Chapter Twenty-Seven
Krystina
I had changed outfits about a dozen times. Every combination of jeans and appropriate top I had. I curled my hair, caked on my hair spray, felt brushed my hat, layered my jewelry and added my eyeliner to my extra mascara swipes.
Rhinestone Cowgirl coming right up. I applied one last coat of lipstick and headed out to meet the boys. I had sat up last night with the guys while they cleaned their show tack. Gentry tried ushering me to bed, worried I hadn’t gotten enough sleep the night before. That was the Gentry I knew, the one who always worried.
I picked my cell phone off the table and grabbed it to take to town. The few New York people I hadn’t ran away from were questioning a lot of my current actions. Like my realtor for example, she was wondering why I was no longer in a rush to move.
My lawyer wanted my final papers signed, our contract closing my divorce case and his fees. I had that forwarded to the ranch. I was more than ready to be rid of him as well.
But most importantly I was waiting on a call from an old law professor. Even though I wasn’t one hundred percent sure where I would settle I knew one thing, I was going to take the bar and at the very least get to introduce myself as a lawyer.
Gentry and the boys we’re outside loading up the trailer. Ed and Robbie had left a few hours ago to help with the set up. Now the remaining Mirror Lake Ranch hands were ready to go.
Brandon, Boots and Ethan were all competing alongside their boss. Boots was still pretty cool towards me and Gentry but a far cry from the frigid he was two weeks ago.
Thunder Storm was the last horse loaded before Gentry directed me to the truck cab. The two of us were hauling the horses and the boys were following.
The rodeo grounds were everything I had imagined and a little more. Years ago Ed and had been in town and taken the three of us to the rodeo at the county fairgrounds. That was nothing in comparison to this. Trucks and trailers were everywhere. Horses tied to hitches and a big indoor arena were people milled about. There was still two hours until show time but regular spectators had started to show up. Food vendors were set up inside and outside the arena building and the smell of food wafted through the air.
I gave Thunder Storm a quick grooming and wrapped his legs while Gentry went to sign in. I loved people watching and standing at the Mirror Lake trailer allowed me an excellent view. While Gentry was gone Brandon offered me up for introductions to the various people who stopped by, calling me the New York Trophy wife and the ranches newest hand.
Women said hello and cowgirls gave me the poser look – which I guess I was. Out East I was the girl who picked her horse up from the groomer, rode with her high flaunting associates and returned the horse to the groomer.
Back in Illinois, I was the grade school girl with Gloria who rarely got to ride but collected horse books, pictures and figurines. I wasn’t a real cowgirl despite my attire or work at Mirror Lake. But you had to start somewhere.
Cowboys were more friendly than their counterpart. I didn’t where a brand that claimed me as Gentry’s, hell, I still didn’t even have claim to a label. Aside from the night at Carla’s bar we hadn’t discussed it, instead we just fell into a routine. To me we were together and we were in love and that’s all the mattered to me.
Boots led his horse off towards an open field by the arena for warmups and Ethan was off to meet his ex and his daughter. So when Gentry hadn’t returned and Brandon was finished tacking up he motioned me to follow along.
“Gentry has been off the circuit for a while now but he still has the friends and a fan or two. He gets caught up talking easily,” Brandon explained linking his arm in mine. I assumed this was because we were friends and that way I wouldn’t get lost from him in the crowd and to annoy the shit out of his boss.
Gentry had a good three inches on most every man so he was a touch easier to find leaning against a fence panel and talking to the throng of people outside the side entrance of the arena.
While there were quite a few cowboys with him there were more cowgirls. I told myself they were all friends, same as I was with the ranch hands. After all I had seen woman throw themselves at Gentry my entire life. Still, I had to blink back the red and paint on my faux bitch New York smile to keep calm.
Brushing my fingertips against my locket I let Brandon drag me up. Gentry saw me approach and smiled, giving Brandon only a small sideways glare. “Everybody meet Krystina DeLouch, she’s my new horse handler out at the ranch,” he said reaching a hand towards my direction.
I smiled and said hello to his friends. There was a buckle bunny leaning a little to close to him on the other side.
“Fancy title I earned myself there Hollis,” I said pleasantly but flatly. I could see Gentry mentally roll his eyes at me, but I was standing firm on my hissy fit.
“Damn your ranch hands have gotten pretty,” one of the cowboys called.
“Well, thank you,” I smiled at him, thankful my hair was long enough to flip over my shoulder even with the cowgirl hat perched on my head.
