Cinderella...Ish

1

"Ella! Go get our horses!" Mary yelled

"Okay. I'm coming" I said

Walking out of my horses stall, I got Star and Moonlight out of their stalls and brought them their grooming area.

"Are you going to groom them?" Anne asked

"I can't groom both by the time y'all have to leave" I said

"I still can't believe you talk like the people around here" Mary said rolling her eyes

Shaking my head, I grabbed Gypsy from his stall and walked him to the other side of the barn. Gypsy is my horse, he's a good boy. He's also a very tall boy.

"Alright Gyp. They have their jumping and dressage show. We have the rodeo. You ready?" I said

He huffed and shook his head up and down. I laughed and groomed my boy before bringing my truck around and trailer. My dad gave me his old truck and trailer from when he used to ride. Both my parents ended up passing away and I live with my step mom. Who, for some reason, didn't let me move out to go to college but threatens to kick me out. I don't understand. I have some family who's actually going to move in around here so i'm just sticking it out. They live on the opposite side of the country but like the area i'm in. Granted it's an hour and a half away from where I am now. It's fine though. They are moving into a rural area but couldn't get a house with enough land for horses. So, we found a barn by them and i'm moving Gypsy out there. The barn we're at isn't that bad. But having to see them after this all goes down isn't going to be pretty.

"Alright boy. Load up" I said

He walked into the trailer and I secured him before shutting the door and driving away. I think the girls show is the same place as the rodeo. Big fair grounds. Ugh. Making the drive, I pulled up and signed in. Parking in my normal spot, I may have cut someone off. Whoops. Someone was also standing in the spot so they couldn't park. It was my friend Kate. She's the best.

"Hey girl" I said hopping out

"Hey. So, did you recognize the truck you cut off?" She laughed

"Nada" I said

"Hey. What was that?" I heard

Turning around a guy walked around and looked at us. Whoops.

"I always park here" I said

"Okay and?" He said

"My spot" I nodded

He just shook his head and walked away.

"John" I said

"Yup" She laughed

I shook my head and got Gypsy out and tied him up. There is a barn, but all the dressage and jumpers use up all the stalls. It's fine. We're used to this from actual rodeos. Kate and I both run barrels. The guy, John, who's currently mad at me is one of the steer wrestlers. Then there's roping here too tonight. No bull riding. Sad.

"So, you think he's going to complain all night?" I asked

"Maybe. He seems like he's stuck up at the rodeos." Kate said

"Why can't guys in the rodeo be nice. Ugh" I groaned

"Ohh, Ella is trying to find herself a man" Kate laughed

"Sorry I didn't find one in high school and have been practically married since" I said

My friend laughed and we went out into the field to trot around. Riding bareback is easy. There's a few people out here too. After riding around for a little bit, they started with the warm ups for jumps and dressage. I don't even know what they do. We've had these joint shows twice a year but I never pay attention.

"Alright. Soooo. How many weeks do you have left?" Kate asked

"2 more baby. Then my ass is OUTTA THERE" I yelled

"Hey there. You want to not yell?" John said walking over

"It's a free world bud. Why don't you not be so close" I replied

"They can probably hear you up at the barn" He chuckled smirking

"I mean. They can. They know" I said

"What?" He asked

"Nothing" I replied

"Wait. When did they find out" Kate asked

"Last week. They're okay with it. Granted they're treating me more like a slave then they have but hey. I can just poison their food if I want" I laughed

She shook her head and John looked at me like I had three heads. He eventually walked away, so Kate and I set up our chairs and everything. We always party alone here. Well sometimes Kate's boyfriend comes. My fake boyfriend comes sometimes, it's Tommy's nephew. He is 6 and is obsessed with me. But he's adorable, I love him.

"Hey. My mans is coming. He's bringing your boyfriend" Kate said

"Aww, I can't wait to see my boyfriend it's been so long" I pouted

"So I guess you girls are taken huh"

Looking back, it was John and some of the other rodeo guys.

