Colt's P.O.V.
I woke up after sleeping in my bed for the first time in a while. I got out of bed and slid into a pair of worn-out Wranglers. I didn't bother with a shirt. I opened my door and went to the bathroom. Once I was done, I went downstairs to the kitchen for a cup of coffee. Mom was sitting at the bar with Hedli, talking. She was in cupcake pajama pants. Dad was cooking eggs and chorizo.
I walked into the kitchen only to be scolded by my mom. "Colt, go put a shirt on." "Not until I'm awake and have coffee in my system," I said, pouring myself a cup of the black liquid. Bucky came down with a shirt on. His hair was messy as hell. Glad I chose to keep my dirty blonde hair short. He kept his dark blonde hair longer than mine.
Hedli rolled her eyes when I winked at her. "Colt, throw some tortillas in the microwave and warm them up, son, will you?" Dad said. I walked over to where we kept them and got them out. I put six in first. Then six more, and finally four more. Dad fixed them as I pulled them out.
I refilled my cup of coffee before sitting down at the table next to Hedli. Zach came down at the smell of breakfast. He got him a cup of coffee and sat down on the other side of Hedli. He, too, was shirtless. Glad I wasn't the only one.
Mom also scolded him for it. I don't blame her for scolding, but at least I was wearing pants and not boxers like my brother. After breakfast, I went back to my room and put on a shirt.
I caught a glimpse of her in her room. She already had jeans on. I could make out the straps to her bra before she pulled her shirt down. I quickly went back downstairs and slid my boots on. A few seconds later, Hedli was holding her's. She slid her's on and left me there.
I went out and saw her already by her horse. I went over to the gator and took it to the feed barn. I hooked up the feed trailer and stuck a bag in it. I drove to my first stop and gave those horses their feed. Then I drove into the barn. I fed them before going to mine and her horses. They got breakfast, and she got a ride back through the ranch to the feed barn for cow feed.
I stuck the cattle feeder on the gator and filled it up. I started in the back and moved to the front. Then off to the sides. I opened the gates while she drove through. I showed her around before we headed back.
My brothers already had the stalls mucked, so there wasn't much to do. "Wanna see the rest?" I asked. "Maybe after the picnic, if you remember." "Right, that slipped my mind," I said.
We got back to the house. Mom and dad had on town clothes. Hedli was dressed nicely, and I had on work clothes. Once inside, I ran up to my room and changed into clean decent clothes. I put on my belt and went back down.
Hedli was talking to my parents. I sat down beside her and put my arm on the back of the couch. Bucky and Zach came down dressed similarly to me. "If everyone's ready, let's go," Dad said.
My truck was unhooked and in front of the house. I opened the passenger door for Hedli and closed it once she got in. I went around to my side and got in. I started it up and followed my parents to the park.
Once we were there, I tried to open her door, but she beat me to it. For once, I'd like to open it up for her and help her out. I met her at the front and put my arm around her. I pulled her closer to me. Several of my high school buddies were there. They came up to me and joked around. Hedli went off with my mom to meet some of the women in this town.
I just hoped that one ex from my high school memories wasn't here today. "Hey baby, you look buffer than last time I saw you." She said. No, I don't need her today. I hate this one for ruining the rest of my relationships with the girls in this town. "Jasmine, I'm sure Bobby's here somewhere. He'd love to do something with you." I said, trying to get her away from me. She left in search of Bobby.
"Dude, you would have taken her to your truck and did it. What's up?" Alex asked. "I'm in love with a girl I'm letting stay at my place until a rodeo." "Ok, what's her name?" Henry asked. "Her name is Hedli Drouten," I said. "Dang, I saw her bronc in high school when we went to watch their high school rodeo. She's good." Alex said. "I know she could beat me at it and possibly get my heart while she's at it." "I don't know, looks like you could get her heart," Henry said.
"Is that her next to your mom and Bucky?" Evan asked. I turned towards the crowd of women. "Yeah, that's her, and it looks like Bucky's trying to flirt with her." "Then let's go over there." Even suggested. So we walked over there.
I put my arm around her as I gently pushed Bucky away. Evan went over to his girl, and so did Alex and Henry. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Jasmine and Bobby. They were over by his truck, making out.
"Colt, you bring home a beautiful woman, and she's willing to stay." Evan's mom says. "Euh, we've still got the rest of the rodeo season to see where it leads," I said to her. Hedli laid her head on my shoulder as we talked. Now and then, I pick it up to laugh or talk.