“You are more than welcome to come work with us whenever Gentry gives you to hard a time,” another one said and the cowgirls started looking pissy. Join the club.
The blonde bitch leaning on Gentry ran her hand up his arm, though through his jacket I doubted he could feel it. But that wasn’t the point. Gentry didn’t notice but Brandon did and coughed loudly in attempt to save his friend. Gentry didn’t get the message.
He continued his conversation with his old crew and actually had the balls to drape his arm along the fence giving way for the cowgirl to lean even closer in and under his arm.
If I knew who she was, knew they were just old friends and not one of Gentry’s old conquests. Maybe if he had given me a better introduction to make some sort of effort to show he was a taken man, then maybe I wouldn’t have excused myself. And my excuse myself I meant I spun on my heels and strutted off with fuming pride and dignity.
I ran into Carla seconds after paying for my ticket at the gate. It was still almost an hour till show but people were milling around. “Thought you would be outside with the boys. I saved a seat for you, the good ones get crowded early.”
“I had planned on being with the boys. But Gentry is an insufferable ass.”
Carla grinned. “He always was a magnet for buckle bunnies and barrel girls when he was on the circuit. Now that he’s off he’s more interesting than fresh meat.”
“You sound as enthused about them as I am,” I huffed grabbing a water bottle and a pork chop from a concession stand. I paid my money and followed Carla.
“Oh honey, those girls, women, whatever we are, it’s all the same. Rodeo girls are just more territorial. I used to ride that life years ago. That’s how I found my ex-husband. Course it’s how I lost him too but he was always a stray mutt. Never showed me half the attention in our marriage as Gentry showed you over Thanksgiving dinner.”
“Last time a woman hung off a man like that, who belonged to me, I nearly beat her to a pulp. Well I tried too. But by the time I finished with Jimmy’s car security had grabbed me,” I told her and Carla laughed.
“Honey, you are a girl after my own heart!”
I sipped my water and smiled. “I try.”
“You could go back and make your claim. I would. Enough damn widows and divorcees scope out Ed. I know how it’s done.”
“I would love to. But I don’t want to intrude on Gentry’s life anymore than I have. I waited for years to get to tell the world he was mine. Waited even years longer for him to change his mind and want me again. What’s another night? Gentry Hollis is a lot of things but unfaithful has never been one of them. I trust him. Besides,” I sat my sandwich on the bleacher next to me and reached for the chain I wore around my neck. I pulled my locket out of my shirt. “I have this.”
Carla gushed over the necklace and I told her the story of how I got it all those years ago, sans what the gift led to. I told her about him telling me to wear it just two weeks before.
“I’m still going to make it very clear that I am upset. Possibly make it hell for him for a day or two. No crimes go unpunished.”
Carla and I gossiped. Her pointing out Ethan’s ex and his daughter from a few rows away.
She gave me the run down on the events, what order they came in, who rode in what and the competition. She told me about her daughter Allison living in Montana by her dad’s ranch and riding the local barrel circuit there. Carla was full of all kinds of info I couldn’t process.
Soon Ed’s booming voice came across the PA system. We clapped and cheered and stood for the anthem as a mill of horses raced through the arena carrying the stars and stripes. We then bowed our heads to pray then the games begun.
This rodeo had everything. Ethan and Gentry worked a two-team cutter like they did in the reigning championships. Watching Thunder Storm’s fancy footwork made me smile. He was as amazing as his rider and together they were one fluid beast.
Ethan stayed Gentry’s partner through bull dogging and team roping. Gentry took his own first in individual roping. Well over two hours ticked by as we watched our friends in the arena. Boots and Brandon competed as well and I even managed to enjoy the barrel racing.
The second to last event was the broncs, the last event Gentry would ride in. I watched him settle in the chute astride a dark roan mustang who looked to be about Storms size. I gripped Carla’s hand nervously.
“Ah, honey this ain’t nothing. He ain’t on the bulls no more. It’s those girlfriends and wife’s you got to take pity on. A mustang just wants you off – a bull will try to kill you.”
That didn’t make me feel any better. Ed announced Gentry and the cowboy at the chute jumped back and pulled the rope, slamming the gate open.
The horse bucked, kicked and twisted into the arena. Carla had told me that the horses effort gets judged too. Eight seconds doesn’t matter if the horse gave you a Sunday stroll. This ol’boy didn’t have that problem. He launched himself forward on his front feet throwing his rear in the air. I watched Gentry throw all his weight backwards and lean flat against the horse. His left hand still in the air.
