Cowgirl Up ✔️

Chapter Forty Five

The view was magical as I drove at a measly 45k's.
The afternoon sun was already beginning to sink in the sky even though it was only 4:30.
A worn double path acted as the 'driveway' due to year's of people bringing their car's up here and forging a path to get through.
Thankfully most people had stuck to the one path and now there was bare dirt where there was once grass, wide enough that truck tyre's could come up here.
Which meant the all terrain tyre's Blayze's Ranger sported, easily managed the track.
Shrubbery and wild grass lined the man enforced driveway as you climbed the steady but slight incline.
A few tree's dotted the top of the cliff, making a picture perfect view in a pretty sunset.
I saw Noah's car parked up and that Hayley had evidently brought her Mum's Suzuki.
I eased the Ranger off to the side and once we were parked, Azlan stood, looking eagerly out of the window.
"You wouldn't think you've been out Mustering today."
I told the dog, reaching over to rumple his pointed ear's.
He turned his head to offer me a doggy grin and wagged his tail.
"Behave yourself or I'll lock you in here."
I warned.
He just wagged his tail harder.
"C'mon then."
I pushed the driver's door open and climbed down from the car.
Azlan scampered out after me, making a flying leap off the seat.
Thankfully he didn't hit the ground running.
Blayze would kill me if I lost his dog, worse than if I broke his car.
"You stay with us."
I warned Azlan.
He trotted to my side.
"Good boy."
I bent to pat his head.
Next I pushed the driver's door of the Ranger shut and braced myself to go and tell my girl's my new's.
"Bailey!"
Scurrying footstep' reached my ear's.
I startled.
Azlan barked and moved to stand protectively in front of me.
Oh my god!
Although my heart beat a little faster, I already knew it was Noah and Hayley.
I nudged Azlan's side with my knee.
Bloody Blayze emitting 'protective' vibes onto his dog's!
Noah's eyes were wide as she rounded the hood of the Ranger.
"You drove Blayze's car?"
A grinning Hayley followed Noah.
"Whoa! Is he going soft, or are your power's getting stronger?"
Azlan wagged his tail.
"Yes, you know the girl's."
I bent to pat the dog.
Noah placed her hand's on her hip's and levelled me with a stare.
"Okay what's going on?"
"Whaddya...mean?"
I asked nervously.
Do they already know?
How could they already know?
Have they guessed?
Noah gestured to the Ranger and then nodded toward Azlan.
"Blayze has lent you his car and one of his dog's."
Azlan wagged his tail.
I couldn't help but laugh.
"No."
I shook my head.
"Azlan just jumped into the car and we decided to let him come."
Noah eyed me sceptically.
Hayley came forward.
She went to reach for me, then seemed to think better of it, obviously concerned I might be contagious.
"How are you? Feeling any better?"
Inwardly I laughed at that one.
I braved a smile and turned toward Noah.
"Let's hear No out. She said she need's to talk."

We trudged toward the vacant space between Noah's car and Hayley's Mum's car.
With surprise, I noticed one of the girl's had set up a black, blue and white picnic blanket and had a few container's of treat's sitting on it.
We settled on the picnic blanket and Azlan sat next to me.
I gently scratched under the Kelpie's chin.
"Since when are you such a sooky boy?"
Blayze got him as an eight week old Pup and virtually from word go Azlan was taught to do the hell as he was told.
He wasn't even allowed to chew on you using his sharp puppy teeth.
Being ten year's old myself, I'd thought Blayze was being too mean.
These day's I saw why he was right though.
Azlan know's right from wrong, he obey's every command and since he was nine month's old he hasn't needed to wear a leash, not even in town.
When he's with Blayze he's with Blayze.
With Zeus being American Staffy and the breed being notorious for choosing brawn over brain's, it took almost until he was eighteen month's old for him to be at the same obedience level.
Azlan darted his tongue out, as if he wanted to lick me and wagged the tip of his tail.
Okay...
I turned back to the girl's.
Distracted though, my senses caught onto the view ahead of us.
Over the drop side of the cliff, the tree's and shrubbery grew thick.
Bird's warbled in the tree's as they got about searching out their dinner before it was time to bed down in the safety of the tree's.
The long grasses that lined the cliff edge rustled gently in the breath of afternoon wind.
The sun was beginning to change to orange and was starting to cast a golden glow on the lighter coloured grasses around us.
It really was beautiful.
"Bail's?"
"Huh?"
I blinked and shook my head.
Hayley laughed.
"You zoned out there!"
I felt my cheeks burn.
"Sorry!"
I looked toward Noah.
"So No, what's up?"
Noah pasted a smile into place, but I could see the watery cracks behind it.
"I just needed a catch up with you guy's after a week from hell."
