Cowgirl Up (41 page)

“I think I’ll catch a quick nap if that’s okay with you?”

“Sure, go ahead. I’ll go over to Melissa’s so I don’t bother you.”

“You wouldn’t be a bother, but I’m sure she would like some time with you.”

“I’ll be back to wake you in time to prepare for dinner then,” Mary Leah said and kissed Coal before leaving the room.

Coal watched her leave and then dropped the temperature on the air-conditioning unit before stripping down to her underwear and crawling under the covers. The coolness of the crisp sheets against her skin felt wonderful as she snuggled deeper for a nap.

†

Dinner was another great steak dinner, and when they hit the nightclub the crowd was still light. After a few rounds of beer and several dances, the Friday night crowd began to filter in. The all-female crowd was much less rambunctious than the normal crowd at the Stockyard, and much to Mary Leah’s delight there wasn’t even a threat of a brawl. At ten, they decided to call it a night and go back to the hotel.

Coal noticed that Stormy seemed nervous at the club, and as they walked back into the hotel, she told the others, “Go on up. Stormy and I will be there in a few minutes.”

“What’s up?” Stormy asked when the elevator doors closed and their friends disappeared.

“I was wondering if the great Stormy Braxton was scared about sleeping with Del for the first time. You seem nervous as a cat on a hot tin roof.”

“I just don’t want to disappoint Del,” she admitted.

“Relax, be gentle, but passionate, and do what you know best. I know you won’t disappoint Del.”

“I sure hope you’re right. I really like Del.”

“I think it’s pretty obvious she really likes you too. Have fun together and take things as they come.”

She looked up at Coal. “Thank you for being such a good friend.”

“That works both ways, my friend,” Coal said. “Now, let’s go see our women.”

Stormy pushed the button for the elevator and they rode up to their rooms. “See you in the morning for breakfast,” she said as they approached her room.

“If you’re not having breakfast in bed,” Coal teased, causing her to blush profusely. “Goodnight, Stormy,” she said and walked to her room. She slipped the electronic card into the slot and gave Stormy a thumbs-up sign before disappearing into her room.

“What was that all about?” Mary Leah asked.

“Just giving her a little pep talk,” Coal said as she began undressing.

“I think Del is really excited to be with her.”

“I think they’ll both be fine once they relax a bit.”

“Yes, I’m sure they will. Are you ready for sleep?”

“Not really,” Coal answered.

“Good, come warm me up then.”

She smiled and crept between the covers next to her lover.

Chapter Twenty-three

Coal was finishing off her second waffle, covered with peanut butter and syrup, when Stormy and Del entered the breakfast area. A smile plastered on Stormy’s face told her that their first night together had gone very well. Del also wearing the same pleased look on her face made her smile as they approached.

“Good morning, ladies,” she said as they took seats across from her. “I trust you slept well,” she said, failing to resist teasing them just a bit.

“You could say that,” Del said as color flared on her cheeks.

“Fantastic. Eat a hearty breakfast. It’s going to be a long day. They will cook to order breakfasts for you if you don’t want continental.”

“I bet their omelets don’t hold a candle to yours,” Del said.

“Sadly, I can confirm that,” Mary Leah spoke up. “It was good, but nothing like Coal’s.”

Coal smiled at her lover. “Thanks, babe.”

“Let’s go check their hot bar,” Del told Stormy, who stood and followed her like a puppy.

“They seem happy this morning,” Melissa said with a grin.

“I’d say love is in the air,” Mary Leah said.

“Or at least a strong case of lust,” Coal said and was punched in the shoulder by Mary Leah for the crudeness of her comment. “Ouch. Easy there, brute, I’m just being honest, love takes time to grow,” she said as she rubbed her shoulder.

“You are such a cupcake,” Melissa teased.

“Cupcake, I didn’t see any cupcakes up there,” she shot back. “I do think I’ll have a bacon filled bagel. Can I get you ladies anything?”

“No, I think we are good here,” Melissa said.

