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2583 Words
"You ready for the last rodeo of the season?" Colin asked as we walked into the barn.
John is here, I only know cause I see my truck. My baby. Also, they are all in the barn.
"Hey, did you bring my truck back in one piece?" John laughed
"Yup" I smiled
"How did you like driving an automatic" He asked
"Weird as hell, but it was nice not having to shift" I laughed
Ryan and Bobby looked confused as hell. John and I traded keys and I got Gypsy from the field.
"You ready for the last rodeo of the season" I said
He huffed and I walked him over to my trailer. That was still next to the barn. I texted Deb when I woke up this morning and she said it was fine. I was so tired last night. All my stuff is still in there from yesterday too. I just took Gypsy out, put him in his stall, un-hooked the truck, and went home. Once he was secure, they all went down and got their trailers. Walking over to my truck, I started her up and drove over to my trailer... it's driving so smoothly. What did he do? Hooking up my trailer, I peeked under my truck and my shock wasn't hanging anymore. Huh.
"I fixed your shock" John said
"How?" I asked
"You do know i'm a mechanic right... and I work at a shop." He laughed
"No. No I did not" I said "How much do I owe you?"
"Nothing. I got the parts for free and fixed it on the clock so, I got paid by my job" He said
"Oh. You didn't have too" I said
"Well, I wanted too. Also everybody at my job loved your truck and tried to buy it off me. But I told them it wasn't mine. They still tried to buy it. It's clean" John said
"Thanks. I appreciate it" I smiled "Also my dad kept that truck clean"
"Also I didn't destroy your transmission. I had to remember how to drive stick for a hot minute" He laughed
"Wait. Your truck is stick?" Ryan asked
"We went over this. But I guess you weren't listening" I said
He just looked at me. I did tell him. He asked for a fun fact. I told him I drive a stick shift. Guess he didn't care. I just shrugged and we all headed out. Pulling up to the rodeo, I parked next to Kate and she tackled me to the ground when I got out. Well I walked to the front of the trucks, then got tackled. I didn't expect that.
"Hi, I love you" She said
"I love you too" I laughed
"I see your got your truck back. Is it fixed?" She asked as we got up
"John fixed it. Apparently he's a mechanic" I said
"How much did he charge you?" Tommy asked walking over
"Nothing." I replied
They both looked at me. I shrugged and got my chair out of my truck. Also my blanket. It's much colder tonight then all the nights. I wore a layer under my clothes. But still cold. Thick socks are also being worn. I don't play when it comes to being cold. Now it's time to sit in my chair, and cuddle up under my blanket. Kate, Tommy, and Colin went down to get hot chocolate, I didn't want to get out of my chair. And John is walking over.
"Hey. How are you doing?" He asked
"Good. Just keeping busy" I said
"How was your trail ride yesterday?" He asked
"It was good. Long. Made some friends" I said
"I like the picture you posted this morning. How'd you get that shot?" He asked
"I ran into a group of guys and they took sunset pictures" I said
"Ooh nice. Are they from around here?" John asked
"Oh god no. They live an hour and a half the opposite way so like almost 4 hours from here" I said
"Well good luck tonight. Are you staying for the fire tonight?" He asked
"Probably. Are you?" I replied
"I don't know. I forgot a chair" He laughed
"Well, if the night goes well, and you want to stay. This chair is gigantic, we can share" I said
"You sure?" He asked
"Yeah. You can have the front half" I laughed
He shook his head and got up from Colin's chair. They came back and he went back to his trailer.
"You know. I thought I had a hoodie in my trailer or truck but I don't" I pouted
"But you have a blanket" Colin laughed
"Yeah but... cold" I said
They shook their heads and the hot chocolate warmed me up a little bit. We did our intro thing and it was a bit longer then normal because it's the last of the season. But i'm happy to be back in my chair. Colin is in the second half of the bull riders this week. So we aren't going up until roping.
