The Roper (Rodeo Nights) by Fancy Moore

thinks so you don’t have skirt around it. It’d be a hard thing for most men to resist. I know Jody too,” he snickered. “For some guys she hard to turn down.”
    “Not when you love Casey,” Bobby said.
    “Like I said, she’s hurting real bad. You’re going to have to have enough patience to wait and not push her. I’m only telling you this because I believe you. Wouldn’t hurt to tell her you love her instead of telling her she’s yours either. I know she loves you.”
    “I don’t have much time. Circuit’s over in less than two weeks. I don’t know her last name or where she lives or anything.”
    “ Her last name is the same as mine. Smith.   She’ll take your head off for following her.”
    “Thanks,” Bobby said standing, his hand out to shake.
    “Don’t push her, just be there for her. I’m going to tell her we talked.”
    “Good,” he said swinging up onto his horse in a hurry to get to Casey. Somehow he had to make everything right for her.

    She was waiting for him when he walked his horse up to the stall, her arms crossed, her foot tapping.  
    Mad, she was steaming mad, the hurt still in her eyes and all he wanted to do was hold her, and make everything better.
    She slapped him hard across the face.  
    “How dare you follow me,” she said slapping him again. “I loved you. I even wanted what we doing because it was you. I hate you now.” She flew at him hand raised. He stood there taking her slaps. When she stopped he wrapped his arms around her, pulled her tight against him.  
    “I love you Casey,” he whispered.
    “You lying bastard.” She was crying, deep sobs wracking her body.
    “Don’t Casey,” he whispered. “Please don’t. I can’t stand to see you hurting. I’ll stand here and you can beat on me all want, just please don’t cry.” He pulled her closer.  
    “I followed you because I was worried about you. I couldn’t let you out of my sight. I love you Casey. I need you in my life, close to me loving me, not hating me,” he said holding her tighter. He hadn’t been there for her, to help her, to talk to her and to hold her.
    “I have to go,” she said pulling away from him.
      She was going to run. He felt it then saw it in her eyes. She’d be lost without Gracie, but he’d help her. It might be a long time before she’d believe in him again but he would be there for her. She hadn’t come to him about Gracie and wouldn’t let him help her. She said she had loved him, not did love him.
    “Come home with me Casey,” he whispered against her ear.
    “No,” she said jerking away from him.
    “Then I’ll drive you home. I’m not asking, I’m telling you. “
    He held her hand and walked her back to the motel, up the steps and into her room. “Pack up your stuff then we’ll go talk to Bobby and Jody,” he said.
    Picking up her bag Bobby wrapped his arm around her and walked her to his room.  
    Casey watched them talk, not really paying any attention to what they were saying. Jody hugged her, telling her how sorry she was.
    “See you tomorrow and thanks,” Bobby sad to Dale.
    He still was holding her tight when they walked to her truck. “Why are you holding on to me? I can walk,” she asked.
    “So you don’t run away from me,” he answered opening the door for her.
    They pulled out, the empty trailer behind them. She hadn’t said a word to him and wouldn’t look at him, An hour later he pulled over into the parking lot of a gas station.
      “Come here,” he whispered pulling her close to him. “I just need to hold you Casey.”
    He held her tight to him feeling her body start to shake then tasted the quiet tears running down her face as he lightly kissed her cheek.
    “Can you talk to me Casey?” he asked using his thumb to wipe away her tears.
    “Amazing Grace. That was her name. She was my best friend. I told her everything, all my secrets and all my thoughts,” she whispered. “I even told her how I felt about you, how you