Del and Stormy had filled their plates and returned to the table when Coal came back. “Oh, those grits look good,” she said, setting her bagel on the table and returning for a bowl of grits.

“She did eat supper with us last night, right?” Del asked.

“Yeah, but she worked up an appetite last night,” Mary Leah said.

“She’s not the only one,” Stormy said as she bit into her toast. “I’m starving.”

Melissa chuckled. “Should we pack a goody bag for you two for later?”

“That might not be a bad idea,” she said with a wink.

†

When they had finished eating and poured themselves a coffee to go, the group was ready to head out to the Expo Center. Harley, who had been up for hours, was sitting on the tailgate enjoying the early morning when they approached the truck.

“Are we ready to roll?” he asked.

“I think they finally ate their fill,” Melissa teased as she tossed him the keys.

“Got to get your money’s worth, boss,” he teased back.

“I may owe the hotel more after that breakfast,” she said as Coal held the door open for her.

“Lucas took the truck to get the horses fed and ready to saddle when we get there,” Harley told them.

“I wonder if Gene slept at all last night,” Coal said as she climbed in beside Melissa.

“That’s doubtful,” Harley said. “You know how he is at rodeos. He likes to soak up every story he can from the older riders.”

“He’s like a kid in a candy shop,” Melissa said.

†

It was obvious that Gene wasn’t the only one that was excited. When they reached the Expo Center, Coal and Stormy bailed out of the truck quickly to head into the stables. “Let’s hang around long enough to wish the girls good luck and then we can go find a seat,” Melissa said as they walked to the stables in pursuit of the crew.

Coal and Stormy stopped at the trailer to get their chaps, hats, and tack before walking to the stable to begin saddling up. The barrel-racing event would be the opening event, and both she and Stormy would be competing along with Shelly Brewster.

Coal would also compete in the pole bending competition and then be done until the roping began on Sunday morning. Stormy and the boys would compete in bronc riding and steer wrestling later in the day, after the first rounds of bull riding were complete.

Gene was brushing down his horse when Coal walked into their section of the stables. “Good morning,” he said as he rushed out of the stall. “Can I help you get Shadow ready?”

“Sure thing,” she answered. “Did you have fun last night?”

“Yeah, I did. Some of these guys have rodeo experience that goes back fifteen years,” he said, obviously excited.

“I bet you heard lots of good stories.”

Gene took a brush and stroked it across Shadow’s back before placing the saddle blanket on his body. “Some of the guys were talking about injuries, and I no longer have any desire to try my hand at bull riding after hearing about the injuries some of them have suffered.”

Coal bent down to attach her chaps when she heard Shelly Brewster’s high-pitched voice down the aisle. “The wicked witch has arrived,” she whispered to Gene, who broke out laughing. “I was hoping she would stay at home since she only qualified for barrels.”

“She would never miss an opportunity to perform her beauty queen routine,” Gene said with a snicker.

“I know that’s right,” she said as she placed the bridle over Shadow’s head.

“I hope you and Stormy both kick her ass,” he said. “Have you drawn for positions yet?”

“No, we decided to saddle up first and then go before warming up.”

“Y’all go ahead. Lucas and I will finish up here and meet you at the warm-up ring.”

“Thanks.” Coal went in search of Stormy. “Let’s go pull positions,” she said when she found Lucas helping Stormy. “We’ll meet the guys at the warm-up ring after.”

†

“We’re going to pull our positions,” Coal told the others. “Then we’ll get warmed up and ready to go.”

“I think we’ll head into the stands then to find some seats. Good luck you two,” Melissa said.

“Knock them dead,” Harley said and stepped aside with Melissa.

“Good luck, sweetheart,” Mary Leah said. “Be safe, ride hard, and win this thing.”

“I’ll do my best, baby,” Coal said. “Ready?” she asked Stormy.

“Just waiting on you,” she answered. “See you soon, ladies.”

“You can bet on that. Good luck,” Del said with a wink to Stormy.

†

Stormy and Coal located the officials’ tent and fell in line behind the other competitors for the barrel racing. There were twelve total for the barrel racing, and Shelly was at the head of the line.