"What's the plan for tomorrow?" Kate asked
"Didn't you want to go shopping for a dinner outfit?" I asked
"Oh yeah. I forgot about that." She said
"Damn, I could of gotten out of it" I pouted
"Nope. Tommy would of reminded me" Kate laughed
"Yeah" Tommy nodded
"Is my girlfriend flying solo this year. Like most years" She asked
"Yeah." I said
"I'm not" Colin said smiling
I laughed and they called roping and steer wrestling up. You know. I don't want to bring the blanket up, i'm going to double check my truck for a hoodie. Walking over, I opened the passenger side door and the back half door. I have a bench in the back but I have a half door, so the front one has to be opened for the back one to open. Looking around, I saw a dark grey sleeve and smiled.
"Yes! I knew I had a secret one in here" I smiled
Pulling that on.. it's not my hoodie. It smells like cologne. Is this Colin's? I have no idea. What does it say on it? It's a Carhartt hoodie. Hmm.
"Ohh, is that you?" Kate said as I walked over
"I don't know who's hoodie this is, but it smells so good" I said
"Is it Colin's?" Tommy asked
"His cologne doesn't smell like this. And he hasn't been in my truck" I said
"Oooh, maybe it's John's" Kate smirked
"Well, it's mine for the night" I said
They both laughed and we walked down to the VIP section. This is a very warm hoodie, I love it. Honestly this brand is the best. I was going to buy a new hoodie from them, I should see which one this is. It's so thick and nice. The color is also nice. Yup. After roping, they are doing their intermission. Then it's bare back bronc riders, barrels, then the second half bull riding. They let the ropers go and kept the steer wrestlers, which Ryan and John do. So Colin just chilled at the gate and watched. Once they finished they all walked out and John looked at me, but kept going. Maybe it is his. And I think he knows. Once we got back to the trailer, Kate and I started to saddle up. It's only a 15 minute intermission, so once we finished getting ready they had started the bronc riders.
"Hey Ella. Come here real fast" John said walking over.
"Yeah" I said
"Is that your hoodie?" He asked
"I don't know. I just found it in my truck" I said
"I think it's mine" he said
"Oh... do you want it back? Or can I keep it till the end of the night cause I forgot one" I asked
"It's fine" He said
"How'd it end up on the back on the floor?" I replied
"I wore it to work yesterday and got hot, so I just tossed it in your truck. Then work gave me a couple work hoodies so I forgot about it." He said
"Oh... It smells good" I said sheepishly
"So you think I smell good huh?" John smirked
"Surprisingly" I laughed
He shook his head and walked back to his trailer. Well, I guess I have till the end of the night to figure out where to get this hoodie.
"Alright girl. You ready to head up?" Kate said walking over on Romeo
"Yup" I smiled
Pulling the hoodie off, I hung in over the side of my truck bed and we headed down. Lining up, I was last and Kate was before me. They finished the bronc riders and all the boys came up and went into the VIP section. It's just a small area right next to the gate. They started with barrels and Carly was doing really good. Little slow on the turns but she is getting tighter. Proud. She did come and train with us this week cause it was the last week we could. She's still super sweet. Once she finished she came out and stopped next to us.
"Did I do good?" She asked
"Yeah!" Kate smiled
"Your turns are getting tighter. Good job" I said
"Thank you guys so much" She smiled
She rode off and Kate was next. Once the person in front of her finished her horse just shot in there. He does that sometimes. She shot straight across the front then turned and went into the barrels. Once she was done, Gypsy decided to be a butt head and buck right as we went through the gate.
"Yo, butt head" I said
He shook his head and I spun him around before taking off. Doing our normal run around we went through the gate and Kate was standing there. Colin is up first for bull riding so we are going to stay up here and watch. I turned my horse around and stood at the gate. The roping guys for the bull went in and the rodeo clown ran out of the middle. He did a little shpeal and then Colin came out on the bull. Once the buzzer sounded and half hopped and half fell off. Then jumped the fence. A couple minutes later he came walking out and we went back to the trailers. Time to untack my good boy. They already have a fire going in the open area. I may or may not have put John's hoodie back on. Going to the front of the truck, I folded up my chair and leaned it against the truck. Then John came back over.
