“Do I have chocolate on my face?”
His frown deepened and he nodded. I tried to clean it with the back of my hand, but he was still looking at me funny.
“Did I get it?” I asked.
He bit his bottom lip and then tentatively reached out with his hand, swiping the pad of his thumb gently against the corner of my mouth. The sensation sent a sharp shock down my spine, my stomach tilting violently the other way. It wasn’t unpleasant. And actually, it gave me the sudden and crazy impulse to spread chocolate all over my lips in the hope that he’d touch me like that again. It was a feeling I’d never had before. It made my heart do a crazy staccato beat in my chest.
“There.” He swallowed hard and then nodded, his gaze flicking from my lips, back up to my eyes. “Better.”
“Um...thanks.”
I turned back to the TV and nibbled on the edge of my cookie, determined not to look him in the face again until at least the opening credits. That was so strange. Almost as strange as Hunter putting both of his hands on his knees and gripping them until his knuckles turned white. Silence fell between us, and not the comfortable kind that we used to fall into so easily while doing homework or hanging out in his room. This was heavy and full of unasked questions.
But when the movie finally started, it gave us both something to concentrate on. And by the time the first ten minutes were done, we were back to cracking our old jokes and throwing popcorn at the screen. Bree even came and joined us for a while as she took a break from unpacking. The three of us sat cozied up on the couch, a reminder of better times.
Despite how amazing tonight felt, I couldn’t help but worry in the back of my mind how I was going to handle quitting the competition. Ms. Gentry would murder me unless I had a solid reason for backing out. Maybe I’d get a better grip on it after I finally cornered Lexi and Beth. After all, it was their fault I was in this mess. The two of them had some explaining to do. And then they were going to make this right.
Or no more cowboys for them!
Chapter Six
Looking back, I probably shouldn’t have been so harsh.
The text I’d sent to Lexi and Beth to meet at the county fairgrounds this morning before the first Junior Rodeo Queen event was kind of terrifying.
Be there. Or Else.
But I was still so angry I could hardly see straight. The thought of telling Ms. Gentry I was out of the competition made my knees shake. Instead, I was going to leave that job up to Lexi and Beth. After all, they’d gotten me into this mess. They could get me out.
I waited for the rendezvous under the same pavilion that Ms. Gentry had led us to after the ceremony. Due to my current mood, it should’ve been a dark and stormy morning. But no, I’d been cursed with nothing but sunshine and clear skies.
Sitting still at the green-painted picnic table was crazy difficult. The only thing I could do to keep calm was count the number of kids walking past me leading their 4H animals to the barns. It was Monday and the official start of judging for the fair. I’d counted at least twelve sheep, five rabbits, seven cows, and even a handful of geese.
I had to laugh softly as each of them went by. My parents had wanted me to pick up a passion at the fair this week. I couldn’t help but wonder what they’d say if I suddenly decided raising sheep was my new passion. We’d never even owned a dog until Mom decided we couldn’t live without the chocolate lab Mandy had used in her promposal to her boyfriend, Jayden. It was now the most spoiled dog in all of history, but even after that, I didn’t think she’d like the idea of a sheep living in the backyard.
The sound of footsteps approaching on the gravel walkway behind me had me spinning around in my seat. Lexi and Beth were finally here. Both of them wore hesitant smiles as they slid into seats across from me. I glowered at them, tapping my nails on the table.
“So...?”
It felt like an interrogation, with so much tension in the air. All that was missing was the small, dark room and the lamp I could aim directly at their guilty faces.
Lexi peeled back her glossed lips to smile extra big at me. “So...you’re super excited to be in the Junior Rodeo Queen competition this week?”
One quick glare in her direction had the smile melting right off her face. “Try again.”
“You’re imagining hundreds of ways to kill us slowly and painfully,” Beth offered.
I snapped my fingers at her. “Bingo.”
They both sighed loudly and slouched in their seats.
“Come on, Charlotte,” Lexi said, her eyes filling with tears. The girl was good. She didn’t even smear her mascara. “You know it’s not that bad. We were just trying to help you.”
