The rest of May seemed to go by in a blur. Between making sure everything got and stayed healthy at home, helping out Doc Atkins, and getting back into roping, my days were long and I was not the happiest person to be around during this time. On the morning of June first that all changed. You see, around here the first week of June was the start of rodeo season, from small ranch rodeos to the big one in Livingston. No matter how hard, horrible, or long my day was, going to the rodeo made me the happiest person on Earth.

After a full day of helping Doc Atkins finish packing up his clinic, I was beat. When I finally got back home all I could think about was taking a hot shower and maybe squeezing in a quick nap before I headed to Livingston for the rodeo that night. But those plans changed when I saw the cowboys all standing by the stables. They all looked hot and tired, which is expected when they spent the whole day clearing fence lines and fixing fences in the pastures where we put our cows for the winter. I knew I had just the thing to cheer them up sitting in the back of my truck.

When I got down to the barns everyone seemed too tired to even notice me but once I set the cooler that I had right in front of them and opened it up everyone looked my way. "Anyone want a cold beer?" A round of cheers came from everyone as they all jumped onto the cooler like a hungry pack of wolves. The only civil one out of the bunch was Lloyd who at least let out a thank you before he joined the rest of the men.

I giggled as I watched these grown men down beer as if their lives depended on it.

When everyone was done chugging their beers I cleared my throat to get their attention. "Well now that y'all have finally come up for air, Dad wanted me to tell y'all that you're free to go to the rodeo in Livingston tonight and of course Friday night. Now if y'all would excuse me, I have a hot shower calling my name."

I heard a quick round of thanks before everyone went back for another round. I was halfway towards the house when I heard someone come jogging up behind me.

"Hey Clara wait"

I stopped and turned to face Ryan

"Have you decided if you and Sundance are gonna enter the rodeo yet?"

"I don't know yet. I mean I haven't rodeoed since high school and Livingston is a pretty big one."

"Hey, I haven't been watching you practice your ass off for nothing. You know exactly what to do and I'm…. we're gonna be there the whole time cheering you on."

"Thanks, Ryan. I still have until tomorrow night to decide." I said as I turned to head the rest of the way to the house. Why did my face feel hot?

"One more thing," I stopped and looked back at Ryan "After the rodeo, we were all gonna head to the Red Horse if you want to come"

"Sounds fun, count me in"

We smiled and parted ways.

/

I stepped out of the shower, threw on my robe, and lay on my bed. I started pondering why I feel so nervous about competing in the rodeo.

A knock at my door stopped me from drifting asleep.

"Come in!" I shout

"Hey sweetheart, are you busy" Dad says from my now open door

I sat up "No Dad just resting before the rodeo. What's up?"

He came over and sat on the foot of my bed. "I want you to be more involved with some of the bigger disscusions we have for the future of the ranch." I looked at him curiously. "Honey, I know you're not oblivious to some of the things we have to do to keep this place running. I'm just asking that when the time comes, you'll be by my side when we have to do some of those things."

"Dad, you know I would do anything for this place and you. Besides, I've kept the whole cancer thing pretty hush-hush"

"I know." He smiled then quickly changed the subject, "So have you decided if you're entering the rodeo this week?"

"Ya know, you're not the first person to ask me that?"

"Then maybe it's a sign that you should do it. Besides, you're pretty damn good at it and I didn't spend all that money on your horse for him to turn into an overpriced cowpony."

"Well, Sundance does love to show off. I think I just might sign up" I say with a grin.

"Good," Dad says before standing up. "Take my truck instead of yours tonight. You haven't been home in a while and people need to remember where you come from"

"Sure thing Daddy."

After he leaves I finish getting dressed with my favorite pair of jeans, a black tank top with a purple button-up over it, and my nicer brown boots.

When I got down to the barns to get Dad's truck, I saw the cowboys loading up into a couple of trucks. Ryan and Colby were fighting over who would get the front seat which made Lloyd look like he was about to explode.

"Instead of acting like you're twelve, why don't one of y'all come ride with me" I shouted

After a brief exchange of words between Ryan and Colby, Ryan came jogging over to the truck. He was looking pretty nice in his jeans, blue button-up shirt, and black cowboy hat.

"Want me to drive?" He said as he got closer

"Hell no, Lee says you still got a bad lead foot"

"He said the same about you," He says as he heads to the passenger side

The hour-and-a-half drive to Livingston seemed to fly by as we talked about everything from my time at college to the newer cowboy, Fred.

We got our tickets at the gate and went to find the others.

The rodeo was just how I remembered it, from the opening ride around and the rodeo clowns to the broncs and the bulls. I was so into the rodeo that I barely noticed Ryan resting his hand on the other side of me until the end.

We all waited until the crowd cleared most of the stands before getting up to leave.

"Hey y'all go ahead, I need to run by the sign-up booth," I say as we make our way toward the gate.

"Are ya rejoining the circuit?" Lloyd questioned

"No, just doing it for fun. Besides this is my favorite way to spend The Fourth of July"

"I'll come with you," Ryan said from behind me and Lloyd

Ryan and I parted ways with the others and headed toward the sign-up booth.

"Did I have any sway in getting you to sign up?" he joshed

"Maybe," I replied

After signing up for the rodeo and paying my entry fee we got in the truck and made our way to the bar.

