Carolina Blue

Part 29

Carolina POV

I felt the adrenaline still pumping through my veins from the race. Competing added a whole new level of thrill to riding Duke. Since I was one of the last ones to ride, we knew they would be announcing the winners soon. Although, Lukas was beside me telling me that he for sure knows I placed, I kept doubting myself, thinking I couldn't have been that good, or it must've been beginners luck. However, soon enough, Lukas, Rhett, Darla and I were all crowded together with everyone else waiting to hear the announcement.

I felt Lukas drape his shoulder over me and give it a little squeeze of reassurance.

And your top three barrel racers for tonight are...

in Third Place, Alicia Johnson

In Second Place Carolina Blue..

It didn't even matter who won to us after that, all my friends had engulfed me into one huge hug. Once we separated from the hug, I felt a tap on my shoulder to turn around and find one of the girls I had met from the bar several weeks ago. "Hey, you did good out there today, I'm glad you decided to give barrel racin' a try."

I couldn't help, but smile I was glad too, "Thanks, it honestly was a lot more fun than I thought it would be."

Alicia gave me a wide smile, "Yeah it feels like you're on top of the world. Well if you ever want to practice together, or just hang out sometime let me know."

I nodded and smiled in returned, surprised by how welcoming she was being to me, "Will do."

Alicia waved and walked away. I then felt Lukas's arm around my shoulder again, "What was that you said about how barrel racers are all bitches?"

I leaned into him and a laughed a little, "I guess I may have been quick to judge."

Rhett eyeing our interaction carefully, added, "Hey 'Lina wasn't that one of the girls you tried to set up with Lukas?"

I nodded and stole a glance at Lukas, who I swear his jaw tensed for a second before relaxing again. "Ya know, I think I'll just worry about having good friends and don't worry about girlfriends right now." Lukas said to Rhett.

Rhett didn't look like he was buying Lukas's answer so he prodded further, "Is that so?"

Lukas just nodded, and seeming to remember how he was still right next to me decided to distance himself then say, "Well I'm going to go get ready to ride."

I smiled at him, and before I thought too much I walked over to him and wrapped Lukas in a hug, "Good luck." I whispered.

I felt a calm wave over me when I was around Lukas, and I think he felt it too. "Thanks 'Lina, and don't worry about me, remember I was born for this." Lukas said adding a wink at the end to lighten the mood.

It was the first time either one of us had been around bull riding since the accident, but a large part of me knew Lukas was right, he was born for this.

Darla, Rhett, and I all crowded around the arena to watch Lukas. Darla looked at me with concern gracing her features, "How ya holdin' up 'Lina?"

I smiled softly, "Honestly, okay, watching Lukas ride never made me feel the same kind of nerves as watching Cope."

Darla nodded and stole a glance at Rhett, "Well Cope is your boyfriend, so you probably just get more worried about him."

I shook my head, "Yes, but I think it's more than that. I care deeply for Lukas, but he has an air of confidence about him that he knows he was meant for this life. And maybe Cope was going to get there one day." I ended my statement with a shrug and had to look away from Darla. The thought that Cope may never wake up again, or if he does he may never be the same was a very real thought. Cope had been in a coma for over two months now.

Darla looked at me, "Hey, sorry I didn't mean to dampen the day. And there's still hope 'Lina." She finished by putting an arm around my shoulder.

I pursed my lips, "I know it just gets harder each day to keep up that hope."

"I know, 'Lina, I know."

Before I could delve too much more into sorrow, Lukas was up and the chute was swinging open. I felt a wave of deja vu float over me to when I first watched Lukas this summer. It always felt as time slowed down watching Lukas. Soon enough, the eight second siren sounded and Lukas dismounted the bull safely. Not long after he found the rest of us, his excitement from his successful ride was contagious. Once Lukas saw me he hugged me hard and picked me up, and let out a corny, "Yeehaw." I couldn't stop the giggle from escaping my lips.

After Lukas put my feet back on the ground, stared at me softly for a moment before Rhett slapped his back, "That was a hell of a ride man." Lukas turned around and they shared a handshake.

With no surprise Lukas won the bull ride tonight, and now I was sitting next to Cope in his hospital room. Lukas had asked me if I'd be up for celebrating tonight, but I told him I wanted to see Cope first.

Currently, it was just Cope and I sitting in the room. "Hey Cope, you wouldn't believe it I got second place today in barrel racin.' I still can't believe I wound up doing barrel racing." I held Cope's unresponsive hand while I relived the day with him.

"And we even ran into one of the barrel racin' girls I met at the bar earlier this summer."

I kept telling Cope about how me, Darla, and Lukas all did today. A part of me had hope that he was just going to open his eyes and laugh at the idea of me starting barrel racing, or give Lukas hell and tell him he could have stood as better competition for him today. However, a larger part of me knew that was getting to be a slimmer and slimmer, chance of happening each day.

I had been sitting with Cope awhile once my phone rang, glancing before answering I saw it was Lukas. "Hey"

"Hey 'Lina, you still with Cope?"

"Yeah, I was tellin' him about the day?"

"Yeah? Could he believe that you become a barrel racin' girl?"

I let out a light laugh, because I appreciated Lukas's way of making light out of conversations. "He was pretty speechless when I told him."

Lukas let out a deep chuckle, "I bet. Ya feelin' up to celebratin' now darlin? I think it might be good for ya."

When Lukas called me darling the smallest of butterflies erupted inside me, followed by a wave of guilt as I am sitting next to my boyfriend.

Although I may have felt a twang of guilt I couldn't deny the fact that part of me did want to celebrate my win, and I knew Cope would understand.

"Sure, Lukas what do you have in mind?"

"How about let's go to Settlers?"

I looked down at Cope and smiled thinking of the first time he and I met. I was sad that he wouldn't be there with me tonight, but there was a small token of comfort in going somewhere that held happy memories of the two. And I have a feeling that is why Lukas suggested it.

"Okay, what time?"

"Meet me at the Bennet ranch in an hour."