Chapter Twenty-One
It was finally rodeo time.
The songs were blasting. The crowd was rushing through the doors. The cowboys were warming up.
The anticipation was palpable, and I had the best seat in the house.
I was behind the chutes, feeling the excitement and nerves through the contestants. This rodeo felt different; we were on the countdown to the NFR, and so many of the riders were fighting for their spot.
Billy had been back here for a few minutes, getting footage of the Agri-Corp logo plastered everywhere. I hadn’t held back the marketing budget this time, knowing tonight would be big for the rodeo world.
When I approached her, she was flirting with one of the tie-down ropers. “Hi, Billy! Sorry, Thompson is surprisingly chatty when you get him going.”
We had talked for half an hour, going through too many drinks, and actually sharing a few laughs. He was a shockingly pleasant person when he wanted to be.
Billy was wearing a neon pink dress and had her hair piled in two buns on top of her head. “Hey, boss!” She held out her hand to the cowboy. “It was nice to meet you.”
He shook it. “I’ll call you,” he promised, walking away.
“You got game, girl,” I said with obvious surprise. “Thought you had a boyfriend.”
She shrugged nonchalantly. “It was a casual thing, but it’s over now. Guys can’t resist me.”
“GOOOOD EVENIN’ COWBOYS AND COWGIRLS!” The announcer boomed. “Are you ready for the world’s largest indoor rodeo?”
The crowd screamed back.
“We’ve got quite the show lined up for you tonight! The best riders and the toughest animals in Oklahoma!” He cleared his throat. “Tonight, we’d like to give a special thanks to our title sponsor.”
This was it, time for the script I had spent hours stressing over.
“Agri-Corp is more than a company; it’s a family legacy.
We folks in the rodeo are well aware of what it’s like to be a part of a legacy.
In fact, tonight we are in the presence of some truly special cowboys.
Thompson Avery, a bull-rider who wasn’t afraid to ride the toughest animals in the business.
Mickey Montgomery, a tie-down roper with impeccable speed.
And of course, the infamous Dennis Nash, son of James Nash, father of Jimmy, Colton, Alan, and Dean Nash, who have been proving to us all that the rodeo is more than a sport, it’s a way of life. ”
I held my breath.
“These cowboys are what make Agri-Corp more than a dealership. They know what it’s like to be in and a part of the rodeo. That’s why they’re our trusted partner in all things rodeo gear. Let’s give a big hand to our sponsor, Agri-Corp!”
The crowd gave an incredible response.
I let out my breath and let my shoulders relax.
Billy nudged me. “Nice work, boss.”
I smiled. “Thanks, kid.” I was relieved she had managed to capture the whole speech on camera, including the audience’s excellent response.
“Is there any specific footage we need?” She yelled over the music as the rodeo royalty presented the flags.
I checked my iPad. “Not particularly until the after party. If you want to get some food or something, I don’t think I’ll need you for a little while.”
She nodded enthusiastically. “Thanks! I’ll meet you at the Agri-Corp booth?”
“Sounds good.”
Ding
I looked down at my phone to see a text from Dennis, or Jo using Dennis’ phone.
If you get tired of standing by the stinky animals, there’s plenty of room on the bench with us crazy hicks!
I squinted past the lights and through the arena to see Jo and Ellie waving erratically. I grinned and waved back.
I would love to! I’ll be there in two shakes of a rabbit’s butt!
I wished I were there to see Ellie laugh at that text. My dad would say that any chance he could, and it always cracked me up.
Colton was sliding his chaps around his belt when I caught up to him.
“Hey!”
He looked up, a big smile on his face. His dimple was practically begging for a kiss. “How ya doin’? Did you get all your work done?”
I nodded. “I’m all done till the after party.”
“Did you write that part about the company?” He asked, pulling on his sponsor vest.
I nodded again, feeling like a bobble head.
“Man, I loved it! I bet Thompson and Mickey did too; they’re always talking about the glory days when they were in the circuit.”
Again, my first thought was to blow off any of the credit, but Colton’s wise words made me think again. “Thank you,” I said honestly. “My goal was to make them feel like they were still a part of the rodeo world.”
“I think you did just that,” he assured me confidently.
“How are you feeling?”
He was obviously itching to get going. He was shaking his hands over and over, getting prepared to shove them in his thick gloves. “I’m ready,” he said, mostly to himself.
I needed to get out of his hair so he could mentally prepare. “I’ll see you after?”
He nodded. “I’ll be lookin’ forward to it.” He slid on his gloves and tightened them with his teeth, which was so unexpectedly hot.
“Good luck, Colton.”
“Not goin’ to kiss me first?” He asked with a crooked grin.
