The Diamond Hart Ranch and Cottonwood Valley have started to feel like home without even realizing it. Spending time at the ranch every day, meeting the locals, and participating in community events feels good. This isn’t something I’ve ever really felt back in Oklahoma. Outside of my family and the few rodeo friends I have, I don’t have any strong ties to a community.
We’re stopped by a dozen people to talk before we finally get warmed up for the team roping. As we head for the boxes I ride up next to Kacey.
“Hey, how about we make this a little more interesting? Care for a wager?”
She turns in her saddle, her blonde braid flipping behind her. She has a gleam in her eye when she grins at me. “What’d you have in mind?”
“Three questions, three honest answers. No half answers and no passing on a question.”
“Alright, you’re on. You’re going to lose though you know that, right? You and Dad have roped together twice, Carson and I do this all the time.” She sounds confident, but I can tell by her face she’s taking this seriously. I’ve done my share of heading and Cody is just as good of a heeler as Kacey. She watched us practice last week—we have a real shot at beating them if we have a good steer.
“May the best roper win,” I say with a smirk and a wink I know will turn her face red.
Kacey and Carson are up first. Cody and I watch, sitting on our horses, as she backs into the box, more focused than I’ve ever seen her. She really doesn’t want to lose. Carson calls for the steer and gets out clean, takes three swings and catches both horns. Kacey is right on its heels when Carson turns the steer. She swings and catches both hind legs. They pull their ropes tight, and the clock stops at 5.3 seconds.
That’s a damn good time. I turn to Cody. “No pressure or anything, but I would really like to beat them. How does five seconds flat sound to you?”
Cody laughs loudly and replies. “I like the way you think.”
Kacey and Carson trot back to us, and before she even gets into ear shot, I can tell by the look on her face that she has something smart-mouthed to say.
“Well, boys, second place is all yours if you want it,” she says confidently.
I like this version of her. I still want to beat her, and I will, but I like seeing her in her element.
Carson is wearing a bigger smile than I’ve ever seen. Smug bastard.
I look at Kacey. “We’ll see about that. I have old age on my side.”
“Hey!” Cody exclaims, feigning offense.
“I meanexperience, it’s a compliment.” Everyone chuckles as Cody and I head for the box.
Over the last week, I spent time with Cody getting ready to rope. I have a lot of respect for him and what he’s built at theranch. He shared with me how he had to think outside of the box and build other streams of income to keep the ranch going. I can see where Kacey gets her critical thinking.
I never talk to my dad, so it was nice to spend some time with Cody and discuss life. He asked a lot about my career goals, and life in general. You can tell by talking to him he cares about the people around him—his daughter, most of all. He mentioned more than once how proud he was of her for her roping and work on the ranch.
Cody and I back our horses into the box. I look over to make sure he’s set and ready, then take a deep breath, just like I do before I nod my head on a bull. I call for the steer.
Shit, I’m late.
Fuck it, I swing twice and reach, throwing the loop out over the steer. I catch both horns, pull my slack and turn the steer.
Cody, being the old pro he is, was not late. He has thrown his loop before I can even glance back. He dallies off and I turn to face, stopping the clock.
5.1 seconds.
No way.
Kacey must be fuming. I was late leaving the box, and we still beat them.
This is a great day.
Chapter 20
Kacey
You’ve got to be fucking kidding me.
