Chapter 1

SPOV

This is my year. The year I make all my dreams come true. I am going to make it to Vegas this year and no one is going to stop me. No more hard ass husbands telling me what they think is best for me, trying to coach me. This year I do it for me and my boys. I miss my boys, but it's a small price to pay because it is them that I do this for, to make them proud of their momma.

I married at 18, a month after my 18th birthday to be exact. There really should be some type of law that says that you can't until you're at least 25. I married and moved away from my family in Oklahoma to live by his family, in a small town in northern Louisiana. I gave up my dreams of going away to college and having that "college experience" to be with him, then his job took me away from my family and friends. So I started waiting tables at a local dive known as Merlotte's. I never heard a complaint about my job until the babies came. Then I didn't need to work anymore, I needed to stay home and take care of the kids, run errands, and take care of all the needs of the ranch. The only thing I had left at that point was my horses and boys. So I started riding, I'd never really ridden until then, but I taught myself and actually got to where I was pretty good in the saddle. My dear husband, Bill, was a part-time team roper and loved that I was so into the horses, because I always had his horse ready for him when he got home from work and needed to load and go.

Then I figured out that I could compete and started taking myself to different barrel race competitions and actually started getting noticed by people who competed professionally. I competed around Louisiana, mainly staying close to home so I could be there for him and the boys. I thought it was amazing that I was actually winning some of these, it felt good to have some of my own money again, since I had quit my job to stay home with the kids at the advice of Bill. It was at one of these competitions that I met Amelia Broadway, she was older like me. Most of the girls were in their 20's, and with both of us being in our early 30's we clicked. We ran into each other often and it was nice to have someone to call a friend after all these years. I hadn't ever really had a true girlfriend that I could confide in. She is actually the one who helped convince me to leave Bill. Bill was a great guy, he truly was, I just wasn't happy with him anymore. After almost 15 years of the same I got bored. After I stopped working I felt like he became a little more pushy and, I don't know, snobbish towards me. And I became bitter and resentful of him for allowing myself to give up my dreams. So we drifted apart. I moved back to Oklahoma with my parents, I know, classy right? Thirty-one years old and lives at home with my parents and my two kids. So I decided then and there that my kids would be proud of me. I got busy, I lost all the depression weight I had gained started riding hard and heavy, and entered every competition I could to get enough points to join the professionals.

Which brings me to where I am today, sitting in this hotel room in the middle of Palm Springs getting ready for my first 'big' competition. I met up with Amelia at the makeshift barns outside of the arena where the performance was taking place tomorrow night. We decided that since I had never been to California we would go into Los Angeles for some lunch and shopping. I was excited at the prospect of actually seeing someone famous. We had some 'stars' in Oklahoma, but we treated them like locals. Nobody's fame gets them special treatment where I come from. We hit Beverly Hills, and Amelia shopped while I watched. Having a wealthy family doesn't hurt when you're spending that kind of money on just a pair of shoes. Almost all my money goes home to my parents who help with my kids while I'm away. Bill sees them on holidays since we're states apart. People stared at me incredulously as I walked around in my boots and Cruel Girl jeans. With my huge belt buckle shining like a diamond in the sun. I was proud of it; it was the first one I won. It was my lucky charm. At lunch we grabbed a taxi and Amelia told him where to drop us.

When we got out of the car I looked at her with a goofy smile on my face. "Doughboys," I said. "Really, it's not bad enough that I was married to doughboy for 14 years, you're gonna make me eat here too!" She'd always made fun of my ex for his beer gut, we'd gotten in the habit of calling him doughboy so the kids wouldn't here us talking bad about their Dad.

"Come on, I heard the food is great, let's just try it. If you don't like it, I'll buy you something from somewhere else."

We perched ourselves at a nice table outside and ordered our food. We people watched while we waited. LA was better than the county fair for the amount of freaks in the town! All they needed were giant turkey legs and cans of Bud!

As we were sitting chatting away, I couldn't help but notice some guy taking pictures and video from inside his car. "Hey, Ames, what do you think that guy over there is taking pictures of?"

"Probably that really hot guy over there, you see, the one with that girl that looks like an anorexic would be embarrassed by how skinny she is? He's some super hot actor on some vampire show on HBO."

I started bouncing in my seat, "You're kidding! My first celebrity sighting, I can't believe it! What show is he on, do you know?"

"I think that one that they made from those books you like," she said that knowing full well it would really get me going. I swear that woman lives to embarrass me.

"Okay, let's just eat and if he's not so over the top maybe we'll ask for an autograph or something. I just hate to interrupt when he 's having lunch with his friends." I said watching out of the corner of my eye as the blond headed girl sitting next to him put her hand up to his mouth as if to shush him.

"Besides," I noticed, "he looks kinda grumpy. I haven't seen him smile since we've been here. Of course, if I had someone clinging to me, I'd probably be upset about it too."

We sat in relative silence as we ate our lunch I was more than a little preoccupied by the hunk of man sitting a few tables away, but I tried to keep my cool. I was almost done with the best sandwich I had ever eaten when my phone started ringing. Loudly. Generally speaking, a cell phone going off doesn't raise a lot of brows, but my ringtone, my wonderful Brother added to my phone drew attention from everywhere. Stewie, from Family Guy, 'Mommy, mommy, mom, mommy, mom, momma…'

Fumbling with the damn phone, face flush I finally answer "Hello." From the corner of my eye I see tall, blonde, and handsome smirk then turn back to his friends. Damn, I wish I could remember his name. My oldest son is calling to wish me luck tomorrow, cause he's staying with a friend for the weekend and won't be able to call. I thank him, tell him I love him and after tearfully calming my youngest son, I hang up wiping my nose on my napkin and letting out a heavy sigh.

