Chapter 1
Janet's adrenaline rushed through her veins at break-neck speed. If her mind had been in doctor mode she could have explained where the adrenaline came from and how it affected her body. Right now, her entire focus was on the task at hand. She grasped the thick leather in her graceful hands and whispered words of encouragement to the beautiful redhead beneath her. Janet could smell the musky sweat of her partner and her heightened senses caused another wave of adrenaline to course over her. She used her legs to make certain her grip was steady and gave a small nod when she was ready.
The gate swung open and Janet gave a slight kick. The horse, feeding off of her rider's energy, shot out of the holding pen and immediately broke into a gallop. Janet steered her mare across the arena toward the first of three fifty gallon blue drums.
*****
Country music played just loudly enough that it could be heard over the cheering of the spectators at the rodeo. The smell of dirt, hay, and particularly manure were unmistakable. Sam tried to stifle a giggle when Teal'c lapsed into his native Goa'uld to express his distaste with the smell because he did not have Earth expletives figured out yet. Sam supposed that there were more men, and women, in overalls than she had ever seen in one place in her entire twenty-nine years. How Colonel O'Neill had managed to convince her to join 'the boys' at the rodeo this Saturday, she had no idea. Then again, she knew that he was trying to cope with the loss of his close friend. She had not known Kawalsky very well, but for the short time they had worked together, Sam knew that the man was a loyal friend and a well-respected officer.
"Pick up the pace a little; we're missing the bull riding!" Sam turned and looked at Jack. He was almost bouncing off the walls with excitement.
"Sir, it's still the barrel racing competition. We've got plenty of time," she said as they rounded the corner of the bleachers and the arena came into view. As if on cue, the last rider shot out of the gate and struck off across the dirt.
"Hey Teal'c, watch this!" Daniel took the larger man by the arm and dragged him to the rail. "They race the horse around the arena and execute a sharp turn around each of the barrels and then come back. The rider who has the fastest time without knocking over any barrels wins."
"Indeed. It would appear as if this rider is exceptionally fast." The rider finished the race as Teal'c finished his statement. The crowd became increasingly louder as they began to realize that this rider had just scored the fastest time.
"Well, folks, it looks like we could have a tremendous upset here today. What an incredible run from Janet Fraiser! I think I can safely say that we have a new champion in women's barrel racing. If y'all'll hold on for a moment. . ." the announcer boomed over the loudspeakers.
"Oh! A new champion?" Jack pushed forward so he could see the woman. Sam followed him and when she could finally see, what she saw took her breath away. The winner was a young woman in a light denim shirt and jeans with pristine white chaps and a matching vest. As the rider passed by, she lifted her white cowboy hat and waved to the crowd. Sam stared intently at the other woman and feelings surfaced that she had long since repressed. From a distance, Sam could make out shoulder length auburn hair, messy from the ride and the hat. It was the same shade of red as the tri-color paint on which the lady was seated. Busy ogling, Sam did not realize how close the woman had moved to the stands. The rider turned her head and was now staring directly at her. Sam immediately lost herself in brown eyes. Janet Fraiser, the announcer had said, smiled and Sam shook herself out of the long gaze. Embarrassed at having been caught, Sam gave a little wave and turned to go find a food booth and get some cold water. She missed the returned wave that Janet sent her.
"Danny boy, I think somebody likes you." Jack elbowed the younger man, making him wince slightly. Daniel grinned sheepishly at the woman on the horse as she made her way around the arena.
"Your attention please," the announcer commanded, "We have tallied the scores and factored in all penalties, and our new champion, with a flawless run and a time of fifteen point six four seconds is Janet Fraiser! Ms. Fraiser has been competing for six years here in the Colorado State Championship. Last year she won her first medal, the bronze. This is her first gold medal at the state level. Ms. Fraiser will be going on to compete at the national level in September at Austin, Texas. Let's give the little lady a big round of applause!"
*****
Janet's heart was pounding in her chest, and not just because she had won. While making her unofficial victory lap she had glanced up at the crowd and seen the most beautiful woman of her life. Her breath caught in her throat and she could not help but stare at the blonde, caught in her piercing blue eyes. When Janet realized she had been staring, she gave a little embarrassed smile. The woman in the stands blushed and waved her fingertips in the smallest gesture. Janet was a bit shocked, and by the time she waved back, the other woman had already turned away and become engulfed in the crowd. Janet sighed and scanned the bleachers to try and locate her mystery lady. No such luck. She didn't have time to dwell on it; she had to go collect her prize.
After filling out the paperwork to claim her check, Janet led Tah, her mare, to the stables. She unsaddled her, rubbed her down, and gave her some oats and water. Janet patted Tah's neck and scratched her ears.
"Hey girl, you did great today," Janet said as the horse munched on the oats. "We're done competing for a little while, Tah, but I'll come riding whenever I get a chance." Tah lifted her head and gave a quiet whinny. "I'm starting a new assignment and I don't know how busy I'll be," Janet continued. The mare nuzzled Janet's neck and the woman sighed.
