Cowgirl Up ✔️

Chapter Three

"Sweet Ute!"
Mason said grinning as we climbed into the car.
"It's not mine but I get to share driving it."
I explained as I started the engine.
I followed behind Paige who obviously had some idea as to where she was going.
We took a few turns and eventually came to a two storey house that was lit up like a Christmas tree and I could easily hear the music from even inside the Ute.
Thank god I'm not going in there....
I'd be deafened!
"Are you sure you're not going to come in?"
Mason asked, his hand poised on the door handle.
"Yeah I'm sure."
I pasted a smile into place.
"Okay well...enjoy the rest of your weekend!"
He said as he all but leapt out of the Ute.
"Yeah you too."
I muttered as he shut the door.
What a waste this night has been!
I put the car back into drive and checked all my mirrors, windows and blind spots before slowly making my way out onto the road again to head home.
I don't really want to run over some drunk twat...
I reached for the volume knob on the CD player and turned my music up.
Luke Bryan's 'Drinkin' Beer, Waatin' Bullets' was next on the playlist and I sang along with the superstar as I took the road home.

The roads are familiar from my lifetime of living here, but I haven't had my license much more than a year, so I have to concentrate while I get used to driving the roads.
I was singing along to Jaxon Rowan, our Nationally renowned superstar, when not too far out of town, bright lights came up rapidly behind me.
The person was going fast, because the lights were getting brighter and larger every second, their glare telling me they were most likely spotlights.
Then it seemed as though there may be more lights.
Breathe Bailey.
I ordered myself, gripping the steering wheel.
"Just drive."
I told myself.
"They will go around you."
Grandpa will shoot them if they ruin the Ute so they'd better go around...
The roar of protesting engines came behind me and the lights grew even brighter and were sashaying all over the road and into the paddocks alongside the road.
My heart began to pound in my chest and my palms began to sweat.
Please stop!
Should I pull over?
On a horse I'd know what to do!
On a horse, I'd get my horse out the way and push the troublemakers past.
But what do I do in a car?
I decided to keep moving.
By now my speed had dropped to about 80k's and I was okay with that.
There was plenty of room for impatient people to get around on the open country road.
"Breathe Bailey."
I ordered myself, my throat going tight.
"They will go around."
THUNK!
"Aaaaaaaaaaaaah!"
I screamed as the crunch of metal sounded and the tail end of the Ute spun out to the left.
My hands were drawn to one side, then thrown to the other side, following the swing of the wheel as the tyres and axels did their thing, swinging us around to face back the other way.
SMASH!
My eyes widened as a 4x4 smashed into the back of a 4x4 Ute, barely twelve feet away from me!
The larger Ute came my way, skidding on the dirt road.
THUNK!
The crunch of metal came again.
My Ute careened backward and I screamed, gripping the steering wheel tight, leaning forward as if I could stop the car from going backwards.
With a jolting, the Ute hit something behind and came to a stop.
Remarkably, it was still running and my music was still playing.
However my heart was racing, my breathing was shallow and I couldn't focus.
I couldn't see properly, everything seemed fuzzy.
Not even Jaxon's smooth words about wooing a country girl could calm me down.

~&~

Blayze's P.O.V

I was the only one up.
I hadn't made it back to my quarters yet.
Grace and Kylie had insisted I stay up at the main house tonight and get my cottage re-organised tomorrow.
The clock in the kitchen read 10:30pm and everyone else in the house was in bed on this Saturday night.
Bring, bring!
Bring, bring!
Bring-
I snatched the kitchen phone off the wall and held it to my ear.
"Hullo?"
"Blayze?"
The voice sounded shocked.
"Troy?"
I was equally confused.
Why the hell would Troy Davis ring the house at this hour?
Troy cleared his throat.
"Is- is Kylie there?"
What the hell is he after Kylie for?
"She's gone to bed..."
I said slowly.
Where she should be, with her husband.
"What's goin' on?"
"There's been an accident."
Troy explained.
"Who?"
The way I knew it everyone was here.
Maybe some of the hands had gone out...
Oh shit.
Bailey!
"It's Bailey."
Troy said, voice slightly strained.
"Is she okay?!"
I demanded.
"Doesn't appear to be injured. Very rattled though."
Troy answered.
Well no shit she's had her license about a year!
"Where?"
I all but demanded, wishing I could walk out the door now, but this stupid phone is attached to the cradle on the wall by a cord.
"Off the main road outta town, headed back the farm way. About thirty K from town."
Troy explained.
"I'll be there in a minute."
Well, it'll take me more than a minute, but I'll be there as soon as physically possible.
"Okay. If we're not here we'll have moved to the hospital."
"Whatever."
I hung up the phone and went down the hall to Kylie and Paul's bedroom.
It will be awkward to knock on their door.
But I have to let Kylie know what is going on.
I knocked on the door, deciding to push aside the awkwardness.
Bailey comes first.
She always has.
"Who is it?"
Kylie's voice came.
"It's me."
I told her.
I heard scuffling on the other side and the door opened.
"What's up honey?"
She looked concerned.
And I was about to make it worse.
"Constable Davis just called..."
I said slowly.
"There's been a car accident, involving Bailey, but she's alright."
Kylie's hands flew to cover her mouth.
"I shouldn't have let her go!"
She squealed.
I shook my head.
"You couldn't have known, no one could. I'm about to head out there."
"I'll come!"
I shook my head
"Get some rest, you know I'll take care of her."
"You'll take her to the hospital?"
Kylie checked.
"If she's not already there."
I nodded.
"Call me, keep me posted."
Kylie insisted.
"I'll have my phone by me."
"Okay."
I nodded.
I pulled my keys from my pocket and walked out the house to my Ute.
"Blayze!"
I half turned around.
Kylie was in the doorway holding something in her hand.
"You could take the XR8."
She offered.
I walked back to her and took the keys.
"Righto."
She wanted me there fast.
That idea was fine by me...
"Be careful."
She pleaded, worry written all over her tanned face.
"Of course."
I promised.