Cowboys and Mustangs

My First- Chayni

Walking out of church, I quickened my pace to my pickup to get to the sale barn. Sunday is the busiest day there, especially in the cafe. Everyone comes from church, like me, and likes to eat before the sale starts.

When I get to the sale barn the lot is already full, so I park in the employee parking lot, which we practically only use on Sundays. I don't usually work on Sundays, but they changed it to time and a half so of course I picked up the shifts. I walk through the stockyard, watching the boys place the numbers on the heifers and sort them out.

I walk into the office where Kathy seems relieved to see me, "Oh thank God, I've been running back and forth between the cafe and here."

I quickly punched in and said, "No worries, I got the cafe now. Come get me if you need anything else." She nods as she types numbers into the computer system and I head over to the cafe. My other coworker Dave, also looks relieved I am here and he hands me the coffee pot, "You take care of coffee and I'll do the orders and we both run food." He instructs me and I nod and start going around the cafe, recognizing a few faces.

As I walk around I see Mr. Wayne, who waves me over to him. "Hey! How ya doing?" I ask him as I stand in front of his small table.

"Can't complain, hoping to score a couple today. How about yourself?" I ask him as I pour him another cup.

"I'm doing pretty good, the horses are working and the pickup's still running." He gives me a cute-old-man thumbs up.

"Good to hear.. Hey you competing this weekend?" He gets interested in my answer.

"Yes sir." I nod.

"Oh good! Martha and I plan to attend! We'll be cheering for you!" I couldn't smile any bigger at his optimism, he was cutest old man ever.

"I appreciate it, I'll have to tell my mother you'll be there. Well I hope you get what you want today! Talk to you soon?" I say and he nods with a toothless smile and I continue doing my job.

When we first moved here, my mom encouraged me to try to find some people who also competed in mounted shooting, so that's how I found Mr. Wayne.

Mr. Wayne, or Kutter, is the president of the local Cowboy Mounted Shooting Club in the lower Wyoming region. Him and I have bonded a lot through the sport and he has given me a ton of helpful lessons. With all his help I've been improving and winning more frequently.

Him and his wife are the nicest and most sincere people you'll ever meet. Martha was never able to have kids, so because of this, they don't have any grandchildren. So Kutter told us that he considers Codi and I as his own grandchildren, isn't that cutest thing ever?

I hear the kitchen bell ring and see that Dave is busy so I go to take it. It's two omelets and some biscuits for table eleven. Putting a plate in each hand I start to walk to the table. As I'm walking, an older man scoots his chair back, running into me, making stumble and drop the plates. After my fall, I feel a hand on my back, "I am so sorry Chayni, I didn't mean-"

I place my hand on his arm, "No, it is fine Mr. Johnson." I say politely then add a small smile, "I'm okay, it wasn't your fault." He solemnly nods and then I return back to my mess.

When I turn back, I see a cowboy also kneeling in front of me, his black felt blocking his face. He was helping me clean up the mess, "You don't need to help me." I say politely then the hat lifts up and the movement reveals Jesse underneath it.

He smiles at me, making my cheeks instantly heat up. This is so embarrassing, I can't believe he saw me fall on my ass. "Hey, you okay?" He notices my expression.