Carolina Blue

Part 6

Cope has been training like crazy every night after work. Lukas also offered to help him once a night at his ranch that he works at as a farmhand.

This Thursday night was the first night for him to go work with Lukas. Cope asked if I wanted to tag-along, so that is why my mama and I are having one of our typical bickering conversations.

"Where are you going tonight young lady?"

"Cope and I are goin over to the ranch where one of our friends work?"

"And what friend would that be?"

"Lukas Underwood."

My mama's eyes shot up twice their normal size. Apparently I was the only one in our county of Texas who didn't know the fame Lukas's name held.

"The bull rider?"

"Yes," I apprehensively replied, not sure what she would say about that.

"I didn't know you were friends with him. Are you startin' to compete in rodeos again?"

It was the first time in a long time my mama almost seemed hopeful that I would. I didn't understand why recently she had been bugging me to start roping again. When I was roping my ma was never really the supportive type about it and always warned me about the people that would hang out around rodeos. And boy did I learn that lesson the hard way.

I figured now was a good time as any to break the news, even though I was surprised the news hadn't already traveled to her. "I'm not roping', but Cope decided to pick up bull ridin' again."

My ma scoffed, "Cope? Bull Ridin'? That boy wouldn't even be able to ride one of our docile buckin' broncos."

Well that was definitely not the reaction I was suspecting... "Mama he's actually quite good at it, he won 2nd place at the Coleman County Rodeo last weekend.

My Ma's eyes bugged out again. "Coleman County Rodeo?" She asked with apparent confusion that it could not be the same rodeo she knew of.

"Yes mama."

"Well maybe the Coleman rodeo really went downhill this year."

"No ma, don't do that. Cope won that placing and the money that came with it fair and square."

I checked the time. 5:45. Cope would be pulling up any minute.

Before giving my ma a chance to respond, I added, "Well I better be heading out."

"Ya better not get into trouble with those boys. Bull riders are a different type of trouble. Remember Cecily Truer."

Cecily Truer was a girl a little older than me. She fell in love with a Cowboy who rode bulls, Martin Smith. Cecily ended up getting pregnant her senior year of high school. A year later Martin, who was then her husband, got injured badly. He couldn't take the injuries and drowned himself in alcohol. Soon the alcohol wasn't enough and he turned to heroin. Cecily rightfully kicked him out of the house, and he ran out of town soon after, and no one had seen him since.

"Yes Ma, Bye"

Cope would not turn into Martin, and I would not turn into Cecily. Plus I was already out of high school, but I still had 2 years of college left.

Cope pulled me out of my thoughts as he pulled into the drive as I walked towards his truck.

Once I was in his truck, Cope asked, "Did you tell your ma about me bull riding?"

"Yep, just did right before I came outta the house."

"Well how'd she react? Is she now my biggest fan?" Cope asked with a light laugh, but I knew deep down he was seriously asking.