Cowgirl Up ✔️

Chapter Twenty

The patron's around me turned into a buzzing, background noise.
I stared at my Father, stupefied.
I hadn't inherited much from the man, other than his blonde hair and bright blue eyes.
There was probably more, but I despised him too much to look too closely and find out.
"Are you drunk?"
James stepped forward, a frown marring his brow and a beer bottle clutched in his right hand.
"What're you doin' here so late?"
Now he wants to play the concerned Parent?
Glaring at him, I folded my arm's under my chest.
"Like it's any of your business!"
I retorted.
"I'd lose the attitude! I can easily get you kicked outta here."
My Father shot back, extending a hand to gesture to the surrounding Rodeo Ground's.
Oh, he's funny!
I gave a snort like laugh, barely believing what my ear's were trying to tell me.
"You're good!"
I clapped my hand's in mock praise.
He think's anybody around here will believe him over the Harley name?
He narrowed his eyes at me.
"You think I'm joking?"
"I think I don't give a shit what you say! Like anybody in this Town is gonna believe you over me!"
I retorted.
My Father scowled.
"You're too much like your god damn Mother!"
I felt like I'd been slapped!
Though I knew James hadn't raised a hand, because he was too far away from me to reach.
Unfortunately, he wasn't far enough away.
"Don't you dare talk shit about my Mum!"
I growled through tightly clenched teeth, glaring at the man I'm meant to call Father, as if I could freeze him on the spot.
"Don't act like Kylie Harley's so fuckin' perfect mate, jeez!"
James gave an obnoxious chuckle.
I stormed forward, my rage well and truly boiled over.
He left us.
He's the one who left me without a Father.
He's the one who fucked up.
He doesn't get to say anything bad about my Mum!
My Mum who had to play both Mother and Father.
My Mum who would be forced to pick up the pieces when I was a little kid, when not only her lover, but also my Father would walk out on us time after time.
"She's a hell of a lot more perfect than the likes of you!"
I shouted, smacking my hand hard straight into the centre of his chest.
I should've raised my hand and just smacked him across the face!
It's what he deserves.
James had either lost a little of his edge, or he'd had way too much to drink.
He stumbled backward's.
I would have laughed, had I not been so furious!
James managed to stay upright and grabbed onto my forearm.
His grip was way too tight!
Within just a moment, I felt sheer pain lance  through my arm.
"Let me go!"
I ground out, jaw tight in an effort to not let him see my pain.
Tear's burned at the back's of my eyes.
I did not want him to see me cry.
He didn't deserve to!
He'd not been there to wipe my tear's as a toddler, so why should he get to see any now?
James laughed!
"I'm not lettin' ya go so ya can run off and find your protection! Ya needa start listening to me!"
My supposed Father sneered in my face.
"P-pleas l-let-"
James' blue eyes suddenly widened.
A shadow loomed over the top of me and a tanned hand flew past my face, clenched into a fist, landing smack in the centre of James' nose and sending him flat on his back on the dirt ground, thankfully releasing my arm as soon as the punch connected.
I stared, wide eyed, at my Father who was now sprawled out on the dusty floor.
What the?
A firm grip on my shoulder had me jolting back into the here and now!
I was pulled backward's and only then did I realise the punch had come from Blayze.
He pulled me so I stood behind him, ready for incase my Father got back onto his feet.
"Blayze, calm down."
I reached out to touch his warm, tanned arm.
If he lost his shit now, we'd all get kicked out.
And that would mean James would win!
"Stay the hell back, Bailey."
He glanced briefly over his shoulder at me, his voice low and his eyes hard as steel.
My Father spat onto the ground, groaned, then slowly made his way back onto his feet.
Uh oh...
"What the hell do you want, Riley?"
The sneering edge to his voice made me wish Blayze would hit him again.
But, he would get in trouble for that.
I can't let Blayze do this.
It's not his problem!
I moved to stand alongside him.
He went to push me back, but I shot him a stubborn glance and planted my feet.
He rolled his eyes and shook his white Rough Rider covered head.
Taking that to mean I was good to go, clenching my jaw, I faced my Father.
"Leave him out of it."
I gritted, jaw tight.
"He punched me!"
James gestured angrily toward's Blayze.
Blayze folded his arm's across his chest.
"And ya deserve worse. Which you'll get, if ya don't get the fuck outta here."
I glared at my supposed Father.
"I'd leave."
It wouldn't take long before Blayze's friends were all here to back him up.
Not that he'd need help in flattening James.
"I'd do as she say's mate."
I twisted around to see that I'd been a bit presumptuous in my thoughts of Blayze's friend's.
I could already see Keegan, Codie and Joel lined up behind us.
Uh oh...
"Alright. I'm moving on."
I turned around to see James holding up his hand's in surrender.
"But we need to talk. Soon."
He pointed a finger at me, his blue eyes landing on me.
No freakin' way!
I placed a sickly sweet smile into place.
"Maybe when Hell freezes over!"
I retorted.
Snicker's of laughter erupted around me, but unfortunately, I didn't feel the least bit amused.