Libby
I walk out of work on Friday afternoon. By the way, I hate my job. I thought working in a clothing store in the mall would be the perfect job because I love fashion. But this job is stupid. They have no idea what fashion really is.
My phone rings as I leave the mall and head for my car.
“Hello, Kat,” I say as I push the button.
Katrina Martin has been my best friend since elementary school. She always tries to get me to do things on the weekends, and I really like my alone time. I have things to do. I don’t want to go out and party all night and work all day. It’s not the life I want.
“Hey, girl. The rodeo is in town this weekend. I have tickets for Saturday night. Dust your boots off; we are heading to see some luscious cowboys.” Kat is gushing and I can almost hear her salivating over the phone.
I roll my eyes. “I don’t think…”
“That’s right, don’t think. Just get ready, and I’ll pick you up around six. We’ll have drinks at Barkley’s and then head over to the stockyards. See you tomorrow night.” Then, the phone goes dead.
Great! I can’t believe she just hung up on me. Damn it!
I get in my car and head home. My apartment is on the west side of Dallas, and I love it. It is quiet, small, and just for me.
Don’t get me wrong, I love rodeos and cowboys, and bull riding is my favorite. But I really don’t have time to go. I have some designs I want to get off to the designing firm in New York.
Fuck! I had planned on working all weekend nonstop to get the designs ready. Now, I have to break my concentration and go to a rodeo. Just fucking fantastic.
***
Saturday night at six p.m. there is a knock on my apartment door. Kat, right on time. She is never late when it comes to partying, but getting to work on time is another story.
I open the door, and she’s standing there all smiles. Her blonde hair is curled, make-up perfectly placed on her beautiful, tanned skin, and she’s decked out in tightly pressed Miss Me jeans, a western-cut blouse, and her Ariat boots. Her ears are adorned with silver star earrings, a necklace around her neck to match, a silver bracelet with various charms, and a few rings on each hand.
“Well, hello. You look all ready for some cowboy action.” I laugh as I let her into the apartment.
“I am. I think if I had my way, I would marry a cowboy. They are hot as fuck, great in bed, and travel for a fucking living. Who wouldn’t want that kind of life?” She heads for the kitchen. “I need to put my Coke in the freezer for a bit so I can make a drink before we go. You do not look dressed. Where are your clothes?”
I’m standing in my kitchen, gapping at her, dressed in jeans, a cute T-shirt, and tennis shoes. I did not want to go out, so this is what I’m wearing. “I’m comfortable. Let’s go. I want to go and get this over with.”
“You are such a party pooper. Go put on your boots, at least.” She looks at me with a pouty face.
I huff. “Fine, I’ll put on my boots, but that’s where I draw the line.” I walk off toward my bedroom. I pull my boots from the closet, pull a pair of long socks out of my dresser drawer, and proceed to put the damn boots on.
Kat is standing at my door. “You look pissed. What’s up?”
I shrug. “Nothing. I’m trying to get the sketches for my new stuff ready to send to New York. That’s all. I’m not staying out all night.”
“We’ll just go to the rodeo, and I’ll have you home before midnight.” She heads for the door.
I start to follow. “Ten.”
She looks back at me. “Eleven, and that’s it.”
“Fine.”
I follow her to her 2023 blue Chevy Camero. It was the first car she had ever bought, new, and as an adult.
We both came from a place that was not the most desirable. Kat’s mom was an exotic dancer and traveled to a strip club in Oklahoma City once a month, leaving her with a babysitter for the weekend. She worked in Dallas the rest of the time. Kat never knew her father. Her mom told her he was a low-life asshole that left as soon as her mom found out she was pregnant. She made great money as a stripper but wasn’t home much to raise Kat.
We lived down the street from each other and met in second grade. She has been my best friend ever since.
The Fort Worth Stockyards are forty minutes away from my apartment. We park eight blocks from the arena and walk into Barkley’s Pub and Grill on the corner of Twenty-fourth and Ellis just two blocks from the arena. We push our way to the bar.
Kat orders for both of us. “Two shots of Cuervo and two Bud Lights.”
The bartender pours our shots, puts the lime on the edge, and sets them on the bar as he opens the two Bud Light bottles.
