Tamed and Free

Chapter 14: Both

Gatlin called Deacon when she got off work, "Are we still hanging out with Takoda and Merida tonight?"

"Sure. I will have to shower before, though." Deacon answered, sounding kind of out of breath.

"Okay. Great! I will let them know." Gatlin got off at five so she went home and showered first. She put on an olive green bandana as a shirt and paired it with her tightest fitting jeans. She fixed her hair like Farrah Fawcett and put on a little makeup. Lastly, she grabbed her brown cowboy hat with the green wrap and her boots.

She took Beau to Takoda's parents because they wanted to see him and never minded watching him. She figured out that Merida and Takoda were at ACE.

After the phone call from Gatlin telling him where to meet them and to take Dixie to Takoda's parents, Deacon finished at his job and headed back to Gatlin's. Opening the door, he smelled apples, honey, and coconut. Gatlin had already taken her shower and left, so he jumped in the shower and got ready, throwing on a maroon western shirt, jeans, and boots.

ACE was a teen, rodeo hang out spot. It was a age appropriate spot that resembled an actual honkey tonk bar. All the drinks were virgin and it was only open on weekends and for school out holidays. A safe place where kids could relax and have fun.

When Deacon made it to ACE, it was packed out. He walked in for the first time and noticed it looked like an adult bar. They had a mechanical bull in a corner, a stage for local teen bands to play on the wall, and billiard tables in the back. The drinks were named as alcoholic drinks- A long neck bottle was a Coke in a glass, A Mexican long neck was a Sprite, the other drinks were named after their alcoholic counterparts. The atmosphere was that of a nineties country bar, fake smoke and wooden tables and chairs.

Deacon found Gatlin by the mechanical bull. She was watching a dark skinned boy trying to hold on for eight seconds with Merida. Takoda was by the bar, trying to get a blonde girl to buy him drinks. He was wearing a blue jean button down shirt that was unbuttoned a couple of buttons and an eagle feather in his hair, laying his Native American heritage thick on this girl.

Deacon walked up and ordered two long neck bottles. "Deacon! Brother! Tell..." His voice trailed off. He turned to the girl, "Susie, ain't it?"

"Rebecca." She scoffed.

"Right! Rebecca!" He turned back to Deacon, "Tell Rebecca that I so get extremely thirsty when I dance and I need all three drinks for just one, tiny dance."

Deacon smiled. He knew Takoda was trying to get drinks for the girls and him. He looked over at the girl, "Not three drinks, but he does usually need two." He grabbed his two long necks and headed to Gatlin, putting his arm around her while giving her her long neck when he got to her.

"Hey you." She said while giggling, "How was your day? Did Dixie cause you any trouble?" She kissed his cheek.

"She was fine. It was okay. I started breaking a horse today." He returned her kiss with another. He turned to Merida, "Her Merida."

"Hey Deacon." Merida replied back. "You seen Takoda?" She was wearing a red bandana as a shirt and her tightest jeans, matching Gatlin.

"He's by the bar with Rebecca." Deacon, with arms around Gatlin's shoulders, began watching the bull rider wannabes.

Gatlin was grinning ear to ear in her mind. She had longed for this since she watched Urban Cowboy as a girl for the first time. She fell in love with Bud and Sissy's love story.

"I want to do that." Deacon said into Gatlin's ear.

"What? Ride Bucky?" Gatlin asked, referring to the mechanical bull.

"Yes." He replied, "Can I?"

"Can you what?" Takoda asked. He had finally gotten someone to pay for their drinks and was handing Merida a blue lagoon cocktail and took a drink of his Mexican long neck.

"He wants to know if he can ride Bucky." Merida answered him, while taking a sip of her drink. "Who did you get to buy this?"

"Susie." He answered her while putting his arm around her neck. "They are always Susie to me."

Gatlin continued with the first conversation about Deacon, "He asked me like I was his mama. She rolled her eyes and then looked at Deacon, "I can't stop you if you want to."

As that last word came out her mouth, Deacon walked over and signed up for a ride. Merida was noticing how close Deacon and Gatlin was and pulled her close, "What's up with y'all?" She asked in her ear.

Gatlin wooed as the person operating the bull called another rider's name. She leaned in closer to Merida, "Well, you remember that hike we took over the weekend, right?" Merida nodded. "And remember I told you that I asked him to stay all Spring Break with me, right?" Another nod. "Last night, we talked about dating. And well we are. I should ask the same about you and Takoda." Gatlin smirked into her bottle as she noticed that Merida was getting tense.

"How did you find out? Did he tell you? I'm sorry, Gat. I should have told you. But we didn't want you to feel like the third wheel or anything." Merida babbled.

Gatlin looked at her best friend, "Chill Mer. I always knew. Since the first day, probably. When he snuck a kiss to you. But now, we can go on double dates." Both the girls giggled and hugged each other.

The operator called Deacon's name and all three of them whopped and hollared like he was going into an actual bull ride. Deacon jumped up and the ride began. He rode Bucky for a minute and ten seconds, breaking the previous record.

Freaking out, Gatlin and the other two ran into the ring and celebrated. Gatlin kissing him, Takoda slapping him on the back, and Merida hugging him. They helped him out of the ring and the owner rewarded them with one round of drinks on him.

They finished the night playing pool and hanging out till ACE closed.