"Is it really that bad that people think of you and Codie creating a little person together?"
Hayley asked gently.
Uh oh...
Tear's filled Noah's eyes.
And Noah doesn't cry.
"It is when it's not true."
Her voice cracked.
"Are you...sure?"
Hayley asked carefully.
"Yes!"
Noah threw her hand's up in exasperation.
"I even took a test yesterday to assure Mum and Georgie it's not true."
Her eyes got more glassy and her lip's trembled.
Oh crap.
I have to tell them.
I wound my arm's protectively around my stomach.
Azlan whined and tried to wriggle his head under my elbow.
It's now or never Bailey.
I took a deep breath, hoping to find some courage.
"Guy's?"
My voice came out squeak like even to my own ear's.
Both girls' head's snapped my way.
Realisation hit Noah.
Her eyes widened and seemed to immediately fill with a hundred more tear's.
Hayley watched me curiously.
"It's me."
I confessed.
"And No, I'm so sorry it somehow got thrown onto you."
I added quickly, my voice growing shaky.
Azlan whined and tried again to get his head under my arm.
Absently, I moved a hand to pat his silky head.
Hayley's eyes widened.
"Y-?"
I nodded.
"Oh my god."
Noah crawled over to me and pulled me into a bone crushing hug.
I felt a few tear's hit my eyes.
The stupid thing was, I couldn't place an emotion to them.
Happy?
Relieved?
Sad?
Anxious?
"How-? We didn't-? I don't get it!"
In the end Hayley's voice came out squeak like.
I couldn't help but laugh.
Noah pulled back from me and I wiped at my eyes in an attempt to rid the few tear's.
Noah too wiped at her eyes.
I took in a deep breath and told the girl's about the last couple of month's.
Hayley smacked her hand's against her knees.
"I was right!"
At that, Noah laughed.
Smiling, I shook my head.
"So are you guy's like together?"
Hayley asked eagerly, her grey eyes sparkling.
I felt my cheek's heat in a blush.
Avoiding eye contact, I dropped my gaze to the worn knee's of my jeans and shook my head.
"N-no."
Silence settled over us.
My heart began to beat steadily harder.
Was this the part where my best friend's judged me?
My vein's tingled with nerves and my chest felt constricted.
Noah wriggled her way across the picnic blanket to sit beside me.
She put an arm around my shoulder's and gave me a squeeze.
Now, the fragile hold I'd had on control was slipping.
My throat felt thick and I felt that ugly telltale sting of brewing tear's behind my eyes.
Hayley reached forward and grabbed my right hand, enveloping it in both of her's and giving a comforting squeeze.
"Can I let ya in on a little detail?"
Noah kept her voice gentle, obviously not wanting to spur me into a meltdown.
Unable to trust my voice, I just nodded.
"Codie told me he just want's to sort out that ex chick and the kid before he does anything else."
Noah's voice held an edge I couldn't quite pin a title to.
Hayley's eyes widened.
My heart clenched.
It alway's comes back to Rikki.
Although of course I know Tameron has to be important.
But why can't this kid be good enough?
He'll get to see it grow in my belly.
See him or her be born.
Watch he or she grow.
Tear's burned my eyes and I tried desperately to hold them back, biting down on my tongue and blinking hard, holding my breath.
It hurt.
No it ached.
I'm alway's gonna come in second.
No wait...third?
Ha!
My thought's turned to the bean sized baby in my belly.
I'll always come fourth.
A bitter zing slipped into my vein's by a few drop's.
Azlan whined and nudged his head into my belly.
With that, my first tear almost spilled over.
Almost.
"You knew about them?"
I blinked, coming into the situation of the here and now.
Hayley was looking at Noah.
Holy shit!
Noah's words clicked.
Blayze had told Codie about what was going on with us?
"No."
Noah shook her head.
Relief hit me like a bucket of ice cold water on a scorching fifty degree summer day.
Hayley looked understandably confused.
"No?"
I felt confused.
How did she know to tell me Blayze wanted to sort out Rikki and Tameron then?
"I don't know why he was saying he had to sort it all out and sooner than later."
Noah shook her head.
"I honestly don't think Codie does either. I can't even remember how the conversation came up to be honest."
She admitted with a small smile.
I felt like there were some hole's in Noah's tale.
Hayley seemed to read my mind.
She eyed our friend suspiciously.
"There's hole's in your tale Miss. No."
I nodded my agreement.
Noah smiled innocently.
"Maybe I just want you to be together?"
At that one I rolled my eyes.
We'd heard for month's how 'awesome' she thought it would be if Codie's friend's and her friend's were to be together.
Hayley rolled her eyes.
"Noah!"
Noah grinned sheepishly.
I shook my head.
"That's not gonna happen with Rikki in the picture anyway."