This day really could not get any better. Janet finally won the championship she had been competing for since she was twenty-two, starting in the local and regional rodeos. A few years later she was placing high enough to compete at the state level. It had taken eight years, including a two-year hiatus, but she had finally done it. On top of all that, she was starting her new assignment on Monday. She was grateful to leave the Air Force Academy hospital. Well, that was not entirely true; she still had an office at the Academy, but she was technically transferring to Cheyenne Mountain. She was still confused by the arrangement, but she knew that if she saw one more sprained ankle she was going to scream.
Throughout her early years, Janet had been riding back home at her parent's ranch in Texas, but never competitively until after college. Janet got her first taste of competition when was accepted to the University of Colorado Medical School and immediately joined a riding association there. She had seen the barrel races before, but now she was actually riding. After finishing next to last in her first rodeo, Janet was determined to take the gold at state. She had finally, after all these years, achieved her goal.
"I guess you're right. I will still be in C. Springs." Tah's ears perked forward as though listening intently.
Janet had done her first two years as a medic, learning the military way of providing medical care as she was sent overseas straight out of Officer Training School. For the last three years she had been cooped up in Colorado Springs . . . again, as Janet had gone to the Academy hospital for her residency somewhere between her marriage and subsequent divorce. At least her second tour had afforded her the opportunity to research infectious diseases, the primary reason she had become a doctor.
"I could probably come visit on my days off," Janet suggested. The mare lifted and dropped her head a couple of times. Janet smiled, "Okay, girl." She gave Tah one more good pat and left the stables to go watch the bull riding.
*****
"What does one gain from winning a competition such as this?" Teal'c cocked his head toward the arena after seeing the first bull rider.
"For one thing, they win a cash prize." Daniel saw the blank look on his friend's face. This one was even more blank than usual. "Money, they win money." Teal'c raised his head in understanding. "They also show how tough they are. It's kind of like a show of strength and skill." Daniel tried to explain in a manner to which his friend could relate.
"Then these men seek to find a wife."
"No, not exactly. They just want to show off." Daniel did not really understand why anyone would want to ride a bull. Teal'c accepted the answer and continued to watch the riders. Daniel began to wonder why he let Jack drag him into this.
Jack was on his feet cheering and hollering at the riders to "hang on" and adding his two cents to the "ooooh's" and "aaaaaah's" emanating from the crowd when a rider was tossed. Sam was lost in a daydream about the barrel racing champion, Janet Fraiser. She could not for the life of her shake the memory of those liquid brown eyes as they locked with her own. All she really wanted to do was meet the woman and look into those gorgeous eyes one more time, even as just a stranger.
"Carter! Hey!"
"Huh? What?" she answered Jack.
"I said, 'Did you see that?' but you were miles away," he repeated himself.
"Sorry, Sir." Sam tried to resume watching the bull riders, but Jack was not through yet.
"Please tell me that you weren't analyzing the physics and whatnot of bull riding?" He glared at her. Seeing an easy way out, Sam decided to go along with it and grinned sheepishly.
"Sorry again, Sir. I can't say I wasn't," she trailed off.
"Oh for cryin' out loud, Carter! Just watch the guys fall! Quit trying to figure out how hard they hit!" He went back to watching the bulls, which so far were undefeated. Sam sighed and stared out across the arena, the competition on the dirt fading into the whole scene.
A flash of white.
Sam blinked and focused on the stands across the arena. There was someone wearing a white cowboy hat. She felt her heart jump into her throat but it sank again when the person turned around and she saw it was a young man. Sam sighed and made herself pay attention to the incredibly stupid men below. 'Why would anyone want to be a rodeo clown?' she thought.
*****
Janet roamed the stands looking for the stunning blonde woman. She was in the area where the woman had been previously, but could not find her anywhere. Janet cursed her Lilliputian stature as she tried to scan the crowd. She was making her way through section 'R' when the announcer came over the loudspeaker.
"May I have your attention please? Would all the winners of the calf tying and barrel racing competitions please report to the stables for a photograph session. Thank you." This time Janet cursed her luck. Not only did she not find the mystery woman, but she couldn't even watch the bull riding. She stalked off, slightly perturbed that of all years, this was the year she had to win: the year she saw the woman of her dreams.
When the final rider failed to remain on his bull for the required eight seconds, Jack was ready to leave. "Okay, campers, let's get outta here before the crowd." He stood and made a beeline for the nearest exit.
"Sir, what about the awards ceremony?" Sam asked. She had no real desire to watch the ceremony but desperately wished to see the pretty barrel racer again.
"Oh come on, Carter. You don't really want to sit around and watch bruised and bloody men get little medals, do you?" Jack was impatiently trying to get her to just leave already. Sam looked at Daniel and Teal'c. They were standing behind Jack and even closer to the exit. Sam realized she was not going to win this one and conceded.
"Yeah, that's what I thought." Jack patted her on the back, "Come on, I'll buy you a beer." The group walked out of the rodeo arena, and Sam could not help but sigh at the thought that yet another potential love interest had ended before it began.