AllFreeNovel
Share Us
How much time do you have off before the next show? She texted him.
Five days.Why?
Woodward, Oklahoma is 9 hours and 48 minutes from Crested Butte.
Huh?
Get in your truck and DRIVE cowboy. Mark and I will meet you there.
This had to have something to do with Liv, but why would Paige tell him to go to Oklahoma when Liv was in Texas?
When he texted and asked, she didn’t answer. Something, though, pulled at him to get in his truck, and do what Paige was telling him to do.
There were at least ten different times during the 570 mile drive that Ben thought about turning his truck around and heading home. But that same feeling in his gut told him to keep driving. Paige was a live wire, no question about it. But if she wanted him to come to Woodward, Oklahoma, home of exactly nothing, it must have something to do with Liv.
He only hoped that when he got there, she’d be happy to see him.
15
He was fiddling with the radio, trying to find a station when the road sign caught his attention. “Hope, next exit,” it said. As with everything, he convinced himself it meant something. Something about Liv.
Where are you? His phone pinged with another text from Paige.
Filling up the gas tank in a place called Hope, he answered.
You’re close. Hurry.
Ben swore Paige would be the death of him one day. But she connected him to Liv. He’d put up with her until he took his last breath if he had to.
Ben got back on the highway and drove to Woodward. As his internet search had predicted, there was nothing in Woodward, except a rodeo taking place tonight. He parked the truck and texted Paige.
At the rodeo, is this where I’m supposed to be?
Ticket waiting at will call for you.
Yep, she was a laugh a minute, that Paige.
Ben saw Paige and Mark sitting in the center section of the stands, halfway up. Renie was sitting with them.
He gave Paige a kiss on the cheek when he got to his seat and whispered, “This better be good.”
“Oh, it will be,” she answered. “I guarantee it.”
Mark shook his hand and shook his head. Renie waved at him. He supposed there’d be time for talking later.
“Ladies and gentlemen, our next event tonight is barrel racing.” The announcement came through the loud speaker. “We’ve got a lineup of a few of the finest barrel racers in the state of Oklahoma. Y’all are in for a real treat. And, I’m told two of the grand dames of the sport are with us tonight, with one of their protégé riders. Everybody give a big round of applause for Ms. Mary Beth Wilson and Ms. Jolene Baxter.”
The crowd stood and cheered while the two women rode the arena loop, and the announcer listed their impressive achievements in barrel racing.
“First up tonight is a little lady out of Monument, Colorado. Ms. Mary Beth and Ms. Jolene have been workin’ this girl hard, and they tell us they expect her in Las Vegas come the end of the year. Everybody give a big welcome to Olivia Fairchild, ridin’ Micah.”
Every bit of air left Ben’s lungs as he saw Liv and Micah fly out of the alley, heading for the first barrel in the pattern. Micah went left around the barrel, then right. Both barrels were standing as Liv guided him to the third and final barrel. He rounded it perfectly and she headed home, urging him for more speed to the timer.
“Ladies and gentlemen, coming in with a time of sixteen point eight is the little lady from Colorado. That is an unbelievable time for a first-time racer. Let’s give her and Micah a big round of applause. Wow! I’d say Mary Beth and Jolene have trained a champion, wouldn’t you, folks?”
The crowd stood again. Everyone except Ben, who was still trying to find the air he needed to breathe. He looked up at Renie, who met his gaze. They both had tears in their eyes.
“She’s amazing, isn’t she?” Renie came and sat next to him.
