Rustic Hearts

Sophie

 

After a long day at the show, the four of us head back to the hotel to get ready for the rodeo tonight.

When we make it into the parking lot, Dallas’s truck is idling outside the door to my room.

She jumps out as we pull into the space beside her.

“Do you know that the manager of this here fine establishment let me have a key to your room? He didn’t ask my name or anything. He just handed it to me when I told him I was here to stay with you. Isn’t that some shady shit?”

“I told him you would be coming before we left this morning. Described you well. I’m sure he felt confident you were you,” I say as I take the bag off her shoulder, so she can carry the cooler bag she has on the other.

“He still should have asked to see some ID before handing out keys to your room. I’m going to go have a chat with him.” Braxton stomps off toward the office.

“That boy has gotten awfully protective of Sophie as of late,” Emmett says to no one in particular.

“I’ve noticed that too. Weird, right?” Dallas asks him.

“I think he’d be pissed even if it were your room they handed someone a key to,” I point out.

“Maybe so, but he didn’t bring me any coffee this morning,” Daddy says as he watches Braxton enter the office.

“He probably just used me as an excuse to go get it for himself. He just didn’t want to admit he wanted a latte.”

Both of them cut their eyes to me and shake their heads.

“The Ritz it’s not,” Dallas says as she looks around our home for the next two nights.

“Not exactly.”

“Good thing I brought plenty of provisions.”

She unzips the Yeti cooler on the floor and starts to pull out mason jars of moonshine, a bottle of tequila, a bottle of bourbon, and a pitcher of lemonade. Then, she unpacks grocery bags of microwave popcorn, chips, and cookies.

“We can’t drink all that in two nights.”

“I got a text from Russ Eastman. He and his brother, Trey, are here for the show too, and they’ll be at the rodeo tonight. I thought maybe they could swing by afterward with some of their friends and have a few drinks with us.”

“Dallas, my daddy, Emmett, and Braxton are right next door. We can’t have a room full of boys over here,” I explain u

“We’re not teenagers, for goodness’ sake. If we want to have company, it’s none of their business.”

“You’re crazy.”

“You say that, but you haven’t seen Russ and Trey yet.” She wags her eyebrows at me. “Come on, let’s get all gussied up for this. That arena is going to be full of dirty, rugged cowboys. We have to look our best.”

“Dirty cowboys?” I ask.

“Oh, yes, that’s just the way I like them. Extra dirty.”

Daddy and Emmett turn in early, and Braxton escorts us to the arena.

“I’m going down to help with the bucking chutes. You two okay?” he asks as we enter the event.

Dallas waves him off. “We’re fine. I have friends coming.”

“All right, I’ll find you after the bull-riding events. Keep your phones on vibrate. It’ll be too loud in here to hear it ring.”

He takes off down the stadium stairs to the arena floor.

“Let’s get in line. You grab hot dogs and fries, and I’ll get the beers.”

I wrinkle my nose.

“I know, I know, but they don’t serve rosé here, so you’ll have to make do.”

I pay for our food and take it to the condiment table to add mustard, ketchup, and relish, and Dallas joins me, followed by two tall, handsome men.

“Sophie, this is Russ and Trey. Fellas, this is my bestie, Sophie.”

They each shake my hand. Russ, the oldest, has a short beard, piercing green eyes, and a well-worn cowboy hat covering his hair. Trey is a little more clean-cut than his brother with the same dark hair and green eyes, but his face is clean-shaven, and he isn’t wearing a hat. They graciously help us carry our food and drinks to our seats on the bleachers.

“Which event are you most interested in?” Trey asks as I look over the event program.

“Me? I like the barrel racing and the calf roping. You?”

“Bull riding.”

“I should have guessed.”

“One of our buddies is a competing bull rider. He’s won several Professional Bull Rider events in the last few years. He’s a rising star on the circuit.”

“I get nervous, watching the bull riders. My daddy took me to a Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association rodeo in Montana once, and one of the riders was bucked off. Before he could get away, the bull trampled him. Shattered his arm and broke several ribs. It was awful. He was lucky it wasn’t worse.”

“Yeah, it’s a dangerous sport, but most sports are. Even football players are one bad hit away from being paralyzed the rest of their life. That’s why they train so hard. And everyone doesn’t have the talent for it. Still, accidents happen.”

“I know you’re right. Those bucking bulls still make me nervous. My … my, um … my daddy’s nephew-in-law, Braxton, is helping with the chutes tonight.”

I point down to where Brax is straddling the side of one of the chutes while the rider gets positioned on the bull.

“Braxton Young. Yeah, I know him. We went to school together. You’re related?”

“Not really. His aunt married my dad, but we just met recently. I live in New York.”

“New York? Wow. That’s pretty cool. How long are you in Colorado?”

“I’m not sure. A couple more weeks at most.”

“We should get together back in Poplar Falls. Maybe Russ and I can take you and Dallas out to di

I look over to Dallas, who is a hundred percent enthralled by whatever Russ is talking about.

“We could probably arrange that.”

He smiles, and I realize how attractive he truly is.

“So, what do you think?” Dallas asks as she loops her arm in mine as we make our way to the ladies’ room.

“They are friendly and easy on the eyes.”

“Right? Russ has been coming into the diner every day that I work. He’s asked me out a few times, but I always say no because of Beau. Dating is hard when you have a little person at home.”

“You shouldn’t feel guilty for wanting a life, Dallas. Being a mom doesn’t mean you can’t do anything for yourself.”

“I know. I don’t want to introduce anyone into his life that doesn’t plan to stay awhile. Plus, I want to go home to him the nights I don’t work the Tavern. I spend enough time away from him.”

“Tell you what. When we get back, we’ll go out on a double date. That way, you can feel him out without all the pressure.”

“That would be amazing. I think Trey is into you.”

“Yeah, well, I’m only here a little while longer, so it can’t be more than a one-time thing.”

“Maybe not, but if you play your cards right, it could be one hell of a memorable one time.”