Karaoke and Cowboys

Sam rested her left arm out the window, singing along with the music, her hat forgotten on the seat behind her, sunglasses on. The ride had turned warm as the sun crept up in the sky, so the girls both discarded their hats and long shirts, opting to drive in their jeans and tank tops instead, with their hair blowing in the breeze. Sam had given up trying to keep her long blonde locks tamed in the long braid, and let them fly where the wind wished. She loved the feeling of the wind on her face. It reminded her of the freedom she felt when riding. The air whipping in her hair, the wind in her face, dirt flying around the barrels...it was pure freedom.

“Girl.. you’d better slow down or your gonna miss the turn!” Dani broke into her thoughts, laughing as she pointed to the county road approaching on their left. 

Sam flipped on Betty’s turn signal and began to slow down, eyeing the trailer in her rearview mirror. Absentmindedly, she reached up and played with her pendant, thinking of her mother. Wish you were here mom, Sam squeezed it, then placed it back under her tank top.

She turned left and pointed her truck west, onto a long county road. “Ugh... are you sure you don’t have us lost yet?” Sam rolled her eyes, eyeing the long horizon stretched out in front of her.

“Oh ha ha,” Dani replied, “The Bennett Territory is literally like in the middle of freakin’ nowhere. But the drive is beautiful. So why don’t you just stop worrying that pretty little head of yours and concentrate on driving.” Dani tossed a gum wrapper at her, successfully making it down the front of Sam’s top. 

“Oh you bitch!” Sam laughed, trying to dig down between her breasts to retrieve the lost wrapper. She laughed smacking at her friend. The girls continued laughing and joking until their favorite Bon Jovi song came on the radio. 

“Ooohhh...Turn it up girl!!” Sam crooned, tapping her fingers along to the opening beats, loving the guitar. “It’s all the same,” she sang out with a western twang, “Only the names will change...”

“Everyday it seems we’re wasting away...” Dani echoed, turning up the music, knowing right where this car pool karaoke bit was headed.  The girls sang this song every chance they had. 

“I’m a COWGIRL... on a steel horse I ride...” they sang out, pulling onto the next turn, a long dirt road marked only with a wooden welcome sign Red River Cattle Company. The girls continued to sing their hearts out, windows down, not caring who heard, or who looked their way. Dani giggled as a few small groups of cowboys on horseback glanced towards the truck, talking aongst themslelves as Black Betty crawled past. Sam smied at them, pulling up to a long line of vehicles awaiting entrance to the rodeo grounds. They slowly pulled up to a line of trucks and trailers, waiting for entrance to what they could only assume was the camp grounds.

“I’m wanted...Dead or Alive!” they crooned, “I walk these streets, a loaded six string on my back” Black Betty slowly creeped in line, making her way towards the rodeo grounds, a large open area unlike anything Sam had ever competed in. The area was huge, with an arena for broncs and bulls, and a separate area for barrels and poles. Next to it must have been a camping area of at least 2 acres. And in the distance was Yellowstone National Park, beautiful as ever. 

Sam was laughing, her eyes dancing with joy, Dani yelling out the words. "Oh, I still drive..."

“I still drive... Dead or Alive... Dead or Alive..oop”  Sam giggled and reached forward, turning down the music when she noticed a couple of young men walking from vehicle to vehicle, slowly approaching their truck. Dani immediately tensed up, her face turning bright red, a hand over her mouth. Sam gave her a goofy look, like a kid caught with their hand in the cookie jar.  

“Hope they liked the show.” she giggled, as she placed her truck in park not bothering to kill the rumbling engine. “That one is carrying a clip board. Hopefully they are checking people in.” Sam watched them closely. 

Typical cowboys, she thought, staring at them. The dark haired one wore tight fitting boot cut jeans that hugged him in all the right places, and a red button down shirt, with the top few buttons open. The blonde one dressed similar but with looser fitting jeans, boots and spurs dragging in the dirt. At least he knows how to button his shirt. 

