Carolina Blue

Part 3

2 weeks later I found myself staring at my outfit in the mirror. But my thoughts weren't on my outfit. It was a record breaking day for heat here in Texas, so I sported my jean shorts and a simple tank top with one of my belt buckles I had won previously. I also grabbed my summer Stetson and popped it on my head. Even though outside it was burning up, I had chills running through my body. Mentally I was giving myself a pep talk.

Carolina you can do this

Do this for Cope

Cope will be fine.

Darla knocked lightly on my bedroom door, before proceeding to open it. She had agreed to come with me to the rodeo tonight.

"Hey, ready?" Darla asked with a double meaning carrying behind her words.

I barely nodded my head, "I guess, ready as I'll ever be."

I grabbed my money and headed out the door with Darla falling in behind me. We jumped into my truck.

Once we were seated in the truck, I didn't turn the key right away. Darla seemed to notice and she reached out her hand to me and squeezed mine. "I'm here for ya, and Cope will be fine and do great 'Lina."

I pressed my lips together into an almost smile and nodded while looking straight ahead, then turned the key.

Twenty minutes later we were pulling up to the location for tonight's event. Once we finally found a parking spot I glanced around taking everything in. This one of the biggest early rodeos of the season that paid out several thousands of dollars and people would travel from even out of state to compete in some events. As my eyes danced around there was one person I was trying to see if I would catch a glimpse of, but praying to God that I would not.

Darla saw my eyes bouncing everywhere and pulled me out of my trance. She opened the passenger door and said, "C'mon 'Lina let's go find your Cowboy and wish him luck." Darla tried to lighten my mood even more by adding a wink at the end.

I let out a light laugh and shook my head, following suit by getting out of the truck. She was right I had Copenhagen to find. I did want to see him. I hadn't seen him for a couple nights, since he had been busy training for tonight.

We weaved in and out of the crowds as we made it closer to where all the action was. However, the closer we got the denser the crowd became, and louder. Making the paranoia in me strike up again. I felt a shiver run down my spine as a thought of that night last summer.

The way he snuck up behind me grabbing my wrist.

His whisper in my ear.

The smell of alcohol on his breath.

The cold and distance in his eyes.

I let out a physical shudder, but Darla then grabbed my arm in front of me, ensuring we wouldn't lose sight of each other. Although the action held completely different reason this time, I still felt the feeling of his hand on my wrist instead of Darla's.

I tried to shake my head to release me from reliving my real nightmare.

Finally we had made it to the front by the outside arena, where Barrel races were currently happening. Darla let go of my arm and I felt like I could finally breathe again and remembered what I was there for this time. Cope.

I looked around searching over the top of everyone's Cowboy hat clad heads looking for him.

I finally saw him near the chutes.

"Found him," I said.

This time I led the way holding onto Darla to try and stop my flashbacks from hitting back.