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Your biggest fear was Cheyenne. What everyone else called the "Daddy of em all", you called your worst nightmare. The nine day rodeo event is what everyone in the business looked forward to, it's what they prepared the most for.
You knew it wasn't going to be easy when you got into a relationship with Matthew. Everyone and their dog was telling you it was a bad idea getting into a relationship with a cowboy. That one way or another your heart will get broken and there would be no repairing it.
"Alright baby, I'll see you in a couple weeks." Matthew announced just after he finished loading the back of his ford pickup with his suitcases full of clothes and riding gear. Oh, and a cooler that had too much beer inside of it. He kissed the side of your head as you stood on the second stair of the porch. You tilted his hat up a little so that you could get a better look at his features that were glistening in the warm summer sun. The straw hat now resting on the back of his head and his hands were placed comfortably on your hips.
"Are you sure this is a good idea? I really think you should rest before Cheyenne," you suggested one more time, hoping it might just convince him this time. He sighed and clicked his tongue as he leaned his head to the side. Matthew liked working himself to death. He hadn't been in the rodeo business and he'd made a name for himself, but you were afraid that if he kept going to every rodeo he could that he wouldn't be doing it for much longer.
"I can't do that darlin, you know that. We talked about this," he said. And you wanted to immediately correct him, because you remember the entire conversation very well and how it was a one-sided one. He explained to you very well how he didn't think him being away every weekend wasn't an issue, how he was fine and that it was just a way of business. "This is my last season, though."
If you had a dollar for everytime you heard that it was his last season, you could have enough money to buy the neighborhood. But sadly, you knew it was only a matter of time before he got a rude awakening.
"I know that Matty. I just don't think it's the best idea for you to drive eleven hours, go get bucked off a bull, and then drive eleven hours back. It won't hurt to miss one rodeo," Matthew dropped his hands and adjusted his hat. He leaned up and pressed a kiss to your cheek before saying goodbye, "I'll let you know when I get there."
You watched him walk away from you towards his truck. Starting the pickup, the engine bellowed through the neighborhood early in the morning. You got tired of watching him drive away every weekend.
Watching him drive down the road you waited until you couldn't see his truck anymore to go back inside. Fumbling with the ring on your finger that he had given you. It wasn't an engagement ring but it was a promise ring. Marriage wasn't a conversation that Matthew liked to have and even though you knew he was the man you wanted to marry, there was the little devil on your shoulder suggesting that maybe you weren't the one he wanted to marry.
