Colten slowed the truck outside of Abigail's drive and look a long glance at the picturesque ranch in front of him in the early morning light. He thought about what to say to her once he saw her or maybe she'd be too preoccupied with her horse to pay much attention to him – he wasn't sure which interaction he would have preferred.
He put his foot to the gas and started on up the gravel road, pulling up right in front of the half opened barn doors. It took a moment to compose himself, grabbing his hat, fumbling around with his keys before he jumped out.
Her smell hit him and his step faltered, once again wanting something forbidden to him.
“Colten!”
He looked up as Abigail came from her house. Neatly dressed in jeans and a tank top with a nice buckle to finish off her look, she carried a large cotton bag over her shoulder.
Smiling at him, he took off his hat from nervousness.
“Morning, Abi.”
She stopped in front of him and smiled again, her cheeks a bit flushed and that kicked the alpha back up in him.
“How's it going?”
“Oh, alright.” Colten nodded, “What about you?”
“I'm excited, it's been so long since I raced.” She took his forearm and led him to the barn, squeezing.
The touch burned him and he pulled away, “I can get the trailer open for Mocha.”
Abigail nodded, a bit too cooly for his liking, “Sure.”
He found himself drinking her in, wanting her more and more, worse than another time he'd experienced.
He headed back to his truck as she busied herself fetching her horse. In that time, he thought about how he could get out of taking her that morning.
Ella perhaps? No, Alma was more than capable without him. He had no excuses, he'd have to figure it out and beat down his wolf all day long.
Abigail and her liver-chestnut horse showed up around the side of the trailer suddenly, “Do you want to load her? I'll grab my tack.”
Colten took Mocha with a nod and watched the sweet blonde book it back to the barn. There was no way he was leaving her now.
He looked to the horse next to him, “I won't kill you, if you win for her.”
Mocha snorted and he smiled, leading her on the trailer. Closing the doors as Abigail shuffled around in the tack room, he glanced in as she ran her hands through her golden waves.
“It's so hot already.”
He smiled, “Welcome home.”
“Smart ass.” She jumped out of the tack room and grabbed the door beside him to close it, brushing her side up against him.
He withered away, wincing.
Noticing his tensing, she stepped away, “Sorry, Colt.”
He tried to ignore her apologizing and checked the tack room as a distraction, “Got everything?”
She nodded, “Yes, I think so.”
They walked to the truck and got in, both awkward in the moment but Boomer broke it, jumping up and sticking his nose on Abigail's cheek to kiss her.
She laughed, “Ah!”
Colten swatted the dog back, “Sorry, he never does that.”
“Awe, well I love him.” She smiled and reached back to pet the dog as Colten took off his hat.
He pulled the truck out of the drive and headed down the gravel towards the highway.
“Where's Ella?”
“Oh, I persuaded my nanny to work today.”
Abigail looked over to him, “Well, I could have helped you watch her today.”
He glanced at her and saw how serious she was, “Oh, well, she get's fussy at nap time and it's a hot day.”
“Yeah, it is hot for a baby.” She agreed, “Do you like having her live with you?”
He didn't really want to talk about Ella and his emotional issues towards it but Abigail was easy to break him of it, “It offsets Savannah not being here anymore.”
“Maybe she'll be like Savannah.”
Colten sighed, “I'm sure she will. Which might become an issue.”
“Why's that?” She smiled.
“Oh,” He smirked, shaking his head, “It will.”
After a soft giggle and few moments, their amusement faded, “Does Ella not have a father?”
Colten stared at empty highway, “No. No father.” But he broke again, “Well, her father was an idiot but his family is nice.”
“Oh.” She nodded, “Well, that's nice she has some more family.”
He cringed again, thinking she meant he had no family – which was true but he had a pack. A good one but that was it.
“I'm sorry, Colten. I have such a dumb mouth sometimes. I'm not the best in these situations.”
He looked to her, “Don't worry about it, Abi. I know how lonely my existence seems.”
She gave him an apologetic look and tried to move on, “So, are you hungry? I made you food.” She pulled her travel bag at her feet onto her lap and revealed a large sandwich.
