HOLY SMOKES

fifteen. rodeo

“Hi,” Magnolia smiled as she approached the front desk of a little motel in Stillwater. “I’ve got a few rooms reserved, under Carrington.”

“Oh, yes,” the manager smiled, typing on his computer. “I got five rooms, is that correct?”

“Yes, sir.” She nodded, and after paying she made her way out towards Hunter’s SUV and the car that belonged to one of the survivors. “Okay, I have the keys for rooms nine, eleven, fourteen, twenty-three and twenty-nine.” She handed out the keys to the four families. “I know it’s not the best, but it’s some place to sleep for the night.”

“Thank you,” a redheaded woman with her daughter, Alice and Izzy, smiled before they all headed off to their rooms.

“Okay, I’m gonna head over to the motel in Perkins, make sure everyone there is settled in.” Hunter told her, still not making eye contact. He couldn’t, not after what he had heard. Even if after one particularly loud moan followed by Boone’s name, he had left the room and sat in his car on the other side of the parking lot.

“Hey, I’m sorry for… last night.”

“Can we not…”

“Yep.” She nodded and he waved as he climbed into his SUV. She shook her head a little, shaking off the awkwardness as she made her way towards her room, number twenty-nine.

Just as she pulled out her phone to text Boone the room number, Kate pulled up in Javi’s truck and jumped out, drawing her attention as she hit send.

“Kate, hey.” She smiled.

“Hey, Maggie.”

“How ya doin’?” He asked softly. “It’s not easy stuff to see.”

“It’s not,” she shook her head. “How’s the non-profit doing?”

“It’s real good, we were able to put up a few families here and at a few other hotels. And we’re gonna be able to rebuild not only Crystal Springs, but a couple other towns that were hit last week.”

Kate smiled, giving her a warm smile, “that’s amazing. You’re really making a difference in people’s lives.”

“Just doin’ what I can.” She shrugged a little, then she looked back at the lobby realization setting in. “If you’re lookin’ for a room, I just got the last five.”

“Oh.”

“But I don’t mind sharin’.” She offered. “If you’re okay with sharin’ with Boone and possibly Tyler, if he decides to stay.”

“There gonna be enough room?”

“Two beds,” she nodded. “Ty can sleep on the floor.” She smirked a little, making Kate laugh. “Also, I promise Boone and I will be on our best behavior.”

“Thank you, I really appreciate it.”

“‘Course.” she nodded, pulling her phone out as she and Kate made their way towards the room. She sent Boone a quick letting him know that Kate was gonna be sharing the room with them, so that meant he had to keep his hands to himself.

She got a frowny face in response.

>>>>> • <<<<<

Magnolia had just stepped out of the shower when there was a knock on the door, she quickly wrapped a towel around herself and stepped out, steam following her as a smile pulled at her lips when she saw Boone and Tyler just outside the door.

“Hey, ang-”

Kate cut him off, closing the door in their faces.

Magnolia chuckled, “was that necessary?”

“Told you I was gonna do it. Got pizza though.” She sat on the bed and opened the box, Magnolia shook her head a little as she crossed the room and opened the door.

“Hey, baby.” She smiled up at Boone, and he let his eyes follow a drop of water down the curve of her breasts.

“God, Maggie, put some clothes on.” Tyler huffed, turning so his back was to the girl.

“Got your bag,” Boone told her, holding it up.

She merely grabbed his hand, pulling him into the room then towards the bathroom. “You two play nice, well just be a minute.”

“Maggie,” Tyler scrunched his nose up as he closed the door behind him. “Seriously,”

“We ain’t gonna do anything, we ain't deviants.”

“I don't know what that means, but I might be one.” Boone mumbled, happily following Magnolia into the bathroom before closing the door behind them.

And true to her word, Magnolia just pulled him into a kiss. Her hands buried into his hair as she pushed him against the door. He hummed into her mouth, dropping her bag to the floor as he wrapped his arms around her waist before turning so her back was pressed against the door.

Tyler shook his head, a small chuckle shaking his shoulders when he heard the light thud against the bathroom door.

“You'll have to forgive them, they just got engaged.”

She just nodded, she assumed as much when she saw the ring on Magnolia's finger, “so, you find the dog?”