"Sup bro" He said to Colin
"Hey" Colin replied
"Hi Ella" I heard from behind me.. I know those voices.. oh no
"Hi" I said turning around
"So, why did you leave our barn? Did you get kicked out" Anne said
"No, moved to a barn closer to where I live" I said
"They got a really cute farm boy" Mary said
"That's fine. It's probably the owners Nephew. Kevin or some thing" I said
"How do you know him?" Mary said
"I've met him... multiple times" I said
"Ugh. Well, we need you to teach us how to barrel race like you. So you're going to need to come back" Anne said
"Says who?" I laughed
"Our mom. She said she was going to tell you to teach us" Mary smirked
"You do know. Your mom has no control over me. We no longer have any relation at all. She's not my step mom anymore" I said
"Well she said so. So you have to do it" Anne said
"Nope. Go find your own trainer. It's not going to be me" I laughed
"Or me" Kate said putting her arm on my shoulder
"What ever. Oh Anne look at those cute boys" Mary said
"One of them is my husband" Kate said
"We meant the other two" Mary said
"That's my cousin...and my friend" I said
"Ugh. Not they aren't" Anne said
"Yo Cuzzo" I yelled
"Sup" Colin said walking over with John
"You're really her cousin" Mary said
"Yeah" He said confused
"And you're friends with..her" Anne said to John
"Yeah. Considering she's wearing my hoodie" John laughed
They looked at me and made a face before walking away.
"I am so glad I don't have to live with that anymore. Jeez. They don't even like the rodeo what the hell" I laughed
"So, am I getting my hoodie back now?" John laughed
"Nights not over. Still a fire to go to" I said
"You have a blanket" He said
"Still cold" I smiled
He shook his head and walked back over to his group of friends.
"Well load up the horses and let's head down" Tommy said
"Aye aye captain" I said
He shook his head and I loaded Gypsy into my trailer. Making sure he has clean water and some hay, I locked up the trailer and grabbed my chair. Also my blanket, Kate had one too. Colin just had a chair. I put mine back in it's bag to carry down. I need the strap. Going to an empty spot, we set up our chairs and sat down. Colin sat on one side of me while Kate and Tommy shared a chair on the other side. They have a big one like me. Then our lovely friends came down.
"So does the offer still stand?" John asked standing in front of me.
"Yup" I replied
He smiled and sat on the front of the chair. Then I decided to share the blanket. So I wrapped my legs around him and he leaned back.
"Hello" He said
"Hi" I smiled
"You comfy?" He asked
"Little squished. But warm" I said
He nodded and Kate looked at me.
"You comfy over there" She asked
"He's keeping me warm" I laughed
"Okay." She nodded
"Would you like to switch spots?" John asked looking back
"I don't know" I said
"C'mon, sit on my lap" He said
"... Sure" I said
He stood up and handed me my blanket then sat down. So I sat sat on his lap and put the blanket over both of us. Then he wrapped his arms around my waist and I leaned back on him. Okay, this is comfy. Kate smiled and Tommy nodded when I looked over at them. We sat around the fire for a little while and we all chatted with each other. I think it's about time to head out. I can barely keep my eyes open.
"I think you're ready to go to sleep" John said
"I am" I replied
"You ready over there?" Colin asked
Nodding, I stood up and John put my chair back in it's bag.
"Thank you.. Oh, where'd you get this hoodie from" I asked
"I don't remember why?" He said
"It's comfy and I want one" I said
"Keep that one" He said
"But it's yours. And these are expensive" I said
"I have another one in a different color. My parents both got me one last year so it's fine" He smiled
I hugged the kid and he rubbed my back when I did.
"Thank you" I said
"No problem" He replied
We walked back to the trucks and I put everything away. Hopping in my truck, I waved to my friend and cousin and headed to the barn. Oh man. I'm so tired.
- Writer