Once it was lunchtime, I got my plate and sat with the guys. She sat down with my mom. She looked like she was out of place. I wanted to go over to her, but I also wanted to catch up on what the guys were doing.
"How bout we get our girls while you get yours," Alex said. Man, they were my best buddies. I got up as they did, and I walked over to her. "Would you like to sit with me and my friends?" She smiled before getting up and following me. My buddies and their girls were already sitting down.
The girls introduced themselves to her, as did the guys. I hope this also helps her become more comfortable around the people I'm with. For the first time today, I heard her genuine laugh. I saw Alex roll his eyes and the other two chuckling. The girls were getting along perfectly.
After lunch came games. The partners had to be of the opposite gender. I quickly chose Hedli before Jasmine could choose me. I'm glad she went along with it.
"So what are we doing?" She asked. "Just listen," I said. The mayor came out with a microphone. "Ok, this is what we're going to do. We are going to do the shoulder race. You'll get an egg on a spoon, and the female partner is going to be on the male partner's shoulders." The other guys already had their partners on their shoulders.
I helped Hedli onto mine before we were handed our egg. "Ok, we need to get to the swings and back without breaking the egg," I told her. "Ok." I heard her say. "On your mark, get set, go." I carefully started.
Several people lost their eggs as soon as they started. I've never won this race with any of the girls I've been with in the past. As we neared the finish line, I saw Sawyer next to me. He and his partner were extremely careful. I picked up the pace, still being careful. Once we got there, I knew we had beaten Sawyer Edwards and his partner.
"We have a new winner this year." The mayor began. "Colt and Hedli. Congrats." I walked back over to the guys with Hedli still on my shoulders. Once there, I let her down. "Next event is for the young ones." We heard the mayor's booming voice.
"Great job, you two." The mayor came up to us. "That's the first time you've ever won that one, Colt. Isn't it?" "Yes, sir," I answered.
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The last event, hay hauling. Sawyer and I tied last year at this. "Instead of hauling hay, you have to haul pigs. There are five hundred-pound pigs in one pen. You have to get all five in a pen one hundred feet from the starting pen, and you may choose someone to help keep them in.
I saw Sawyer choose one of his guys. I went with my gut. I chose Hedli. The pigs were already looking at the girls' way. "Are you crazy?" She asked. "I know you can keep the pigs in the pen. All you have to do is do something to keep them inside it." I told her.
Several guys were laughing, including Sawyer. "Let's just show them you can do it." She smirked before going over to the other pen. The whistle was blown. I got the nearest pig. Once it was inside, she started rubbing her hand on it.
Once I had the final pig, two of Sawyer's were out, and none of mine were. I put the final one in and heard the whistle blow. "The winner is Colt. Nice idea. A pretty girl to distract them while you moved them. Genius." The mayor said.
I saw frustration on Sawyer's face as he walked over. Keeping Hedli near me would be better. Much better, cause I knew what he had planned if he could get her alone.
We ate dinner and talked until sunset. I could tell Hedli was getting tired. I went over to my dad with her still in view. "I'm going to take Hedli home." "Ok, you have a key." He said. I went over to her. "Wanna piggyback ride to the truck?" I asked. She sleepily nodded. I sat down beside her.
She wrapped her arms around my neck and her legs around my waist. I got up and walked to the truck. Once there, I unlocked it and opened the passenger door. I set her in and buckled her in. I closed the door before heading to my side.
"Ah, going home to have fun with a toy you found on the circuit?" I looked in the direction of the voice. Sawyer was standing there next to a tree. "She's not a toy. So, back of,f Sawyer." "Oh, but the fun has only begun." I locked the truck and shoved the keys into my pocket next to my. You get the point.
He came closer to me. He swung, and I dodged it. "I'm not fighting tonight, so go back to your girls and posse," I told him, turning around. He kicked my knee. "Sawyer, I'm telling you once again I'm not fighting," I said now feeling pissed. Several of the people left came to see the commotion.
I turned and left, punched in the number code on my truck, and got in. I dug my keys out and started my truck up. I watched Sawyer walk behind my truck and stop. No worries, I can still get out. I turned my truck and got out just like that.
Finally, on the road home, the radio was turned down, and Hedli had her head against the window. Once at the gate, I punched in the gate code and drove through the open gate.