Dare You to Resist the Bull Rider (Rock Valley High 4)

“I’m so sorry for your loss.”

She sighed and looked down at her perfectly manicured hands. “Elizabeth actually won the Junior Rodeo Queen title the summer before her death. She was so proud of her crown. They nearly ended the program ten years ago, but I took it over. I couldn’t allow it to fade away. In truth, the only reason I continue it is to keep a little part of her with me.”

Suddenly, Ms. Gentry’s reason for being in this little 4H fair was becoming painfully clear. I felt in awe of her carrying on the tradition in her daughter’s name. It was no wonder she was so strict on what it meant for the women participating. This was her daughter’s legacy. It was a beautiful one.

“Thank you, Ms. Gentry.” I reached out to squeeze her hand. “You’re amazing. I’m sure your daughter would be so happy to know that you’ve kept this going.”

She gave me a sad smile. “I’m afraid nothing lasts forever. This year is my final as director of the Junior Rodeo Queen contest. I plan to fully retire and move with my son to Arizona in the fall. I’m not sure what will happen to the program when I leave.”

Bands tightened around my heart. It was sad to think of the contest without Ms. Gentry to lead it. She really knew how to whip the girls into shape. I couldn’t imagine anyone doing nearly as good of a job.

“I’m sad you have to go,” I said, squeezing her hand one more time. “But I’m sure everyone will understand. Even Elizabeth.”

“Thank you, child.” She returned a squeeze of my hand and then let her hands drop to her sides, resuming her normal, disproving frown. “And in that venue, we must return to the arena. I witnessed some sloppy figure-eights out there. They will not do for the show tonight.”

I shook my head and laughed to myself. No, they would not do. And I was going to do my very best to ride to Ms. Gentry’s satisfaction. She deserved our best. Her daughter, Elizabeth, did too.

Participating in this contest had become about so much more than just a crown.

But I was still in the running, with nothing left to lose.

And nothing was going to stop me from winning it.

Chapter Twenty

“He did what?”

Lexi’s shriek was loud enough to be heard by the entire neighborhood. Luckily, my parents were out working at the diner until the rodeo and I had the house to myself. She panned her wide eyes over to Beth, where she sat wearing a disgruntled frown.

“He decided he didn’t want to be friends anymore,” I said, as calmly as I could, considering the circumstances. Lexi had a curling iron dangerously close to my right ear, so it seemed best for my own safety to avoid getting her any more riled up. “And then he left.”

“So, let me get this straight,” Beth said, leaning toward me, her brow arching. “That boy kisses you. Passionately. In a way that friends never should. And then when you tell him that you have feelings for him, he walks away?”

I shrugged at her, no more able to make sense out of it than her.

“He’s insane.” Lexi put down the curling iron and sighed as she bounced the hot curl in the palm of her hand. “Totally and completely insane. I saw the way he danced with you the other night. He’s head over cowboy boots. It just doesn’t make any sense.”

An ugly noise left my mouth as I scowled. “I think you were dreaming. He obviously doesn’t like me like that. Kissing me was probably a reflex. Like catching a cup that slipped off the countertop or something. Nothing more.”

“But you guys definitely kissed,” Beth said pointedly.

I shook my head. “Barely two times. And then it was over.”

A thought entered my head and I gripped the table in front of me in horror.

“Wait—what if he kissed me and decided I was a terrible kisser? Can that happen? Did I totally turn him off?”

“Pssh.” Lexi waved her hand at me. “If I know anything about kissing—and believe me, I know a lot—is that if a guy looks at you like Hunter does, it isn’t possible for you to turn him off. You guys were made for each other.”

Grabbing a tube of lip gloss from Lexi’s humongous stash of makeup spread across my dining room table, I angrily pulled the applicator from the tube and swiped the cherry-scented gloss across my lips. “What does it matter? I’ve decided that tonight, I’m going to completely forget about Hunter. Wipe him from my mind. And then, win a crown. After that, everything will be better again.”

Version 2.0 of forget-about-Hunter wasn’t going to involve dating any more cowboys. That clearly wasn’t going to work. No, this time I was swearing off all guys. Period. And retargeting all my energy into winning the Junior Rodeo Queen crown.

It was hard to miss Beth’s doubtful expression as I threw the gloss back in the pile. I wasn’t even really sure why I told both of them what happened between me and Hunter. Other than my short conversation with Bree this morning, I’d kept it locked inside of me. I supposed it was going to have to come out, one way or another. Lexi would’ve freaked if I’d tried to keep her away from her hot cowboys without a perfectly good reason.

“Okay, I think it’s time for an emergency friend-tervention,” Lexi said, unplugging the curling iron. “Like, right now. You’re as ready as you’re going to be for tonight. This can’t wait.”

I arched an eyebrow as she used her arm to sweep her makeup and hair supplies back into her bag. She’d plucked me, powdered me, and squeezed me into a pair of ridiculously tight light-washed denim jeans and a purple rhinestone shirt. The sheer size and volume of my hair would’ve made me welcome in any Texan country bar. That, and my mom’s cowgirl boots currently pinching my slightly too-big feet. But even I had to admit, as I caught a glance of myself in the mirror above my mom’s hutch, that I looked pretty fantastic. Lexi was talented.