Miss Rodeo (chap. 1)

*Chapter One*
Dakota Haynes pushed back her silky blonde hair from her shoulders, and walked over to her horse. Her dark, hipster blue jeans hugged her thighs, and her silky, pink blouse was tucked in, one button released. Her belt and belt-buckle was studded with small diamonds, and on the back had her name written with glitter. White-pointed toes of her boots peeked from beneath her jeans.
She grabbed her Stetson off the saddle horn. She settled it firmly atop her hair, and then swung up on her Palomino, Honey-Love.
Honey-Love was a four-year-old Quarter horse of Palomino coloring, with the usual light tan body, white mane and tail. Honey-Love had a white stripe on her muzzle she hated being touched.
“Dakota!”
She turned and saw Britney Lewis.
Britney waved, and then blew a kiss. “I wish ya bucket load full of luck on this run! Ashlee was pretty good.”
Dakota reached her hand out, pretended to catch the kiss, and pressed it to her cheek. “Thank-you, Brit!” Dakota glanced over at seventeen-year-old Ashlee Duncan, who was the prettiest girl in the rodeo. Also one of the toughest rides to beat. She and her horse seemed to move together as one, and she had been barrel racing since she was barely two years old. Dakota had just started a few years professionally. Although had already proven to be a good rider.
The rodeo announcer spoke. “Dakota Haynes on Honey-Love, Britney Lewis on deck!”
Dakota trotted Honey-Love out, and when she was ready, half a second later, took off for the first barrel. She took a sharp turn, cutting it close. Dirt stirred. Around the next barrel…more dust from the trampled dirt. Around the last barrel.
“Give her a hand in the comin’ in!” the announcer said. The crowd began clapping, and yelling wildly. “Looks like Ashlee Duncan on Showy and Dakota Haynes on Honey-Love have tied in first place at twelve-point thirty-two!” Give the girls a hand!”
The crowd clapped. Britney grinned at Dakota. “Told ya.”
“I did just as good, not better,” she replied, but wore a big grin anyways. Tying in first with Ashlee was pretty good.
Ashlee Duncan nudged Showy over to Dakota. “Good run,” Ashlee said, sitting perfectly straight, face flawless.
Dakota cracked a smile. “Thanks.” Dakota studied Ashlee’s face. She wondered when the last time a pimple had broken through the flawlessly tan face. “Is your brother okay?” Dakota asked. Bareback bronc riding had been the first event, and Ashlee’s brother, Clay, had ridden. He had been bucked off, and a hoof had caught in the chin.
Ashlee flicked her eyes over Dakota’s clothing, then back into her eyes. “Yeah, Clay’s going to be fine. The doctor said his jaw’ll be sore for awhile, and he chipped a bottom tooth, but he’ll survive. You can go see him.”
Dakota nodded. “I think I will.” Dakota nudged her horse. Only reason she even was cordial to Ashlee Duncan was because her brother was in love with her, and told her to be nice. Personally, she didn’t even see why her brother continued to date Ashlee.
She found Clay and got off of Honey-Love. “How’s your jaw?” she asked.
He looked up, and smile. She didn’t. “Sore.”
“You passed out from a kick that didn’t break it,” Dakota said dryly.
“Hey, it hurt!” he protested. “Go get yourself kicked in the jaw, and see how it feels.”
“I’m sure it hurts,” she replied. “So, did ya hear, Ashlee and I tied for first place.”
Clay bobbed his head. “Congratulations, Dakota. Tying with Ash musta been hard to do.”
Dakota lifted her chin a notch. “Just because I haven’t ridden as she doesn’t make me less a rider.”
He stood. “Okay, I’m sorry to offend you.”
Dakota drew in a deep, shuddering breath. She could stand the Duncan family. They were the perfect family. She would bet they had their problems, although to maintain their social standing, they wouldn’t expose them. Or discuss them.
“I should apologize,” Dakota said softly. “I shouldn’t be so defensive.”
Clay smiled. “Lets forget it. Oh yeah, my mom wants to know if you have that book report written up yet.”
The five rodeo families that always traveled together all home schooled, and the parents all helped out by giving assignments to everyone, and checking the stuff.
Dakota shook her head. “Not yet. Just finished the book last night; I plan on writing it tonight.”
“What book did ya pick anyways?” he asked, “I picked a murder mystery.”
Dakota chuckled. “I read some fantasty book.”
Clay smiled, and gave her a curious look. “Do you have a date this weekend?”
Dakota flickered her eyes up to meet his briefly before looking back down. “What’s this weekend?”
“Remember? The fourth of July, and us teens always go out and have the day to ourselves before the rodeo at the fairgrounds?” replied Clay laughingly.
Dakota shook her head, and lifted her eyes. “Why do I need a date then?” She slid her hands into her pockets. “Besides, Brit and I are gunna hang out.” She pulled her hands out, and turned. She swung up on Honey-Love. “See ya, Clay.”
He watched her go. Then sat back down. She was as tight as Ashlee was loose.
Dakota found Britney. She was jumping around, and screaming with a group of younger girls. “What’s up?” Dakota asked over the noise.