The two cowboys sauntered up to her door. Sam rolled her eyes at Dani before turning her attention to them. She almost laughed at them, noting that they barely came up to the window in her truck.

“Why hey there,” Sam smiled sweetly, looking down at the two handsome cowboys standing next her door, “Is this where we check in for the rodeo?” She batted her eyes at them then laughed internally when she realized that she still had her sunglasses on.

“It sure is ma’am,” the taller of the two responded, looking up at her from under his dark hair, his green eyes dancing as he made eye contact with Sam. “My name is Ethan, and this guy here is my brother, Toby. We can help you guys get checked in and find your campsite.”

“Well boys, it’s very nice to meet you,” Sam smiled as she brushed her blonde hair back from her face and removed her sunglasses, “ My name is Samantha...Samantha Collins. And this here quiet one sitting next to me is Danielle Morgan.” Dani nodded at Ethan, a small smile spread across her lips.

Ethan’s breath caught in his chest, as he stared at the pretty little blonde smiling back at him. One blue eye one green. His father’s words echoed in his mind. He quickly stole a glance at his brother who nodded ever so slightly in response. Toby looked down at the clipboard as Ethan made small talk with Sam, trying to distract the girls as Toy’s eyes glossed over. 

They’re just arrived. Toby linked with his father. Alpha Michael had wnt with Alex early that morning across the way to the Red River stables and arena, to over see the pack members practicing for this weekend’s events. He wanted to see the progress they were making in the various events.

Good, put them closest to the pack house, Alpha Michael sighed, his stress level increaed as he walked away from the arena. Alex noticed the change in his father's behavior, and followed close behind.

        “They have arrived.” Alpha Michael explained, his demeanor tense as he walked towards the house.

“I want our patrols kept constant, and I want a patrol every five minutes through the rodeo grounds.” ordered Alpha Michael. Alex nodded, as he gave the commands through the pack link.

“It is done Sir,” he responded, walking a step behind his father. He didn’t know who this Samantha was, but he was going to keep an eye on her and her companion. Something about her had his father on edge, and he was going to find out why.

* * * * * * * * * * * *

Sam slowly pulled her truck and trailer into the spot that Ethan had pointed out to her. She cut the engine, and secured the brake, sliding out of the driver’s seat, stretching her long limbs as they hit the ground. The journey was a bit longer than she thought it would be, but worth it. She looked around, smiling at Dani from across the truck seats as they took in their surroundings. The light breeze softly whispering across the field in front of her, making her reminisce of the acres of grain planted at home.

“Damn, will ya take a look at that.” Dani smiled, placing her shades back on her eyes. She shook her long brunette waves out from her head, the bright sun catching the natural caramel highlights, glinting like there were strands of gold woven throughout. “These guys sure know how to pick a spot don’t they?”

Sam smirked, her friend wasn’t kidding. Most rodeos were held at dirty, dust filled old race tracks, or some farmers field. But these guys had money to spare and it definitely showed. The view from their campsite was breathtaking. Somehow she and Dani scored a prime spot, being first timers. Their trailer faced wide, open fields that formed into gentle rolling hills for miles. There were speckles of cattle and horses dotting the horizon for as far as the eye could see, with an occasional mounted cowhand riding amongst them, working the herd. The land seemed to go on forever, meeting crystal blue skies, like something from the movies. The Red River Cattle Company definitely had some beautiful land. Samantha looked around, surveying their home for the next few days. Somehow they were lucky enough to pull the camp site in the corner of grounds, with a shaded area that allowed them to keep their horses outside near their trailer, instead of having to load and unload them nightly for safety. Sam glanced off to her left, in the near distance, noting a massive log cabin type structure. 

