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“It’s been a great competition,” the emcee said into his microphone. “Our judges, the McCray boys, said it was a tough call. But we do have our winner and our first runner-up. May I have a drum roll, please.”
The drum roll came from a keyboard, but what the heck.
“Our first runner-up is…Miss Amber Cross!”
Amber jumped up, gave Catie a quick hug, and walked forward to receive her bouquet of roses.
Catie’s heart slumped. If the judges—the McCrays—liked Amber, they wouldn’t like her. She and Amber were different as night and day.
“Now, Amber, being first runner-up is very important. If, for any reason, our winner can’t fulfill her duties as Bakersville’s rodeo queen, you will step in for the remainder of the year.”
“I’m honored, really,” Amber said into the mike. “Thank you all!”
“Now for our winner. There’s only one woman here who can outshine Amber. Do you have an idea who she is?”
“Catie!” Someone called from the stands.
Catie’s cheeks warmed. Someone was making fun of her. This was awful.
“You got that right,” the emcee said. “This year’s rodeo queen is…Miss Caitlyn Bay!”
Patti and another girl grabbed Catie in a bear hug. Once she had wrangled free, she headed to the stage to join Amber. The emcee thrust a huge bouquet of red and white roses at her and put a rhinestone tiara on her head.
“It’s good to have you back in Bakersville, Catie,” the emcee said. “Do you have anything to say to the audience?”
“Uh, yes, of course,” Catie said. “I’d like to thank the judges, of course. Your confidence in me means so much. And all the other contestants were wonderful. It was fun meeting you all and hanging out for the week. Amber, I’m so glad we met.”
Sheesh. What else could she say?
“I’m looking forward to representing my city during the coming year.”
Thunderous applause followed, and Catie stood, mesmerized. She’d always known the people of Bakersville took this competition seriously, but now that she was the object of their affection and applause, an arrow of warmth shot through her body. They were pleased to have her as their rodeo queen.
She wouldn’t let them down.
“Well said, Catie,” the emcee continued. “As you know, tonight you’ll reign over the rodeo competition. We have a special treat tonight. Zach and Dusty McCray have brought their bull, El Diablo, out, and are still offering that half-mil purse to anyone who can ride him for a full eight seconds. We’ll have some barrel racing and bronc busting, some calf roping and trick riding, and all kinds of other good stuff. Get your hot dogs and funnel cakes from Mary at the concession stand. Now, Catie, if you’ll join me in the announcer’s box, we’ll get this rodeo started!”
Catie followed the emcee—his name was Mark and he was new in town—to the box and watched the rodeo. Zach McCray won the bull-riding competition, staying on Stormtrooper for his eight seconds and garnering a nine point one from the judges. Chad didn’t ride, which disappointed Catie. He was a good bull-rider, and she hadn’t seen him ride for over four years.
When the rodeo competition was over, Catie went with Harper to the Bullfrog. She felt conspicuous in her tiara, but the throngs of people welcomed her. She danced with one cowboy after another, including Mark, the emcee, who had taken a particular liking to her.
Zach and Dallas weren’t there. Not surprising. They were family men with small children at home. But where was Chad?
As if in answer to her query, she spied him in a dark corner of the bar, in a clench with Amber. Were they kissing? Catie couldn’t tell.
What nerve! She yearned to march right up to him and put a stop to this obscene public display.
But what could she do? Chad wasn’t hers. He’d made that perfectly clear.
Or had he? She was the one who’d walked out of his hotel room Wednesday night when he’d wanted to make love. Of course, he had eventually agreed with her and had apologized for putting her in a difficult position.
Anger seethed in Catie’s gut. Ethics or none, she was no more than a lay to him. A novelty he’d obviously gotten over. He thought she was too young. So why wasn’t Amber too young? Catie had found out from the other girl that she was twenty-one as well.
Yeah, Catie was angry. But all the anger in the world wouldn’t erase the love she had for that stupid cowboy.
Chad McCray was the love of her life, and he always would be.
* * *
