Okay, ya'll, here's a random one from me… I'm very bored, haven't been on a horse in over 7 months, and I'm really severely missing rodeo, blood, sweat, manure, and horsehair in my face…. Anyway this is just a story stretching the details about a random-ass dream I had last night about one of my old co-workers that I was really close to… I did call him my brother, and he really did ride bulls and he really did have problems with his girlfriend, but they didn't really break up, and we never really hooked up, and I never really let him know that I found him attractive in any way. However, there was a time he told me that if he was single, and I wasn't going after his friend at the time, he'd have been all over me, so maybe my brain was reminiscing and going through possibilities if we were still working together…. ANYWAY that's enough information for now. ENJOY THE STORY. GIVE ME FEEDBACK.

Too rusty. Too many miles. No hitch. UGH, searching for a new truck to haul my trailer was such a pain in the ass. Too many pieces of junk in my price range. When you're poor, you're poor… I guess I wasn't really poor, but my horses need to have the best there is… It was just a matter of time though before my truck would take a shit and I'd be up a river without a paddle—err, up the road with a trailer and a load of horses—without a truck….

I closed my laptop, and sat there on my bed, waiting for my not-blood-not-step-not-anything-to-me brother to get out of the shower. He was severely crazed by the recent tragic break up he had just went through with his long-time girlfriend. She'd finally had enough of the rodeo life and decided that since she'd quit barrel racing, he should have quit bull riding, but that wasn't ever gonna happen… Once a cowboy, always a cowboy, and I think she knew that in her heart… So my brother, we'll call him for now, often dealt with this "stress" by sitting in a hot shower after his bull ridings to do his own form of meditating. I guess between the pains of being thrown around by 2,000lb animals and boiling hot water running over him, he was able to escape the thoughts of choosing rodeo over the only female he thought he could live without…

I looked around my more-than-comfortable room, smiling at how far I'd come since last year, finally getting around to proving my piece-of-shit ex-boss wrong. I went from being a low-down wrangler picking up shit and scrounging for tips to being the boss. I really only had one employee and he wasn't really even an employee… Yep, it was my brother. Good old Jay-bird. Jay bird rode the shit out of my horses when I bought them from auction and got the buck out of em. He traveled with me from sale to sale and brought me in a lot of money, so in turn, when I built my house, I gave him a room and a place to live where he didn't have to worry about anything, and had ample time to ride bulls. He was damn good, and nearly every time he entered, he rode.

My room was dimly lit by white Christmas lights I had hung around the perimeter of the ceiling. The light oak logs that made up the walls gave off a cozy feeling that was really sort of lulling me into sleepiness. Being that my house was still just four months new, I was still mesmerized by how cozy and beautiful it was. I still had some decorating to do, but I was really picky and wanted only the most rusting and western décor. From the horse paintings on my walls to the lantern-lamps on my night tables, everything had to be perfect. My favorite piece, I'd have to say was the antler chandelier hanging from the high ceilings in the living room.

For a minute I was lost in a trance just thinking about what all I wanted to do with the rest of the rather un-furnished house… However I was abruptly interrupted by Jay bird barging in and plopping his half naked ass right on my bed. "Hiya, Sis!"

I flinched hard, a little startled, and sat up. "Holy shit, Jaybird, I was lost there for a minute, you scared the hell outta me bro."

"Well, I'm sorry sweetheart. Whatchya so concentrated on?" he asked, rather cheerfully.

"Well, I just.. Uh, I was kinda figurin' on what kinda furniture I was gonna put in the rest of the house, y'know… so it ain't so bare lookin'?"

"Uh-huh, I see. Well, wha'didja come up with?" he questioned.

I chuckled lightly, "Well, ya see, that's when you plopped down and practically scared the britches off'a me." I looked and him and suddenly realized he was in just a towel. "—Good Lord, Jaybird, go put on some damn clothes!"