He could taste it through the saran wrap and it made his mouth water. To the point where he could have been caught begging like a dog.
“I know it's not lunch time but I made a few and-”
He tried not to smile at more of her mate qualities, “You made me food?”
She looked to him and met his gaze, her eyes softening, “Yeah. I made you cookies too.” She passed over the sandwich, peeling back the plastic for him in the process.
He took it, thanking her and started to eat.
“Did you not eat breakfast?” She giggled.
“Coffee.” He said in between bites.
After a minute or so she started up conversation again, “Did you work yesterday?”
“No.” He took another bite, “I worked on my barn with Pete.”
“Oh, Peter Daniels?”
He nodded, “Yeah, he's a good friend of mine.”
“I remember.” She nodded.
He glanced at her, pausing with his chew and swallowing what was in his mouth, “Do you know him?”
“I've only met him a few times. He seems pretty rowdy.”
“He likes to party.” Colten sighed.
“Does he have a girlfriend?”
He smiled at that thought, “No and I doubt it will happen. He can't even stop to ask a girl her name, let alone get a girlfriend.”
She smiled, “You're so different.”
He nodded. It was true but they'd been friends since they'd been born and in that regard Peter was like his younger brother he loved and hated at the same time.
Abigail looked at him and he caught her doing so, her face softened.
“Well,” He stuffed, eating more, “I sure hope you win today.”
“Ha!” She laughed, “Colten, I haven't ran barrels in almost a year and my cousin's been running Mocha. So the horse is likely out of it too.”
He smiled, “Nah, you have to win.”
“Why's that?” Abigail giggled.
“So, I'll be forced to buy you celebratory dinner.” It had all fell out of his mouth before he had another moment to think.
Her face broke but it was still soft and warm, still very much Abigail.
When he looked over to her he saw the happiness radiating off her, in fact it drenched his wolf senses and he had to stop himself from pulling over the truck and doing something he really should not.
He looked back to the road and tightened his grip on the steering wheel, in protest to his other side.
“I'd like that.” She whispered.
Adrenaline shot through him and he swallowed what was in his mouth, “You would?”
She smiled, “Yes.”
He finished off the sandwich, ignoring the rest of their possible date conversation, “Well, that was good, thank you.”
“I'm glad you liked it.”
He pulled the truck into the rodeo grounds a few minutes later and parked up against a fence. He didn't like to be in the thick of things, the back was much easier to deal with.
Abigail unloaded Mocha and he decided to walk over with her, while she paid her entry fees. It was already getting busy and that made him hyper aware of all the human's around him, in and around the presence of some wolves, mostly from his pack but he couldn't place them all. He stayed close to Abigail because of it.
She turned to him once she was finished up with the fees, “Okay, done.”
He looked over to her from a few feet away as she came to his side. Gluing himself to her as they walked back to the truck and trailer.
“I should start getting Mocha tacked up.”
He put his hand out as someone stepped in front of them and touched her lower back ever so slightly, “Careful.”
“I'm okay.”
Their eyes caught.
“Sorry.” He dropped his hand, beating down the magnetic pull he felt.
“Abigail!”
The blonde stopped and looked over her shoulder as a good-looking brunette and another red-headed, freckled face girl walked over.
“Hey!” Abigail smiled, “You came!”
“The drive was so long!” The brunette put a hand in her bangs and pushed the hair from her forehead.
Colten waited and listened as the two girls from the city, complained.
“It's only three hours!” Abigail laughed.
“Who's this?” The brunette asked.
“Oh!” Abigail put her hand on his shoulder and he almost buckled away not expecting the touch, he really should have been getting used to it though. Abigail seemed to like to do that to him.
“This is Colten. Colten this is Jasmine.” She pointed to the red-head, “And Laura.”
Colten nodded to them, “Nice to meet you.”
“Ha!” Jasmine laughed at him, “Are you like a real cowboy?”
Colten made a face, “Uh... well...”
Abigail dropped her hand from him, “Colten is basically the definition of a cowboy.” She smiled, like she was proud of him.
