by Rue Chapman
"This place stinks."
"No it doesn't. That's just the cattle."
"You said we'd have a fun time. Smelling stinking cows is NOT my idea of fun."
Tammy sighed. "Amanda, it's a rodeo. Just relax and you'll enjoy it."
Amanda wrinkled her nose and huffed, "Relax? This place is hot and crowded and smelly. Half the people here look like extras from Deliverance, and this seat is grossly uncomfortable!" She wriggled around a little more, her tight skirt riding up even higher on her thighs.
Tammy was beginning to think this visit was a mistake. They'd been best friends all through school, until Mandy's - no, AMANDA'S parents split up and her mother took her across the country to find a better life in the bright lights of city living. Now fun-loving Mandy had become expensively groomed and sophisticated Amanda, and so far, nothing in her old home town compared to the wonderful life she had in the big city.
Tammy loved her small town, she loved watching the rodeo, and she especially loved watching one particular rodeo rider. Her eyes scanned the pens at the end of the arena, searching for those blue eyes, and that blonde hair, bright against his tanned skin.
The calf roping had just finished - they'd arrived late; it took Amanda quite a while to get her hair and make-up just right. Tammy had brushed her short, curly black hair and wiggled into her newest jeans. Amanda had spent an eternity fussing over her long blonde hair and deciding which of her designer outfits was suitable for a rodeo.
The barrel races didn't hold Amanda's attention for long. She muttered something about how rough it all was - Tammy didn't tell her that she often took part, she didn't want another diatribe on how coarse and unladylike country women were compared to those smoothly attractive creatures who lived in the city and took more trouble with their appearance.
"OH! Who are THEY?" Tammy looked at Amanda. She was staring open-mouthed at the far end of the arena.
Tammy glanced towards the group of men preparing for the bull riding. And there he was! She took a deep breath to steady her voice. "That's the cowboys who'll be on next. For the bull riding." He looked so wonderful, those tight jeans moulded to his gorgeous buns and strong thighs, and his shirt stretching across that wonderful broad chest... breathe, girl, breathe.
"They're GORGEOUS!" At last the two girls were in full agreement. They both focussed on the main attractions for a few moments, in silent adoration. "Can't we get closer?" All of a sudden the heady aroma of cow didn't seem to be bothering Amanda. She was already up and working her way along the stands towards the far end. Tammy grabbed at her, then followed quickly. She never went down to the rail there, like the cute girls who flirted with the men. What was the point? Why would he look at her when there were so many others trying to attract him? But Amanda was already there, elegantly elbowing a few indignant maidens out of the way, so that she could get the best view, dragging Tammy up beside her. "What's his name? That lovely blonde one?" Her whisper carried clearly right across the arena.
Tammy shrivelled a little more. "Luke Tanner."
"He's LOVELY. And just look at that butt!"
Tammy wondered if you could actually die of embarrassment. And if you could, she prayed it would happen soon.
Luke looked along the rail, then turned to them. "I've seen you barrel race, haven't I? Tammy, isn't it?" Tammy made a strangled sound and realised that she'd forgotten how to speak. She nodded, blushing furiously.
"And I'm her best friend. Amanda. I don't live around here, of course." Luke looked over at her and smiled as Amanda went on, "Maybe we could meet up with you after this is over, and we could -"
"Luke, it's time to get ready. And you girls need to get off the rail, you're in the way."
Tammy shrank back quickly. Amanda leaned over further, her skirt riding even higher. Several men nearby were finding it hard to concentrate on the barrel racing. "Luke!" Amanda's voice rang out. "We'll be at the main entrance after it's all over - I'll see you there!" She waved vigorously to make sure he saw her. The men behind her lost all interest in barrel racing as her skirt rode up so high that two pale cheeks just peeked out under the hem, several spectators starting to wonder if she was wearing a thong, or nothing at all, under that skirt.
SMACK! "Get back NOW!" A large hand made contact just below the hem of her skirt. Amanda shrieked and almost fell over the rail, Tammy pulling her back just in time. Amanda clapped her hands over her stinging rear, and glared at the back of the culprit, who had turned back to the knot of cowboys milling around the pens.
"Did you see that? How DARE he! Who is he?"
Tammy pulled Amanda back to some nice safe seats in the stands. "That's his brother." She didn't have to explain who 'he' was. "Jake."
"The man's an ANIMAL!"