"How come?!" he asked, standin' up. I knew what was coming… he was always one for playin' games and bein' a rascal… "Gosh, I figured you'd remember my birthday! So I thought I'd wear my birthday suit!" He dropped his towel, and bent over, mooning me. Then, he ran…

"JAY BIRD!" I yelled, and hopped up after him, picking up his towel, rushing to the door and throwing it at him, just grazing his hip as he turned the corner in the hall. "You're unbelievable!" I added, and turned back in, locking my door behind me.

Nevertheless, a few minutes later there was a knock on my door, and of course it was Jay, and in the sweetest voice, he said, "Sis, I was just funnin'… ain't ya gonna come out and celebrate with me? It's only five-oclock, an' I got all kinds of energy!"

Well, hell it really is his birthday… I looked at my calendar, realizing what day it was. "Well, shit," I muttered. I walked over to the door, unlocked it, and opened it, hoping he had clothes on. There stood a fully clothed, cowboy booted, white t-shirt rockin, flatbill flipped-back sportin', wrangler wearin' cowboy. By lookin' at him, you'd think he was a very confused guy, but he knew what he was doin', and that was just bein' him. Jay-bird was one of a kind—that's for sure. There was no mistakin', he was his own man. "Yes, Jay bird. I'll celebrate with ya. I'm sorry I forgot your day…" I gave him a big hug.

"It's alright, lil sis. I forgive ya. Go on an' git dressed now, whad'ya think we should do?"

While I got dressed, Jay stood outside my door, and we discussed things to do.

"Well, we could go ridin'," I said. I browsed through my closet for something to wear.

Jay scoffed, "Ridin'? We do that on a daily basis," he said. "How 'bout somethin' diffrint."

"Like what?" I asked. I took off my tank-top and tried on a purple blouse I pulled down off the hanger.

"I dunno, we could go out to the bar." Jay was always wantin' to go to the bar since she left.

"Nah, I dunno about the bar," I said. Not this blouse… too fancy. I took it off and tossed it to the floor."What is it with you n the bar lately? It's like all ya wanna do is drank!" I pulled another less-fancy-more-casual blouse from its hanger. It was tannish-brown in color, and sort of fringey, in a western sort of way.

Jay bird was hesitating, "Well, uh… y'know. Its just a release, I guess…"

"Hmm," I muttered. No, not feeling this shirt either. Tossed that one to the ground too… "Well, we could always get some grub and uh… I dunno—th-theres a bull ridin' in town tonight, ya probably already knew that though…" I was running out of thoughts. I was also running out of options for clothes. My wardrobe pretty much consisted of a few dresses, plaid, plaid, denim, plaid, and more plaid. Finally, I gave up, and just picked out one of my old rodeo shirts, had a lil bit of bling on it. It was bright pink and brown, kinda flashy, but still somewhat casual.

"Yeah, I heard… Ain't really feelin' bull ridin' t-night." He sighed.

I stopped in my tracks, almost fallin' over while I was takin' off my sweatpants. I stumbled, catching myself on the my bed. I slowly pulled my sweatpants off and leaned against the bed for a second, trying to figure out if he really just said he wasn't in the mood to ride a bull… "You feelin' alright, Jaybird?" I shook my head, and placed my sweatpants on the bed, then went over to my dresser to get a pair of jeans.

"Yeah I'm just thinkin' on changin' my mood, since I been on the outs lately, an' I'm tired'a bein' depressed, sis. I was figurin' if I changed up my game a lil bit, maybe I could change up my mood."

That was the first logical thing I'd heard outta that boy's mouth in a long while… After I put my jeans on, I grabbed my belt off the back of the door, and then opened it. "Wow, I'm proud of ya, that's some positive thinkin' there, brother." I gave him a peck on the cheek. "Now how the hell are we gonna celebrate?" I grabbed my cowboy boots, and walked over to my bed to sit down n put them on.

"I got a few ideas, but they all involve booze!"

