The Knot He Ties

Meeting Not Planned

Brett, a handsome, chisel-featured, 24 year old guy sits in the stands and waits for his buddies to get back with the beers. He glances at his phone as the tie-down roping competition is set to start in five minutes and he desperately wants his beer. This is by far the most amount of people he has seen at the Stampede, but he's not that surprised, since it's the first year back after the pandemic. He reaches up and loosens the bolo tie at his neck and undoes the top button of his shirt. People start standing up next to him as his buddies make their way back to their seats. Jared passes him a cool beer and he immediately takes a sip.

"Cheers," Brett says as Jared holds his own beer up.

"Bottoms up!" Jared says as he drains his. Brett chuckles as Jared is passed a second drink. 

"What, I couldn't not come prepared," Jared says, laughing and shrugging. 

"Next time, bring me a second one, too!" 

"Who said I didn't," Jared says with a grin. Another beer is passed down the line as Brett barks a laugh and drains his in a couple of chugs. 

"Now we're talking!" Brett says as he wipes his top lip and grabs the second beer. 

The announcer starts introducing the event and the competitors while the crowd loses their minds. A huge grin creeps across Brett's face and is mirrored on every one of the faces around him. The round starts when the cowboy nods and the calf is released. The first few competitors average about eight and a half seconds, to the delight of the crowd. 

A while later, Brett leans over and says to Jared, "I gotta piss." 

Jared nods once in recognition as Brett gets up and does the awkward side shuffle past the people sitting in the row next to him, "sorry, 'scuse me, sorry..." He makes it out and finds the closest washrooms no problem. When he exits, he turns to head back to his seat but remembers that he finished his second beer and so pivots to head the other way, when he bumps into someone. Instinctively, he reaches out and steadies the person, "sorry," he says, voice low and raspy from the hollering he's been doing. His mouth goes dry as he realizes that who he bumped into is the most stunning woman he has ever seen. She is petite with big brown eyes, olive skin, and a smile that almost stops his heart. He drops his hands and clears his throat.

"I'm so sorry!" she exclaims, holding two beers, now half empty, away from her body.

"Ah shit. Did I do that?" Brett says, pointing to the cups and the beer soaking into the bottom of her shirt.

"Meh, it happens," she says, shrugging. 

"No, it's my fault, let me buy you new ones."

"Well, that's kind of you, thank you," she smiles up at him and he forgets his next breath. 

"No," he starts, but is distracted when she chugs the rest of both beers and tossed the cups into the trash can nearby. She grabs some napkins and starts dabbing away at the liquid, unknowingly causing her shirt to expose her midriff and the tattoo on her hip that pokes out above her low-rise, cut-off, jean shorts.

"No...?" she says, in a way that encourages him to continue. He shakes his head to clear it and forces his eyes higher. 

"Uhh, no, it's the least I can do," he manages to finish.

"Well, still," she stops and glances up at him, "thank you." Her sincerity and eye contact makes him blush a little. "I'm Carly, by the way," she says sticking her hand out between them. 

He reaches up and takes her smooth palm in his, "Brett. Nice to meet you." 

"Indeed," she says smiling again. 

Stay tuned for more...