The animal was the same height as his brother - well over six feet tall - and as broad, and he filled out his jeans just as nicely. But his hair was raven-black to his brother's glowing blonde, and his eyes weren't blue but steel-grey. He clapped his younger brother on the shoulder. "Flirting again, Luke?" Luke grinned ruefully. He could talk easily with other men's wives and girlfriends, but as soon as he was in range of an attractive, available young woman he froze up, mumbling and stumbling until he fled in disarray.
"Did you see her? Isn't she beautiful? I - I'm meeting them later. I'll need... if you could..."
"You actually managed to make a date with a woman?" Jake never had any trouble getting a girl. Or getting rid of her, either. He took whatever was on offer with a cynical smile; he had no illusions about the girls who clustered around the riders, skirts short and eyes full of invitation.
"Er, well, not exactly, but they're meeting us later..."
"Us? Why would I want to waste my time with a couple of..." He saw the look on his brother's face. "Why would I want to waste my time with a bunch of sweaty men when I can be with two lovely ladies? And you, of course."
Luke grinned at him and they turned back to the far more important business of bulls.
"Where is he? I told him we'd be here." Amanda jiggled up and down, searching the crowd. "Tell me what you know about him - he doesn't have anyone special, does he?"
Tammy collected all the facts she'd learned about him. "He's twenty-seven, his brother is two years older. Their parents were killed in a car accident twelve years ago, and it's just the two of them now. They have a place outside town, they've been working hard and building it up for years, and it's supposed to be going okay now. Neither of them is married, or with anyone." Bare facts that she'd built a fantasy on for almost a year now. And all of it gone as soon as he set eyes on Amanda.
"Twenty-seven? Four years older than us. He's the perfect age for me. He really wanted to see me again, I know, and maybe he'll have a friend for you... There he is! LUKE! OVER HERE!" She jumped up and down waving, as Tammy tried to shrink into the background. "You're still so stupidly shy around cute guys, aren't you? Try not to be a total dummy, for my sake! LUKE!" Luke hurried towards them, smiling. And behind him - "Oh no! Not HIM!"
Jake strolled towards them, smiling thinly. "Yes, HIM. How are you, ladies?"
They headed towards the nearest bar. Luke was struck dumb by the fact that he was so close to such a beautiful girl. Tammy was struck dumb by the fact that she was so close to Luke at last, and now he was interested in her friend instead. It took a lot to rob Amanda of the power of speech. She and Jake carried the conversation as the four of them walked along.
"So, Luke, do you live around here?"
"Luke and I have a place outside town. We work it together."
"And Luke, do you ride in the rodeo much?"
"Luke and I don't go on the circuit, but we compete whenever we can."
"And Luke, do you have a steady girlfriend at the moment? I suppose someone as hunky as you must have girls after you all the time."
"Yes, they're throwing themselves at him every chance they get. Some of them hang over the rails and make a real display of themselves."
"And LUKE, does your brother ever SHUT UP?"
"So tell me, Tammy, does your friend ever keep her mouth shut?"
It was a pleasant walk to the bar. And the fun continued while they had their drinks. "So, Luke, how about we two get together tomorrow night?"
"Fine, what time shall Luke and I pick you both up?"
"Luke, what do you like to do when you're not riding in the rodeo? Does your brother ever stop hanging around you like a bad smell?"
"Tammy, does your friend have any clothes that are actually big enough for her, or does she always dress like a cheap hooker?"
Oh yes, it was a fun time.
When the girls got home, Amanda was in a happy cloud. "Isn't he lovely! And he's taking me out tomorrow night for a proper date!"
"Well, you actually asked him. And we're all going. It's not really a date."
"That's just his brother being pushy. But you could see how interested he was, couldn't you?"
"Well, I suppose..."
"Now, tomorrow night it's your job to get that brother of his out of the way, ok?"
Tammy tried to tell herself that at least she was closer to him than she'd been before.
Jake avoided the largest pothole and glanced at his brother. "Tomorrow night?"
Luke smiled blissfully. "I think I have a chance with her. This one - she's something special."
"So I suppose you want me to keep her friend busy?"
"Do you mind?"
Jake grinned. "It'll be a pleasure."
The next day the men spent the whole day rounding up cattle and drafting out the ones to send for sale, then showered quickly, threw on some clean clothes and headed for town. The two girls shopped for new outfits in the morning, gave each other facials and did their hair three times before they started to get ready.
