Billionaire Cowboy: Siblings (Book 2 in the Richland Series)

Chapter 17: Michael

Michael’s pov

Leaving Miles City was harder than I had intended. Spending our summers on the road has been our life for many years. We always have maintenance and prep work, yet this year I found Matt dragging his feet. Alignment and tire issues on the truck and trailer had to be addressed before traveling beyond the county lines. All the things he'd done in the past.

What’s his problem now?

At this rate, we’re going to be a month behind, which will drastically impact our points. Only the top point totals get invited to the big payouts at the end of the season, such as Vegas and offers from various sponsors. Rodeo life is not easy. To stay on top, you need to be healthy and take every opportunity to earn points. Tracking some of our friends after Houston, I regret having to wait for Matt to get his crap together.

We could have used my truck, but my father has my Ram 3500 while they transport a couple of bulls.

Everything has been arranged for months. We both should be excited, confident, and ready to earn buckles and paychecks.

But his pu**y behavior is getting on my last nerve. Talk about a lack of self-respect. He sleeps in til noon and spends most of his time staring at his phone. It’s pretty pathetic. I bet it’s easier to coral a bull out of a field packed with willing cattle than get this guy to leave the house.

Damn, now I sound like a whiny beotch.

Thank goodness, a call to Ty got a guy from their shop to take care of the repairs and it took less than a day. Okay, so I could have done it, but I was busy with the horses and hearing Matt’s cranky arse question my work would have driven me up the wall. At this point, I keep to myself. I'll fix things between us later.

Keeping tabs on the Houston rodeo, through Ri’s YouTube channel, helped identify a couple of our main competitors this season, which included a couple of friends and not the Texan brothers.

But you know, for the first time in forever, I’m not looking forward to this season. My boy, Matt, has drained my soul. Yeah, this rant is making me sound like a beotch, but we need to click. You know, where we’re at the point, in synch, acting without needing to speak.

First things first, we need to get our sh*t figured out

I asked point blank about his girl, you know, the baby conversation? He blew it off as some random text and blamed a bet he lost when the Colorado Avalanche beat his Edmonton Oilers. Hold up, the last time these two teams played each other, it ended in a tie.

Why is he lying?

But what excuse was there for his drunken tantrum? Oh, he doesn't remember the tantrum, so it didn't happen. Whaterver man. Only one thing left to do, break into his phone again and jot down the number. A Texas phone number. How could he let a female have so much control?

Yeah, I see the irony. Here I would rather leave town and track down Ri than focus on starting the season. Matt and I are two messed-up fools. But would I change things if it meant no chance with Ri?

Hell no!

I missed my chance to talk to her in person, so what did I do? I sent numerous texts and voice messages, but she still refuses to respond. Okay, so I probably deserve it, but one thing for sure, I’m not one to give up when things get tough.

A text pulled me out of my misery, hopefully it was from Ri.

Matt: Repairs done, loading up, where the f*ck are you?

Me: Austin is a go. Let’s hit the road.

Austin Rodeo starts in a couple of days, but they accepted our late entry, which was no surprise with our point totals well above the average for the last couple of years.

Move over Kennedy folk, real cowboys are coming to town.

We hit the road and headed south. Basic chit chat while Matt drove and I recalled stats from Houston. We got focused talking about what we did last season that made a difference. Everything from hand placement to boot placement that slid out of the stirrups quicker.

It might sound silly to a cement cowboy, but in our world, every second makes a difference. One second could be the difference of $1,000. Okay, I admit we used to question Ri’s recordings, but after analyzing our crappy performance in Calgary one year, we made subtle differences that paid out big time.

Okay, I admit that girl was onto something.

Speaking of Ri, I tried to keep busy on our long ride talking about anything and everything just to keep from thinking of her but found myself silenced when You Proof by Morgan Wallen started playing. Matt was lost in his thoughts as well. But then Spotify smacked me in the butt when Buy a Girl a Drink by Travis Denning played next.

That f*cker makes it seem easy.

