To Rodeo To Your Heart (COMPLETED)

Chapter 7

"Gunner."

He catches the mischievous grin on her face and cocks an eyebrow. "What is it, Caisson?"

"Can you help the kids with riding steers?"

He thinks about it for a moment before forming a plan in his head. "Is be happy to." She squeals in excitement. "But only if you do something for me."

She sighs her smile vanishing h rapidly. "What's that?"

"You ride in the rodeo."

She takes a deep breath. "There's just one thing. My family doesn't know I rode broncs they think I just know how to barrel race."

He shrugs. "I won't tell."

She smiles and stuffs a piece of chocolate in her mouth. When he raises his eyebrows in question she nods. Without thinking he picks her up and spins her around in circles.

"I'm happy you are, Caisson."
***

Gunner sits on the pipe fence of the outdoor arena. He whistles as he watches Caisson climb onto the practice bronc.

She pulls the helmet on and flexes her fingers in the glove. Her leg swings over the side of the chute and onto the bronc. Slowly she settles onto its back and fixes her hand in the rigging. The guys helping around the chute check to make sure she is ready before getting into position to open the gate.

With one big nod she braces herself for the force to come. The gate swings open and the paint drops his head. He takes three powerful jumps before spinning to the right. Caisson's left hand is up helping her to keep balance. Just as the bronc takes another jump the buzzer sounds signaling the time every rough stock rider waits for. The end of the eight seconds.

The entire eight seconds are like a nightmare to Gunner. What if something happen to her? What if her rigging gets stuck on her hand? Now he realizes what his parents endure every time they watch him climb onto the bull.

The pick up man undoes the flank cinch before riding up so she can use his horse to help her jump off. As soon as the other pick up man has ahold of the horse Gunner let's the breath he didn't know he was holding out and jumps into the arena and high fives her. "That was awesome! I've seen a ton of bronc rides, but that was amazing."

She blushes and takes her helmet off. "Well thank you. They are fixing to practice bulls, you should ride one."

He shrugs. "Why not?"

A huge smile spreads across her face and they begin to walk across the arena back to the chutes. She takes her gear off while he grabs his from her pickup and puts it on. A couple of guys ride some of the bulls before it is Gunner's turn. Everyone is dying to see the champion ride in the small town arena.

Caisson holds her breath as he settles on the back of a rage ball of muscle. He nods and she fights the urge to close her eyes. Never before had she felt this way when the chute was opened. Then again she had never felt like this for someone before either.

The gate swings open and the breath leaves her lungs entirely. She knew the bull he was on. It was black mean and always turned to the left first. It seems Gunner knew that too because he was ready for it when the bull flew out of the chute.

Turn for turn and buck for buck Gunner rode the bull as if it were a car. When he jumps from the broad back, after the buzzer rings, he turns to where Caisson sits and winks. Her cheeks turn red and a smile spreads across her face.

"You were amazing!" She screams as he perches on the fence beside her.

He smiles. "Thank you."

She shakes her head. "I'm sure everyone tells you that."

He shrugs. "Yeah, but it sounds a lot better when you say it."

This makes her blush a bright red and a huge goofy grin that she can't get rid of to grace her face. Embarrassed she hides her face behind her hands. He laughs and pulls her hands down. "Come on, Caisson, don't hide your beautiful green eyes."
***

Gunner pulls his arms through the freshly starched sleeves of the paisley shirt. He quickly buttons it up and pulls his boots on, anxious to see Caisson dressed up for the rodeo. He checks his hair and shirt one more time before stepping out of the guest room. He can here She Won't Be Lonely Long by Clay Walker playing from her bedroom. Slowly he drags himself away from the sound of her soft voice and settles on the couch.

The sound of boots on the hard floor slowly brings his gaze up. It travels up from the scuffed boots to the flat brim felt hat. She wears a light blue button up shirt and dark blue jeans. He stands and smiles. "You look beautiful."

She blushes deeply. "Thank you. You look extra handsome yourself."

He holds his arm out making her giggle nervously. She slips her arm through his and they walk to the back door. There he helps her with her coat before putting his own on.

The ride to the arena is filled with a comfortable silence and the country music station playing in the background. When they arrive both pull their gear from the back seat and head to the chutes.

Bare back broncs are up first. Caisson is in between freaking out and totally pumped. The horses were not as rank as some she has seen giving her a little peace of mind. Lord, I need your peace that surpasses all mans understanding. She prays before suiting up and climbing on the bay mare of a bronc.

Again Gunner feels the air leave his lungs as the gate flings open and the horse begins to buck with her riding it like she was born on a bucking horse. When the buzzer rings he watches until she is safely beside him behind the chutes before they both turn to listen for the score.

"83 point ride for Ms. Caisson Beck!" The announcer calls.

Without thinking he wraps her up in his arms. "Way to go Cais!"

She smiles and stares into his soft brown eyes. Just then the announcer calls for the bull riders to go draw for their ride.
***

Soon enough it is Gunner's turn to ride the red smaller bull.

"And here is the man you have all been waiting to see ride, Gunner Pate!"

The gate swings open and Caisson sucks in a breath as the bull begins to spin to the right. Then he switches to the left before giving three high kicks and going back to a right hand spin. Just as he starts to spin to the left the buzzer sounds.

Gunner undoes the rigging on his hand and jumps from the bulls back landing on his feet. He scampers to the chute and turns to hear the score.

"95 point ride for the 2 year PBR champion!"
***

Caisson wakes up and pulls the pillow over her head and allows the tears she doesn't want to fall. It is the first morning since Gunner left to go on the rodeo circuit again. He left last night and thank goodness she was able to keep the tears a bay until after his tail lights had faded.

Forcing herself out of bed she pulls on her jeans and boots and heads to the barn. There she slides on Jo's back. "I guess what hurts the most is the fact that he didn't even ask for my number. Like what was this to him just a time to toy with a girls emotions? Why did I fall for his stupid trap?"

Once done with her rant she slides to the ground and feeds the horses. She gives Jo an extra pat before returning to the house for her morning coffee.

***

Gunner checks the time and sighs. "Why isn't she calling me?! She never slept this late while I was there." Then like a ton of bricks the thought hit him. He quickly applies the breaks and pulls over on the rode. "No no no no no no no! This isn't happening. I did not just forget to take her on the date I promised her."

A/N
Chapter dedicated to cajunpio thanks for commenting and reading and fanning and all that awesome stuff you do!

😳Did all those fireworks and sparks and forest fires we felt just disappear because a memory lapse??

Let me know what you think 💭 in the comments! Looking forward to reading them all.