"You know Ames, this is the hardest part. I wish I'd done all of this when I was younger and didn't have two kids to worry about. I miss them so much. I'm just glad Mom and Dad can help, I send money to them when I can but I know it takes a toll on them too. I just feel so horrible. And calls like that don't help."

She reaches for my hand across the table, "I know Sweetie, but you know that you are doing everything you can to make things good for all of them. If doughboy would do his part you could be there more. Besides, once you win Palm Springs tomorrow night, you'll have some extra to send home to them. And when you take Vegas in December, it's a done deal, you'll have sponsors all over you." I hope you're right I thought.

EPOV

Exhausted. No other word to describe how I feel right now. I've been working several days in a row and some nights too, on top of learning new lines and going over scenes it really can take it out of you. Today though, I was not required on set so I had the day to myself. I was having lunch with a couple friends then heading back home to rest up to start over again tomorrow.

As I'm heading out my front door my phone goes off in my pocket. I dig it out and scowl at the caller ID, Felicia. Damn, what does she want from me today? Smile and be pleasant, smile and be pleasant. My mantra when dealing with her. "Hey Felicia, what's up?"

She drones on and on, as I roll my eyes, "Well I'm on my way to lunch with…um…I think Doughboys…yeah….sure you can join us…nah, it's no problem at all, I'll see you there." Shit, shit, shit. Sometimes I'm too nice.

As we're eating our lunch I can't help but notice two women sitting a few tables over from us. They really don't look like they fit in well in California, I wonder where they are from. While I'm opening staring lost in my own thoughts, I feel a hand come up to my mouth, I can hear a subtle click of a camera in the background. I knew it. I turn to Felicia to give her a look, to which she smiles like a cat who at a canary. Doesn't she ever wonder why the only time I smile with her is when I'm drunk. I still can't help but notice the two women out of the corner of my eye. They appear to be good friends, talking and laughing.

About midway through the best sandwich ever, I hear this annoyingly funny ringtone. Stewie, from Family Guy, 'Mommy, mommy, mom, mommy, mom, momma…' I can't help but smirk as I see the prettier of the two women fumble with her phone and blush an adorable shade of pink while trying to answer. I listen closely as the beautiful blonde talks sweetly into the phone; I can hear her tears as she tries to comfort someone on the other end of the line. She is talking in a very soft tone, so I assume it is a child.

As I eavesdrop on her and her friend's conversation I can't help but overhear something about Palm Springs tomorrow night, and getting sponsors? Curious, I fire off a quick text to my manager to find out what is going on in Palm Springs tomorrow night that would draw in beautiful women in tight jeans and big belt buckles.

As they get up to leave, I get an opportunity to take in her whole package. She is incredible. Wavy, blonde hair, deep blue eyes, very full breasts trapped under and sleeveless button down denim shirt, and tight, tight jeans that hug her slim thighs, all the way down to her cowboy boots. While I'm drinking her in, I feel my phone vibrate against the table, I pick it up and thank God that I have an efficient manager. She tells me that there is a professional rodeo in Palm Springs this weekend. So that's it, I bet she can ride well. I feel myself start to stir thinking of the prospect.

I notice that they are heading this way, I can't help but get excited. The brunette approaches our table and quietly clears her throat. I look up at her and smile politely.

"Can I help you?"

"Um….my friend and I were wondering if we could have your autograph…I mean..if we're not interrupting..I mean…of course we're interrupting.."

"It's fine," I cut her off her ramblings, "we were just finishing up." I notice that the blonde had stayed back a little ways and is rolling her eyes at her friends display. I smirked at her again and waved her over.

"So what's your name, would you like a special message?" I was silently hoping to at least have a name. From the corner of my eye, I noticed Felicia frowning deeply. I couldn't be bothered with her at the moment; my only focus was on the luscious blonde standing close to me.

"Um…that's okay, I'm sorry for interrupting your lunch. You'll have to excuse my friend, she's a little hyper." I couldn't help but think that she had possibly the most beautiful voice I had ever heard. I wonder what her voice would sound like moaning my name. No doubt better than the bobble head to my left.

"No, it's fine, what's your name?"

"Sookie, Sookie Stackhouse." Well, that's a unique name. Definitely not one I'm likely to forget anytime soon.

"What brings you to LA Sookie?" I ask as I'm writing a message for her on a napkin.

"Lunch." Deadpan. Oh, she's funny. But, it earns her another smirk and an eyebrow raise. "We're actually staying in Palm Springs, but came for lunch since we had the afternoon free."

"Where are you from?" I was doing more than just making polite conversation, I was genuinely curious.

"I'm originally from Louisiana, but am staying in Oklahoma now. My friend here is still in New Orleans." Well that explains her different accent. Not quite deep south, but just a little. All we ever get out here are fakes.

I take out a couple napkins from the holder on the table and proceed to sign each and hand them over to the women. As I'm handing them over, I brush my hand against the blonde's, Sookie's, and feel chill bumps break out up my arm, under the sleeve of my shirt. As the girls walk away giggling to each other, I look to my friends across the table, "Have you guys ever seen a rodeo? I haven't and am dying to see what it's like."