“That's so cool!” Laura bubbled in excitement, “See it was so worth the drive, Jaz!”
“Yep.” Jasmine had lost interest already but Laura seemed fascinated.
He winced, “Abi, I'll go back to the truck and check on Mocha.”
Abigail looked like she was going to ask him to wait but she didn't get it out in time before be booked his butt away from the city girls and grudgingly, his mate.
Once back at the truck, he offered the horse water and let Boomer out of the cab. The dog barked and parked inside the open tack room on the trailer.
Colten started to brush Mocha in the meantime, picking up her feet to inspect her shoes. He was far too picky when it came to farriers, huge pet peeve of his and he wasn't too satisfied with the shoes on the horse.
Abigail walked up to his side as he poked at the horses hoof, “What are you doing?”
He dropped the horses foot and shot up, somehow the girl had caught him off guard. He stepped back from her, “I was just brushing Mocha.”
She smiled and rested her arm around the horse's withers, “You were looking at her shoes.” She corrected him.
He was only two hours into the day with her and had already cringed a hundred times, “I wasn't.” He ducked under the mares neck and walked towards the tack room.
She followed, “Colten, her shoes are fine.”
He grabbed her saddle and swung the bridle over the horn, “Which pad do you want?”
She jumped inside, “You're so funny.” Sliding past him, she grabbed the pad she wanted.
He stepped out and held her tack for her.
Abigail threw the saddle pad on Mocha's back.
“Her shoes are fine.” He finally got it out.
She hit his shoulder, laughing at him, “You're such a bad liar!”
He sighed, “I just don't think you should use Larry anymore, I tried to tell your dad that a few times...”
She smiled at him and he stopped what he was saying.
“Sorry.” He grumbled.
“Who should I use as a farrier, Colten?” She tried to hold her smirk.
“Brad Hall.”
Abigail giggled, “Okay, note taken. Can I steal that?” She pointed at her saddle.
Colten handed it over, leaning into the trailer to get out of her way, “Did you look at the footing?”
“I've ran this arena lots. I should be okay.” She swung the saddle up on Mocha and started to do up the cinch.
Colten nodded.
“My friends are from school. I can't believe they drove all this way.”
“Guess you'll have to show them a good time later.” Colten pulled out his cell phone and looked at the screen.
“Yeah...” She walked back around the horse, “You're going to be here tonight, right?”
He swallowed, with Sarah and he was unsure of how well that would be going over.
He nodded though, “I may stick around. I can take Mocha back for you, so you don't have to leave.”
Abigail finished clipping on Mocha's breast collar and turned to him, “Well, I don't want to make you drive all the way back. We can just go back together later. Mocha will be okay, she's got a lot of hay to eat in the meantime.”
“Alright.” He agreed, even though he wasn't sure on what that would mean as far as Sarah was concerned. She didn't exactly know he was there with Abigail, helping her.
He tried to stay quiet the rest of the time she spent getting ready and that included her putting on her cowgirl hat and nicely fitted shirt, all of which didn't help his feelings for her manifest more.
Once in the saddle, the horse flipped personalities.
She laughed, “Mocha, calm down.”
Colten walked over and patted her neck, “I think she's ready to run.”
“Let's hope.” She smiled and they walked towards the arena, “I need to get my date out of you.”
Colten glanced up at her, she laughed at him and his blatant shock.
“I don't forget that easy, Colt. You promised dinner.”
He smiled and looked towards the arena, “You need to win first, Abigail.”
She seemed more than ready to take on the challenge, “I will. You watch now, Mr. Turner.”
He laughed as they stopped near the alley, “Then get 'er done, Miss.”
They were about to start the barrel racing and he really hoped Mocha would still be the fast mare he remembered, because he wanted to have dinner with Abigail Redding more than life itself.
The lean blonde patted the horses neck as Mocha cow hopped a few feet.
Colten walked to her side and helped her steady the mare.
The first few girl's ran and they graded the arena. Abigail was second to last, giving her a good idea what she had to run and at that moment in time, Colten believed dinner would be in their favour.
Ten minutes passed and then she was up.
“Good luck, Abi.”