The bar was crowded, as usual. Jake and Luke were greeted noisily as they ushered the girls to a table in a quieter corner. As they sipped their first round of drinks Amanda tapped her foot in time with the music. "I love to dance, don't you, Luke?"
Jake leaned over and gripped her wrist tightly. "I do. Let's go."
Amanda looked surprised, then tried to pull her wrist away. "But..."
Jake hauled her out onto the floor and then tugged her into his arms. "Now, isn't this nice, Mandy?"
Amanda wriggled against arms that held her like steel against him. "It's AMANDA. And no, this is NOT nice, I didn't..."
"But I know you wouldn't want to interfere with your friend and my brother as they get to know each other."
"As they - what? You mean Luke - and Tammy...? But -"
Jake looked across to the table they'd left. "Yes, they're really hitting it off over there."
Tammy sat rigid, clutching her drink as if she was afraid it was about to be stolen. Luke stared off into space, hands gripping the edge of the table.
After several tries Luke managed to find his voice. "I like your... um... hair. It looks... um... nice."
"I brushed it."
"Oh."
Amanda glared at Jake and hissed through her teeth, "Let go of me you oaf!"
Jake didn't smile, he just showed his teeth. "But you loooove to dance, don't you?"
"Not with you!"
"Now is that any way for a lady to speak?"
Amanda carefully stamped on his foot. Jake looked down at her. "That's one."
"Oh, look, you can count! And you didn't even have to use your fingers. But I bet you have to take your shoes and socks off to get to twenty."
Jake turned her so that she couldn't see the pair at the table. Amanda kicked his shin and craned her neck to watch the silent couple. "That's two."
"Still counting? What's the target?"
"You will be, if you don't behave."
Amanda smiled sweetly, looked him straight in the eyes and stamped down hard on his toes again. "And that's three." Jake turned and walked towards the door, his grip like a shackle on her wrist.
Luke and Tammy watched the other two leave. Tammy looked worried. "What's going on? Where's he taking her?"
Luke relaxed slightly, glad to have a new topic. "I'd say he's about to have a little discussion with your friend."
"He's what?"
"Jake doesn't tolerate bad behaviour."
"What's he going to do to her? We can't just sit here..." She started to get up.
Luke's hand closed around her wrist. "He knows what he's doing. She'll be ok." And then they each realised that he was touching her, his hand warm on her skin. They both froze for a moment, staring into each other's eyes. And then they totally forgot about Amanda, and Jake, and the bar, and all that existed was that warm touch, and each other.
"Luke, I..."
"Tammy, I..."
Amanda had a great deal more to say, all of it totally ignored by the oaf dragging her out of the bar. He led her through the shadowy parking lot to a dark corner, then turned to face her. "Young lady, I don't tolerate tantrums of any kind, ever. It's time someone had a discussion with you about your behaviour."
"My WHAT? Just who the HELL do you think you are? And if you think I want to spend time in the dark with you, you can just think again!"
"So you want more light? Fine, your choice." And he tossed her over his shoulder as if she was lighter than a sack of potatoes - but a lot less valuable - and headed for the centre of the parking lot. Under the cone of light from a nearby streetlight, Amanda found herself dumped back on her feet.
She shook back her dishevelled blonde hair and fixed Jake with a stare that should have turned him to stone. "And what was that meant to prove, you THUG?"
"Nothing yet. That was just relocation. Now you've got all the light you want. And NOW we can start our discussion. We'll begin with your apology for your tantrum."
"You want me to APOLOGISE to you? Well you can just go and get -"
Unfortunately, Jake never did find out what he could go and get. Amanda's instructions ended in an undignified squawk when he put one foot up on a handy fender, and then flipped her across his thigh. Amanda's hands flailed at thin air, her feet kicked wildly behind her, and her struggles hitched her skirt halfway up her bottom. Since she was wearing her favourite pair of thong panties Jake had a wonderful view of two smooth, pale cheeks and her long, firm thighs. He decided that helping his brother wasn't such a bad deal after all. The girl had a truly glorious bottom, full and rounded, just made for spanking. Which was fortunate, because her behaviour guaranteed that any red-blooded man would be honour bound to give her what she so obviously needed.
Amanda's furious yells attracted attention from passers-by, but nobody was rushing to her rescue.
Jake raised his hand and slapped it down hard, dead centre. Amanda drew breath for a furious shriek as he said calmly, "Are you ready to apologise?"
"DAMN you let me GO!"
"I'll take that as a 'no', shall I?" And he raised his hand again...
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