We pull into the Red Horse just a little after ten. Ryan gets out of the passenger seat and heads over to my side to get the door. Before I hop out of the truck, I grab my purse, take off my button-up shirt and just go out in my black tank top and jeans.

"Hey before we go in I just wanted to say that you should watch yourself around Fred," Ryan says before he closes my door.

"Is there something I should know about?" I question

"Let's just say that he's not the greatest gentleman in the world" Ryan whispers before opening the bar door open for me

I nod to Ryan before going in.

After a few drinks and dancing with Lloyd, Colby, and Rip, I decided to take a break at the bar. A few minutes into my break a man came and took a seat right next to me. After he plopped himself down I got a good look at him. He looked like a local and a very drunk one too.

"Hey honey, looking for a cowboy to take you home?"

"Oh please, I may be drunk but not drunk enough to give it up to you" I took a swig of my beer

"Not drunk enough to give anything?" He slurs out

"How about my name?" I say

"Your name?" He questions

"Why I thought you'd never ask! It's Clara ….. Dutton"

"Shit," he says as he stumbles to leave.

Ryan passes the drunk "cowboy" while on his way over to me

"Was he bothering you?" Ryan asked as he took the drunk man's seat

"Nothing I couldn't handle," I say with a sly smile

I order a couple of beers for Ryan and myself. I hadn't realized how drunk I was until I stood up. I swayed a bit but quickly stabilized myself.

"Clara, I'm about ready to leave if you are?"

"One more dance with you then I'm good to go" Did I just say that?

I grabbed his hand and we made our way to the dance floor. When we reached the dance floor, the upbeat country song that I couldn't quite name turned off.

"Well looks like we lost our chance," I say with a twinge of disappointment in my voice. Billy Currington's "Must Be Doing Something Right" comes on next and before I could drop his hand to make my exit back to my seat at the bar, Ryan spun me into his chest and we began to slowly two-step around the dance floor. His free hand was resting on my lower back while mine was looped under his arm and holding onto the back of his shoulder. I felt like the temperature throughout the whole bar raise about ten degrees. I didn't even notice that the song had ended until Ryan spoke, snapping me out of my trance.

"Are you ready to go?"

"Um yeah let me grab my purse" I make my way over to the bar and grab my purse. I finish off my beer and head towards the truck. Ryan was waiting outside the bar door for me. He put his arm around me and helped me get to the truck and into the passenger seat.

"Hey, since Lee is in Billings for the night would you mind dropping me off at his cabin? I don't want to accidentally wake up Dad or Jamie." I ask while buckling my seatbelt.

"Sure thing. I'll even make you some coffee to help sober you up."

I laid my head against the cool window as we pulled out of the parking lot.

/

"Clara, what the fuck are you doing in my bed!"

I groaned and opened my eyes. Lee was standing over me mirroring the same face our father used on me allthroughout high school.

"Good morning to you too." I croak

He dropped my clothes from last night on me. "And what were those doing in my living room?"

"I have no idea" I grabbed my clothes and head into the bathroom to put them on.

"Who's hat is in my living room?" Lee shouts from the other side of the door.

Hat? What happened last night? I remember leaving with Ryan but everything after that is a total blank.

"Actually that I do know," I say as I walk out of the bathroom in last night's clothes.

"I swear to God Clara, if you had sex in my house I'll fucking kill you." Lee looks at me angrily.

"Nothing like that happened Lee I swear, I was just really drunk and didn't want to hear the lecture from dad and Jamie if I woke them up," I say quickly. That had to be all that happened right?

"Alright," he sighs "You're a grown woman and I trust you but do me a favor and give me a heads up before you crash here. You scared the hell out of me."

"Sure thing dad," I roll my eyes and let out a yawn, "I think I'm gonna head to the house"

I head for the door and stop to grab the hat.

My head starts pounding as I walk towards the house. I could just go set Ryan's hat on his bunk and sneak out before anyone saw me. Or I could awkwardly give it to him face-to-face and ask what the hell happened last night. That is the last time I drink tequila.

My decision was made when I rounded the corner of the barn and ran straight into the person I was kind of dreading talking to.

"Woah there Clara," Ryan says as he catches me before I tumble backward. "I bet you feel like shit." He says with a sly grin on his face

"I look like it too." I laugh. "Um, here's your hat," I say dazed.

"Oh yeah, I was wondering where that went" He looked at me with a hint of concern on his face.

"Ryan this is going to make me sound as horrible as I feel but what happend last night? I remember leaving the bar with you but um… did we like…."

"No no no, nothing like that happened." He interrupted

"Then why did I wake up basically naked this morning" I quietly questioned

He laughed "That you did all on your own. I took you to Lee's house and made coffee while you were having your own little dance party. Apparently, you got so hot while you were dancing that you had to start shedding some layers."

"Please stop talking" I groan and put my head in my hands "I am so sorry that you had to witness that."

"Don't be, I haven't laughed that much since I don't know when" He smiled at me. "If it makes you feel better no one knows and I'm certainly not gonna tell them"

"Thank you, Ryan" I turn to finish my walk towards the house.I thankfully make it up to my room without seeing my father or my brother.