Page 2 of Slow Burn

I have to admit, the energy at the rodeo is infectious, and despite my reservations about it, I find myself rooting for her, too.

In my periphery I can tell my beautiful best friend’s eyes have widened, and she’s gaping at me rather than the event, her mouth popped open in surprise. It’s the same expression I made when my boss told me I was being let go.

Not that I had any right to be surprised. Losing the second biggest account isn’t a mistake you come back from. It’s not an offence that warrants a slap on the wrist and a write up.

“Wait, what?” She shakes her head, incredulous. When I look back at her, her wavy auburn hair is glowing in the sun, the frizzy edges creating a halo effect around her.

I nod as confirmation that she heard me correctly.

“But you’re incredible at your job,” she says. “You’re so… you.”

I shrug. “As it turns out, being me is not always a strength.”

I’ve been really trying lately, too. After my boss hauled me into his office a few months ago to tell me our business consulting firm had received a complaint about my strong opinions and my eagerness to share them, I’ve been trying to hold my tongue more. But I can only control so much, and when my client is found out to be doing sketchy shit and implicating me, I’m not going to stay quiet.

Of course, no one likes to be called out, especially when they’re caught with their pants down so to speak. So, my “outburst”, as my boss called it, got back to him right away.

I don’t regret it, though. I stand by my morals and I’d do it again.

So, here I am. Back in Sage Valley, with my tail tucked firmly between my legs.

I made such a big deal over the fact that I was leaving, getting out of my hometown and doing something with my life. Turns out, life in the city when you’re single and jobless is expensive, not to mention lonely.

“Fuck that,” Sutton says, breaking me out of my thoughts. “They’re stupid to let you go.”

“Maybe,” I say, giving my head a defeated shake. My long dark pony tail swishes across my shoulder blades. “Doesn’t change the fact that now I have to find something else, without a decent reference.”

Sage Valley isn’t exactly a bustling business hub. It’s why I moved to the city in the first place. There isn’t a ton of work for business consultants in small towns, and I love what I do. I wouldn’t have gotten my MBA if I didn’t.

What I didn’t imagine was consulting for big corporations with less than upstanding ethical values. I had envisioned myself working for smaller businesses, maybe even non-profits. And at one time, I had even dreamed of opening my own.

I stay at the rodeo longer than I meant to, and as the day goes on I do loosen up a little. I almost forget about the stress of finding a new job looming over me. I attribute the improvement in my mood to being out with Sutton all day.

“Why don’t you come to Lucky’s later?” Sutton suggests. “I think everyone will be there. It’s line dancing night.”

“I don’t know Sutt…” I say. “I was planning on spending tonight applying to some new jobs, or at least looking. Besides, I can’t leave Critter all alone, he goes kind of feral when I’m away for too long. Last time I left him he nearly chewed through the front door.”

“He really manages to cause a lot of damage with that snaggle tooth of his,” Sutton laughs. “We can go check on him before we go out. I missed you too much. You’re stuck with me all day.”

“Here’s the thing…” I chew my bottom lip, my stomach twisting into a knot at the thought of running into my brother. “I haven’t told Austin I’m back.”

I got lucky and didn’t run into him at the rodeo today. Austin was a bronc rider turned horse trainer. He decided he’d rather work with horses rather than against them. Sage Valley is where he’s always belonged, unlike me. If I know Austin, he’ll almost certainly be out at the bar on Saturday night.

I want to have a plan of action, maybe another opportunity lined up before I tell him I lost my job. Something to soften the blow when I break the news, so he won’t fly off the rails. Ever since our parents died, he’s ultra protective whenever it comes to me. I wouldn’t put it past him to go back to Calgary and give my boss a piece of his mind.

That’s the last thing I need. My boss already thinks I’m a loose cannon, and apparently so does the rest of the business industry. No one needs to know it runs in the family.

Sutton clicks her tongue. “You’re going to have to talk to Austin eventually.”

She does have a point. I can’t avoid him forever.

My mouth works as I consider her argument. “Fine.”

Sutton and I sit and catch up as we watch the rest of the events. She occasionally gets called away to look at animals who suffered minor injuries in the arena. Luckily, there haven't been any major incidents requiring her attention.

The last event of the day is steer roping, and the announcer’s voice crackles over the loud speaker to introduce the first competitor. It almost doesn’t register at first, but my gaze drifts over to the starting gate and lands on Beck Hollis, waiting on his horse to start his event.

He says something to the roughstock worker standing next to him, and then his eyes flick up and over to where I’m sitting. It’s as if they were drawn to me by some invisible force.