Save A Horse, Ride A Cowboy

One

Lawton, Oklahoma; The state known for its huge rodeos, yearly tornadoes, and the infamous Tyler Owens. Bella was born and raised to a family of generations of cowboys, she always had a dream to be the first in her family. Her sister, Laura, brought clouds over her dreams when she bought the family's attention with her lasso skills and riding horses bareback. She also became one of the first females in the family to stand on a horse. Bella looked up to her but she always felt in competition with her. She took that energy and worked in the local bar where her parents met. Good ol Flore's, The bar known for its soft ambiance and cold keg bed. Bella never liked the taste of of beer but she did love her a nice old fashioned with a hint of vanilla. The smooth bitter liquor slides down her throat with a hint of sweetness trailing after. She offered to make it a permanent order but the owner wasn't too fond of a hard drink being turned sweet.

"Sweet? Sugar, We can't have that here. We already got sweet tea, adding another sweet drink would overthrow us." He whined as Bella stood there with a frown on her face.

Cheers erupted from outdoors, ringing in her ears. Bella took a peek outside and seen a white man standing outside his truck with music shaking the glasses. She shrugged and continued wiping down the counters and tables. The man emerged into the bar with the locals following behind him and his entourage trying to keep up. She glanced at him and put her focus back on the dishrag.

"Let's start with a round of beers, on me." He spoke as he took his hat off and removed his shades.

Bella furrowed her eyebrows and froze in her track, "We don't do rounds, unless you wanna start a tab, sugar." she responded.

He lets out a heartily laugh and places his elbows on the counter, the breeze blowing against his arm hairs and eyebrows as he spoke. Bella immediately assumed he was some big shot asshole would thought he owned the place. She looked around trying to figure out what was so funny.

"I'll start a tab then since that's all you offer."

She typed into the computer and grabs her notepad from her apron. She ran her hands in the drawer trying to find a pen but was out of luck. Tyler pulled a pen out of his pocket and offered it to her. Bella looked at the pen before grabbing it and stood there waiting for him to order.

"So, what will it be, sweetie pie?"

The cowboy put some thought into his order as he looked up to the ceiling and crept a look at Bella. He had an order already thought of, he just wanted to steal a look at Bella and figure out what she had going on.  he smirked before parting his lips and revealing all thirty-two of his teeth.  

"I'll take a nice old beer, preferably in the bottle." He ordered as he leaned over the counter and watched as she bent down to the cooler. His blue eyes focused on the flower pattern printed on Bella's behind across both back pockets.                                                   

Feeling his eyes burning a hole on the back of her shorts, she stood up quick and slide his beer across the counter. Bella watched him gulp a sip down before she moved to help a customer. Tyler watched as she used her hospitality to charm the customer and got them to buy more stuff, His eyes capturing every image of her as she moved. Bella not paying no mind while she worked. She didn't get this much attention on her since her first rodeo at the age of six, but only because she fell off the horse and broke her leg. Never again she thought, until she saw her sister doing handstands on a horse. 

The bar doors swung open revealing her big sister, Laura Stevens, she's welcomed with cheers and shouts as she took a seat on a bar stool. Bella rolled her eyes before she walked over and brought her sister in for a hug. Tyler couldn't help but watch the two sisters greet each other, it was like he was witnessing a special moment. Laura turned to his direction and extended her hand out to him.

"You must be Tyler. My sister was telling me so much about you." she smiled as she shakes his hands allowing herself to get a firm grip. 

"You'd be correct, what did your sister tell you about me?" he joked as he took another sip of his beer and leaned in closer. "It's probably something juicy."

Laura giggled and brushed him off. Her charm working quickly as she continued speaking with Tyler. She told him all her biggest achievements and he listened; Tyler was surprised by the number of tricks she had up her sleeves. Bella couldn't help but catch a glimpse of his muscles and watched how it flexed every time he spoke. She had to admit, it was hot. Tyler turned to Bella and propped his chin in his hands.

"And what about you, darlin? Tell me about yourself."

"Me?" she questioned as she stood there in a daze with her eyes stuck like a deer in headlights.