Hayes stays in the lead, and when broncs are over, he’s pinned the champion.
Intermission is announced, and as the crowds disperse for food and drinks, Wren suggests we go congratulate Hayes on his win. Dragging a groaning Sarah, we make our way over to the other side of the grounds where the riders and horses are.
“Hayes!” Wren calls out to her brother as we see him walking.
He spins around, and when his eyes find us, his face splits into a giant grin. “Lil sis!” he yells, running our way. He stops in front of Wren, picking her up and spinning her around. “Did you see that ride!?”
“I did!” She laughs, her long brown hair splaying all around as he swings her.
“Congratulations, Hayes!” I join in the celebration.
“Thanks.” He beams. He glances at Sarah and tips his chin towards her shirt. “I’ll let you take me for a ride right now.” He winks with a cocky smirk, and Sarah’s eyes narrow.
“Please. You couldn’t handle me.” She scoffs.
“I remember handling you pretty well once, sweetheart.”
“Is that why you became a bronc rider? Because you’re so good at lasting eight seconds?” She cocks her head and splits a wide grin, making him narrow his eyes at her.
“Oh, sweetheart, I can have you wet and needy and begging at my feet in under eight seconds flat. I’ll be the best damn ride of your life.”
“Please.” She rolls her eyes, stepping towards him. “I’ve never been drier than when I’m around you.”
Wren and I share a look, wondering how far these two will go volleying back and forth before she interrupts. “Right, well anyway, we just wanted to come say congratulations.” She hugs her brother and then loops her arms through mine and Sarah’s, and we head back to the stands.
We continue watching the rodeo, and when the last event of the evening ends, we’re all back to feeling a pretty good buzz and not ready to go home. Deciding to head over to the beer gardens, we make our way over to the giant tents. Inside, warm bodies pack together, and at the back, a local band is covering some country songs. We stop at the bar and get some drinks and a big plate of nachos to share before making our way through the crowd to an empty table.
We sit and sip, sharing our nachos, when a shadow falls over the table making us glance up. The man from earlier today that we were watching play with the rope stands above our table, smiling at Sarah.
“Mind if I interrupt you beautiful ladies?”
Sarah leans back in her chair smiling up at him. “Don’t mind at all,” she drawls seductively.
“How about a dance?” he asks her.
Her brow cocks. “That depends. Are you as good at dancing as you are roping?”
“I’m good at a lot of things, darlin’.” He smirks suggestively, holding out his hand for her to take.
Sarah’s eyes raise, and she leans forward to grab her beer, bringing it to her red painted lips and taking a long pull while never taking her eyes off the man in front of her. “Hmm. I guess I’ll have to be the judge of that.”
She places her hand in his, and we watch as the two of them make their way to the dance floor where he pulls her tight to his body, and she begins to sway against him.
“I think we just lost Sarah.” Wren chuckles, shoving a nacho in her mouth.
“Are we surprised?” I giggle, watching as the two of them begin making out on the dance floor. I shake my head and take a pull from my own drink.
It doesn’t take long before two other men come up to our table, asking Wren and I to dance. The guys are cute enough, but there’s a certain cowboy sheriff I can’t get off my mind, so when Wren places her hand in the outstretched palm of one, I politely decline the other.
Sitting at the table alone watching my friends be twirled across the dance floor, I feel a presence behind me before West’s gruff voice whispers in my ear, his warm breath ghosting along my neck, making me shiver.
“Wanna dance?”
I turn around, smiling, and bite my bottom lip. “Why, Sheriff Cowboy, I’d love to.”
West holds out his hand for me to take, and then, like my friends, I’m whisked away to the dance floor.
I’m patrolling around the beer garden tents when I spot Jade and the girls enter. They have their arms looped, and a smile lights up Jade’s face.
