Lex was in Imp’s stall, giving the piebald gelding a good brushing as the animal grazed on his evening hay. Lex didn’t know what else to do. After the awards ceremony—where he’d been given the silver All-Around cowboy championship buckle—he’d approached Trent, Sonny, Will, and several other cowboys. Usually at the end of the show, the group went out to celebrate before hauling out the next morning and heading for the next rodeo on the circuit.
“What’s goin’ on tonight, fellas?” Lex had asked tentatively, not sure where he stood with Trent after the way the man had treated him earlier.
Trent hadn’t looked at him.
Sonny had said, “We thought we’d drive over to Pepperdine.”
“Yeah, they got a sweet live band,” Will had added.
Trent had still avoided Lex’s eyes.
Lex had waited for the