The buzzer exploded finally after what felt like eight minutes not eight seconds. I watched the buck rope fall free from under the horse’s belly and a pick up man was at Gentry’s side pulling him to their mount.
“Alright, enough grandstand excitement for me,” I told Carla standing up. “Quickest way to the cowboy holding pen?”
She pointed and waved me off. I paused at the edge of the hubbub outside. The arena only gave a small area where the competitors stood just inside and to the left of the chutes. They left a big open roll up door for the riders and animals to come and go from.
I didn’t see Thunder Storm at first but I did see Gentry. Along the gate, with his crowd. Some things never changed. I was a damned millionaire now. One test from being a lawyer. I had finally grown through puberty and into my titts only to find the crew my Gentry had belong to in high school didn’t exist and instead he grew part of one in an almost a one eighty direction away.
Gentry Hollis was always Mr. Popularity. Whether it be in a football helmet or a cowboy hat. It’s one thing I loved about him and hated about him too. I was always in the shadows waiting for him. It had been partially my fault in school but that hadn’t helped ease the pain.
Now, I thought things would be different, but it wasn’t. I thought he would be excited to tell everyone about us, same as he had been the first night. Most of these people were complete strangers to me, they didn’t know we were together.
Granted men are a very different species. But damnit! Even Jimmy DeLore showed me off. Assholes calling me atrophy wife, well, it’s what I am. A trophy Gentry should be damn proud of.
But clearly, no matter what I did there was no real progress made with him. I stood watching the action. One more rider and the broncs would be finished. I heard a familiar nicker behind me deeper in the parking area. I followed the direction it had come from to find Thunder Storm tied off to another trailer.
“Hello my love,” I kissed his muzzle and felt him move his velvet lips on my cheek. I laughed. “At least one Hollis boy isn’t scared to show his affection to me in front of his friends.”
I rubbed his forehead, it was his favorite spot. “You did real good tonight. You made me so proud.”
“That’s Gentry’s horse. Nobody touches Gentry’s horse but him,” I heard snootiness behind me.
“Yes,” I replied not turning from Storm. “I am a ranch rand on Mirror Lake,” I paused rolling my eyes. “I’m the new horse handler.”
Storm lay his head on my shoulder tickling me with his hot breath and whiskers. I giggled and ran my hand down his neck. The girl was still standing behind me. I could feel her presence. It annoyed me but I wasn’t walking away first. I would place good money on her being the blonde from earlier.
Soon enough she shrieked Gentry’s name.
“You did soooo great out there! I can’t even tell you’re retired!” she gushed and I gagged.
“Thanks, Bethany,” he said and I turned to see him accepting a hug from her.
Brittany, Bethany, Bitchy, Blondie.
“They are getting ready to announce all around cowboy just as soon as the bulls are over. You’re in the top three. You have a real good chance. You better get over there and get ready to ride out!”
I untied Storm’s reins from the trailer with a few quick yanks and turned to them leading the horse behind me.
“Don’t worry sir,” I handed Gentry the reins. “I have him here for you after all, I’m the horse handler.”
I walked away without waiting for a response. I didn’t have the keys so I couldn’t get in the truck and all seven of the Colorado people I knew were here. So, I stood back from the crowd and listened to Ed announce Gentry as all-around cowboy.
I was still pouting when Jake walked by. I smiled big at him. We had met four of times now and I adored him same as the Mirror Lake hands.
“Nice work out there,” I called to him.
“Thanks. But Gentry’s still better as usual. Lucky for most those cowboys he rarely comes out of retirement anymore.”
“Sounds like Gentry,” I paused. “So, what’s your plan now?”
“I’ve got my horse stabled down here for the night. I’m heading over to Carla’s for the after party. In an hour this place will be a ghost town and you won’t be able to make it to the bar for a drink.”
“Best get there early then. I’m rather thirsty myself, any chance I can get a ride?”
Jake looked at me like what I was. A horrid thorn in his ass. “If you two are fighting I would prefer to be left out of hit. Gentry isn’t exactly an understanding man. I would imagine even less understanding where you are concerned.”
“I’m nothing special, just Mirror Lakes new horse hander.”
“Why aren’t you off handling the horses then?”
“The boys competed individually not on behalf of the ranch, therefor it’s not my duty or my problem.”
“Do not make me regret this,” Jake grumbled and I fell into step behind him.
“Drinks are on me.”
“Honey I can drink, you may regret that.”
“Dear, I’m flush.”