Britney broke free, and rushed over. When Dakota got off her horse, Britney enveloped her in a hug. “I came in second place! Isn’t that amazing?”
“Wow!” Dakota gasped. She squeezed Britney back. “Congratulations, Britney.”
“My parents are totally gunna flip,” Britney said on a contented sigh. “They’ll be so proud of me.”
Dakota smiled. She wondered why Britney was still even riding in the rodeo; she knew it wasn’t Britney’s passion in her life. Her goal was to go to school and become a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit nurse. Britney loved babies, and a few years ago, her baby sister had been in the NICU for two months. Britney had always said since it could break her heart more easily then.
Dakota had told her many times to just fellow her heart, and leave. Britney always shook her head, and said wants to submit to her parents. Get their blessing. Dakota couldn’t understand that, not matter how often Britney explained it to her.
“So, lets go tell your parents,” Dakota said, grabbing Honey-Love’s reins, and lead her. Britney took her horse’s reins, and together they walked around until they found them.
“I came in second place!” Britney exclaimed, thrusting her reins at Dakota, and running into her parent’s arms.
“Oh, baby!” her mom cried. “Congratulations!”
“I’m so proud of you!” her dad said with a beaming smile.
Dakota smiled softly.
A few hours later, as Dakota and Britney sat outside under the stars, Dakota brought up the subject of nursing.
“Why don’t you leave for college in the fall?”
“Dakota, I’d have to be accepted. Besides, my parents say no.”
“You’ll be eighteen soon enough. And, besides the few extra credits you’re getting this summer, you’re done with high school.”
“I know. But I don’t wanna leave on bad terms with my parents. God call us to honor our parents.” Britney gave one of her peaceful smiles. “Besides, if this is God’s will for my life, I will go to school for it. If I honor God, He’ll make it happen on His timing; the only timing I want.”
Dakota studied her hands. Britney always talked about God. Ever since her now five-year-old sister was born. How in five short years did Britney change so quickly? It was a good change, although sometimes Dakota felt unworthy of Britney’s friendship. Not that she ever let on.
“Why don’t you just ask your parents if you could apply and see what they’d say?”
Britney smiled. “I thought about that, and actually I did ask a couple weeks ago. They want me to take a online nursing classes until next year. We found one that’s cheaper than college. If I like it, I’ll go to college, and get more hands-on experience.” She giggled.
Dakota slapped her arm. “Britney Rose! Why didn’t you ever tell me?” she cried, laughing.
“Because I wanted to wait and see how long before you broached the subject again,” replied Britney, eyes twinkling.
“You are so mean!”
“I try,” she giggled.
Dakota pulled her into a tight hug. After the hug was through, she told her what Clay had asked. “He wanted to know if I had a date this weekend. It’s like, no, and what’s that to you?”
Britney smiled impishly. “He probably wanted to ask you out, Dakota. You shouldn’t be so cold to him.”
“Even if he did wanna ask me out, I wouldn’t even think about saying yes,” she spat, “he’s an egotistic, arrogant jerk.”
“A really hot jerk,” she giggled.
Dakota asked sarcastically, “Why don’t you ask him out?”
Britney looked shocked. “I do not ask guys out! Besides, he’s not my type.”
“What is your type?”
“The strong silent type. Clay’s way too outspoken. He has pretty good qualities that I admire in a guy, but…I dunno. I guess you could say he’s too full of himself. I want a guy who is focused on God, and not himself.”
“Have fun tryin’ to get a guy like that,” muttered Dakota darkly.
A sweet smile curved Britney’s lips. “I think God’ll bless me with a man like that someday. Of course--” her eyes twinkled mischievously--”that could take a few more years.”
A few minutes later, Dakota received a text message, saying it was time she came inside and go to bed. They had a small, mobile camper that would get hitched to the back of the car. Her dad would the drive big Ford 350 with the four-horse trailer behind it.
Dakota walked Britney to her camper that was set up, then began the walk to hers. It wasn’t too far from Britney’s.
“Clay, would you stop bein’ so glue to Dakota?” she heard Ashlee inquire, voice full of anger.
“I am not glued to Dakota, Ashlee,” he defended. “I’m friendly--to everyone. I’m sorry if you have a problem with it.”
“Then stop being so friendly to her,” Ashlee argued, “she’s my rival, and I hate when you betray me like that be being so sweet to her.”
“C’mon, Ash,” Clay pleaded, “she is a nice girl. Rides almost as good as you. I always thought you two would make good friends. But no, you won’t even be friends outside the arena.”
“I cannot be friends with my toughest rival, Clay. She’s standing between me and the prize I’ve always sought.”
“Which is…?”
“Rodeo queen,” she supplied.
Dakota hurried off. Wasn’t it enough Ashlee had been Miss Rodeo Princess the past two years? Won every first place prize the last two years? No, Ashlee Duncan was a spoiled brat who had to get everything.
Dakota went insider her camper, got in her pajamas, (an oversized T-shirt and a pair of shorts) brushed her teeth, and got in bed, after braiding her hair quickly.

(I apologize for any mispelled words or ones left out.)