"I am" Kate said

"Negative" I nodded

"But you said your boyfriend" The one kid said

"Not my actual boyfriend" I laughed "Y'all will see"

They looked at us and walked away. Kate and I laughed and jammed to music before her boyfriend came over.

"Ella!" Grayson yelled

"Hi buddy" I smiled

He jumped on my lap and low key killed my legs. It's fine. After a little bit he got antsy so we got up and walked around. Kate and Tommy stayed at the trailers.

"Ooh can we go watch the duckies" Grayson yelled

"Uhm. Of course" I replied

He ran over and me, not expecting it, had to chase this child. I'm in boots, running isn't the easiest. I mean I can do it on dirt but not cement with cracks and ditches. Catching up to the small child I picked him up and spun him around.

"Ellie! Ellie stopppp" He yelled

"What? Keep spinning?" I said

"Noo" He laughed

"Your son is adorable" A lady said

"Oh no. He's not my son. I am too young for kids. He's my friends nephew, aka my little boyfriend" I laughed

"Ahh, okay. Tell your friend they have an adorable nephew" She smiled

" I will" I laughed

"So that's your boyfriend" John said walking over

"Yup. Isn't he the cutest" I smiled

He went to say something and guess who showed up.

"Ella. I thought you were suppose to stay at your trailer. And who is this child" Janis said, my step mom

"It's Tommy's nephew he wanted to see the ducks race" I said

"Ugh. Well I only have to see you for 2 more weeks" She said

"You're terrible with kids" Mary said

"Oh look it's some of the cowboys" Anne said

"Go on girls say hi" Janice said

They walked over to John and his friends and started flirting with them as Janis just stood there all smug.

"Duckies?" Grayson asked

"Yeah. C'mon buddy" I smiled

Grabbing his hand, I walked past the group of guys and over to the ducks. We watched a few of the races before I got a text from Kate saying we need to get ready.

"Alright buddy. Aunt Kate and I have to get ready. Maybe Uncle Tommy will bring you back over" I said

"Okay!" Grayson smiled

We started walking and John and his friends were in front of us.

"Aunt Ella? Are those actual cow boys?" He asked

"Yeah, kinda. Am I not cow boy enough" I said

"You are but look" He said

I looked at the boy who smirked and took off running.

"No. Grayson" I yelled

Why are kids so fast. I don't want kids, I'll just have the happy joys of other peoples kids. He ran up to the group and tapped one of them on the back. They all looked down at him and smiled. I don't know how he saw them, they were so far ahead. Jogging over they all looked at me and Grayson had a big ass smile on his face.

"Aunt Ella. They said they would show me their horses" Grayson said

"Did they really?" I replied looking at the group

"They also said they are parked next to us. Let's go!" He yelled

I got pulled away by the child and heard them laughing. I swear to god if they lied to him i'm slashing all their tires. Getting back to the trailer Grayson told Tommy about our adventure and they both looked at me when he told them he was going to see cowboys horses.

"He ran over to them" I said putting my hands up

"Grayson, what did mommy talk to you about running over to people" Tommy said

"But aunt Ella said they were cow boys" Grayson pouted

"Okay. But did she say you could go over?" Grayson shook his head "Not all cowboys are nice buddy."

"I'm sorry aunt Ella" Grayson crying

"Aw buddy. Come here. It's okay. I just don't want anyone to steal you. Then I'd have to hurt them and i'll go to jail" I said

He ran over to me and I picked up the crying child. I danced around a bit until he stopped crying and was laughing again.

"Can you see if I can still see their horses" Grayson asked

"I'll go ask" I replied

He smiled and walked over to Tommy and Kate. I shook my head and walked over to John's trailer. The were all standing there.

