Cowgirls Don't Cry

CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE - JESSE

Just like every year for the past seven birthdays, I rose with the sun, waking up to the semi-darkness of pre-dawn as I stepped into my jeans and boots, careful not to wake up the still-sleeping Kit, who I was currently still sharing a room with, though for how much longer I wasn't sure, seeing as he was twenty-one and perfectly capable of buying his own accommodation by now.

Kit didn't stir as I grabbed an old collared work-shirt from my desk and slipped out the door, shrugging it over my shoulders as I shut the front door as quietly as I could, creeping out into the chilly pre-dawn light.

I jogged down the steps and across the yard, to where Milla was waiting in the home paddock. Having grabbed her bridle from the shed as I went past, I finished buttoning up my shirt and slipped through the rails into the yard, calling the pretty mare as softly as I could.

Milla pricked her ears and raised her head, looking over at me as I made my way to her side. Slipping the bridle over her dark chocolate ears, I buckled the straps and threw the reins over her head, giving Pilot a brief pat as he nudged my shoulder, jealous of the attention.

"Cut it out, bro, I'm sure Dad will take you out later," I told the dark gelding, as he snorted in response. I chuckled, and swung up onto Milla's back, settling into her stride with ease.

I'd always thought riding bareback was as easy as using a saddle, having ridden both ways all my life, so I had no trouble keeping my seat on the mare as I guided her out the gate and into the yard, keeping a careful eye on Pilot as I locked it behind me. He'd been known to escape if someone left the gate half done up, and the last thing I wanted was the little troublemaker following me down to the creek.

Once I was clear of the house, I nudged Milla into a canter, letting her have her head as she navigated the grassy track down to Katie and I's place down by the creek. We had to cross the water to get there, seeing as it was on the Morgan's side of the bank, but I didn't mind the chilly water as we splashed across, Milla playfully throwing her front legs out in front of her as she felt the water. Her child-like playfulness made me smile, and I paused to let the little mare snort and splash at the cool water for a while longer.

When we finally waded out onto the bank, Katie was waiting for me, the sky almost light as the sun prepared to rise over the back fields.

"Morning and happy birthday, Jesse-James," she smiled, leaning over from Marlow's back to hug me tight. She was riding bareback as well, her faded Wranglers and cowboy boots giving her an easy grip on the stocky gelding's broad back.

I smiled, stealing her old John Deere cap as she pulled away, and chuckling at her look of indignation as she leant over to reach it, held in my outstretched hand.

"Well, then, if you're not giving my cap back, then you can't have your birthday present," Katie told me, eyes dancing as she crossed her arms.

"And what a shame that would be," I smirked, pulling her cap down over her dark blonde hair, still messy and unbrushed from bed. "You need a hairbrush almost as bad as Kacey,"

"Shut up, aren't you glad I at least showed up?" Katie snorted. "Or would you rather I braid my hair all pretty for you?"

Her voice was dripping with sarcasm, and I laughed, just enjoying having the real Katie back.

"Well..." I teased, chuckling at her expression. "I'm kidding, I'm kidding, you know I love ya,"

Katie shook her head, the trace of a smile dancing over her lips as she stroked Marlow's neck.

"Well, now you're definitely not getting your present," she told me seriously, but her dancing eyes gave her away.

"Okay, okay, I'm sorry," I held my hands up, mock-surrender, letting the reins fall on Milla's neck. I trusted her not to go anywhere without my cue, and I figured she wouldn't be too keen to leave anyway, with Marlow right beside her.

Katie smirked, and handed me a framed photo of the two of us, sitting side-by-side on the rails of some rodeo arena, watching the bull-dogging. It had to have been taken at least ten years ago, since we couldn't be older than five, with our oversize boots and hats.

"Mum found it a few days ago, I thought you'd like a copy," she said softly, as I studied the photo. "Do you like it?"

"I really do," I told her honestly, smiling as I gazed at our much-younger selves, watching the rodeo with all the amazement and devotion of a dog to his master. "It's been that long, hey?"

"Ten years," Katie marvelled, as we both gazed at the photograph. "Nearly fifteen, really,"

"How have we managed to tolerate each other for that long?" I mused, chuckling as Katie pulled a face.

"Speak for yourself; I'm great company," she replied, and I laughed.

"Suit yourself. Although it has been pretty lonely without you these past few weeks," I admitted.

"Yeah," Katie sighed. "I'm so not looking forward to school today,"

"Have you talked to your parents about it all yet?" I asked cautiously, as Katie looked down and played with Marlow's mane, plaiting and twisting the dark strands between her fingers.

"Yeah, I just told them everything last night after states," Katie replied, her eyes still on Marlow's neck. "They were really mad at the school for not noticing anything, and they kept saying I should have told someone,"

"What do they think you should do about it?" I asked, glancing over at her in the dim light of early morning.

"Well, Momma said they'd been worried about me for a while, but figured it was the accident and everything, which it kind of was," Katie told me, and I nodded, listening. "When they heard about Zamirah and Tristan and Marina and all that, Momma wanted to go to the principal, but Dad agreed with me when I said I wanted to deal with it myself,"

"And will you?' I asked, meeting her eyes as she finally looked up.

"Yeah, I've got a few things I want to tell those people," she replied, the trace of a cheeky smile dancing on her lips.

"I've no doubt you do," I chuckled. "And if I know your way of telling people off, they won't be taking you on again anytime soon,"

"Well, I hope not," Katie said honestly. "But to be honest, at this point I don't even care what they say or do. I've got my friends, and my Marlow, of course, and this time they won't be taking that away from me,"

"Good," I said quietly. "I'm glad you've realised all that, because I sure as hell don't wanna lose you again,"

Katie smiled softly, then glanced up at the sky.

"Look, Jess, the sun's coming up," she nodded at the horizon line over the back fields, from where we had the perfect horseback view over the creek. "Isn't it pretty?"

"Yeah, it is," I agreed, smiling as I watched Katie surveying the golden horizon.

As the dim morning sky morphed into a watercolour of orange, gold and pink, streaking the pale blue with the perfect gradient, I shifted my gaze over to watch the rising of the sun, a tradition Katie and I had kept up for nearly eight years running.

Sitting there on Milla in the chilly Autumn morning, with the sun coming up over the fields and my best friend beside me, I couldn't think of anywhere I'd rather be, nor anyone I'd rather be with.