Rodeo Queen (One Direction)

Chapter 1

*A/N- Okay, sorry this is short, but I am writing more right now! I just wanted to go ahead and put this beginning bit up so that you guys could read some. Don't worry, the boys WILL be in here soon. I promise(;

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My heart thumped so loudly I couldn’t figure out how the crowd couldn’t not hear it. Josie was tense underneath me, her breath coming in and out slowly, readying for the ride of her life. 

“And now, contestant number nine, Lacy Black! Please give her a round of applause!” announcer Ted Hughes boomed over the speakers. The crowd went wild, as they always did when Ted asked them to be. 

Cowboys sat on railings, watching me to make sure my large palomino didn’t freak out with the craziness that was the San Antonio Livestock Show and Rodeo. This was the rodeo part. 

My hands were shaking nervously. This was my first actual competition that counted. If I won this, I would be able to participate in Houston, Dallas, and some of the national rodeos. This was the ride that counted. 

Suddenly everything slowed down, as I readied myself for the horn. Josie leaned back on her haunches, her huge Quarter horse thigh muscles clenching, ready to push off. 

Hoooooooooooonk. My heels clicked to Josie’s sides and suddenly I was flying. My cowboy hat flew behind me, staying on only by the thin rope attached to it. Josie turned around the first barrel, my foot less than an inch from it. The crowd cheered. I didn’t look at the time, I didn’t look at the crowd, I focused all my attention on the barrel in front of me. I leaned forward, urging Josie to gallop faster. Sure enough, she went faster, rounding the second barrel, my foot touching it. Crap. The barrel moved, dangerously close to tipping, but it settled back onto the dirt. The crowd seemed to let out a breath. Last one, I thought. Josie reached the third barrel, her breathing coming out in fast gasps. Come on girl, I mentally hoped she received it. I clicked my heels to her sides and she sped up, running around the barrel, the toe of my boot brushing the side. And then we were around and I was digging my heels into Josie’s golden sides, urging her to run as fast as her body could go. And we were across the finish line. Josie slowed and I turned her. My breathing was hard and so was Josie’s. I felt great about that ride. Hopefully I my time was a 16 or 17 second ride. That could probably get me into third or fourth place. The other girls had been scoring around those times. Then something caught my attention as I rode back up to check my score. 

The crowd was silent.

Oh no. I couldn’t have done that bad. A feeling of dread made me want to throw up. I closed my eyes, lifting my face to the scoreboard, the orange letters showing what I earned. But before I could get the courage to look at my time, Ted Hughes’ voice yelled over the speakers, “It looks like we got ourselves an undiscovered star here folks. Lacy Black received a time of 14.8 seconds!” The crowd roared, their voices deafening. I couldn’t believe my ears. I was sure I looked like an idiot as I stared as the numbers flashed on the screen above me, and the camera zoomed in on me. “We have a new first place!” Ted Hughes announced. 

Ted’s voice brought me back to reality, and I smiled and waved at the crowd. Two horses, a paint and a bay, ridden by a girl and a boy trotted up to me. The girl held the Texas flag and the boy held the American flag. They both nodded at me and then started a leisurely lope around the arena. I followed behind them, waving and smiling, still barely being able to believe my luck. I won. The crowd was cheering for me and only me. I had earned a time of 14.8 seconds. I silently screamed in my head as we finished our parade and Josie trotted back towards the pens. The crowd was still cheering even after I disappeared from their view. 

I hopped off my palomino, stroking and patting her neck. Looking into her big brown eyes I smiled, “You did great babygirl. Couldn’t have done it without you.” Josie nuzzled me in response. I walked her back to her stall and took off her saddle and bridle. After brushing her and making sure she had plenty of food and water, I sagged against the wooden stall. I was ecstatic. This was what I lived for. This feeling. After all of the sacrifices and hard work I went through to get here, I had finally done it. 

“There you are.” I looked up and my dad looked down at me, grinning from ear to ear. I jumped up, leaping into his arms and he chuckled, wrapping his arms around me. “I knew you could do it!” He pulled away and handed me the trophy and plaque I received for getting first. I read them over and over again. 1st place. 1st place. 

I gave them back. “Put these somewhere safe, okay?” I asked, kissing him on the cheek. 

“Alright, don’t forget, you gotta help me set up for the band tonight,” my dad said and I nodded. 

“Got it.”