I just rolled my eyes with a smirk, and pulled on my boots. "Well, if you really wanna drink I guess we can go pick up some beer and invite some people over. I just really wanted to ride Jazz today…"

"Well, I'll tell ya what, sis… Say we get some beers, take the sticks out to the river and do some fishin?"

"That's a pretty good idea actually," I agreed.

"Alright then, I'll go get em' tacked up and you go get the beer. Deal?" he asked.

"You got it. Be back in 'bout twenty minutes, whatchu want? PBR ok?"

"PBR is just fine."

With that, I grabbed my keys and brushed passed him, getting rather excited about this celebration. I did, however find it kind of odd that he didn't want to invite a bunch of his cowboy friends. Like I said earlier, the whole break up thing was makin' him crazy.

When I returned, I came rippin' down the drive, tearin' up dust, and I spotted him leanin' up against the barn smoking a cigarette. The day was still young and we still had a good few hours or sunlight left. Didn't get dark until about 9 that time of year. It was great. I slammed the truck door, making sure I grabbed the case of beer. I walked towards him, and he came trottin' up to me, grabbing the case out of my hands. The horses, which he called sticks, were all ready, saddle bags on tight, and fishin' poles neatly disassembled inside, ready for the trip to the river. It was about a fifteen minute ride to the river through forest and valley. Not a very long ride, but scenic indeed. Jay bird broke down the case of beer, and put half in the fridge, and half in the saddle bags. He laughed, and looked up at me. "Y'know this is a terrible idea, right?"

I kindof chucked and tilted my head. "How so?"

"Cause by the time we git there, these shits will be so shooken up, we ain't gonna be able to open em up."

"So we wait, then. Ain't a big deal, we'll have to bait up and cast out anyways. Those catties should be bitin' tonight." I shrugged. "No big deal brother."

"Okay.. alright then… Saddle up lil sis." Jay tossed the box to the trash can, grabbed Roscoe from and led him out of the barn.

I grabbed Jazz who was reluctant to go anywhere, and started out after Jay. Once outside the barn and away from the door, we mounted up. Roscoe was a little fidgety so jay loped him in circles a couple of times before we headed out. As I put my foot in the stirrup, Jazz tossed her head and stepped away from me. "Knock it off you stubborn mare," I said, and swung up, setting down gently on her back, she crow hopped just slightly, wanting to rear a bit, but a good swift slap on her pole with my fist, and she calmed right down.

"Atta girl, lil sis. Dang, its been a while since I seen you ride. Done forgot you was almost as good as me." He laughed, and took off, turnin' up dust in front of me.

I clucked, and nudged Jazz on, she started into a small lope after Roscoe, and let out one big ol buck before settling into a calm pace. "Heehaw!" I laughed, just went with it. It was a race to the valley down the trail, and Jazz's legs just weren't long enough to keep up with Roscoe. Then again, maybe it was the fact that she was fat and out of shape…

Finally we made it to the valley, and of course Jaybird had won. He slowed to a walk, watching me as I caught up. "Whats'a'matter? You scared'a that thing or what?"

"Naw, shit… She's lazy!" I exclaimed. We both lauged, and Jay cracked open a PBR, and took a long drink. I opened one as well, of course, Jazz slightly spooking when I cracked it open. Goofball… "Cheers, bro." I held my can up towards him, and smiled.

"Cheers. Heres ta… Horses, dirt, and bulls, steers, NOT bein' queer…" he laughed. I laughed. "…and good friends—only real one I got right now…" His big ol' grin faded to a gentle smile.

We both drank, and looked at the valley ahead. We got lost in conversation about the sale horses we'd picked up the previous day, and their potentials. The horses were calmed and seemed to be getting along well. Once we reached the river bank, it was all good from there. We let the horses get their drinks, and then unsaddled them n tied em to a couple trees so they could graze on the grass there. Jay put together the fishin rods, and I sat there and watched him. He looked content for once, but there was somethin' about him that evening that seemed off. I wasn't sure what, but whatever it was… had him all bushy tailed…