February Snow

Chapter 3

After that conversation in the house, I decided to go drive around on some backroads.

As I was driving, I saw a few of my friends on the side of the road fixing some fence. I pulled over and hopped out of my truck.

"Hey guys!"

"Eli! I didn't know you were back." Cade said walking up to me to give me a hug. Conner stood back and waited until Cade stopped hugging me.

"Eli, how have you been?" He asked.

"I'm still here, and still rodeoing." I told him with a small smile. These boys were like my brothers. They were the first friends I made when I was here last summer recovering after what happened. Cade & I hit it off well, but I wasn't ready for a relationship.

"How long are you here?" Cade asked.

"I'll be here for 2 more days. Then I'm heading back to Texas to get ready for those rodeos." I told him.

"Good, that means you & me can go to the concert tonight in town." He said. I started laughing.

"Ok bud, anything to get me off the ranch for the next few days. My ex is stopping in to 'recover' from traveling so much." I said rolling my eyes.

"Then I'm coming to stay with you, to make sure he doesn't pull anything." Cade stated.

"Whatever, you're sleeping on the floor."

"Great, I'll pick you up at 6:30 so we can eat before!" Cade said while I was walking back to the truck.

I started my drive home and immediately regretted it. Chase was already at the house. I pulled up beside my trailer and got out of my truck. I paid no attention to him as he was unloading all of his stuff.

It was 4:30 now, so I walked into the barn to start feeding my horses. Trent was walking down the stairs from the loft and gave me a sorry look. I just turned my back to him and continued with my chores.

As I was finishing, Trent was helping his friend bring his bags into the loft.

"Eli, what is there to do in this town?"

"Concerts, bars, restaurants. Figure it out." I told him. As I was walking away, Chase said, "Whats crawled up her ass and died?" I closed my eyes and told myself he wasn't worth losing my temper. He was below me and not worth my time. I had a date to worry about.

I walked into the house and hopped in the shower. After I was done with shaving and all that other stuff, I turned on the sound bar in the room and started playing music by the Randy Rogers Band. That's who was playing tonight.

When I was done getting ready, I walked downstairs. Mom and Tim were sitting at the table eating.

"I'm going out tonight, don't wait up." I said soothing my "No Habla Bullshit" shirt and my dark wash 7FAM jeans. I decided to go with the light brown dressy boots tonight, since I knew Cade would want to dance.

"Who are you going out with?" Mom asked.

"Cade." I told her as I walked out the door. Cade had just pulled up to the house. I saw Trent and Chase getting into one of the trucks.

Cade got out with my favorite flowers. White roses.

"Always such a ladies man, Cade." I said while I kissed him on the cheek. I knew the other two were watching. I had to put up a front.

"Only for you, Elizabeth." He said while opening the door to the truck for me. I smiled at him and put the flowers in the backseat.

"Lets go, we have reservations." Damn, I should've gave this kid a chance a while back. I just nodded and we headed into town.

After we finished eating, we headed to the bar where the concert was. I was already a little tipsy from dinner, but nothing I couldn't handle.

As we were walking in, I saw a few of my other friends. Cade & I walked over to them. I felt like a celebrity in this town, but my parents had only been here for 4 years. Before them, my grandparents owned the ranch we have now.

Cade had his arm around me all night. Apart from when the other guys would ask Cade if it was alright that I danced with them.

Towards the end of the night, the alcohol was really starting to take its toll on me. I could barely stand up straight or say anything without laughing. Cade hadn't drank at all so we would be fine driving home.

Chase and Trent were there too. But they never talked to us, they stuck to the bar for most of the night and only rarely left it to go to the bathroom or to dance with the occasional buckle bunny who asked them.

I laughed to myself. Sucks now doesn't it Chase.

We shut the bar down that night. At 2 A.M., Cade and I were ready to get out of that place. It smelt of cigarettes and spilt alcohol.

On our drive home, I was on the verge of passing out.

When we finally got home, Cade carried me inside the house. I usually don't drink a lot. But tonight, I needed it. He sat me on my bed and said, "Eli, you need to change. I'm going to get you some water and ibuprofen for tomorrow morning." I nodded and got up.

After I changed, Cade came walking in with the water and set it down on the bedside table.

"Thank you Cade. You're a blessing in disguise." I said with a slight slur. He just nodded and started putting blankets and a pillow on the floor.

The next morning was absolutely horrible. But, Cade was there through it all. I was super thankful for him after about 30 minutes of puking my guts up.

"I fed your horses before you woke up, Eli. Get some rest."

"No, I'm okay." I said sitting with my back against the bathroom wall.

"Cade, why are you so good to me?" I asked as he sat beside me.

"Eli, you know I've always liked you. When I was on the road rodeoing too. I've always been drawn to you."

I just nodded. "Then why don't you get back on the road? You can haul with me until you get back on your game." Cade was a team roper. He quit hauling about 2 years ago when his main horse died and he couldn't find another horse to ride.

"Eli, that sounds like a great idea, but I don't have a horse. Better yet, I haven't roped any cattle that would help me get to being rodeo ready.

"I have a horse you can use. We can practice tonight if you want to." I said, looking at him.
He's gonna drive me crazy.

"I might have to take you up on that offer." He smiled.

Feelings. Caught.