Love Under the Western Skies

ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀ ᴛʜʀᴇᴇ

ᴍᴀᴅɪꜱᴏɴ

➵➵➵➵➵➵➵❂➵➵➵➵➵➵➵

"Oh come on," Rae's voice is loud in the early morning hours, "He can't be that bad."

I suppose she's right, the extremely handsome rugged cowboy isn't that bad compared to the bull rider she's currently having to deal with, Dad shipped her off to Bellfield, Nebraska, and by the way, she ranted earlier in the phone call, Montana wasn't nearly as bad. "No, I guess he's not in comparison to Nathan Turner," we both shuttered at the bull rider's name, he was an asshole, rude, and completely arrogant, "How long are you going to be in Nebraska?"

"Nash says probably until Nationals, he was caught talking shit about his sponsors while also punching an interviewer on live tv for asking about the situation, it's a PR nightmare, I told Nash he better be giving me a raise," we both laughed because my father was already compensating us both greatly for this, he didn't have to leave the safety net he had in Texas, we were out here on our own. A tense silence overcame the phone call because I knew there was a weighted question, the same one that I always get when California is brought up. "Are you going to be okay? Red Bluff is close to Redding, isn't that where Victoria and her new husband live?"

Victoria, because she lost the title to be called mom at eight when she told me that I wasn't worth spending time with.

I know, Mother of the Year right?

"Yeah," I glanced in the mirror, taking in the way my shoulders sunk down, just the memory of her hit me like bricks, it still hurt, "she's married to some bull riding coach or something now, I guess she couldn't handle that Dad and I were being successful without her," I put my phone on speaker phone when a text from my brother came in, asking if I'd want to go horseback riding with him, all I had to do was meet him in Billings and he'd drive me out to his horse ranch, "Should I ask Tommy to go with me? I'm going to see him today."

"Mads," Rae sighed and I could tell she was sad. She always was for me when this topic came up, Rae came from a loving family, two parents, and three siblings, and she knew I longed for that, to have that comfort. Dad never remarried, he won full custody of me when I was six, and then when Victoria said she didn't want me, my Dad tried to overcompensate, I was his world, still am. I love him so much for everything he's done for me, but sometimes I wish I had a mother figure around. "She can't say anything to hurt you anymore, I'll be there I promise, Nash wants Nathan in the rodeo too. You can do this."

This is why Rae is my best friend, she never made me feel insecure about my situation, just gently reminded me that I was stronger than it. "I love you." A knock on the door was a signal for both of us that our phone call was about over.

"I love you too," I sighed, pushing off the mattress. The apartment was nice, much nicer than I was expecting to get from Steve. It screamed rustic though, which was both comforting and something I hated. The floor was oak, log furniture decorated the room, and red plaid blankets and pillows were everywhere. Another knock sounded, this one more frantic than the last. "I'll call you later Rae." I hung up immediately after, crossing the room and opening the door.

I wasn't expecting a shirtless Steve Rogers on the opposite side of it.

"I can't do it all," He breathed out, bristling when Rhett's loud cry came through the garage, "I have an interview in thirty with Nash and Wrangler, he won't stop crying, help me please." He then scanned my body, taking in the white v-neck I had on and the boot-cut Wranglers I was wearing, clearing his throat, "Unless you have plans."

"No, it's fine, I was going to ride with my brother but this takes priority," I stepped into the small stairwell with him, my chest brushing against his bare skin, Steve barely gave me any space to step out of the room, his hand landing on my hip when I stumbled slightly over his feet. It felt like fire licked up my side from his touch, and I didn't like that. I couldn't be attracted to him, not after last night when was a complete dick to me.