Opening the glove box, then checking the mid-seat console, I checked the cup holders before finding my phone on the seat next to me. Grabbing my phone, I checked for messages then quickly verified it was working. Okay, I need to get ahold of myself, but it doesn’t help when this fool sitting next to me has the nerve to bust my balls.

“You need to strap that phone to your hip.” Really Matt? Pot calling the kettle black, don’t ya think?

He questioned my behavior, but I quickly made the excuse of our rodeo registration. The funny part, he never worries about registrations, so he has no clue that a simple email and payment pretty much summed up the process. Whether you show up or not does not matter. They have your money.

Little does he know I called the Texas number I got off his phone before we left town and had a conversation with the mystery girl who knows Matt. Get this, she took classes and worked with Matt’s aunt with all her plant stuff. One thing led to another and that’s how the two met. They spent the last couple of winters together or some sh*t like that. All I know is my boy is hiding something and this girl has the answer.

She had nothing but nice things to say about Matt and from the change in her voice when she talked about the time they spent together, I could tell she had feelings for him. He might act like the "random conversation" was not important to him, but that goof talks in his sleep and has moaned her name more than once.

Yeah, caught ya, buddy.

But it gets better than that. She lives in College Station on her family’s ranch, which is only a couple of hours from Austin. With a break in our schedule, I plan to reunite the two. Yeah, I could tell Matt of my plans, but after running into Ash before leaving town, I learned how Matt planned the whole sh*t show between Ri and I. He might not know everything about Ri and I, but he must suspect something to be such a f*cker. He deserves everything coming to him.

And as far as Ash, we cut ties and she swore she was never into drugs. Just another round of rumors created by the Hens. And the money she needed so badly? Nope, she’s doing just fine. Looks like the Sherriff believes he’s the father and put her up in an apartment with a monthly check to keep her quiet. How his wife did not know about this affair, I have no clue.

But if rumors are true, she’s been banging guys behind his back too. Two cheating idiots who deserve each other. Where are the Hens with all this juicy gossip? Well, the mayor’s wife has been a Hen for years, so I guess out of respect they turn their heads or something. Typical Hen bullsh*t.

Get this, Ash admitted Matt blackmailed her into getting me on stage. It’s time for payback, my friend.

Reaching Austin, we got stuck in traffic, which gave me time to catch up on Rodeo Ways. A part of me was jealous with how close she seemed with the Kiddy folk, especially Josh.

Why is he always touching her?

Okay, so Matt and I gave the young tikes a nickname, refusing to acknowledge them as real competition. It was one of the few conversations where Matt and I were busting out laughing.

Yeah, our friendship is back on track.

Nicknames may seem petty, but there are too many pictures of the idiots on social media looking chummy with Ri, and my jealousy /anger is through the roof.

Reaching the fairgrounds in Austin, I had to admit the place was larger than expected. And to our benefit, the parking attendants were not organized, and allowed us to grab a spot by an open meadow among the competitors. This coveted spot was probably saved for someone important. Giving our horses a chance to walk around and eat, I called Ri and almost dropped my phone when she picked up.

“Hello Michael,” her soft voice made my heart flutter.

“Hey Ri. I uh, I was wondering if you had a chance to talk.” I stuttered feeling nervous she might hang up.

“Yeah, we are in Austin and I’m ready for the show to begin. Is now a good time for you?” she asked.

“Yeah well, we’re here. Can I meet up with you somewhere?” I pleaded, rubbing my neck.

“You’re in Austin,” she whispered, more like a statement than a question.

“Yeah, we just got into town,” I waited while holding my breath looking around to verify Matt was nowhere close.

“Stetson and Josh have a meet and greet in an hour. How about I meet you there?” She suggested.

Agreeing to wait even though I was hoping to see her sooner, I hung up, checked on the horses, then found the local portable showers to clean up, unsure where Matt went. In our hurry to leave town, we forgot to fill up the water tanks. A rookie mistake but this fairground it set up to accommodate us.

Transporting the horses to the competitors’ back forty area was easier than we had thought because, after a couple of volunteer workers recognized us, we were treated like rodeo royalty. It’s typical treatment, especially from bunnies, but I didn’t miss how Matt blew off the cute girls flirting with him. Thank goodness he was too lost in his thoughts to notice I was doing the same.