Was that through my own fragile heart, or because it really was the reality?
Hayley offered me a sympathetic smile.
Noah shook her head.
"I don't believe that."
I raised my brow's at her.
Hayley cocked her head to the side, looking curious.
"C'mon!"
Noah threw up her hand's, exasperated.
"He's a man. If he wanted her, he'd have her!"
That stung my heart, but not in reference to Rikki.
If he wanted you, he'd have you.
My venomous brain taunted.
"Crap!"
Noah's hand's flew to cover her mouth and her eyes were wide.
"What'd I say?"
She looked from Hayley to me and back again.
Hayley shrugged helplessly.
Azlan scrambled out from under my arm and stretched up to lick at my cheek.
It was now that I registered the fat, warm droplet's of tear's on my cheek's.
I lifted a hand and pushed Azlan's face away, then used the back's of my hand's to wipe at my tear's.
I guess I could blame it on hormone's.
But it was more likely that reality was catching up with me.
"You just reminded me that those word's work for me too."
I practically whispered.
I widened my eyes in an attempt to hold the tear's at bay.
"If he wanted me then..."
I purposely didn't continue.
There was no point.
I told the girl's we're not together, so they know what I mean.
"Hey!"
I jumped slightly, feeling a push at my shoulder.
Azlan shot to his feet and barked.
I shot him a glance.
"Hush."
He whined.
Hayley grinned.
Smiling, Noah shook her head.
Hayley shot Noah a wink.
"If that was Zeus here, you'd have lost your arm!"
Noah pretended to shudder.
We all laughed.
Noah waved her hand's.
"Anyway, back to the problem at hand."
I eyed her wearily.
Hayley just looked curious.
"Dude!"
Noah turned to me.
"He got you knocked up."
She gestured toward my stomach.
"You've got his dog here with you."
She nodded toward Azlan.
"He let you drive his car!"
She gestured behind me toward the Ranger.
I shook my head.
She's forgetting he's Blayze.
He's known me since I was eight year's old, of course he'd...
Hayley nodded.
"She's got a fair point."
I looked toward her, surprised.
Out of anybody I thought Hayley had an understanding of how 'Blayze and I' worked.
Or at least the old version of Blayze and I.
Ain't nobody even me can understand this version.
Noah threw her hand's skyward.
"Thank you!"
Azlan groaned and settled into a laying down position.
I shook my head.
"You guy's are nut's. That's just Blayze."
"Just Blayze?"
Hayley raised a questioning brow.
"Keegan was pissing himself laughing because Blayze wouldn't let Heath drive the Ranger."
I rolled my eyes.
"They have a tedious relationship."
"We'll get back to that one."
Noah shook her head.
"You."
She pointed a finger at me.
"Need to realise what you're worth and what you mean to Blayze."
I sighed.
"I know he care's about me."
That was never the point of debate.
Hayley rolled her eyes.
"We've known since we were eight year's old that Blayze care's about you."
I smiled weakly.
"Stop doubting yourself!"
Noah reached over to push at my shoulder again.
This time Azlan stayed down and gave a half woof type noise.
We all laughed.
"She's right."
Hayley nodded.
"You're an amazing woman and exactly what I'd think somebody like Blayze need's. You're hella equipped to keep him on his toes!"
She grinned.
I smiled slightly and shook my head.
"You guy's are too generous."
"No way."
Noah shook her head.
"Guy's like our's need chick's who'll keep em on their toes!"
Our's?
I don't think Blayze and I fall into that category.
Noah rolled her eyes.
"Bail's, when you're at the pub he quite literally want's to punch every god damn bloke who goes too close to you!"
Hayley nodded her head.
It was my turn to roll my eyes.
"That's coz he's Blayze."
"I give up!"
Noah exclaimed.
She threw her hand's up, then dramatically fell backward in slow motion until she was laying on her back.
Now I couldn't help but smile while Hayley laughed.
Azlan whined, shot to his feet and trotted over to check Noah's face.
Laughing, she pushed the Kelpie back.
We all laughed.
But I still felt quite hollow.
A big part of me wanted to believe the girl's.
But part of me already knew the reality that currently existed right now.
"Well, if we're getting shit out in the open..."
Hayley seemingly purposely broke off.
Noah and I both looked at her expectantly.
It stumped me that suddenly I had no idea what it was my best friend was about to say.
Hayley looked a little apprehensive as she eyed me.
Uh oh...
She winced.
"That Rikki chick is working at our place."
I seemed to freeze.
Rikki's working at the Jackson's?
Since when?
Why?
Noah looked confused.
"What's that got to do with the price of egg's?"
Hayley shrugged helplessly.
Fucking awesome.
Rikki get's to dredge her claw's in some more.
Azlan shot to his feet and ran to the driver's door of Noah's car, then began to jump up.