I gaped at her. “How? Ms. Gentry is crazy. I’m pretty sure she’s the type that’ll rap me on my knuckles if I step a toe out of line. And Sarah Claiborne officially wants to murder me. This is her thing.”
“Sarah Claiborne deserves to be taken down a few notches,” Beth said, crossing her arms over her black t-shirt and glaring at me. “And there’s no one better to do that than you. Think of this as your revenge. It’s the perfect way to get back at her for everything she’s done.”
Just as I was about to shake my finger at her and tell her how wrong she was, I froze. The idea was kind of tempting. Beating Sarah on her own turf would definitely teach her a lesson. The thought had even occurred to me back at the diner yesterday. But this was a competition of poise and skills, as Ms. Gentry had repeatedly stated. Both of which I severely lacked.
“Even if I wanted to do that, there’s no way I’d win.” With my elbows on the table, I cradled my head in my hands. I frowned at them, my lower lip pouting. “You should see them. I’ve got nothing on those girls. They’re all beautiful and talented and know where they’re going in life. I’ll be laughed off the arena floor as soon as the crowd gets a look at me.”
They exchanged exasperated looks and shook their heads.
“Listen, Charlotte, I’m going to shoot this to you straight,” Beth said, taking her headphones off her neck and placing them carefully on the table. She stared at them for a moment, took a deep breath, then flicked her emerald gaze up to mine. “We put your name on that list because we really think you can do this. You’re just as good, just as pretty, and just as talented as any of those girls. If anyone can win, you can.”
I made a face. “What? No way. You don’t really believe that.”
Beth rolled her eyes. “Come on, Charlotte. Stop the act. You’re tougher and smarter than you think. Lexi was right. If someone doesn’t give you little push in the right direction, you’re going to start believing the lies you say about yourself.”
My cheek stung, as if she’d slapped me across the face instead of delivering this strange combination of insults and compliments. I wasn’t sure how to take it.
“You barely know me,” I grumbled, crossing my arms. “We’re not even friends.”
“We know enough.” Lexi raised her sculpted eyebrows. “Come on, Charlotte. We’re not trying to be mean. We really wanted to help. If you do this, your parents might finally get off your back this summer.”
I perked up a little at that suggestion. Mom would love the idea of the competition. She’d see me trying to make up for my mistakes from last year. Maybe, she’d even let me quit the diner once I’d proven to her that I was serious about it.
I tapped my finger on my chin. “I guess that might work...”
“And just maybe, Sarah Claiborne might regret the day she crossed you,” Beth added, nodding slowly. “I dare you to try.”
The idea of me beating Sarah was still ridiculous, but I didn’t need the crown to win this game. Just being in the competition was enough to drive Sarah crazy. That was revenge enough.
And to top it off, Hunter had seemed excited to see me compete. What was so bad about baking a pie and judging a few contests? As much as I hated to admit it, Beth and Lexi might have been right. This would be a way to change up my summer—for the better. I could handle
that.
“Okay. Fine. You’ve convinced me,” I said, rising from the table to give them both the evil eye. “But don’t think I’m doing this alone. You’re going to be there every step of the way. If I have to spend my entire week at the fair smelling like animals and straw, then you do, too. Starting now. Come on, Ms. Gentry will kill me if I’m late to the first event.”
Beth nodded in acceptance while Lexi squealed and jumped up to grab my arm.
“I can’t wait,” she gushed, squeezing my forearm. “But I don’t suppose we have enough time to do a wardrobe change before the event? I’m not loving the white tee and jeans combo for some reason.”
Wardrobe change, my rear.
I shot her a sour look that had her changing course real fast.
“You know what? Never mind. That look is totally in. White tees never go out of style. I’m going to handle your wardrobe and your makeup and your prep work. Beth can handle your PR. Just leave everything to us. And maybe, if you’re really lucky, by the end of this we might even snatch up one of those hot cowboys for you.”
My mouth went dry as I tried to swallow. That wasn’t what I’d had in mind.
I had enough on my plate. Wrangling a cowboy wasn’t on it. But I had the feeling that wouldn’t stop Lexi from trying.