Arriving at the large tent for the meet and greet, was just like our smaller rodeo back home. Every competitor had a seat behind a chair with the top contenders from last season in prime spots. Most of the names were familiar, having traveled to many top-paying rodeos over the last couple of seasons. But one thing for sure, the Kiddy folk were nobodies under a big Texas media spotlight.

Matt chimed in, “I wonder if them Kiddy folk would be popular without the help of Rodeo Ways.” Nodding, I felt the same. The media circus was out of hand and it was only the beginning. “How do two guys who haven’t proved themselves get front and center?” Pointing to the center table, banners with the brothers’ faces advertising Rodeo Ways, made the event a spectacle.

Walking by a side table with our names, I kept walking wanting to find Ri instead of meeting a handful of Texans. No bad feelings for the fans, but everyone was being corralled towards the Kiddy folk and I refused to be second fiddle to them two.

Spotting Ri walking behind the tables, she was laughing with a female, making my spirits perk up noticing her bright smile. My smile faded quickly when that Josh kid wrapped his arm around her waist and spoke to her closer than I’d like.

That should be me.

Rianne’s pov

Houston was a learning experience, not only with the Texas influence on how rodeos are managed, but also how to incorporate the Kennedy brothers to positively impact Rodeo Ways. I was thankful to have Bo as my guide. He was knowledgeable and great with people. Over the past week, friendships were being established, but I wasn’t foolish enough not to recognize a problem between the love triangle.

Leaving the drama to social media, I had to keep rodeo life the focus on my channel.

The first meet and greet went off like a firecracker when we noticed a blonde from Houston had followed us or, more like, she followed Stetson. And boy did Stetson look pale when his eyes met hers. He may not have discouraged her from visiting him in Austin, but her flirtatious ways out in the open were not going to go well with Charleigh.

Through the bright red lipstick, low cut shirt and tight daisy dukes, she proudly wore her all-access pass. Josh whispered, “She must have used daddy’s connections.” Unable to control my laughing, a snort escaped, causing tears to roll down our cheeks.

A tap on my shoulder from Bo allowed me to excuse myself as Josh leaned in, “I’ll update you tonight.” Yeah, Stetson had better take care of this or it was not going to go well.

Matt’s pov

This place was a circus act. Who is their right mind would give a rat’s arse about these two idiots? Standing in the back waiting for Mike to return, I watched the scene unfold. This feels like a Hollywood set watching actors attempting to portray a character they researched online.

Accepting a beer from Mike, we sipped our cold blue mountains when he explained he needed to talk to Ri. Yeah, he thinks I don’t know about them two. If he’s willing to go behind my back, I’m willing to make him work for it.

Life’s a beotch, my friend.

Giving our friends a head bob who were stuck enduring this crap as fans lined up at their tables, I finished my beer walking to the side to toss it in the trash only to be called out, “Hey Matt, are you competing in Austin or sitting out again?”

Who does this f*cker think he is?

All eyes were on me as I crushed the can in my hand before dropping it in the trash. Straightening my shoulders and standing tall, I crossed my arms and stared at the i***t brother who challenged me in front of the media.

What a fool.

Feeling someone walking up, I looked to the side briefly, as Mike stood with arms crossed by my side. He spoke first, “Out of respect for Matt’s sister, we gave you a chance to start the season with hope before introducing real competition.” Well, said my friend. But watching a couple of friends stand from behind their tables, I added and nodded to each one, “Jeff, Weston, Mark,” they stood looking a bit unhappy.

“Jeff, you’re adjusting to your new horse.” He nodded agreeing. “Weston, you and Mark are veteran competitors but new as a team.” Neither nodded. “Mike and I have spent years together. While you adjust, the” I paused not wanting to call out the idiots as Kiddy Folk and pissing off the locals, “the young teams may earn points, but that is temporary.”

Weston, my college friend, kept his stare, “We did just fine in Houston.” Mark added, nodding at the Kiddy Folk, “Over two seconds under these celebrities.” Yeah, he’s pissed with this circus act. Mike added more fuel to the fire, “Well, I bet you’re ready for competition, not much compares to Montana men.”

