Page 104 of Never Left You

By the way, you called him Stet.

Abi

Don’t get used to it.

Wyatt

Never.

Rolling my eyes with a light smile on my lips, I pocketed my phone and turned back to the dirt. Cash was with Quinn and her horses, leaving me alone to take in the sights. After Sylas’s accident, I never went to a rodeo arena without Wyatt, or at least someone from my family with me. Last year, during the National Final Rodeo—The NFR—Kyla and Wyatt shoved me betweenthem, the two of them creating energy that seeped into to me. But like always, I ‘had to go to the bathroom’ once the bull riders came on. Kyla was with Rhett by that time, and Wyatt was more than willing to go talk to the announcers. At the Hartwell Rodeo, I was always with Stetson and my parents. I never had a moment to sit and watch, to look and to just remember how much I loved this.

And Iloved it.

I had a small suspicion that being here would bring up upsetting memories, pulling me back into that melancholy pain of losing Sylas. Taking a deep breath, I took in the smells. Closing my eyes, I took in all the sounds. Raising my chin to sky, I let the sun take over my skin, filling my entire body with warmth. Instead of sadness, all I could feel was how right it felt that I was here.

Rodeos ran in the Hartwell blood. My mother was a barrel racer, my father was a team roper. Rhett and Lachlan started our generation off with their events, even pulling Wyatt in against his will. Though he didn’t compete in a livestock event, he loved the rodeo just as much as the rest of us. Me? I would barrel race for fun, but my joy came from the stands, right where I was. I loved to watch. Adrenaline came in different ways. For Rhett, it was jumping off his horse and getting the calf. For me, it was watching them.

A part of me wished that Cash was competing today. Or that he’d compete in general. The way he was at home, I could see it in his eyes that he loved it. He deserved to be on the board, making a comeback. I convinced him to get in the saddle again. Maybe, just maybe, I could convince him to get on the board again. He could start with small rodeos—smaller than this one—and work his way up. He would tell me his leg hurt too much, or he was too old, but I knew this was the life for him.

And I wanted to see it.

“Well, if it isn’t Rhett Hartwell’s little sister.”

A deep Southern accent drew me from my sun. I turned to see Rhett’s friend, and fellow tie-down roper, Zeke leaning against the railing. I smiled. I had known Zeke for a while now; he had been roping alongside Rhett since he started his career, and even though I hadn’t seen him in a long time, my smile grew when I met his eyes.

“Zeke!” I stood from my seat to wrap my arms around his neck. “I didn’t know you were going to be here today.”

“I thought Rhett was out for the season. What brings you here?”

“He is. I’m actually here with Cash.” I pulled away from him, taking him in. He hadn’t changed one bit.

“Callahan?” He raised his eyebrows in question. “He’s competing?”

“No.” I tapped the rim of his hat. “He’s training Quinn Compton.”

“Aw, man. I would love to see him compete again.”

“Me too. Maybe you can help me convince him.”

“I’m on it.” He placed his hands on his hips, giving me his award-winning smile. “I know just where to find him.”

“Hopefully getting Quinn set up.”

He gave me a single nod. “I guarantee you he’s over by the bunnies that rally up around the trailers before the show.”

I pinched my eyebrows. “Why would he be over there?”

“Abi, come on. You know the guy. That’s where he was all last year.” He tilted his head at me, the grin on his lips shifting to a cocky ‘you know what I mean’ smile.

I raised my eyebrows. “Well I hope he’s not over there…”

“Wait.” He stopped. “You came with Cash. Are you guys together?”

“It’s still new,” I replied, feeling the blush tint my cheeks. “Very new…”

“I never would have put the two of you together.”

“Neither would I honestly.” I shrugged my shoulders, forcing the blush to stay down. “I should probably go find him. He said we’ll watch from a certain area.”

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