Maybe I hadn’t thought this all the way through.
But it was too late to pull out.
Chapter Seven
“You’ve got to be kidding me.”
I stared in horror at the scene in front of me and the six other Junior Rodeo Queen contestants. Seven woolly, stinky sheep stood on a cement pad behind the animal barn, bleating their displeasure as their young owners hung onto their bridles. As I worked backwards in my head, trying to figure out exactly how Lexi and Beth talked me into staying in this contest, someone tugged on the hem of my white tee and I looked over to see Geminia grinning at me.
“You’ve got the wrong animal. It’s, you’ve got to be lambing me.”
I snorted loudly, drawing a displeased expression from Ms. Gentry as she ticked our names off her clipboard. According to her, our first event as Junior Rodeo Queen contestants was to assist the young 4Hers in washing their sheep for judging. A small crowd had gathered nearby to watch, including that guy Graham and several of the rodeo boys I’d seen at the arena yesterday. Hunter stood in the middle of them and waved at me when our gazes met, sending a shot of nerves through me.
“Each of you will assist your 4H contestant in bathing your sheep,” Ms. Gentry said in a loud and dignified voice. “You will be judged on your ability to calm the animal, teamwork skills, and aptitude toward hard work. Please maintain decorum. Even menial tasks deserve a Rodeo Queen’s full attention and effort. I expect you all to do your best work.”
“You’d think we were serving tea to the queen, not washing muck off farm animals,” Geminia whispered in my ear.
I laughed again and this time the dirty look came from Sarah. She stood on the other side of Ms. Gentry, wearing a little red flannel shirt, tied off just above her jeans, with her belly button piercing playing peekaboo every time she moved. Jealousy bubbled up inside of me. The girl looked effortlessly good, no matter what she wore. The hatred was still there when she looked at me, burning strong in her eyes rimmed with thick fake lashes. I quickly pressed my lips together and averted my gaze toward Ms. Gentry as she assigned us to our sheep.
“Ms. Hale, you’ll be at the one on the end with Dennis,” she said, getting to me last.
The sheep she pointed me toward had a black face and dark gray wool. It danced nervously as I walked up beside it. The owner was a little red-headed boy with freckles sprinkled across his nose. Dennis looked to be about seven years old, but I could never tell with little kids. Either way, he gave me a look that was far too superior for a kid that was almost a foot shorter than me.
“Timmy don’t like strangers much. Especially girls,” he said, pursing his lips while looking me up and down. “I’ll try to keep him from biting you, but no promises.”
I threw back my head and groaned. That was just what I needed right now—a bloodthirsty sheep. Glancing over my shoulder at Lexi and Beth, who’d joined Hunter in the pack of cowboys, I mentally gave them both a kick to the shins. Somehow, they’d convinced me this was something I actually wanted to do. There didn’t seem to be any backing out now.
Hunter caught my eyes and winked. He had an amused smile on his face, as if he couldn’t believe I was going to put my hands on this smelly beast. Honestly, I couldn’t either. But at least I had my own cheerleading section. That was more than Sarah could say. I didn’t see any of her girls around. Guess they preferred spending time inside at the mall than getting their manicured hands dirty at the fair.
“Nice sheep. Good sheep.” I turned back to my animal and reached out to pat Timmy’s head.
If I could show it I was a friend, maybe it would cooperate and not take off a finger. The moment my hand touched its wooly fur, it let out a disgruntled bleat so loud that everyone in the crowd watching chuckled.
“So much for being friends,” I grumbled.
“You got to get him wet first,” Dennis said impatiently, pointing to the hose on the ground. “Come on, we ain’t got all day.”
I picked up the hose, ignoring Dennis the Menace’s bossy attitude. When the spray turned on, Timmy began to tap dance. And as I started to wet down his back, he began bleating so loud that anyone in a five-mile radius would’ve thought I was torturing the silly thing.
“Does it ever stop doing that?” I shouted at Dennis.
He shrugged and held Timmy’s head still. “I told ya—he don’t like girls. He thinks you’re smelly.”
