That Girl is A Cowboy

Chapter One

  Montana groaned and rolled over to turn on her alarm clock. It was four thirty in the morning, on a Saturday no less. She could hear her brother, Hunter, tromping around downstairs. Montana rolled out of her bed, rubbing her eyes as she walked into her bathroom to change into the outfit she had laid out the night before. She quickly changed into the plain boot cut jeans and the turquoise rodeo shirt that sported patches from all of her sponsors. Her hair was wild like it always was when she woke up. She quickly brushed her long brown hair and put it in a braid. "Montana, hurry up! We have to finish loading the horse trailer and get the horses loaded!" Her mom's voice shouted up the stairs. Montana rolled her eyes. "Okay momma! I'm almost ready," She replied. After putting on her makeup, Montana grabbed her black felt cowboy hat and her boots with the turquoise on them and ran downstairs.

 Her brother, mom, and dad were already outside loading the horse trailer. She pulled on her boots and made her way out to the large barn. "Look who decided to join us," Her mom said with a smile on her face. Montana laughed and looked around. "Have you already loaded Rio?" She asked, referring to her main barrel horse. Her mom shook her head no and went about making sure all of the tack was in the tack room. Montana walked into the barn and saw Rio sticking his head out staring at her. Montana smiled and rubbed the big gelding's head. Rio is a big 15.3 hand sorrel Quarter Horse. Montana grabbed his halter from the tack room along with the lead rope and slipped it on his head. She opened the stall door and led him out towards the trailer. Rio loaded himself like the seasoned horse he was and started munching on the hay in front of him. Hunter's mare Vegas was already in the trailer munching on the hay as well. "Alright that's everything kiddos." Anna called from outside of the trailer. Montana closed the trailer doors and made sure they were all locked before getting in the truck with her mom and brother. Her dad waved by to them as he and the ranch hands left out to gather some calves to take to the sale barn.

 After two hours the Smith family arrived at the rodeo grounds in Fort Worth. Montana was the first one out of the truck, followed by Hunter. They both unloaded their horses and tied them to the trailer. Their mom has went to sign them in and get their back numbers. She arrived back and handed the back numbers to Montana and Hunter before going to save herself a seat. Montana brushed down Rio and picked out his hooves before putting on his black bell boots and turquoise sport boots. She finished tacking him up and helped Hunter with Vegas. They made small talk while they got their horses ready. Once they finished Montana asked, "Ready to head to the warm up pen?" Hunter nodded and started walking Vegas toward the warm up pen. Montana put her reins over Rio's head and swung up on his back. She walked him to the warm up pen and stopped at the gate watching the others. She spotted her best friend Riley and waved at her. She also saw a few of her other friends in the pen. She walked Rio in and started trotting him around the outside fence. She focused on getting him warmed up properly over talking to her friends, unlike Hunter.

 After Rio was nice and warmed up, Montana walked him over to where her friends were standing by the pen. "Hey Montana!" Brice, one of her friends who rode bulls, said with a smile. Montana smiled back. "Hey Brice, how's it going?" She replied, while swinging down from Rio's back. Brice just shrugged, "Same as always." Montana nodded and talked until she heard the announcer call for the rodeo to start. 

First was the drill team doing their thing, then the tie down ropers, team roping, breakaway, goat tying, steer wrestling, broncs, poles, then finally barrels. Montana was waiting for her name to be called, prerun adrenaline pumping through her veins. Rio stood calmly waiting for Montana's cue. Finally, her name was called. "Next up we have miss Montana Smith! Texas High School Rodeos champion barrel racer for the last two years!" She trotted Rio down the alley then transitioned him into a lope as they got closer. When they entered the arena Rio was at a full out gallop. As they turned the first barrel Montana's boot hit the barrel, but it stayed up. They ran for the second, the crowd cheering and yelling for them. They turned the second smoothly and headed for the third. Rio turned the barrel effortlessly and ran back to the alley with speed. "That'll be a 15.78 for Montana putting her in second place!" The announcer said, making the crowd cheer more. Montana slowed Rio to a walk and smiled patting his neck. "Good boy, such a good boy!" She told Rio, walking him to the trailer. She swung off of his back and changed his bridle for the halter and loosened her cinch. 

She walked back to watch the rest of the rodeo. Everyone congratulated her on her run.  Montana sat beside her mom and gave her a hug. "Good run!" She said, smiling with pride. Montana smiled and turned to watch the pole benders. She chewed on her lip waiting for them to announce the winners in each event. Hunter placed third in tie down roping and won a check. Montana got fourth in barrels and a check as well. They were all happy with how the performed. They packed up the trailer and loaded the horses. "Want to stop for food before we leave Fort Worth?" Anna asked, looking at both of her kids. They both nodded. 

They were finally back at the ranch by eleven that night. They unloaded the horses and fed them before going in and sleeping, tired from the long day. Montana pulled off her hat and boots leaving them in her room while she took a shower and got ready for bed. She finally fell asleep after watching two episodes of Supernatural on Netflix. 

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Hey everyone, thanks for reading my first story on here! I hope y'all enjoy it! 

-Kayla