Hayley laughed.
"What have you hidden in there?"
Noah looked confusedly at the dog.
"Nothing..."
Azlan barked at the car and jumped again.
What the?
I got to my feet and walked over to grab his collar.
"C'mon knucklehead."
Something alight caught my eye.
I turned back around.
"No, your phone."
"Oh! Yeah I left it in so we wouldn't get distracted."
I'd done the same thing.
Noah climbed to her feet and came over to the car.
She opened the driver's door and leaned in to get her phone.
"Whoops."
She smiled sheepishly.
"What's up?"
I released Azlan's collar.
"Codie's called and messaged a few times..."
She unlocked the phone and walked back to the picnic blanket, staring at the screen.
Speaking of phone's...
Azlan's bark's caught our attention.
I turned to see him at the driver's door to the Ranger, his tail wagging.
I couldn't help but laugh.
"D'you wanna go home Az?"
He cocked his head to the side, his focus on the driver's door and barked.
Hayley grinned.
"Demanding little shit!"
Noah looked up from her phone.
"Maybe your phone's going off too."
"I doubt it."
I headed for the driver's door anyway.
"He's probably just missing Blayze."
Azlan scampered a few step's out of my way when I got to the car.
I opened the door and the neurotic Kelpie practically flew into the car.
I turned to the girl's and held my hand's up.
"See!"
Both girl's laughed.
Something nudged my shoulder.
I turned to find Azlan standing on the driver's seat, the edge of my phone case gripped in his front teeth.
I felt my eyes widen.
My heart seemed to jump into my throat.
"Don't break it! We already had to get one replacement!"
I reached for the phone.
Azlan released it into my hand's and wagged his tail.
Worriedly, I checked the phone over.
Phew.
It seemed to be okay.
I pushed the home button and the screen lit up.
Missed Call: Blayze x2
Missed Call: Home
iMessage: Blayze: 6:47PM: Everything ok?
iMessage: Mum: 6:32PM: Hey honey how much longer you gonna be? Xx
I shook my head.
Worry wart's.
"Guess it probably is time we head back."
Hayley declared.
"Yeah, probably a good idea."
Noah agreed.
I walked back toward the girl's.
"Are you gonna see Codie?"
"Not tonight."
Noah shook her head.
"He know's I was catching up with you guy's and I really should get some homework done."
Hayley grimaced.
"Ugh, don't remind me!"
I couldn't help but smile.
"That's where I'm lucky!"
Noah reached over to mock punch my arm.
"Yeah, you get to see Blayze every day!"
I rolled my eyes at her.
Hayley nodded toward my stomach.
"You might not have homework, but you have a job and you are now cooking a bun in that oven."
I shook my head.
"Dunno how long the guys'll let me keep doing farm work."
Noah slipped her phone into her jeans pocket.
"So who know's about your little secret?"
"Blayze, Mum, my Grandparent's and my Uncle."
I don't think Heath or the hand's know yet...
Noah grinned.
"Ooh yay so we're in the small circle!"
I smiled weakly.
"Yup."
Hayley cocked her head to the side.
"Does Keegan know?"
I shrugged.
Who Blayze has told, I wasn't sure.
"Don't know if Blayze has told him."
Though you'd think he would being the guy is his best friend.
Then again, I'd only just told Hayley and Noah.
"Well, let's all head home."
Noah declared.
Hayley nodded her agreement.
We each enveloped each other in a hug and headed for our respective vehicle.
"You lead the way, Bail's!"
Noah called, halfway into her little car.
"You're driving the big beast and have the most spotties!"
The Suzuki Hayley was driving had a couple of spotlight's on the nudge bar, but nothing compared with the set up on Blayze's Ranger.
"Righto!"
I waved to the girl's and headed to the Ranger.
I didn't even need to whistle for Azoan, he was already hot on my heel's.
I opened the driver's door and he bounced through to the passenger seat.
I climbed into the car and started the engine, then remembered I'd told Blayze I'd let him know when I was headed back.
Also Mum had messaged and asked when I was coming back.
I messaged each of them, then set my phone into the centre console and got ready to drive.
I managed to turn the car around to face the track to head back down to the road without too much difficulty.
Once I was sure I wasn't going to blind the girl's, I flicked the switches to enable the spotlight's.
I smiled to myself as it suddenly looked like daylight all over again.
Maybe spotties are good.
I saw a second car turn around, that I was pretty sure was Hayley in the Suzuki and eased my foot off the brake while adding some gentle clutch then slipped the gear stick into first gear and slowly let the clutch out and rolled forward.
I kept her in first gear just slowly making our way down the worn out track.
Several rabbit's crossed our path, some momentarily freezing in the blinding light of the spotlight's and light bar.