She smiled at Colten as he stepped back and walked over to the near fencing to watch. He climbed up to watch as Abigail and Mocha left the alleyway.
The rest of what happened was fast and simple. The horse was patterned well and Abigail just seemed to hang on for the ride. She turned the last barrel and a flurry of cheers erupted, as she galloped the horse home.
Colten walked over, “Nice run, Abi.”
She smiled at him and huffed, “It wasn't bad. Now the real question is,” She caught her breath as Mocha tried to do the same, “Will I win the round?”
“Likely.” He laughed at her.
Abi blushed and watched as the rider in the arena turned her last barrel and knocked it down, “Oh!”
He smiled, “Guess, I owe you dinner.”
“I'm picking the restaurant.” She teased.
They walked back over to the trailer, weaving between horses and people.
“So you're going to run tomorrow?” He asked once back at the trailer.
“Oh, I wouldn't want to put you out like that.”
“Come on.” He shook his head at her, “I'll bring you tomorrow.”
She dismounted and took the reins over Mocha's head, “That's nice of you, but it's if my parents will let me.”
He paused, “Did I make them upset bringing you today?”
She glanced at him, “They aren't mad at you, Colt. It's me. They really don't want me to ride.”
“I don't want to put you in a bad position.”
“How would you do that to me?” She breathed.
He blinked, not knowing what to say.
She put the halter on Mocha, smiling, “Do you think you could string up her hay net?”
He perked up, liking it when given a job, “Course.” He took off to the back of the trailer and thought over her words.
The last thing he wanted was to upset her parents, he was starting to become uncomfortable with it all. He often worked for the Redding's, he needed the income, he didn't need to piss them off and lose work by taking Abigail to a few Rodeos.
He came back around and strung up the hay for Mocha, “Interested in going to watch the rest of the Rodeo?”
“For sure!” She called from the tack room and bounced out, back in her tank top and tousled blonde hair, “We'll go find Jaz and Laura.”
“Alright, I just want to grab a coke or something. Maybe a hotdog too.” He was going to eat to feed the alpha void in him.
She smiled, “You can have another sandwich. Oh, do you want your cookies?”
His mouth watered, “I'd love a couple.”
She walked over to the cab of the truck and pulled open the door to dig around, pulling out a cookie tin. As soon as the lid lifted, he could smell them, the same cookies that had been his guilty pleasure for days.
He walked to her, “Those are so darn good, Abi.”
“You're going to sit with us to watch the Rodeo, right?” She let him take as many cookies as he wanted and put the rest back in the truck.
He started eating right away and nodded, not really hearing what he was agreeing to.
She took his elbow and pulled him towards the grandstands.
He still continued to eat, it helped with the touching from Abigail, satisfying his wolf side one chocolate chip at a time.
She started to do her Abi rambling as they made their way over to the bleachers and he was listening but he having a hard time as her touch was starting to burn him.
Up the stands, they came to the first platform as she looked for her friends. He glanced around, “Hopefully they aren’t over on the other side.”
She still looked though, “Darn.”
“Colten!”
Colten stiffened and pushed Abigail forward, “Go this way, Abi.” He didn't want to look over his shoulder, knowing he'd be subjected to Peter yelling and waving at them.
“Colten!”
Abi turned and broke their cover.
She laughed, “Isn't that Peter Daniels?”
Colten rolled his eyes, “Yeah.”
She giggled, “Well, don't you want to sit with him?”
“Uh.” He started on his last cookie, “Not really.”
She raised her eyebrow, “Colten.” She scolded as Peter pushed past people and jumped over the benches to get to them.
Peter lunged at him, his arms wrung around his shoulders, “What the heck, Colten!”
Colten groaned, “Hi.”
“I was calling you.” Peter looked to Abigail and smiled, “Hey, I'm Pete.”
“I'm Abigail.” She nodded, “And yeah, Colten mentioned that.”
“Ha!” Peter pointed at him, “So, you did see me. You're mine now, Colten Turner. You're mine forever!”
Colten ducked out of his friend's crushing hold and stood beside Abigail, “Pete.”
