Beth draped her arm over my shoulder as we exited the pen. “Personally, I’m just ready to see Ms. Gentry’s face when you take that crown. We had to beg her to let you in and now, you’re gunning for top spot. She might have a stroke.”
I smiled to myself. Ms. Gentry had been surprising. She probably wasn’t as disapproving as we thought. The contest was her daughter’s legacy. She had a right to try and protect it. I only hoped that I would make her proud today.
“Come on, I’ve got to make sure my horse is ready,” I said, looping my arms through theirs. “And I guarantee, there will be some hot cowboys around for you two to drool over.”
They both squealed with happiness as we made our way over to the arena. I kept my eyes peeled for my ex-best friend, but he was nowhere in sight. And as the time drew near for the Junior Rodeo Queen contestants to open for the rodeo, the slight tingle of nerves began in my stomach. There would be no avoiding Hunter once everything started. The cowboys and the contestants were supposed to sit in the same area of the bleachers.
One way or another, Hunter was going to have to face me.
And I was going to have to learn how to let him go.
Chapter Twenty-One
It was a hard act to follow the clowns.
Especially when it came to rodeo clowns. My thighs twitched nervously against the worn leather of Carolina’s saddle as I waited in a line near the arena gate with the rest of the contestants. After an opening act by the clowns, we were supposed to enter for our grand moment of trotting around the arena in two figure eights and then pull into a line in the middle, smiling and waving the entire time. As if that were as simple as walking down the street.
Some of these girls were going to be lucky not to fall right out of their saddles.
For the first time in this competition, I felt ready to compete. My wrist was back to normal. Lexi had done a bomb job on my outfit and makeup. And riding a horse was starting to become like second nature.
It was all because of Hunter.
Lexi’s little friend-tervention with the petting zoo had worked. I no longer wanted to erase my ex-best friend from my memories. The overwhelming hurt and the pain from his rejection had begun to settle into a painful lump right in the middle of my stomach. I might never get over the way I felt for him, but if he didn’t want to be together—even if I was sure he had feelings for me too—then I wouldn’t hold it against him.
I needed to see him. To know that he was okay. That was the only thing that mattered.
And then I’d let him go.
“Ladies, sit tall and smile,” Ms. Gentry said, walking down the line of contestants and giving us each a quick look-over. “Remember, you will be judged on your performance today. Your poise. Your ability to handle your ride. And your interaction with the deserving crowd. Do not forget that.”
Our gazes met as she passed by me and a little smile tugged at her lips. I returned it, shifting in my saddle just the slightest, and then urged Carolina forward when the line began to move. The crowd applauded and whistled as we entered the arena. It was like walking out onto the football field during state championships. I put my weight into the stirrups and let Carolina take the lead as I smiled and waved at everyone. It felt great.
For the first time in months, I didn’t feel like the freak who’d almost drowned herself. No, that wasn’t me anymore. Now, I could hold my head up high. I could’ve sworn I had a glow radiating from my face. My parents must’ve seen it, too. When I caught a glimpse of them sitting in the front row, they were both in tears and clapping for me. Their daughter who’d put them through so much stress and heartache.
I was going to do better from here on out, no matter what it took.
The rest of the ride went equally as smoothly. Carolina acted as if she’d done this a million times and followed my commands with ease. When we finally trotted out of the arena, I could barely hold in my excitement. I’d nailed it! The contest was anyone’s game, now.
Of course, Sarah had to be feeling the pressure from the way she slid off her horse and kicked angrily at the dirt. I couldn’t help but wonder how she’d done. Honestly, I’d been too busy feeling the thrill of the ride to pay any attention to her. Even if Sarah did end up winning, it had still been worth every minute.
Lexi and Beth came hustling toward me. I handed off Carolina’s reins to one of the Oakie boys and beamed at them. They surrounded me with a hug that felt so right after the week we’d been through.
“I’m so relieved the scoring is over,” I said, sighing deeply. “But am I crazy to say that I kind of want to ride through the arena again?”
“No way, you looked like a natural in that saddle,” Beth said, playfully shoving my shoulder. “You should definitely ride again.”
Lexi wagged her eyebrows. “And maybe then you can be in the rodeo next year.”
That wasn’t such a bad idea. Graham had mentioned the gals who did barrel racing. That actually sounded like fun. Maybe I really could find something I was passionate about at the fair. Of course, that would mean finding a horse. I couldn’t ride Hunter’s forever...not with the way things had ended between us.
“Have you guys seen Hunter?” I asked, scanning the crowd over their shoulders.
He should’ve been here by now. The rodeo was well underway. They’d already started
