Penn was pulling me, her little legs pumping as quickly as she could go, trying to get into the gates of the rodeo as fast as humanly possible. I don’t think I’d ever seen her so excited. Her face was going to be hurting by the end of the night with how big she was grinning. Zac Brown’s “Chicken Fried” was playing over the stadium speakers, while the announcer’s voice boomed over the cheering crowd, making her little boots skip. I chuckled. Her joy was contagious, and it warmed my heart to see her so happy. I wanted nothing more than to give her the happiest childhood I could afford.
Her mother hadn’t called asking to see her or speak to her. She hadn’t tried to come get her, either. It hurt my heart knowing that this was Penn’s reality.
The summer heat was stifling, causing me to remove my hat and wipe the sweat from my brow. Good thing I found some sunscreen. Otherwise, Penn would be fried to a crisp, just like all the rodeo food that saturated the air.
“Reed!” Jude and Romy were standing at the entrance, noise-canceling headphones covering the ears of the baby in the carrier Jude was wearing.
The crowd milled around them.
“We’re at a rodeo!” Penn squealed, slipping from my hold, making her way around the maze of people to Jude and Romy.
She held her cowboy hat to her head.
“Look at you!” Romy preened. “You look ready for the Fourth of July.”
Penn was wearing jean shorts and a tank top with red and blue stars, American flag bows at the ends of her braids she had begged Lina to do before she left. Lina, already dressed in her rodeo gear, took the time to sit on the grass beside the horse trailer with my daughter. Penn didn’t even hesitate to plop into her lap, as if it were the most natural thing in the world, and my heartclenched. My chest felt so tight, watching her gently do Penn’s hair while they talked softly together.
“I am! I’m ready to cheer on Lina and Mushu!” She couldn’t stop moving, bouncing on her brown cowboy boots.
“What’s up, man?” Jude asked, bumping my fist.
We exchanged greetings, then followed them to the seats Chuck and Sage saved for us. The crowd was deafening while a saddle bronc rider held on during his ride in the arena.
“Where’s Hazel?” I asked, Penn and I taking a seat on the metal stadium rafters.
Romy’s eyes went sad, and I immediately felt like an ass for asking. I liked the woman, though. I was hoping to get to know her better and see the former rodeo queen in her element.
“She wasn’t ready to be out here,” Chuck replied.
I nodded with a grimace. “I understand. Sorry I asked. I should’ve figured as much.”
“It’s all right.” Romy shrugged.
Chuck stood, giving me a firm pat on my shoulder as he shuffled out of the seat. “I gotta be ready to lead Lina in, now that y’all are here.”
I couldn’t help scanning the stadium for her mysterious stalker—or Junior. Everything that was happening at once didn’tsit right with me. None of this felt like a coincidence. While I surveyed the audience, my gaze was drawn to my daughter, who was in complete awe of her surroundings.
Penn sat riveted, her eyes large, whooping and hollering at the top of her lungs while we watched the saddle broncs.
“You may be in trouble with that one,” Sage teased. “You got a cowgirl on your hands.”
“Don’t I know it.” Penn shared a smile with me. Pretty sure she knew it, too.
The barrel racers were up next, followed by the bull doggers and bull riders.
“When’s it Lina and Mushu’s turn?” Penn asked after every participant entered the arena.
“Soon,” I repeated each time.
Judeand I walked with Penn to the concessions to grab hot dogs for everyone. Lina had just finished her run and was probably already untacking Mushu. She’d won the race, beating her last Willows Rodeo time. I was dying to see her, but Penn was whining that she was starving.
“I’ll grab the beer,” Jude offered, passing the rodeo bar.
“Mama!” Penn yelled, catching us both off guard.
Just as she’d done when we entered the rodeo to greet Romy and Jude, she pulled from my grasp. And before I could stop her, she was rushing over to where Elise and Junior were exiting the bar.
“Oh, my baby!” Elise cried, dropping to her knees in front of Penn and taking her into her arms. Penn was so forceful in her hug, she almost knocked her over.