I loved his in-charge attitude when it came to kissing me. “Oh, of course I am.”
His glove wrapped around my waist, sliding me close. He leaned down, catching the back of my head with his hand. I gripped his shirt with my polished nails and brought his lips into mine. He kissed me rough and tender all at once.
“I think I’m gonna have the best ride of my life, thanks to you, Miss Ford,” he whispered before planting one more soft kiss on my lips.
I rubbed my thumb over his mouth, trying to get my red gloss off. “Oh, my pleasure, Mr. Nash.”
It was torture to leave his touch again, but he needed to get focused on his ride. I waved goodbye and slowly made my way back to the stands.
“Y’all were too sweet to save me a spot!” I shouted in a thick Texan accent as soon as I spotted the Nash family, who took up their own row.
Ellie ran to my side and grabbed my hand. “Ally! Guess what? I’m singing the National Anthem tomorrow!”
“Oh my goodness, I am so excited to hear you sing again!” I slid my accent back deep into my soul and grinned at her.
“Will you come sit by me?”
“I would be honored!”
She dragged me through the sea of legs and plopped my butt beside her.
I waved shyly to AnnaJane, who sat on the other side of her.
She threw her arm around me, her big black hair falling around me.
“Girl, I have been lookin’ all over for you.
We need to talk about Colton kissin’ you! Was it so hot?”
She made it way too easy to let my guard down and tell her everything. “Oh…it was so hot.”
She squealed, whacking Erin, who was on my left. “Can you believe how quickly he did it?”
Erin laughed. “Oh, honey, I was surprised he didn’t kiss her when she stepped off the plane.”
Miley was sitting in front of me, surrounded by the other kids. “Dean waited three weeks into our relationship to kiss me. Count yourself lucky!”
I had always wished for a sister, or a brother, a sibling in general. Being thrown into the love and teasing of the Nash family filled a huge hole in my heart.
AnnaJane was laughing and shaking her head. “Ah, we need another girls’ night with no kids now that Allegra is here. I need to hear this whole story.”
“Agreed!” Miley shouted.
“Our next rider is a crowd favorite! He’s shattered records everywhere he’s gone. He’s our Gurthie, Oklahoma hometown boy! He’s got a fast ticket to the NFR, and he’s ready to prove himself tonight! COLTON NASH! He’s atop the horse they call the Real Deal!”
Colton was in the second chute.
Gosh, he was so attractive.
AnnaJane squeezed my hand.
He was sliding his hand under the riggin’, taking long, deep breaths. His head was bowed, looking down at the horse’s back. His lips were moving.
I was swelling with pride and shaking with adrenaline.
“Is Colton Nash ready? IS THE REAL DEAL READY? Are YOU ready, Gurthie! Let’s get it!”
Colton nodded at his team, and the gates swung open.
The horse went crazy, and my heart stopped.
Instead of the overwhelming excitement I had the first few times I watched him, I felt fear paralyze me. I squeezed my hands so tight my nails were digging into my skin. I was shaking, hard.
Colton’s body jerked violently around the arena. His lips were tight, and he was staring at the riggin’. His hat flew off, making his hair whip back and forth with the rhythm of the bucking horse.
The buzzer sounded, making me jump hard.
It was one of the longest eight seconds of my life.
He had stayed on. He was okay.
I needed to breathe.
Colton clung to the pick-up man’s horse and slid down to the dirt.
He came to a stop in the center of the arena, letting the dust settle around his boots as he took in the roar of the stands. Then, with his usual practiced precision, he tapped his head twice with two fingers, a crisp, silent salute, before flicking it right to the middle of my chest.
I could practically feel it.
I clutched my chest, smiling at Colton, who was beaming back at me.
“Man, that was an incredible ride!” AnnaJane shouted above the crowd.
My left ear was screaming at me. My heart was beating so hard I thought I was going to pass out.
I wiped my shaking hands on my pants, taking long, deep breaths. “Do…do you guys ever get scared watching them ride?”
Erin and AnnaJane shared a look.
“Oh, sweetie,” Erin said, putting her creamy white hand on my leg. “Yes,” she said plainly.
I laughed in surprise. “Really?”
AnnaJane laughed. “You think we just adore watching the boys get thrown off dangerous animals? NO! But, it’s what they love, it’s their passion.”
Now I felt silly. I smiled. “That’s comforting to know I’m not alone.”
“It’s frustrating,” Erin said quietly. “When they’re hurt, and all you want to do is scream, ‘maybe try a less violent sport!’ But then you see them before a show or right after a ride, and they are in their element.”
What I was feeling was normal. It didn’t have anything to do with my past.
Right?
~~~