Free The Roper (Rodeo Nights) by Fancy Moore Page B

roommate was spending another night with Dale. Was Bobby with them?
    Jumping up she peeped out her window to see if she could catch a glimpse of them before they reached the guys room, ashamed of the relief that washed over her when she saw only Jody and Dale. Searching the parking lot, she spotted Bobby by a big pickup, and watched him climb into the back and the cap door close.  
    He wasn’t sleeping with them.  
    She knew she shouldn’t be so pleased with his discomfort of having to sleep on the hard truck bed but she was smiling when she went back to bed.

                                                    

CHAPTER TWO

Turning into the Stop and Go the next morning Casey smiled. It looked like she was their first customer of the day, which was cool with her. Everyone else was probably too hung over to crawl out out of bed and practice. After ordering a breakfast sandwich she handed her thermos over the counter to the clerk. “Strong and black, please, and one large to go.”  
    “Refills on the house,” the clerk smiled handing her the filled thermos.   “Three-fifty for the sandwich and coffee though.”
      Back in her truck she placed the thermos and sandwich on the seat. Ripping the tab on the to go cup she took a small sip, then a larger one. Just what she needed to chase the cobwebs away and really wake up.  
      Once at the compound she parked, jumped out, the sandwich and coffee in her hand. Leaving them on the hood of the truck and ran into the barn to greet her best friend.
      “Morning Gracie,” she chatted. “It’s another gorgeous day.”  
    She slipped the bridle on and led her outside. Picking up the coffee and sandwich she walked over to a patch of green grass and sat eating her breakfast while letting Gracie wander and nibble at the tender green stuff. She loved Gracie. When she wasn’t teaching she spent all her time riding, and training, but it was more than that. Gracie was her rock, always there to listen if she had to vent about a bad day, or share good news. Gracie always greeted her with a welcoming snort, and nuzzle of her velvet lips. Sitting with her friend and watching the sunrise was the perfect way to start the day.  

      Standing under the hot shower Bobby tried to wash away the disappointment of last night when Casey hadn’t met him at the bar. He’d been awake when the sound of a nearby truck started up before sunrise, and something had made him look. When he saw Casey at the wheel of the truck he moved quick, knowing instinctively she was going to the barns. He was hard, thinking about her, what he would like to do her and with her, but he didn’t do anything about it. She owed him a drink and he was going to collect. He made quick work of drying, dressing and getting his ass out the door.  
    Once in his truck he drove out, and around the barn until he saw her truck. After parking next to it, and just watched her as she grasped a handful of mane and swung up on her horse. The smile when her mare reared straight up then did a few little crow hops, was a beautiful thing.  
    “ Bareback, ” he thought as she raced toward the fence of the warm up ring, then cleared it with room to spare. She was a damn good rider.  
    He climbed out of the truck, walked over and leaned on the top rail. She cantered around the barrels that were set up and he knew why she always won. She’d spent a lot of time training and riding. Her and her horse were one, in tune with each other. Then she did something he’d never seen before. She rode the barrels backwards, opposite of the way they should be run, the far barrel first. She rode straight towards him.
    “Morning,” she said.
    “Missed you last night,” he answered. “You owe me a drink.”
    She looked at him, then said, “If you feel like a ride I’ll wait for you. I’ll even share my coffee.”
    “Be right back,” he said turning quickly heading to the barn.
    He bridled his gelding swung up and