A thing for cowboys

First impressions don't count, right?

I sat at the table slowly picking at the food on my plate, homemade lasagne to be exact before pops deep voice hummed in my ears.           "Till? Did you get a look in at the barrel racing?" I looked up into his green eyes from across the table.

"Yeh pop, some of the times were good so I had best get Petra back to training so we can try and make it down state for the rodeo at the end of the month." I smiled then looked over to Tanner "Do you know of that Hayden guy from today?" Tanner looked up swallowing his mouthful of lasagne before his eyebrows raised and a smile spread across his face.

"Nope" he popped the 'p' " but he was dang good wasn't he? best get my act together ay?" there was a hint of excitement to his voice.

"You just love a competition don't ya?" I started a laugh as Pop and Tanner joined in and Tanner started to tell Pops all about Hayden's run and skill, he sounded like a crazed fan. Rodeo was Tanners passion and watching his love for it made me want it so bad for him. Yeh I enjoyed running the barrels but I just had a passion for horses and my horse happened to have taken a love to the barrels.

I finished tidying away after dinner when I heard my dad come into the kitchen, I turned to him and leant in for a hug.

"What do you want Tilly grace?" I pulled back giving him a shocked look.

"Can a loving daughter not just give her father a hug?" he smiled and pulled me back in with a tight squeeze. He leant back not letting go of my arms a content look on his tanned face.

"When did you get so big? You'll be 19 in a couple months and I bet you'll be wanting to move into the cabin this summer too?" I smiled back at him and furrowed my brows like I was thinking something over.

"I mean...moving into the cabin and having my own space would be nice." I hadn't thought about the cabin in a while, it was just a field over from the main house and dad had been doing it up claiming that if I needed to get away from the man filled house It would be there for me.

"Well, I'll have it finished for you before summer starts. Oh and I've sorted a ranch hand to help out soon too so you can put some more time into the hor.." I pecked him on the cheek before he could finish.

"Love you pop, see you in the morning." I skipped up the stairs to my room, my dad had been going on about hiring a new hand since Cody had left, an extra pair of hands would mean more time with the horses, more riding and I could finally enjoy the summer with a bit of free time on my hands, no pun intended. I pulled on some pyjamas while trying to brush my teeth, I set an alarm on my phone and climbed into bed. An early morning to get the training started, I did a little inward squeal in excitement. Bring on the cowboys, I mean rodeos, rodeos. Bring on the rodeos.  

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I looped Petra round the final barrel my legs barely moving as she knew her job too well, her hooves turning up the sand and springing into action on the home straight, I kept my eyes on the finish before flying past and pulling up. A wolf whistle turned my eyes to the fence to see a familiar cowboy with a smile on his face.

"Well I'll be damned, Tilly Cole has still got it." Ray drawled leaning an elbow on the fence.I grinned jogging over to him.

"Do you want to go grab Cash and we'll go on the trail to cool off?" He pushed off the fence and jogged off towards the barn before emerging five minutes later on the back of the energetic palomino gelding, ears pricked and raring to go. "It'll be good for him to just go for a calm walk." I laugh as Cash pulls his reins forward trying to hurry Ray along.

We walk the trail talking about the Rodeo coming up, we'd had two weeks of training and only one more to go. Ray will be entering the team roping with his cousin trying to bring up a couple of younger horses they're trying to produce and sell. His cousin Garret has always been serious about roping and learnt together with Ray when they were growing up, he's a few years older, twenty two I think. He helps run a Ranch with his brother, running a Rehabilitation program for criminal offenders.

"So I was talking with your dad when I got here and he mentioned he's got a new hand starting. That'll be less work for you and Tanner." I nodded in agreement.

"Yeh, I think he starts this weekend, tomorrow maybe? I just hope he's able to fit in like Cody did." I think of the blonde goofball who is also my brothers hazer for bulldogging. Cody was our ranch hand for 5 years since he left high school and became Tanners right hand man and practically one of the family.

"I'm not sure I could handle two Codys at once mind." Ray laughs and I join in as we start to near the barn. An old rusted blue truck sat next to mine outside the house, I pulled my eyes away as I dismounted and followed Ray into the barn. We had put the horses away and Ray had given me a hand with the stalls.

"I'll see you at college on Monday as I'll be up at Garrets all day tomorrow, thanks for the ride Tilly!" I wave him off as I walk up the steps I reach for the porch door handle holding onto it while leaning down on one leg to pull off my boot when the door handle moves away from me. I scramble trying to regain my balance, boot in hand as I stumble into something.

"Ah shit." I gasp dropping the boot as I stand up pushing back my blonde hair I look up into the eyes of someone, not something.

"So er sorry!" I look down and quickly remove my hand that was on his chest for support, stepping back I tripped on my boot almost falling before a firm grip on my wrist caught me.

"Careful Calamity Jane." His voice was smooth and broke the awkward tension, I straightened up and his grip loosened.

"Tilly Cole." I offered my hand out with an embarrassed smile glancing up at the chocolate brown eyes boring into mine.

"Hayden Cooper." His warm hand left my wrist and grasped my hand, a tiny smile tugged at the edge of his lips making a small dimple appear before disappearing. Hayden Cooper? Four second steer wrestler Hayden cooper?

"Hayden here is our new ranch hand." My pops appeared as they both came out onto the porch "He's going to start work this week and we'll see about living in next week." He slapped his hand on the back of Hayden's shoulder as he spoke.

"Thank you sir, I'll be back tomorrow morning" he turned to me and tipped his hat "Tilly"