Peter laughed, “Come sit with us. Ty is up there too.”
Colten looked to Abigail for permission and she gave in, “Forget my friends, like you said, they're probably on the other side.”
Colten nodded and Peter took off, coxing them along.
“I need more food.” He grumbled.
Abigail grabbed him, pulling him along, “We'll go back and eat lunch after this. Someone needs to start feeding you properly though, you're so hungry.”
He glanced at her and saw it – she liked him.
She really liked him.
More than liked, perhaps.
All his pervious plans of avoidance or dealing with the mate issue began to unravel. He was now potentially in love with her and her cooking, he could see himself becoming dependant on her.
They walked across the bleachers and over to where Peter sat with Tyler and another female, that he had once known the name of but he had no real intention of learning it again.
He should have been better with knowing the members of Fornone but he just found there was too many of them and too much drama that went along with knowing about other people's lives. He did his job and that was enough.
Abigail sat next to him as the saddle bronc started, “We never got your soda.”
Colten looked to her, “Oh, are you thirsty?”
“I'll go get it.”
Colten stood, “No, I'll go.” He took off away from them in desperate need to escape by himself for a bit and think about Abigail and her touching.
He got in line for the concession and thought more. Trying to distract himself with how good the hotdogs looked.
He had no idea why food was getting the better of him, it definitely wasn't his human side saying eat your emotional trauma away.
Ordering his coke, he got Abi one too.
“I'll get two hotdogs too.”
The lady grabbed up the ordered food and he passed her some change from his pocket before he headed back to the grandstands.
Once back, he took a few seconds to watch Abigail laugh at something Peter was doing or saying, which consequently equalled stupid.
Colten walked over and sat next to her, “Here.”
She took the drink, looking at the hotdogs, “Colten.”
He crammed some food in his mouth, “I'm starving.”
Peter glanced at him as Abigail continued, “But you had that huge sandwich like an hour in a bit ago and those cookies.”
Peter grinned, “Why so hungry, Colten?”
Colten looked to him and swallowed, “I don't know.”
His beta lifted an eyebrow, “That's interesting, Colt.”
“What is?” He ate more and took a sip of his coke.
Abigail also watched as he shoved food down his throat, “I can go get you a sandwich.”
Peter still held his wide eyed amusement, “Yeah, Abi, I think Colten needs a sandwich.”
Colten finished what was in his mouth, “No, I can wait, I have another hotdog still.” He unwrapped it from the foil and started to eat it.
Abigail stared at him, “I'll go get you a sandwich.”
“Nah.” He paused his eating, though the processed cheap meat tasted disgusting compared to Abigail's cold cut sandwich, he knew he had to rein in his relentless hunger.
She got up and moved around him, “I just need to go to the washroom.” As soon as she was out of ear shot, Peter laid in.
“What are you doing?”
Colten glanced at him, “Eating.” He drank more of the coke.
“Only males about mate eat that much.”
Colten stopped and looked to him, “What, Pete?”
“Oh yeah, seen it first hand before. Who is it?”
He swallowed and finished off the hotdog, “I'm not-”
Peter slapped his back, “This is great news! Now Mateo can suck our-”
“Pete!” Colten snapped.
He leaned into his alpha and stared at him, “You've been acting weird these last few days.”
“I'm fine.” Colten sneered.
“Kinda since Barbie got home.”
Colten choked on his soda and caught it in his hands, “Barbie?”
“Yeah, the leggy human blonde you're all over.”
He wiped his hands on his jeans and looked back to Peter, “I'm helping her out.”
“Her parent's are loaded, she doesn’t need the help of some lonely cowboy with a nine month old niece.”
Colten sighed and looked out to the Rodeo event going on, “I was just hungry.”
“If that human is your mate, you better spill it out now, Colten.”
He grunted and took another sip of his drink, ignoring his Beta's demands.
“Well? Come on, Colten!”
“Why don't you back off, Pete!” Staring at him with the coldest gaze he possessed.
Peter did as told and moved away, scoffing and huffing.
Not in any mood for further interrogation or raging alpha blood, he wondered how the rest of the day would play out because of it.