, let’s go, time to turn and burn, bitch.” She pulls up her boobs so they look even perkier.
I shake my head. I am so not ready for this.
“Bye, Dash, love you.”
He looks up at me with his half-blue, half-white eyes that always make it look like he’s sad. He’s so damn cute. “I’m sorry, buddy. I wish I could stay. One more night and you’ll be back at the ranch chasing cows and rolling in horse shit,” I chuckle.
I step outside into the cool night air, and my skin prickles. Summer temperatures are dropping quickly, and it feels like fall is already rolling in. That happens early in Montana, but I get excited because even though our winters are frigid, it’s one of my favorite times of the year.
Now that I’m outside, I look down at my outfit, feeling very underdressed. “Should I change?” I ask.
She looks me over, then rolls her eyes. “Sorrel, you could wear a damn paper sack and still look like a million bucks. Let’s go.”
I fumble with the keys and lock up the trailer.
“Finally, I thought you were gonna chicken out.”
“I sure as hell thought about it,” I mutter.
“Oh, come on. If Huck is there, I’ll kick his ass.”
She’s so cocky considering Huck is double her height and mean as hell, but she might be meaner.
“Please, God, no. I don’t want any trouble, Charli.”
“I know, I know. All right then, we’ll just ignore him and we’ll dance our asses off to some Denton Reed.”
“Oh, is that who’s playing tonight? Do I know any of his songs?”
“You should! He’s been playing at almost every rodeo this summer. Oh wait—that’s right, you’ve been hiding out at the ranch all summer!” She teases.
I give her a playful shove.
Truth is, I have been hiding all summer. I’m just not ready to rehash everything and feel the trauma of it all again. It’s better if I just pretend like it doesn’t bother me, ignore my emotions, and move on.
She throws her arm over my shoulder and gives me a squeeze.
After handing me the other beer she has, we clank them together and drink them as we walk to the arena entrance.
I can already hear music playing and smell food coming from the food trucks set up outside the arena.
I should eat something before drinking anymore tonight so I don’t get a massive hangover before my drive home tomorrow.
We’ve almost finished our beers, and I get an optimistic feeling about tonight. Maybe I’ll get lucky and Huck won’t even be here. With any luck, he’s already in his truck, halfway back to Fergus County, and he hasn’t thought twice about me.
If only I could get him out of my mind.
“Sorrel, wake up!” Charli yells at me.
I spaced out thinking about last summer again. I’ve got to snap out of it.
“I’m awake. I’m ready. Let’s get in there,” I say with a nervous smile, and we stroll through the entrance.