Eat Dirt

Chapter 2

I grabbed my wash bucket with my cowboy magic shampoo and all my prep things. I had to make Tulsa look good for barrel racing. I also grabbed his sheet so he wouldn't get dirt after I bathed him.

I grabbed his rope halter and walked into his pen. "Hey bud," I said, putting the halter on him. "Don't worry, I'll give you your dinner after this," I said. The sun was now going down and I would call it a night soon.

I grabbed the wash bucket and Tulsa and began to walk across the rodeo grounds to the wash racks. There were a few lined up with metal pole fencing around it and a wash mat in the middle and a hose attached to the back with cross ties.

There was someone else, a guy with curly brown hair and in jeans and a T-shirt washing a gray horse. It looked to be a quarter horse.

I set my wash bucket down and looked at the manure stains on my paint horse's coat. "Alright bud, let's get to work," I muttered. I flipped my baseball hat of a bucking horse on it around so the bill was facing backwards.

I turned the hose on and sprayed it off to the side at first, gaining Tulsa's attention. I then started at his feet and worked my way up his legs, then his body.

Then, I got soap and scrubbed his body after putting water in my bucket to wash my sponge. I put conditioner in his mane and tail to sit while I rinsed off his body. When I was spraying his back though, I accidently went over and hit the guy washing his gray.

"Oh shit. My bad," I said.

The guy grinned. "It's all good," he said. He then went on the other side of his horse and he was still grinning. I raised a brow. He sprayed me with the water over his horse. 

I gasped, feigning hurt. "Oh, it's on," I said. 

I grabbed the hose and used Tulsa as a shield. "Sorry boy," I said, laughing as I sprayed the guy under Tulsa's neck.

He let out a deep chuckle. "I'm Luke by the way," he said as he sprayed me in the face.

"I'm not going to take that personally. I'm Malaya," I said, spraying him back. I then grabbed my sponge and threw it at him. 

It splatted on his chest and I let out a loud laugh. I was clutching my stomach, rolling on the floor as Tulsa peered down at me. 

I kissed his nose but then the sponge came hurdling back at me and hit my hat.

That shut me up and now it was his turn to laugh. "You here with anyone?" He asked.

"Yeah, my friend but she's with her boyfriend. Better save the rodeo for two days," I joked. "You?"

"Yeah. A few friends. Wanna join us after we clean up the horses?" He asked.

"Sure, why not," I said. "This is Tulsa, Grullo Paint gelding,  by the way," I said, introducing my horse.

"This is Duck, Quarter Horse mare," Luke said.

Soon, we finished washing our horses. I let Tulsa dry and braided his tail with a tail bag before throwing the sheet on him.

"Okay, follow me. You can bring your horse if you want and hitch them to one of our trailers," he said.

I nodded. Usually, I wasn't this trusting but rodeo people were pretty fun and trustworthy and after what just happened, it felt like we'd been friends forever.

I followed him with Tulsa in hand to their little camp. There were two camp trailers that were parked making a 90 degree angle so it was like a little half square. There were two horses hitched to a trailer.

There was also a firepit in the middle with some chairs around it. Some rodeos were like camping and let you have a fire but you could get fined big time if you didn't put it out.

"Just tie him up here," Luke said, pointing to the trailer we walked over to. I tied Tulsa up and patted his neck.

"Who's that chick?" One with a slight shaved beard and brown hair said. He looked pretty tall.

"Malaya," I said. 

"Why are you guys soaking wet?" Asked one I recognized from the water faucet earlier.

Luke and I looked at each other and began laughing. "We had a water fight," I said like a little kid.

"A water fight?" One who seemed a little younger than me with curly light brown hair said.

"Yep," Luke piped in.

"I'm not even going to ask," the one from earlier said, shaking his head.

"This is Austin," Luke said, pointing to the one from earlier who I saw at the faucet. "That's Cooper," he said pointing to the younger looking one, "and that's Sawyer," he said pointing to the one with a shaved beard.

"How old are you guys even?" I asked.

"Twenty two," Austin said. 

"Twenty," Cooper said.

"Twenty three," Sawyer said.

"And I'm twenty two," Luke said.

"Cool, cool," I said. "I'm twenty one."

"Wanna join us? We're going to roast s'mores," Luke said.

"Pft. I love s'mores," I said.

Everyone grabbed a stick and marshmallows, including me. I plopped down next to Austin. "So, where you from?" He asked as we all stuck our marshmallows and sticks in the fire. It was almost dark by now.

"Eh, all over the place. I was born in Nevada where my mom and um...stepdad lives. I don't go there often," I said.

He must've sensed I didn't want to talk about it so he didn't pry. "What about you?" I asked.

"From Colorado. Travel the circuit," he said.

"I'm quite a traveler, too," I said.

Luke made a s'more and we all laughed when it dripped down his face.

I then got up and made one, squishing the chocolate, marshmallow and gram cracker all together. It got on my chin and I laughed as I wiped it with the back of my hand.

"So how long have you guys been on the circuit?" I asked.

"We all met like five or something years ago and have been doing this shit since young," Cooper said.

"What about you?" Sawyer asked.

"Since I was like ten or something. I've been riding since I was like three. I had a really bad accident, broke and tore a few things and it took me a couple years to get comfortable again," I said.

"Wait, were you the girl at Ellensburg rodeo who got drug like seven years ago?" Sawyer asked.

"That was on TV? Well then, yes, that was me," I said.

"Damn, that was rough," Sawyer said.

I chuckled. "Mhm," I said.

I felt my phone vibrate. It was Madison. I picked up. "Sup bitch," I said.

"Hey. I'm staying with Carter, is that okay?" She asked.

"Yeah, have fun," I cooed before hanging up.

"Okay, I'm going to put Tulsa away and feed him. Can I get yall's numbers?" I asked.

"Yeah," Luke said, handing me his phone. I put his number in mine and then the rest of them. Austin's fingertips brushed mine as I took his phone but I ignored the feeling inside of me.

"Here we go," I said. "I'll see you guys tomorrow!" I called, grabbing Tulsa and leading him away while making contacts.

Today was eventful.