Cody let out a sigh as he checked his phone for what seemed like the millionth time in five minutes. The heels of his hard soled boots clicked loudly as he walked the paved sidewalks of the college his brother, Cory, was very interested in attending.

       "Everything okay back in paradise? You've checked your phone almost every minute since we got here." Cory noticed, nodding down at the phone in his twin brother's hand. 

       Cody, seeing he had been caught, knowing his brother was right, slid his cell phone back into his jeans pocket, looking up to see where they were walking. "Sorry. Just missing Maleena, like I have been this whole week."

      "She still ridin' in that barrel race thing tonight?" Cory asked, rolling up the campus map, sticking it into his back pocket. 

      "Yeah, yeah she is." Cody pulled his hat down lower over his head, wishing he was anywhere but here right now. 

        Cory stopped walking as him and Cody filed into the registration line. "I have two questions for you. One, why haven't you introduced her to mom and dad yet? And secondly, if you miss her this much when being away from her for only a week, how do you plan on the separation when we get to college in a month? And when do you plan to break the news to her?"

       "That was three questions, not two." Cody chuckled. 

       "Yeah, but all three of them still deserve answers." 

      Cody let out a breath as he tried to think of a good response. "I want her to meet mom and dad, I just worry that she won't like them, or something. I don't really know why I haven't introduced her to them, to be honest. I'm just nervous, I reckon. I will tell her the news once I get back, and as far as how we will make the long distance relationship work, I really don't know. I have been wrestling with that every day."

                                                            ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

         "Hey there, cowgirl, you need some help in here?" A voice called from the open barn door. 

        Maleena glanced over her shoulder to see her friend, Rose, walking into the barn. Wiping a hand over her sweaty brow, Maleena exhaled. "That would be wonderful, please and thank you. I still have so much to do before the rodeo. I have to get dressed, polish my saddle, take a shower, and finish all of my chores." She straightened her posture, pushing a hand against her sore back. 

        "Just tell me where you want me, and what you want me to do so you can start getting ready. We are gettin' down to the wire here." Rose grinned up at her bestie. 

        "Well, if you wouldn't mind, just helpin' me finish stacking and loading these bales, that would be great. It's hotter than all get out up here." Maleena whistled out, wiping her gloved hand over her forehead again. 

        "I'll finish up here. You go get your tack ready." Rose jumped up onto the stack of hay bales, reaching a hand out to Maleena, telling her to hand over her work gloves.

      "You're the best. Thank you so much." Maleena willingly handed over the task, hopping down from the growing pile of hay. Once she did so, she immediately pulled out her cell phone, seeing that she had a new Snapchat picture from Cody. With a grin, she opened it, revealing Cody taking a selfie, holding up a purple t-shirt that had the name of the college largely printed in gray lettering. His tongue was sticking out, and his lip cocked upward in partial disgust. The caption read, "I can cross this college off my list. I never looked good in purple anyways."  The smile never fell from Maleena's face as she replied to his picture before tucking her phone away as she prepared to get her tack ready for the futurity race tonight. 

                                                                ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

         Cody checked his phone one last time, shooting Maleena a "Good luck tonight in the futurity race. I know you will do great." text before dropping his truck into drive, letting out a sigh as he turned up the volume on the radio. 

        There was no other place in the world that he wanted to be at this moment except for with Maleena back in Wyoming, watching her ride in the futurity barrel race, but he was over six hours away, still in Colorado. 

        As he drove down the road, Cody milled over all of the colleges that him and his family had visited this past week. Out of his list of five, he was able to narrow the choices down to two. Of the two choices, one was only an hour away from home in Wyoming; it was close enough he could commute, and be close to Maleena...but that was about the only good thing about it. The other college, however, was exactly what Cody had been looking for; he loved everything about it, except the distance.

        Either way, Cody knew he would make the best of the situation no matter which college he chose, and of course, he wanted to discuss it with his girlfriend before he accepted the application, but in his mind, he had already made the decision. 

                                                    ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

             Maleena hummed along to the song playing softly over the stereo speakers in the tack room of the barn. In the background, she could hear hay bales being rustled, telling Maleena that Rose was still stacking the bales. 

           As Maleena scrubbed her saddle with oil, polishing it up for the ride tonight, she became lost in her thoughts. So lost that she didn't even notice that Rose had finished her task, walking into the tack room.

       "Mal," Rose reached a hand out to Maleena's shoulder, making Maleena jerk her head up. 

       "Sorry, what?" Maleena asked, rubbing more soap onto the sponge before putting it down onto her saddle again. 

        "I just asked if you have heard from Cody anymore?" Rose took off her work gloves, tossing them onto the counter top in the large tack room, leaning back against the cupboards.

        "Oh, no, I haven't, not since he wished me luck on the race tonight, but it's okay because I know he is busy with the college tours and such. Plus, I am so nervous about this barrel race that it is all I can think about right now." Maleena chuckled, giving her saddle the once over. Deciding it was as good as it would get, she grabbed the clean cotton rag, wiping off the excess residue from the saddle. 

       "I really hope one day I can be as understanding of a girlfriend as you are." Rose chuckled, her demeanor changing. She was missing Lucas.

        "I've just learned that obsessing over missing him doesn't do much for me, so I just try to wait and be patient. I just hope that I can stay this relaxed once he leaves for college. Honestly, I'm glad that we are spending some time apart because it gives us the opportunity I just pray that he chooses a college here in Wyoming." 