Must be the company headquarters, she thought to herself, as she bent over and finger brushed her tangled mass of curls into a semi-controlled grouping in one hand, then flipped her head back up, placing her hair in a high pony tail on top of her head. The heat of the early afternoon sun was warm. Ugh, Goddess Bless, it’s going to be a hot one. She plucked the top of her tank top away from her body, trying to catch a bit of the breeze as it wafted by her, grabbing her sunglasses from her front seat she placed them on, and shut her driver’s side door. She noticed Dani unloading her passenger side, dramatically pulling the extra tack out of the crew cab, groaning loudly as she thumped them on the ground for added effect next to the truck. Sam shook her head laughing at her friend’s antics. “I’m coming, I’m coming.”, shutting her driver’s side door, she came face to chest with an unknown man who was hidden behind it.

“Freeze!” Without a second thought, she drew her Ruger, loading one in the chamber as she pulled the gun from its leather home at her back, aiming it straight at his heart. 

“Hold it right there.” Sam stood her ground, never wavering in her conviction as Dani spoke, appearing silent as a ninja. Her gun appeared over Sam’s shoulder, aimed directly at the unknown man’s chest. This was not the first time the girls had worked together to protect themselves. 

It wasn’t until she heard him clear his throat nervously that she looked up at the cowboy’s face.

“Uh.. Hi Sam..” the deep voice responded nervously.

“Ethan?” Sam questioned, looking at his smirking face, his hands raised in surrender. He pushed his ball cap back off his face, revealing the green eyes and wisp of dark hair from earlier. Recognizing their visitor, she slowly lowered her handgun, removing the clip and expelling the bullet from the chamber, catching it midair, effectively clearing her weapon. She sighed, replacing the bullet in the clip before reassembling her weapon and returning it to the small of her back. 

“What are you doing here?” Dani holstered her weapon, already clearing her gun.

“The Alp..um, Mr. Bennett wanted to make sure you two were getting settled in okay.” Ethan stammered, hitching his hand in his pocket as he leaned against her truck, trying to recover from the recent gun to his chest. 

“As you can see,” Sam opened her cab door, pulling out her duffle bag and blue shirt from the back end before closing it, “I think we can handle ourselves.”

“I see that,” Ethan smiled, feeling bad for any male who attempted anything with these two this weekend, “But since you two are new, we wanted to make sure you two settled in okay.”

“We?” Dani eyed him suspiciously, unhooking the ladder from the side of the trailer before Sam made her way to the top.

“Yeah, well my father, Mr. Bennett, and myself and my brothers,” Ethan smiled at Dani before jumping out of the way of one of the bales of hay Sam tossed down crashed at his feet with a thud. After tossing three more down, Sam sat down on the edge then jumped down, landing with ease. 

“So you are a Bennett Brother huh?” Sam said, acting unimpressed yet with an air of something in her voice. Ethan smirked at her but she rolled her eyes, carrying a bale of hay to the tree line.

“Sure am.” he puffed his chest out with pride at the mention of his family name,  “I’m Ethan Bennett, second oldest.” He bent over, picking up a bale and walked with Dani towards the tree line, depositing it next to Sam’s. Ethan went on to make small talk as the girls set up camp, explaining the basic camp site rules, and a “human” version of the rodeo proceedings. Sam made sure to stay clear of the two of them. She wanted to keep her head clear. Eyes on the Prize. Hearing some snickering and hoof stomping in the trailer caught her attention.

       “Bacardi! Bourbon! Settle your asses down! I’m coming!” Sam called into the open barred windows, banging her hand on the trailer wall. Those horses wanted out and they wanted out now. 

“So...do you ladies need any help with your horses?” Ethan offered, following her to the back of the trailer. Sam appreciated his offer, but something felt off. He had been a little too helpful since they checked in. In fact, he hadn’t really let them out of his sight. 

“Sorry cowboy,” Dani rolled her eyes, coming to the other side of the trailer’s ramp to help, “you will have to find your buckle bunny someplace else.”

