Chapter 3
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Wearing her usual rodeo attire; a pair of jeans, a blouse, boots and baseball hat, Ashley walked into the ranch house ready for the concert when Cousin Trish (Twenty-one-year-old) stormed in behind her and pulled her to the bathroom. Shutting the door Trish spoke quickly, “Ok, so I just found out that Steve and Ally are going to be at the concert. I know the pavilion is huge, but it's a small town. Are you sure you want to dress casually? Maybe wear a sexy dress and show him what he’s missing out on?”
Ashley understood Trish was only trying to help but her goal of moving on without Steve focused on being herself and ignoring the bastard. If she was going to have fun, it was going to be on her terms. “I’m good like this, I have no intention of getting his attention and I’m going to have a fun night whether he’s there or not.” Trish was persistent, “Are you sure, I have a cute red number that will get all the guys’ attention.” Ashley tried not to laugh as she shook her head. Trish’s style was very revealing and while she likes to flaunt her boobs, Ashley preferred to cover up.
On the ride to the rodeo grounds, Ashley received a text from the back forty foreman Jack, “Are you available to check on a couple?” She replied, “Be there in ten.” Jack responded, “Thanks Ashley! Hey, welcome home!” She informed Darren who dropped her off by a side gate before proceeding to the volunteer’s parking area.
Walking up with a smile, Jack gave her a hug then stated, “We had a truck arrive, but we’ve been busy, I think it might be an easy fix, but I'm not sure.” His info was general and not helpful, but she preferred to evaluate animals herself rather than take someone’s opinion. Following Jack, she observed a bull walking in circles. Jack commented, “He hasn’t stopped since he arrived.” She asked, “How long has he been on the rodeo circuit?” Jack rubbed his neck then checked his emails before saying, “First year, in fact his first stop.”
She c***ed her head to the side looking at the bull, “Jack, he’s young and in a new environment, he’s checking out the smells and sounds because they're different, he's trying to understand what’s going on.” She walked to the side of the pen as he spoke up quickly, “Watch yourself, he’s a bit pissed.” Walking around the pen to the gates, she opened the shoot and whistled.
She watched the bull then said, “I would be pissed off too if I was him.” The bull trotted through the chute and into a large pen in the back near the other livestock. He walked in circles for a few minutes then stopped near the fence closest to the cows. She asked, “Was he a ranch bull? I thought you only used rodeo bred bulls?” Jack rubbed his chin as they watched the bull calm down before standing by a stall.
Jack admitted, “If I knew it was easy as putting him in a larger pin in the back, I wouldn’t have bothered you.” Ashley bumped into his arm, “But then I wouldn’t be able to see you so soon.” As he started to walk away, she followed him. He commented, “I heard you’re no longer with Steve.”
Dreading the aftermath of their unofficial break, especially since she hadn’t heard a word from the bastard in over a week, she kicked a rock then admitted, “Yep, it’s time to move on.” Jack surprised her when he said, “When you’re ready, let me know, I’d like to take you out.” She looked down as her cheeks blushed. When did Jack ever want to date her? She thought Mary Anne was just throwing names out last night. If Ashley waited to give him an answer it would imply she was missing Steve, so she responded quickly, “Anytime, we always have fun together.”
As they approached a pin with sheep, Jack pointed at one walking tilted to the right. She observed the animal then asked for a small piece of rope or twine. He mysteriously pulled twine from his back pocket insisting, “I meant to through this in the trash.” She entered the pin as the sheep scattered, reached the tilted animal and tied the twine around its left front leg.
The animal walked straighter causing Jack to shake his head. She commented, “Sometimes it’s a psychological thing. Tying twine to the leg forces him to put more attention and weight on it and therefore walk straighter.” Jack shook his head, “You’re amazing Ashley.” She chuckled, “I aim to please.”
MYSTERIOUS BRUNETTE
Walking around after his twelve-hour drive, Ryan walked around the back forty observing the cattle and taking in his favorite place to be, small town rodeos. A long-haired brunette caught his attention as he watched her approach a bull’s pen then followed her as she played around in the sheep’s pen.
She was tall and thin but not boney, she had curves in all the right places. Watching the guy who was with her, it was obvious they were not a couple. Probably childhood friends.
Her smile kept Ryan’s attention. He could not tear his blue eyes off her body. Admiring her casual attire, she did not look like the typical rodeo w***e who showed too much skin trying to bed as many cowboys as possible.
The brunette hugged the guy then walked away towards the corner of the pavilion. Ryan kept watching her. There was something different about her that intrigued him.
He reached the corner of the pavilion as the opening act hit the stage and the crowd went wild. Continuing to walk in the direction of the brunette beauty, Ryan tipped his hat and smiled. She smiled back and said, “Hello,” with a soft, sweet voice.
He noticed the mirrored R on her hat and liked her worn in boots. She wasn’t a random weekend rodeo girl. The view of her up close was better than he expected. He turned to watch her walk away and smiled when she gently turned to take-a-peak of his backside. Yeah, she noticed him too.
- Writer