         "I know, girl. I'm rootin' for you, but I know that either way y'all will make it work. Besides-" Rose paused her train of thought when her cell phone rang. "I gotta take this." 

         Maleena let out a sigh as she stared down at the saddle, her mind taken over by a wide range of emotions.  

                                                          ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

         "You excited?" Rose asked from beside Maleena, who was sitting atop of the horse she would be riding in the futurity race that was already underway.

         "I don't think excited is the word. I'm more nervous than anything. There are a lot of people here." Maleena's eyes scanned the large crowd. 

        "Yes, there is, but don't let that get to you. Cell phone." Rose held out her hand to Maleena. 

        "What?" Maleena distanced her gaze at the arena stands to look down at her best friend.

       "Your cell phone. I have to record your run, right?" Rose had a look in her eye, but Maleena knew better than to ask. 

        "Oh, right right. Thank you." Maleena handed Rose her phone, taking a deep breath as she prepared herself for the ride. Only one rider before her, then it was Maleena's turn, and she could not be more nervous. 

        Glancing down, Maleena looked at the gorgeous red roan gelding she was atop. He was by far the calmest barrel horse she had ever ridden. However, she knew that he definitely had speed, based on how hard it was to hold him back during the warm up. It made her understand how he got his name: Bullet. 

         Trying to distract herself from being overly nervous, Maleena said a silent prayer, opening her eyes just in time to see the barrel racer finishing her 21.37 second run. Moving her eyes to the arena, Maleena saw the reason for the longer run; the cowgirl's horse had knocked over a barrel, an immediate 5 second penalty. 

       Letting out a heavy sigh, Maleena placed her feet back into the stirrups, picking up the barrel reins in her hand, getting ready to lead Bullet to the gate. Glancing back over her shoulder, Maleena said to Rose, "Don't forget to record the entire thing, please." 

       "I will press 'record' the second that you walk away." Rose smiled. 

      "Okay, wish me luck." Maleena let out a heavy breath. 

       "Good luck." Rose grinned, giving Maleena a thumbs up. As promised, once her and Bullet began walking towards the gate, Rose started recording. "I do not want to miss a single second of this." She grinned, stepping up onto one of the bleacher steps, just as the announcer called Maleena's name. 

       "Alright, Bullet, time to see what you're made of." Maleena spoke out loud. Just as she said it, Bullet began acting up, making Maleena smile. She knew this horse loved to run, and there was nothing more that she wanted than to let him do so. 

       Glancing over her shoulder again, Maleena speedily scanned the crowds, hoping for some reason Cody would be one of the folks cheering her on, but he was no where to be found. 

       Turning her attention back to the roan beast between her legs, Maleena said, "Let's go, boy!" Spurring his sides, letting him burst through the gate. 

        The second Bullet's hooves hit the arena dirt, he was off just like...well, just like a bullet from a gun. Maleena grabbed the saddle horn, turning the horse to the right around the barrel, surprised at how well this horse turned, especially since it was one of his first times running the cloverleaf pattern. 

      Turning the second barrel, Maleena could see the red numbers on the timer counting up. Rounding the second barrel just as well as the first one, Maleena focused her attention on getting the horse around the third barrel. The task was done easily; now, she just had to get Bullet back through the gate to complete the ride. Spurring his sides, Bullet gave it his all; it was almost like he had a whole other speed to him. With all four of his hooves coming off the ground, Maleena felt like they were flying. 

       After what only felt like a few seconds had passed, Bullet exited the arena, immediately calming down from the hard work he had done in the arena. Looking over her shoulder, Maleena checked her time. 15.57 seconds. 

       "Everyone give Miss Maleena a hand. With 15.57 seconds, she is tonight's winner of the futurity race!" The announcer cheered loudly over the speakers, trying to overpower the sounds of the fans. "Come on back out here, and do a victory lap, Maleena!" 

        Maleena, who still couldn't believe that she had the winning time, grinned wildly as she looked over at Rose, who was practically jumping up and down on the bleachers. After making eye contact, she motioned for Maleena to go back out into the arena.

      Turning Bullet back to the arena, she led him to the rail, taking him around the perimeter in a lope. It still amazed her how well she and Bullet clicked; it took her and Stryker months before they "read" each other as her and this young barrel pony had. 

       After Maleena finished her lap, everyone at the rodeo grounds had calmed down quite a bit. Granted, there were still non-stop cheering, but at least now the announcer was able to talk without having to shout much. "Alright, if we can please have the three winners make their way out to the arena, it is time to award them with their prizes." 

        Maleena, and the other two riders who placed, all lined up next to each other in the middle of the arena as a few members from the futurity race group walked out, large plastic boards with the check amounts written on them entered, a few cameramen following. 

       "Well, wait a minute here, folks, I have just been informed that we have another announcement to be made before the awards are handed out. If the winner of tonight's race, Miss Maleena Lackley, can turn her attention to the arena gate, there is a very special guest here to see you." 

     Maleena obeyed, looking over to the arena gate, making eye contact with her "very special guest." For the first time since she and Bullet finished their run, Maleena's smile faded for just a second when she saw who it was. She could not believe her eyes as the person walked further into the arena.

                                                                     ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Author's Note: Hey, y'all loyal and amazing readers. My greatest apologies for taking forever to update. Between graduating college and having final exams, life has been keeping me incredibly busy recently, leaving me with practically no time at all to write. Hopefully, this chapter was well worth the wait. Thank you all so much for your patience. Y'all enjoy!! :)   
P.S. Who do you think Maleena's "very special guest" is?