“Thanks for the offer Ethan,”  Sam moved to unhook the ramp’s locks, lowering it with Dani’s help. “but we can take care of ourselves.” Ethan smiled at her, raising his hands in defeat and walking over to the trees. Walking the horses out, one by one, the girls walked them to the trees, ground tying them until they could set up a more permanent situation. 

Sam walked over to her truck, grabbing a  length of rope from the back of her truck, and joining Dani near the trees, stretching it across the lower branches of the front three. They then stretched it around the horses, effectively making a small temporary corral for the next few days.

        Satisfied with their temporary solution, Sam then walked over to the trailer and flipped a switch, extending the slide out section. The girls finished setting up the living quarters and moved their duffle bags inside. Sam stepped out and grabbed the foldable lawn chairs from inside the cargo door, setting them up at the front of the trailer. Noticing Ethan still hanging by the trees, near the horses, Sam walked over, feeling bad for the rudeness from earlier.

“Hey,” she called out, watching him feed Bacardi a handful of grass, “ I’d watch out... she bites.”

“The owner or the horse,” Ethan smiled, watching Sam blush. He definitely didn’t mind his assignment. 

“So...um, are there any rules about campfires or curfews or things like that?” Sam looked at Ethan, absentmindedly playing with her pendant on her chain.   She held it away from her neck, running it along the chain, back and forth. 

“Yeah...I mean no, I mean, sure, you guys can have them.” Ethan stammered, his eyes following the pendant in her slim fingers, as if it hypnotized him. “If you guys want to have one it’s fine.” There was an electricity in the air, almost as if it was energized. He could have sworn that there was a copper rim forming around Sam’s eyes, making her Blue eye deepen to a sapphire color and the green one an emerald in color. 

“Great,” Sam dropped the pendant against her chest, below her tank top, and Ethan’s gaze cleared. Ethan blinked, noticing her eyes had returned to their original color. He blamed it on the heat of the day. She was a human after all. Sam smiled as she stepped backwards, making her way back to the trailer, “Maybe you can stop by later, if you aren’t busy that is.” she smiled, turning towards the trailer. “you could even ring your brothers if you want.”

He watched her walk away towards the trailer.  Once she reached the door she paused, a mischievous smile on her face as she opened the door, “It will be nice to meet the guys we are gonna beat ya know.” Then she disappeared inside.

Ethan patted Bacardi’s neck and stepped back, walking into the woods, making his way towards the pack house. He needed to talk to Alex. Something was different about these humans.  

Did you feel that? a voice rumbled in his head. 

Feel it, Hell I was here, he answered, still unsure of exactly what had happened.

What happened? Is everything okay? Are the girls okay? Alex’s voice echoed again, a sense of urgency in his voice. IF anything had happened he knew his father would be furious.

The girls are fine. I am heading up to the house now.  Ethan replied, attempting to come to grips with what happened between himself and Sam. A sudden commotion near the trailer door caught his attention. Still hidden in the woods, he watched, intrigued.

Sam and Dani exited their trailer, music playing from the inside. Dressed in tank tops, jeans, boots and spurs, ball caps and pony tails, Sam and Dani laughed and joked as they  continued their little dance routine to Bad Moon Rising thinking they were alone. 

“I see, a bad moon rising...”

“I see trouble on the way...” Sam danced around, shaking her hips, as she did a little two step with Dani. “I see.. hurricanes and lightening...”

The two carried on, somehow setting up camp between dancing, laughing and singing. They set up a fire pit near the door to their trailer, placing rocks around it for safety. They went into the woods gathering kindling, and fallen wood for their fire. Ethan slowly slipped further away, avoiding detection as he made his way towards the pack house.They set up quite a decent pile next to the fire pit itself before deciding their work was complete for the day. Sam collapsed in a chair, sipping from her water bottle.

“Soooo,” she began slowly, eyeing her friend, who was fishing through their nearby cooler, “I may have invited Ethan and his brothers to a fire tonight.”

“SAM!” Dani turned to wards her friend, furious.