Yeah, these guys are also from Montana growing up a few counties over, but this might not go over with the locals.

It was so silent that you could have dropped an empty beer can on the dirt floor and heard the clunk. Tension rose to a new level as the Kiddy Folk took the verbal beating like a stubborn wild horse. Just like breaking a wild horse, the result is inevitable, but damn do they give it their all to resist change.

Well, now, it’s not nice to drag in wild horses who are smart and survivors. These two idiots are more like hogs rolling in mud to prevent sunburn. Smart to a point, but worthless unless laid out on a table for dinner.

The smarter of the two brothers spoke first, “I think we have ourselves a good old-fashioned gentlemen wager.” Pulling bills from his pocket were dropped a handful on a table, “Five hundred dollars says we’ll out ride the older generation.” Gasps and laughs bounced around the crowd as phones recorded the whole scene.

Older generation? We’re less than ten years older than these two idiots. Without hesitation, Weston and Jeff tossed bills on their tables. All eyes were on us. Mike raised a hand with the bills, then stated, “Winner walks away with two grand in Austin and,” he lifted more bills, “four grand to the team with the most points in Calgary.”

Jeff and Weston jumped in, tossing bills like they were leaving a tip in a diner. No hesitation in wagering $1,500 per team. I smirked watching the Kiddy Folk whispering before accepting the bet.

Yeah, boys wager chump change and men wager paychecks. Welcome to the rodeo boys!

Michael’s pov

A local guy steered us to our table, encouraging a fantastic event for the fans. Grabbing chairs and greeting fans, we quickly had a long line as people gravitated towards our table, then walked across the long row of tables towards Jeff and the guys, only to be redirected to the Kiddy Folk. There’s no competition until we’re in the stadium, but right now, we’re taking away their fans and it feels good.

Matt smiled more in the last two hours than I’ve seen in the last two weeks. It’s good to have my friend back. Wrapping up the last of the fans, we accepted a dinner invite with the rodeo board. Normally, I make excuses to avoid these types of dinners, but anything to piss off the Kiddy Folk is worth it. It’s one thing to have confidence in your abilities, but there’s a piece of competition that requires focus and taking the spotlight away is always fun. At this point, I'll do anything to mentally mess with these two and guarantee my extra paycheck in a couple of months.

Reaching our trailer to change, I realized I missed Ri. She never returned to the tent or at least I didn’t notice if she did. I need to talk to her; I need to explain what really happened back home and I want to talk to her in person. Looking back, I should have called her the next day, but this is all new to me. When was the last time I chased a female? Never.

Every time I think I have things figured out, something gets in the way. No matter what, I need to find Ri and talk to her. A quick text confirms she has been occupied with a technical issue all afternoon and we'll meet up later tonight.

Entering the tent for dinner, we’re greeted by an older couple who act like proud parents. Restating our championships going back as far as college, these two have done their research. Matt is glued to the conversation like me. Then I realize the gentleman is wearing a PBR ring, an honor only given to special people.

Reaching our table, I sent Ri a text, then researched the friendly couple. Holy crap! We just talked to Joe and Nina Webb! As in, the owners of the best bucking bulls from Oklahoma. My mind was blown. Matt’s grandparents have talked about these two more than once. I believe they’re business partners or something. All I know is they breed the toughest bulls.

With spirits on an all-time high, I missed the person sitting next to me. “Hey stranger,” a soft familiar voice pulled me out of my fanboy moment. Turning, I found myself sitting inches from Ri. Heart pounding, I took a deep breath taking in the surreal moment.

Smiling, I leaned in, “I miss you.” Well, that went well.

Touching my thigh, she winked, then turned to address the voice from across the table that called her name, but her hand remained. Placing my hand over hers, I sipped my beer, wanting to keep her close.

Leaning back, I exhaled with a smile. Looking around the room, I glanced to my side and noticed Matt staring at my hand over Ri’s hand.

Well, there’s another conversation that needs to happen.