In the meantime, Ezra had a personal organizer out and was calculating the odds of the various contestants. He smiled as a crowd gathered round and logged the amounts each person was placing on the events, and collected the money. Ezra looked to be in his element.

Vin and Ridley walked over to help Karol and Josiah.

Ridley smiled,"Hey need me to do anything?"

Karol looked around,"Not right now but if something happens I'll need your help.

For now go have fun."

Ridley smiled "Thanks." she then turned and walked away with Vin.

Laura and Nathan made their way over to Chris to see what he needed them to do.

"What do you need us to do?" Laura asked, hooking her thumbs in the belt loop of her jeans. After the parade she had changed out of her better riding clothes and put on some of her work clothes instead. Nathan had changed out of his own riding clothes and into some of the ranch clothes he wore when he helped out at Laura's.

"I want Nathan nearby in case we have any medical emergencies," Chris said. "I know we have EMT's on duty, but I feel better knowing we have Nathan in case we need him."

"You got it," Nathan said.

"Laura, I need you to work the steers on horseback," Chris said. "We got some of your ranch hands doing it too, but I want you there too. You know I trust ya with that."

"I've already saddled Midnight," Laura said.

"Thanks," Chris grinned.

Trina smiled to Drew after they were settled. “Is Buck riding today?”

Drew smiled proudly, “yes he´s in the Bull Riding event and my baby´s gonna win!” She looked to Ezra and took out a twenty. “Put me down on Buck taking first in Bull riding.”

Ezra nodded and logged it in. "He is favored to win, this event Drew."

Drew grinned. "Course he is."

Trina was surprised to see Ezra taking bets but didn't say anything. Ezra reached out and took Trina's hand, kissing it. He looked to her. "I love you."

Trina blushed. "I love you too."

"Oh stop, you two. You're making everyone ill," Drew said, pretending to gag over her laughter.

"Us? Sister dear, I assure you, that if anyone is making other nauseated, it is you and that rapscallion you call a husband."

Trina just laughed.

“Hey!” Drew laughed. “Buck and I know how to give each other good lovin, you´re just jealous.” She winked and sighed, “I just can´t get enough of my man.”

The bareback riding event was fixing to start.

Trina noticed a new locket Drew was wearing. “Did Buck get you that for Valentine´s Day?”

Drew bounced happily, “yes he did. It was his mother´s. He also planted me a field of daisies out on our land. And he took me out to see it. It´s sooo beautiful!” Daises were Drew´s favorite flower. “And guess what?”

“What?” Trina laughed.

“The foundation on the house is done. Almost built too. He also already has a pretty good sized corral up and a stable!” She looked down, “I guess it kept him busy while I was gone. I should have been here.”

Trina hugged her, “you are now.”

Drew looked to Trina, “did you get a necklace too?” She put her hand on it examining. “Oh it´s beautiful! What is that thingy?” She looked at the Celtic symbol. “That like your families symbol or something? It´s real pretty.”

"It is a Scottish love-knot," Trina said. "It means that our lives are entertwined by our hearts." Trina smiled, looking at it again.

Drew cooed, “oooooo that´s so sweet!”

The crowd erupted in cheers again as they saw Chris getting ready to ride. The announcer came on “and now up in our Bareback-riding event is our own local hero Chris, ‘Bareback´ Larabee!”

Drew watched the event in awe. She had never been to a rodeo before even though her husband and Chris both use to ride pro. Both men were limiting themselves to a few of the events out of fairness to the others. Buck and Chris both had been champions when they rode the circuit. The only event Buck was participating in today would be the bull-riding event.

Chris easily swept his event and everyone saw why they called him ‘Bareback´ Larabee. Frank Davidson came in second, Juan Calero in third, JD Dunne in fourth, and Leon Spottedwolf in fifth.

Trina and Drew stood up on their seats and cheered for JD as he walked forward to get his ribbon. Buck stood watching proudly. He had been coaching the kid all year long and JD had done real good for his first rodeo event.

Karol sat by the fence and watched the event. She cheered as JD and Chris received their ribbons. She turned to Josiah "JD did really good."

Josiah nodded."Buck has been training him."

She nodded "I'm happy he did so well.”

Buck´s event was next. Drew waited with anticipation as another rider started off the Bull-Riding Event. She paled. She had no idea it was so rough. The first rider had been thrown from the bull after the first few seconds.

Ezra looked around Trina to Drew. “Remember Buck was pro, these other individuals are just locals trying it out. He´ll be fine.”

A Few more riders went. Drew biting her nails watching and hoping Buck wouldn´t get thrown.