"Hey. You're Ella right?" The one kid asked

"Yup" I replied

"We saw the kid crying. What happened?" He asked

"He has a tendency to run off and go over to people and Tommy said he can't be doing that. Then he got upset cause he thought I was mad. He just wanted to see the horses" I said

"Is he still crying?" He asked

"No. We danced around a bit and I got him laughing. He asked me to come ask y'all if he can still see the horses" I said

"Of course. I'm Ryan by the way" He said

"Thanks Ryan. I guess let me know when you want me to bring him over" I said

"Uhm, probably when they tell ropers to get ready. So he can see them all ready to go" Ryan replied

I nodded and walked back to the trailer. Sitting in my chair, Grayson came running over.

"What did they say?" He asked

"They said when they call ropers on deck we can go over. So you can see them ready for action" I smiled

He smiled and jumped around and I played on my phone. Eventually they announced rodeo should get ready. So, Kate and I started tacking up our horses. Grayson loves watching.

"Hey Ella!" Ryan said walking over

"Hey" I replied

"You wanna bring your.. boyfriend over" He said smiling

I nodded and he smiled and walked away. Finishing up with my horse, I walked over and picked up Grayson.

"Alright bud. Ready to see some cowboys" I said

"Yes!" He yelled

"You two coming?" I asked

"Of course" Kate smiled

We all walked over and they were lined up. They had their ropes and everything.

"Can I go over?" Grayson asked

"Slowly walk over" Tommy said

Grayson nodded and walked over to the boys who all hopped off their horses. They showed him their horses then John walked over.

"You mind if he sits on my horse? He asked." John said

"It's up to you. I don't mind" Tommy said

John smiled and walked over to the child. Who then got really giddy. I got my phone out and took a picture of him up in the saddle. And John put his hat on Grayson's head. That's adorable. They called up the ropers and the boys had to go.

"Alright buddy what do you say?" Tommy said

"Thank you!" Grayson yelled

The boys all waved and rode over to the arena. I like watching roping, so I hopped on gypsy and rode down. Barrels is right after roping so I can just stay down here. There's only four boys is the small group that we talked to, but there's about 10 ropers in all. I watched all the ropers go then they called up barrels. So, I went about 30 feet around and stood with everyone.

"Oh Ella. Are you ready for the dance they're having soon" Kate asked

"Considering you had to drag me dress shopping, no" I said

"Well it's a masquerade" She laughed

"So much worse" I laughed

They finished up roping and we went up. Well, they took a couple minutes to set up the barrels but eventually we started. Kate was up before me and she did good. Then I was next.

"Alright Gyp, lets go" I said patting his neck

He started huffing and danced around when the gate opened. Going in, I turned him around then took off. Going around all three barrels, we flew through the gate and trotted over to the trailer. Hopping off, I walked him around the field and let him cool off. Some of the roping boys were out there too. Along with Kate.

"Hey girl. Did you see your lovely step sisters trying to swoon the boys after they came out of the ring" Kate laughed

"No I did not" I laughed

"They almost got trampled" Kate laughed

"Are you talking about the two girls that came over to us" Ryan said

"Yeah" Kate laugh

"They are your sisters?" He asked

"Step. Step sisters. Sadly" I replied

"What about the older lady?" Ryan asked

"Step mom. Who I never have see again after 2 weeks" I said smiling

"How come" He asked

"Long story" I replied

Ryan nodded and John walked over.

"Yo John. She knows the girls who your horse almost kicked" Ryan said

"Really? How do you know them? They are very... different" John said

"Step sisters" I said

He nodded and we got on with our lives. I loaded Gypsy into his trailer and they announced the winners. Kate took first for barrels and I took second. While Ryan took first for roping and a kid named Liam got second. Mary and Anne didn't place at all in their stuff, they never do honestly. They get mad at me for all my trophies. They tried to take them but everyone knows they don't barrel race. And I caught them because they were fighting over who the winner would be. My name is on half of them too.

"Well babe. I will see you when you drag me to that dance" I said

"I'll miss you. And if you need anything let me know" Kate said

"I will. It's two weeks and they are going to be gone for half of it." I said shrugging

Kate and I hugged and I gave Tommy and my little boyfriend a hug as well. Hopping in my truck. I started her up and headed back to the barn.