Chapter Ten #2
The ranch came into view, and I could see August out riding her beloved horse, Marshmallow.
She’d set up a mini barrel racer circuit in one of the pastures and continued to practice.
Sometimes I sat and watched her and Leo ride around and around.
They had so much in common, the love of racing and bull riding, the romance books.
Sometimes I got a little jealous but then I remembered that he always came back to me. That I was his number one girl.
One day I wouldn’t be though.
I shook my head, annoyed that the thought of that made me feel weird. Leo deserved nothing but happiness and I shouldn’t be upset when someone eventually came into his life and knocked me from the top spot.
August waved me over and I jogged to her.
“How was your shift?” she asked, swinging down from Marshmallow in one smooth motion.
“Good thanks, not much excitement at the moment which I guess is a good thing.”
She laughed. “It doesn’t sound like it from the way you’re talking. I know you love the action.”
“I do,” I sighed and stroked Marshmallow’s mane.
“You okay? Just tired, or something else, you seem out of sorts?”
I met her wide-eyed amber stare. August had that old soul energy, a maturity that made you forget how young she was. “Yeah, I had a fight with Leo, that’s all.”
She frowned, her freckles pinching around her face. “Oh boo, sorry to hear that. What about?”
I flushed, she was too young for this discussion. So was Daisy. I needed Kat.
“Doesn’t matter. Where’s Kat?”
“She and Daddy went to a cattle market.”
“Shoot,” I tutted. “Okay, well what needs doing ‘round here?”
“I’ve sorted the horses but there’s a fence in the north pasture that needs mending.”
I grinned. Finally something to sink my teeth into.
I loved working the ranch, even when I was exhausted off a long shift, and fence mending was my favorite.
I loved spotting the weaknesses, lugging around the heavy posts and using my strength to fix them.
The adrenaline rush left me high for hours.
Like competency porn, but for myself, an independent woman.
“Perfect.”
I jogged to the barn, saddled Chester and rode out.
All my thoughts left behind as the breeze sailed through my hair and over my skin.
The scent of fresh grass and flowers grounded me.
When I was riding, I could understand why Leo loved the rodeo.
The connection to a wild animal, the rush of adrenaline. It was perfection.
It took a few hours to mend the fence, I had to replace a whole corner and when I stepped back and surveyed my work, I was buzzing. My high lasted all the way back to the ranch and by nightfall, I was still vibrating with energy.
Pulling out my phone, I frowned when I saw I had no messages from Leo but fired one off to him anyway.
Maddy: I’m heading to the bar tonight, if you’re around?
I didn’t tell him why I was going but he’d know after our conversation this morning.
I showered and got changed, put a little effort into my appearance, tried not to look too much like a tomboy.
My push up bra gave me a hint of cleavage and my low-cut V-neck certainly helped make it look more impressive.
I fluffed my hair and spritzed some perfume before I headed out.
Pulling up outside the bar, I parked and checked my phone again. Still no reply from Leo and my heart sank, my good mood dipping slightly.
Throwing my phone back into my purse, I got out of the truck I borrowed from Daddy and went inside The Lonely Bison, our local watering hole. I was twenty-one now and could finally come here regularly for a drink.
My knees shook slightly as I made my way to the bar and ordered a beer.
The adrenaline from earlier had faded and now I was nervous.
When the bottle was placed in front of me, I snatched it up, clinging to it so tightly my knuckles blanched.
My eyes roved around the bar until they met a familiar twinkling brown pair.
He was leaning against the mechanical bull, his Stetson pulled low but he was smirking at me. My heart banged against my ribcage, happiness flooding me. He pushed off from the bull and swaggered over, ignoring the women who fawned over him.
“You came,” I said when he stopped in front of me.
“Wouldn’t be good wingman behavior if I left my best friend all alone at a bar now, would it?”
I threw myself at him, hitting the solid wall of his chest, the scent of leather and Leo enveloping me. So glad whatever this weird fight we were in was gone. He was here, he was supporting me. Just like he always did and I was supremely grateful.
“I’m sorry if I put you in an awkward position,” I said when we pulled apart.
He shrugged one shoulder. “You didn’t, let’s forget about it. Now, who here do you wanna sleep with?” He waggled his eyebrows in true Leo fashion, making me giggle and spun me to face the room.
“What about him?” He pointed at an old guy in the corner with his walking frame and I spat my beer out.
“No,” I choked out between laughs.
“No? He could teach you a thing or two, missy.”
“Like which pills help him out with his various aches and pains?” I quipped.
“As long as he’s got those blue pills,” Leo joked.
“Blue pills?”
Leo rolled his eyes. “Viagra. Keep up. No pun intended.”
I rearranged my expression into a mock-serious face. “Apologies.”
“What about him?” I asked, pointing towards a guy who was about five ten, sort of barrel-chested with kind eyes.
Leo glanced down at me. “I don’t think he’s your type.”
“What makes you say that?”
“Just, trust me, Mads.”
A moment later, he was joined by another man and they kissed.