Soon Buck was on his way out of the pen. Drew stood up on her feet. “Go Baby Go! Go Buck! I love you!!!” She sighed as she watched him. He was wearing a tight black t-shirt and his muscles rippled as his hands kept a firm hold.

Further up the stand Lacey stood up and whistled, “You go Stud!”

Drew frowned and turned back glaring to the woman then laughed when she saw her battered face. She hollered up. “Yo Lacey! Love the look. Sit down and shut up before I add to it!”

Several people in the crowd laughed and the two women behind Drew gave her a thumbs up. “You go girl, put that tramp in her place.”

Lacey scowled at Drew and sat down after seeing Trina shoot her a glare then several other women as well.

She turned back and smiled as Buck finished up. He had been the best bull-rider so far. “Yeah baby yeah! That´s MY MAN! Woohoo!”

A few of the other riders did fairly well too with a only a few minor injuries. The winners were announced.

“And in first place, as if it is any surprise to you all is another local hero, Buck Wilmington!”

Buck took his trophy and held it up scanning the stands for his wife. He smiled when he spotted her waving.

“This is for you Sunshine! I love ya gal!” Buck blew her a kiss and smiled broadly.

Drew waved and bounced, “I love you too, Buck! Way to go!”

Josiah and Karol stood up and cheered loudly for Buck.

The announcer cleared his throat. “Second place goes to Austin Rogers.”

The Fitzpatrick´s were on their feet cheering their ranch hand for his win. Austin waved his hat up at them with a grin. As he left the corral, Laura leaned down and gave him a hug.
 

“In third Phillip Rodriguez, Fourth Kyle Rawlings, and fifth our very own Pastor Carlisle.”

The crowd clapped and cheered again then laughed as Buck did his chicken dance holding his trophy back to the pen area.

Buck waved to Karol and the others as he passed them doing his dance.

Karol waved back and laughed as Buck danced by her and Josiah. Josiah just shook his head grinning.

Drew stood up and stretched her legs and smiled to Trina who was leaning on Ezra. Her brother couldn´t have asked for a better mate and she was happy for them both. “Well I´m going to leave you lovebirds for a bit and go get a soda.”

Trina smiled up to Ezra. Now that Chris and Buck had done their events, she was ready to get away from the rodeo for a while. "Ken we go look at the craft exhibits?" Trina asked.

Ezra nodded. "All right, my love." He stood up, then offered her a hand. Ezra hugged her and smiled down to her for a moment before leading her off. Truthfully, he'd rather return home and spend some quality time with Trina alone.

Drew made her way down the stand and over towards one of the refreshment stands.

Julio was standing with some friends and smiled. He walked over to her. “Hola Chica. I see your man won his event.”

“Yes he did,” Drew smiled proudly.

Julio shrugged and looked to her. He still had a huge crush on her and wished she felt the same way about him too. He could see in her eyes that the only man she loved was her husband. “So how have you been?”

“I´ve been good.” Drew´s eyes lit up as she saw Buck approaching them. “I´ll talk to you later Julio.” She rushed over to Buck throwing herself into his arms wrapping her legs around his mid-section as he held onto her. “Congratulations!” She took of his Stetson and placed it on her head. “I got me a real cowboy!”

Buck laughed and spun her around. “Well that´s exactly what I needed right there.” He placed his hands on her bottom giving it a squeeze before he set her down. Buck took her hand and led her over to a corner so they could have a little privacy. Soon the two were liplocked.

Julio shook his head and walked off.

Karol went through and checked on a horse favoring its leg. Josiah stood nearby and watched,"You know Josiah you don't have to stay."

He nodded "I know but I like to watch you work."

She laughed "You like to see me up to my ankles in mud?"

Josiah chuckled,"I'll get us something to drink."

"That´s a great idea. I should be done by the time you get back."

He nodded and walked off. By the time he got back Karol was sitting on the sidelines and the next event was about to take place.

After the break Drew went back up into the stands to sit with Trina and Ezra for the last rode event of the day. She smiled and waved to Laura´s mother who was sitting a few rows away.

The last event was Steer wrestling and was over fairly quickly with Dwayne coming in first, Craig Eaglefeather in second, Sean Fitzpatrick third, The Reverend Carlisle in fourth and James Simpson in fifth.

Laura laughed as she saw her brother's kids starting to dance around in excitement for their grandfather. She was pulled off of Midnight and swung around by her father. The horse, used to the man's displays of affection, never flinched or moved. Nathan patted Sean's back and was enveloped in a bear hug from his future father-in-law. Sean walked away from the corrals to be greeted by the other members of his family.

.