Love Under the Western Skies

ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀ ᴇɪɢʜᴛ

ᴍᴀᴅɪꜱᴏɴ

➵➵➵➵➵➵➵❂➵➵➵➵➵➵➵

"I guess I'm not seeing the problem," Rae shrugged, "you're into him and from the sound of it he's into you, so just sleep with him. It's that simple."

"It's not and you know that," I replied, dodging some cowboys that were heading towards us. It had been six years since I stepped foot into an actual rodeo, and the memories were debilitating. I used to be the one who was preparing for the rides, with the anxiousness and adrenaline coursing through my veins, but now just looking at the arena made my stomach curl, Rae's arm was linked with mine as we flashed our badges to go behind the gates, heading towards the riders.

Women were flirting with the riders, and my stomach dropped further when I saw Steve leaning up against the fence, talking with a pretty brunette. "Mads," Rae sighed, stopping us so she could stand in front of me, "Papa Nash didn't make you sign a contract, it's not like you're going to scream it to the rooftops, let Steve take away some of your stress, I mean hell when was the last time you were even with someone?"

I didn't want to answer that, because the truth was I couldn't remember, maybe a few months after my surgery? I don't know, life has been a blur ever since I tore my ACL years ago, "My point exactly Mads, he's not going to just show up while you're in the act, Steve probably needs to blow off steam too," her jaw ticked when her eyes landed on him, probably witnessing something I didn't want to see.

"That's not why it's hard Rae," I swallowed the lump in my throat, I was never good with one-night stands because of the abandonment I felt after them, my lovely mother was proof that no matter how much someone says they love you, they can always leave. The only two people who have never left me in life were Rae and my Dad. Rhett was already pulling on my heartstrings, and knowing I was going to have to leave him eventually made me sick to think about.

We stood in the middle of chaos, cowboys and bull riders chatting as they walked by, cameras were spinning around us, and Rae was doing her best to keep me covered, if anyone knew that The Lone Star Jewel was back on the rodeo floor, I'd have cameras in my face, and I didn't want that. "Mads," She put her hand up on the side of my face when another camera flashed by, "Not everyone is your mother, they're not going to leave you."

"You don't know that."

"I do know that you're a sweet girl, but you're hard on yourself. Most twenty-five-year-olds are out having fun, not staying up at night to make sure everyone else is taken care of," Rae let out a shaky breath, "When was the last time someone made sure you were taken care of?"

I went to reply before a scream of my name sounded, "Is that my daughter?" And when I looked over my shoulder I almost collapsed, my mother stood with her new husband, propped up against the fence.

I'm going to be sick.

I looked over to see Steve's eyes snap in my direction, pushing himself away from the fence to try and get to me before my mother did, Rae gripped my hand tightly, steeling herself against my mother as the woman strutted over to me. I hated her with every fiber of my being, she left me, and every time I saw her at a rodeo I wanted to punch her. Instead, I took a deep breath, closing my eyes to push away the anger and anxiety that always rose.

"A surprise seeing you here Madibug," I tried not to flinch at the nickname that rolled off her tongue, "I thought you were done with the rodeo after your accident?"

"Funny, could say the same thing about you," I shrugged, kicking the dirt with the toe of my boot, "I thought you were done with the rodeo after your third," I looked over at Rae, "or was it fourth husband?"