Page 82 of Storm Warning
She leans back up, searching the land we watch once more. Silence lingers in the air, but it’s not heavy, it’s peaceful.
Her body pivots toward mine, question in her eyes. “Have you ever ridden any of your bulls?”
I laugh. “Only the fake one made out of a barrel.”
“Why is that funny?” Crossing her arms, Kaylee looks at me like my laughter is unreasonable. To be fair, the question isn’t unusual, it just caught me off guard.
“I guess I sometimes forget that not everyone grew up around cattle. But, no, I haven’t ever ridden one of ours. They ain’t bred for that. Guess ya never know though. Might have a diamond in the rough out there in that field.” I chuckle again at the idea of trying to jump on the back of oneof our cows. “Most of them don’t want anythin’ to do with people. They ain’t really raised like the ones we ride. They’d probably just run away for the most part.”
“You never had the urge? Not even when you were little?”
“Ya know, I honestly don’t think I have. The bulls at the rodeo are always referred to as athletes and they’re treated like movie stars. As much as I like havin’ cattle, I guess I just always viewed ours as nothin’ more than grazers. Don’t usually get close to many of them, though I have had some favorites in the past. Juniper’s, one of ‘em. She sometimes lets ya touch her. Though as Duke proved, I wouldn’t try now that she’s just had a calf.”
My joke lands a soft laugh from her. “Do you hate the bull from your accident? I mean, I know it’s his job to buck you off, but killing you seems a bit extreme.”
My mind drifts to Helfire. “Naw, I don’t hate him.” Air fills my lungs, blowing out in a steady sigh. “Bulls like him are picked because they’re intense in the ring. That doesn’t mean they are outside of it. Hell, he could be one of the sweetest bulls ya’d ever met. They’re kind of like us riders. We aren’t the same in those eight seconds as we are outside of ‘em.”
Her light brows scrunch together, a frown forming on her lips. “What do you mean?”
I don’t know if I’ll ever be able to accurately describe what those few short seconds riding feel like and how much they change you. So I just shrug, resting my hand on her thigh.
“Nothin’ deep, I just ain’t thinkin’ about anyone. Not my family or my love life. Really all I’m thinkin’ about is winnin’ and what I’ve got to do to make that happen.”
“I don’t think that makes you not you, but that makes sense. How did it feel to go back?”
“Didn’t feel like ridin’ a bike, I’ll tell ya that.” I linger on my return ride and what a shit show it was. “But after the firstone, I’ve seemed to get back what I thought was lost. The only part that’s been missin’ is havin’ ya there to cheer me on.”
She leans back in the seat, looking out over the cattle. “I’ll be there.”
My gaze shoots to hers so quickly I’m surprised I don’t get whiplash. From the time we met, she’s always shown a total disregard for anything having to do with cowboys, I just assumed that flowed over to rodeos as well. Not that I thought this would be a fight, since I never asked, but her agreement puts my heart at ease. Hope blossoms in my chest and I can’t help the grin that settles on my lips. Rodeos are my life, my dream, and with each passing day, she, too, is becoming a part of it.
50
KAYLEE - NOVEMBER 13, 2004
“With a warm welcome,will everyone rise, remove your hats, and shut your traps.” The old man chuckles as his gruff voice cascades through the speakers around me. “Miss Summers will now sing the National Anthem to ready our contestants for today’s competition.”
I look around before spotting Sage walking out to the middle of the arena. Her hair is warm, a mix of gold and strawberry blonde pieces loosely braided down her back. She wears a soft yellow sundress and her lips curl up into a bright delicate smile. On her feet are a pair of brown cowboy boots complete with yellow rhinestones.
A pair I made, thanks to Daisy. I can’t hold back the swell of pride at seeing one of my designs in front of so many people, and even more so when I hear someone whisper they want a set.
“Afternoon, y’all.” Her voice is gentle and kind as she greets the crowd. “I’m honored to sing for y’all today, and good luck to the talent that hits this dirt after me.”
She lowers her head ever so slightly as the music starts to play and I can see her take a deep breath beforeher time to sing. The crowd is captivated by her as she remains not only confident, but also on key. Some sing right along with her, their hats placed proudly over their chests. The anthem comes to an end, the crowd erupting into cheers at her performance.
I guess this place isn’t all bad.
I’m still nervous as hell though, my fight or flight response feeling like it could be triggered at any second. Taking a deep breath, I push back the worry threatening to swallow me whole. Having an open mind to my new beginnings is fine and all, but just because I’ve fallen head over heels for a cowboy doesn’t mean I’m ready to embrace rodeos as a whole. I search around the indoor arena looking for Rhett. Meeting him here was an awful idea and so was not riding with Sawyer and Daisy.
As my eyes scan the faces that surround me, I look further into the sea of people before spotting him, but not thehimI was hoping for.
Maybe I shouldn’t have fucking come here at all. I knew this was a bad idea before I ever left my house, yet my dumb ass thought…what exactly? That he wouldn’t be here? That, somehow, I wouldn’t run into him? How could I have been so stupid? He’s always here. Besides himself, it’s the only thing he’s ever loved.
I watch, from a distance, the father I used to know embrace a woman I assume is his new wife. She’s pretty. Her smile is filled with joy, and for some reason, that hurts more than seeing him kiss her. Maybe because the idea of him kissing someone who isn’t Mom isn’t anything new, but the love in his eyes while he does it is. Her glossy red hair rains over her shoulders and sways just as they both do while she’s in his embrace. Leaning back, he takes her in one more time, twirling her in a circle, and plants another kiss on her forehead once she makes her final revolution back into his arms.
He turns my direction and I do my best to not only avertmy gaze, but also position myself behind someone much taller than me.Out of sight out of mind.Well, at least unless he knew what my hair looks like now so many years after his departure. It feels weird to hide from someone I did nothing to, but my heart doesn’t feel ready to meet his gaze, let alone have him register who I am.
I work my way through the people around me in search of Rhett once more. I wade through kids and parents, many of which all wear light tan cowboy hats just like his.
