Chapter 9: Uncle Colt
Casper, WY
I got up and dressed. Jase is going to be staying at my place until the next rodeo. Last night, a drunk guy tried to force himself on me and get in my pants near the stalls. Jase was just about to ride when he spotted the guy and almost left him dead.
I tapped Jase on his shoulder, and he shot up. "You need to get dressed if we're going to make it to the ranch by lunch," I told him. He nodded and stood up. The past two nights, he's slept in jeans.
"You need a pair of sweatpants or basketball shorts to sleep in," I said. "This works at the moment." He said. I shrugged it off. "I'll be back with the boys. Then we'll get breakfast and hit the road." I told him.
"I'll be here." He said before pulling a shirt on. I walked up to the stalls and got the boys. Alex Trusey walked down the aisle. I tied Blaze next to Gambler's stall. "Look who's getting comfy with Hunter." He said. "Fuck off," I told him as I went into Gambler's stall.
I was shoved against the wall. "You know I would do you. Even though you don't want to. I could do it better than Hunter ever could. You just wait. One of these days, I'm going to be the one to show you how a real man does it." He said before letting me go.
First chance I got, I kneed him where the sun don't shine and grabbed my horse, hurrying back to the trailer by riding one and ponying the other. I dismounted and loaded them up with hay and water for the three-hour drive.
I locked the doors and went to see if Jase was up and dressed. He stepped out before I went in. "The boys are loaded up," I told him. He handed me my phone and truck keys. "Thank you," I said before we went to get in.
We got something for breakfast before starting for the ranch. I told my dad we were on our way. He okayed it. Once we got there, I punched the code in and drove straight to the barn. "Now my family might seem a bit intimidating once you meet them, but don't worry about it," I said, getting out. He nodded, following me back to the back of the trailer.
I opened it up and gave him Blaze. "So you don't trust me with Gambler?" He asked. I held a finger up to him. Then led Gambler out and handed him to Jase. Then put the ramp up and close the doors.
Then took Blaze from him. "So you're going to let me walk him?" He asked. "Yup. He's taken a liking to you." I said, leading Blaze to the paddock. He followed close behind. I turned Blaze out while Jase let Gambler loose.
I put the lead ropes into the box next to the gate and locked it. "Nice idea." He said. "My uncle Buck thought of it before my uncle Colt and aunt Hedli met," I said.
He followed me back to my truck. I moved the truck and trailer out of the way before going to see my aunt Hedli and Nana. Jase followed closer behind me than ever. Hedli looked up at me, then got up and hugged me.
"How did Gambler do?" She asked. "Better than thought. Got first place both nights." I said. "Oh, how your uncle owes me." She said. "And who is this?" She asked. "Jase," I told her. "Why does that name sound familiar?" She asked.
"I was Wyatt's biggest competition before his last deployment," Jase said. "Oh, that's right. What's your last name?" She asked. "Hedli, may I talk to you?" I asked. She nodded before I led her into the soundproof office.
"What's up?" She asked. "Well, let's just say that he's not like his dad at all to start," I said. "Ok, what's his last name?" She asked. "Hunter?" I said. "What?" She started. "Ok, that boy has to go." She said. "You know what your uncle would do! Especially when his father almost raped me!" She shouted.
"Please keep that quiet so they won't judge him before they get to know him. Please?" I asked. She blew air out. "Fine. I won't say a word." She said, peeking out of the blinds, looking at him. He was sitting down, looking around the office, not wanting to get up and look around like he was going to break something.
"He's going to be more like a lost puppy than anything," I said. "He's your responsibility until you two leave." She said. "Thank you!" I said, hugging her again. "Yeah, yeah. And if things go south, don't throw me under the bus." She said.
"Alright," I said before we went back out. "I'm going to the house real quick to drop the clothes and stuff off. You wanna come?" I asked him. He nodded before following me out.
We went to my house across the road and got out. "Bought the land with the small trailer house before leaving for Bryan," I said, unlocking the door. "The washer and dryer work. You can stay in the guest room if you like. I was going to get sheets and comforters this afternoon, so you can either stay here or go with me." I said.
Jase's POV
So far, it was just her aunt. She seemed nice so far, and I hope the rest like me. "I'll go with you," I said, not wanting to stay here by myself. She nodded before we both cleaned the living quarters out.
I helped her wash sheets and clean them out before we went back over for lunch on her ATV. I rode behind her to the biggest house on the property that I could see. I got off and then followed her inside. The first person I saw was her uncle Colt. He was glaring at me.