I shot Dennis a look, but kept my mouth shut. If anyone was the smelly one here, it was Timmy the sheep. Thankfully, when he was fully wet and the hose had been shut off, he settled down into only the occasional complaint. Dennis directed me to the specialized sheep shampoo and as I began to work it into the wool, I took a moment to check out my competitors.
Most of the girls seemed to be having an easier time than me. Geminia had already began to rinse the suds off her fluffy white sheep. She looked good doing it, her vibrant red hair in two braids over her shoulder and a cute straw hat on her head. I didn’t even have the heart to check on Sarah’s progress. Most likely, she was wowing the crowd with her ability to imitate a girl in a Michael Bay film while working farm animals. I was sure the cowboys were having a fun time with that. All the other competitors were the same. None of their sheep were complaining. I was the only one to get stuck with a dud.
Was it too late to back out?
“Hey, Charlotte, whatcha doing to that sheep?” Graham called out, cupping his mouth like a megaphone. Timmy bleated extra loud, as if he understood Graham was talking about him. “Don’t make us report you to animal control.”
That got a good laugh from the crowd. Blood rushed to my cheeks. So much for getting my revenge on Sarah. At this rate, she was going to have a lot more things to torture me with. I kept my eyes glued to the sheep and ignored the catcalls from the boys behind me, determined to make it through this trial with my dignity intact.
Or at least—partially.
“Use the curry comb now,” Dennis ordered, pointing to a strange round metal brush on the ground.
I saluted him with two fingers and got to work brushing it through the sheep’s wool. There was a lot of mud and muck still stuck to its underbelly. I kneeled down beside it to get a better look, running my hand under it to assess the damage. At least Ms. Gentry couldn’t say I wasn’t being thorough. I had to win points for that.
“Timmy must like to play in the mud,” I said, looking up at Dennis. “He’s super dirty down there.”
Dennis shrugged and spat at the ground. “That’s not mud. That’s manure. It gets caked into his wool when he’s been stalled for a while.”
My stomach nearly jumped into my mouth as I tried not to gag. I had poop on my hands. Gross, stinky, sheep
poop. Grabbing the hose, I rinsed it off my hands as fast as I could and got back to combing the junk out of Timmy’s wool, doing my best not to barf.
“Ms. Hale, you seem determined to be the last one to arrive for every event,” Ms. Gentry said, strolling smoothly toward me as if she had a set of skates under that long dress of hers. Her critical gaze took in my progress on the sheep and then snapped back up to me. “The other contestants have finished their tasks and I am moving them to the pavilion. Please join us when you’re through. Let’s see a bit more hustle here. Our 4Hers don’t have all day.”
Dennis clicked his tongue in agreement and shot me another superior look. That kid was seriously something else. I held in my groan while I finished brushing Timmy down. Thankfully, Ms. Gentry moved on to gather up the other girls as I once again grabbed the hose to rinse the soap off of my wooly client.
“Okay, Timmy,” I said, narrowing my eyes at the sheep. “I promise to be quick if you promise to stop screaming. It’s only water. You won’t melt. Don’t be a baby.”
“That’s not a very nice way to talk to my sheep,” Dennis complained, stomping his foot.
I bit back my laugh. This kid was a riot. “Okay, I’m sorry. Timmy, don’t be a lamb. Is that better?”
From the way Dennis stuck his tongue out at me, he wasn’t satisfied with that either. Still, I turned on the hose and immediately the sheep began to bleat and scream as if I were strangling him. The laughter started up in the crowd behind me again and I gritted my teeth, determined to finish the job and join the other girls.
“Just. Stay. Still,” I muttered as Timmy kicked and tried to escape the spray of the hose. The pressure wasn’t even very high. He had nothing to complain about.
The suds in his wool were beginning to spread on the cement below my feet, making for a slick surface with my flimsy flip flops. I reached over him to do the other side, but Timmy managed to swing his big head out of Dennis’s grasp, butting me square in the stomach and knocking me flat on my rear. The sprayer fell out of my hands and hit the ground hard beside me, breaking in two.
Dare You to Resist the Bull Rider (Rock Valley High Book 4) Page 5
