Cold State Line

Normally, Colorado was one of my favorite states. Every inch of it was absolutely beautiful. It seemed like everywhere I looked was trees and mountains and places to explore. Every time we were here for a rodeo, I loved it all the more.

But this time around, I was not feeling it. They had moved the rodeo from Denver to Colorado Springs because of the Denver Open Air concert-- the one Matt was doing. So not only did I not get to see him, Snap had to stay in the trailer for an extra 90 minutes. Much like me, he hated long car rides. And we'd already come from Dallas to Colorado.

Matt understood though and apologized profusely for making us drive more. I had had to laugh at that. Did he really think it was their fault? Denver had overbooked and Open Air brought more money to them than the rodeo did. The rodeo wasn't small either, lots of cowboys in this area, but rarely was their a lineup quite like this one, apparently.

According to the singer, dozens of bands were going to be there. Avenged Sevenfold and Five Finger Death Punch were headlining, but Ghost, Of Mice and Men, Beartooth, Code Orange, Steel Panther, Marilyn Manson and a whole load of others would be there. It was like the biggest metal event before Knot Fest. So I could understand why they moved us, but I don't think I would ever see Matt again. It was fun while it lasted though.
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Shock radiated through me as once again Snap and I beat our best time. We were now in competing territory. The top five in each event moved on to LA rodeo, and Anna and I were in. It was purely indescribable. How had we done this?

We always joked about Vegas, but it was quickly becoming a reality. We had five more rodeos before we could start preparing for Vegas, and all we had to do was place top four to go. Luckily, we had a break between Colorado and LA. Tina would be training us like dogs while we were in the Golden State, but neither of us cared. We were finally getting closer to achieving our dreams.

"You did it, Snap. You are such a good boy," I said to my gelding as I lead him into his trailer. We were staying the night before beginning another long road trip. With the horses, we stopped frequently, but that's just the way it went.

"Snap wasn't the only good thing out there, darling." There was that voice I hated again. There had been a time, I would melt at that sound. I used to love the way Clay said darling and held me in his arms. Now all of that was tainted because of him.

I turned slowly, willing myself to not be affected by the man I used to be in love with. He was standing there with a smirk on his face dressed in a green PBR button down, tight Wrangler jeans and a black cowboy hat. My heart skipped a beat, much the same way it had down with Matt.

"Clay, what do you want?"

He smiled and stepped closer to me. He always had to make things more intimate. "I wanted to congratulate you. And like I said to that tatted freak, we have a lot to talk about. So why don't you join me for a beer?"

"You know I don't want to be around you when you drink," I said and closed the door to Snap's pen. I wasn't ready to put him in the trailer yet. "And I don't think there's anything left to talk about."

Clay grabbed my upper arm firmly. "Well, I said there was, so come drink with me."

I could feel my old defenses kicking up. This is why we weren't together anymore, among many other things. I didn't like him when he drank, and I certainly didn't like it when he got physical with me.

"Clay Anderson, you let go of that girl right now." Tina's voice was sharp, something that would scare the hide of a cow.

His hand dropped and he moved away from me. We both knew Tina could kick that man's ass up and down I-35 without breaking a sweat. Nothing scared Tina, and she certainly wasn't about to let one bogus cowboy threaten one of her girl's.

"I was just asking her for a drink," Clay said, as if I wasn't there.

"Not now. Get on out of here." She watched as he left. Tina would always protect her girls. She thought of us as her children. "Haylee, I thought after what he did, you would be getting a restraining order."

"It's hard to get one when I move around so much. And without evidence, a judge won't give you one. I didn't feel like showing my breasts and stomach off in court."

Tina gently stroked my hair. "He don't deserve to be a PBR winner. I wish the PRCA would do something about it."

I shook my head slowly. "He just ain't worth it, Tina. Can we go back to the hotel?"

She nodded and checked on Snap to make sure he was secure. I imagined Tina would be sending Anna to check on me later, but I honestly just wanted to be left alone.

Notes

Some background on Haylee and Clay, more to come as I get more settled. Finally made it to my new home state!

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