Kat hands me my shot and beer and grabs hers. We move toward the dance floor.
Barkley’s is a bar and grill. They serve some excellent chicken wings. We find a seat at a high-top table, set our drinks down, and climb up on the tall bar stools.
Kat raises her shot. “To two of the hottest chicks in Ft. Worth, Texas.”
I laugh, and we clink our shot glasses.
I lick the salt from the rim, take the lime, shoot the burning liquid, and immediately suck the lime. Then I grab my beer and take a drink to smooth the tequila shot as it goes down.
Kat is laughing and the music is getting louder. She motions to the dance floor, and I step down off the stool and follow her to the dance floor. The music is loud and hopping.
After the song, we order food, another round of shots, and more beer. We have an hour before we have to be at the arena. Food will definitely help absorb some of the beer and alcohol we are drinking.
After we eat our food, we head out. We walk two blocks to the arena.
“Do you see all those cowboys over there?” Kat points behind the large barn.
“Yeah, I see them.” I laugh.
We enter the arena and find our seats. We are sitting in the front row, center arena. Kat smiles over at me. “We have the best seats. We can see all the action.”
Bull riding is up, which is my favorite event. I don’t know why, but they seem to be the best cowboys.
There are six riders before one finally rides the full eight seconds. When he finishes his ride, he throws his hat into the stands, and I catch the damn thing. He waves at me as soon as he sees who caught it. Then he waves at the stands, moves to the shoots, and leaves the arena.
The announcer comes over to the speaker. “Another great ride by Sam Wrightson. Ninety-four. That will get him up on the leaderboard for the nationals, and he is well on his way to winning his buckle and money tonight. Great job, young man.”
He was cute. I’ll see if I can find him afterward and give him his hat back.
Kat was jumping up and down. “How exciting! You need to go meet that cowboy. Come on.” She pulls me out of my seat.
“Wait, I can see him after. I was going to return his hat later anyway. We can watch…”
“No, you are going to meet him now. Before he gets away.” She’s pulling the sleeve of my blouse.
“Fuck! Fine, I’ll just give him his hat, and we can come back and watch the rest.” I walk behind Kat as she moves fast around people and moves behind the cattle shoots.
She pointed in the direction of several cowboys who were walking around behind the shoots. “There, there he is. Go talk to him.”
“I’m just returning his hat. That’s it.” I walk toward the group of cowboys.
There are about six standing around.
I clear my throat as I approach. “Excuse me.”
Twelve pairs of eyes turn and watch me, each face having a smile. And one rodeo clown who saved one of the guys earlier when he was bucked off.
One of the cowboys says, “Well, hello, pretty lady. What can we do for you?”
I smile back. “I’m just returning the hat to Mr. Wrightson.”
The cowboy that threw his hat moves between the other cowboys and stands in front of me. “Thank ya, little lady. You are a looker. Can I buy you a drink later?”
“No, thank you. I just wanted to return the hat. Congratulations on the ride; you did a great job. Good luck at Nationals.” I turn to walk away.
“Hey,” Sam yells.
I stop and turn. “Yeah?”
“What’s your name?” He’s standing in front of me.
“Libby. Now, I need to get back to my friend.” I turn to walk away.
He touches my arm. “Libby, thank you for returning my hat. I usually don’t get them back. I’ll be in Oklahoma City next weekend. I’d love to see you in the stands.”
“I can’t. I work. And I don’t leave Texas very often. It’s too expensive. Good luck, though.” I make my way back to Kat.
“So?” She looks at me.
“So, what?” I fold my arms over my chest.
“So, did you get his number? Is he going to call you? What happened.” Kat is nearly jumping up and down.
“I gave him his hat back, that’s all.” I start to walk off.
“That’s it?” She’s fuming.
“Yeah, I told you I was going to return his hat, and that was all.”
“What did he say to you?”
“He’s going to be in Oklahoma City next weekend and wanted me to go up and watch him. I said I couldn’t.” I start to walk off again.
“We’ll go.” Kat catches up to me.
“Oh no. I don’t have the time to take off. I don’t…”
“Shut up, we’re going.” She pulls me back toward the arena. “Now, let’s go finish this rodeo.”
Fuck! I’ve got to stop following her everywhere.