“She drives me nuts with her fake personality,” Stormy whispered to her.

“I know exactly how you feel,” she answered.

They watched as Shelly stepped forward, drew a piece of paper, and then giggled with excitement as she handed the slip to the official. When she turned away, she walked toward Coal and Stormy and stopped in front of them.

“Of course I would draw the first run,” she said excitedly.

“Set the bar high for the rest of us then,” Stormy said.

“Good luck,” Coal added.

“Thanks, you too,” Shelly said and sashayed away from the tent.

“Good grief,” a rider in front of them said. “She actually made the cut for the competition?”

“She’s got a fast horse, but she’s a terrible rider,” Coal said.

“Gotcha,” the woman said and stepped forward in the line.

When they finally reached the table, Stormy pulled the eighth slot and Coal was dead last at twelve. “Well, at least you’ll know exactly what you have to run to win,” she said.

“That’s true,” Coal said. “I hate waiting until last though.”

 
Stormy slapped her friend on the back as they began the walk to the warm-up ring, “Patience, my friend.”

†

“What’s the verdict?” Gene asked as he handed Coal her reins.

“Stormy is eighth and I pulled twelve, dead last.”

“That’s good,” Gene said. “What did the princess pull?”

Coal chuckled at his reference to Shelly. “The princess runs first, just as she imagined she would.”

Lucas laughed and said, “I saw Bubba a few minutes ago. It looks like you did him a real favor. His new teeth look much better.”

She flinched at his comment and swung into her saddle. “You are so not right, Lucas,” she teased.

“Yeah, I know, but you still love me.”

“Yes, I do,” she said. “Thanks for getting the horses ready for us.”

“You’re welcome,” they both answered.

“We’ll see you at the arena in a few minutes,” she said and turned Shadow toward the ring to warm up.

†

When the overhead speaker announced the start of the barrel racing competition, Stormy pulled up beside Coal. “Let’s do this,” she said and offered a gloved fist to Coal.

She bumped fists with Stormy. “You better have a fast run today. Shadow’s feeling ready to run.”

“I could handle placing second to you,” she said with a wink. “But only you, so don’t let me down,” she said as they rode over to the arena.

Shelly was doing her normal beauty queen act, smiling and waving at the crowd as the announcer called her name as the first competitor. “She makes me want to gag,” she overheard Gene say as they rode next to him and Lucas.

“Be nice, boys,” Coal said.

“She makes it hard to be nice with all that fake niceness,” Gene said with a growl.

“Let’s see if she’s finally learned to ride that horse of hers,” Coal said as she leaned forward to watch Shelly’s performance.

They watched as her horse bolted across the start line toward the first barrel. Coal found herself holding her breath as Shelly’s boot hit the barrel, and it tilted precariously, threatening to tumble over. Lucky for her the barrel rocked back into place in the thick sand. She rounded the second barrel wide after rocking the first, losing precious time and raced to the final barrel to complete the cloverleaf. Turning for home, she held tight to the reins and whipped her horse’s flanks with a riding crop. The horse would have run much faster if Shelly had given her the chance to lower her head and run naturally. Her time was decent, but she and Stormy both knew it wouldn’t hold up as a winning time.

“I hope Shelly’s ready to go home,” Stormy growled.

The next few riders made their runs and Shelly’s time dropped to second and then third before Stormy rode into the arena for her run. They held their breath as they watched her put in a nearly perfect run, a full second ahead of the current leader, dropping Shelly out of the competition.

“Damn, that was a great run,” Lucas said as she rode toward them.

“Great job,” Coal said. “That was a beautiful run and will be hard to beat.”

“You can do it,” Gene said with confidence.

“I’ve seen you two run faster,” Stormy said. “Don’t leave anything out there in the dirt.”

She nodded and rode Shadow toward the arena to wait for their run. “It’s up to us, big boy, to show everyone how it’s done,” she whispered to him as she leaned forward to stroke his neck. Shadow’s ears twitched forward at the sound of her voice and his feet danced. He was ready to run.