“Coolness.” We both rode in the silence as the radio crooned.
What I had noticed was that while I had my arm resting on the center console, so had she. I could practically feel the heat coming off of her arms that were bare from her wearing a t-shirt.
The moment we pulled up the auction I could literally feel the excitement that was rolling off of Corrine in waves, however, she kept it cool, and she remembered where she was.
I couldn’t tell her to wait on me so I could open her door, no she had already opened it to jump down with her bag and a brown paper bag that I was still wondering what it was for.
Once we entered, we headed to the table where you signed up and paid your dues if you weren’t a member and got your paddle with your number.
“Have you registered already?” I asked her.
“I read that I could do it here.” I didn’t like that I could see the uncertainty in her eyes.
What caused me to do this for her, I didn’t know. “Are you planning on coming back here or is this the one time you are coming here?”
“This is the one time. Stormy is all I am after.”
“Okay.” I nodded and then signed my name on my own form. Since I was technically a member, we were good to go.
After I grabbed my paddle with the number thirty-three on it, I said, “Let’s go take a look.”
“Wait, don’t I have to register?” Corrine kept pace with me, but I saw her looking back at the table.
“No. I’m a member. No sense in you paying that money when it’ll just be a waste.”
When Corrine didn’t say anything, I glanced down and saw her smiling.
Together we made our way to the pens and the corrals where the livestock was being held.
I didn’t miss the lingering looks that Corrine was receiving hell. I didn’t blame the men at all. If I saw a red-haired, blue-eyed beauty that could rock a simple t-shirt, jeans, boots, and all with no makeup on? I would be staring too.
What I really wanted to do was to throw my arm over her shoulders and pull her into my side and tell everyone that was within hearing distance that this was mine.
We paused as we passed two horses that I was bidding on. I had decided to pass on one of them. It didn’t seem that it was old enough to warrant being a pasture buddy.
The moment I heard a commotion near the rear of the building, I looked down to where I thought Corrine was standing, only she wasn't there. Don't ask me how I knew where she was, I hurried to the back of the building, the moment I saw some man bring his arm back to hit Corrine I charged at the man.
I bent my shoulder and rammed it into the shorter man’s chest.
“Next time you raise a hand to any woman, you better be prepared for one hell of an ass-kicking.” I didn’t even care what Corrine had done or said.
You don’t hit women. Period.
The moment I heard a feminine growl, “You need to be horsewhipped.” I looked at Corrine as she was standing protectively around a beautiful dapple gray roan mustang.
Said mustang had its own ears pinned forward with its head resting over Corrine’s shoulder ready to defend her in return.
“The damn horse tried to bite me.” The man said as he rubbed at his chest where I rammed into him.
“I would have bit you too. You took the spur off your boot to try to hit her, and all because she stomped her hoof at you and knocked your shoulder.” I could see how riled up Corrine was.
Without even thinking about it, I placed myself in front of Corrine and the horse.
“That right?” I glared at the stupid son of a bitch.
“She’s a liar…” However, I didn’t allow the man to say another word, I cocked my arm back, being mindful where Corrine and the horse stood, and let it sail.
The sound of my fist meeting the man’s face was music to my ears.