“‘Course I found the dog.” He nodded, another laugh leaving him when Magnolia's giggle traveled through the door. “So, how you doin’ after all that?” He asked, his voice soft.

She merely shrugged, “It doesn't matter. It's those people, they…” she trailed off, not having the words.

“Boone, I promised Kate.”

“I didn't.”

Kate and Tyler both chuckled, sharing a look. She had a nice smile, he thought. “Yeah, well, you've seen the worst of this place. Probably nice for you to see something good.”

“Yeah, like what?” She asked, tilting her head to the side a little.

“There's a rodeo ‘cross the street,” he motioned over his shoulder with his thumb. “Best place on Earth.”

“I wanna go to the rodeo.”

“We'll catch up with ‘em. Just wanna kiss you a little longer.”

“We can hear you.” Tyler called out, then the door opened and Boone stuck his head out.

“Then you heard me, we'll catch up.”

He shut the door again, making Magnolia laugh as she wrapped her arms around his neck again. And just as he pressed his lips against hers they heard the door closed.

“We're alone,” he grinned, but it dropped and a look of awe took over his face when she dropped her towel. “Baby,” it left him as a groan, an appreciative sound as he pulled her against him.

“This just ain’t fair, you're wearin’ more than me.”

“We can fix that,” he smirked and in a smooth move he tugged his shirt over his head before pulling her against him as he pressed his lips against hers.

>>>>> • <<<<<

Magnolia beamed, her eyes wide as she watched a bull spring out of the gate, throwing his body around to try and shake off the guy that sat on his back. She bounced on her toes a little as she watched, making Boone come to a stop at her side. Then she winced when the rider hit the ground, but then she cheered along with the crowd as he pushed himself up and the rodeo clowns distracted the bull.

Boone just smiled as he watched her, then he leaned in and kissed the side of her neck, drawing her attention away from the arena as another bull jumped out of the gate, the crowd cheered as the rider held on for dear life.

“I love the rodeo.” She hummed, leaning up to press a soft kiss to his cheek.

“Me too, but my favorite was the one where you laid one on me.”

“Waited two years for you to kiss me, didn’t want to wait any more,” she hummed, her eyes scanning the bleachers. “There’s Kate and Ty.” She started up the bleachers, apologizing to the people she passed until she plopped down next to Tyler, Boone sitting next to her. “Hey, guys.”

“Oh, jeez, Maggie.” Tyler’s nose scrunched up when he saw the purple marks that littered her neck and down her chest. “That why you’ve been wearin’ his bandanas?”

“That, and I like ‘em.” She nodded. And it was true, so true that she still wore his red bandana though it was tied around her head, the ends on top of her to resemble a bow. It also kept her hair out of her face as her long golden locks dried into messy waves down her back.

“I also like ‘em,” Boone mumbled, leaning in to kiss her cheek. “And not just you wearin’ my bandana.” His voice was a low whisper as he brushed his thumb over the news mark he had added to the collection.

“Boone,” she mumbled, shaking her head a little. And he just chuckled, kissing her cheek again. Then her attention was pulled back to the arena as another bull jumped out of the gate, only for the rider to be thrown.

He made his way across the arena and when he spotted Tyler in the bleacher, he did the tornado hand motion, which Tyler reciprocated. Magnolia laughed lightly at the interaction.

“You know him?” Kate asked, a little confused.

“I used to compete.”

“He was good, too.” Magnolia added, watching as another bull jumped around the arena.

“Yeah, but I got my head stomped on by one too many bulls.” He continued, laughing a little as Magnolia stood up and cheered. And Boone just smiled at her, she had always loved rodeos. “Thought college might be better for my brain.”

“You’re scared of tornadoes but not of riding bulls?” Kate asked curiously.

“Angel, people behind us are gonna get mad,” Boone chuckled, his hands on her hips as he tugged her back into her seat.

She quickly turned, an apologetic smile on her face, “sorry, I got excited.” She told them as she sunk back into her spot. Then she leaned into Boone’s side, “haven’t been to a rodeo in years.” She mumbled, not listening to Kate and Tyler’s conversation.

“Really?” Boone asked, his brows pinched. He knew she had moved to the city, but he assumed she had at least made a trip home every now and then, maybe even going to a few rodeos.

She gave him a soft smile, “not since that one before I left. When we…”

His lips parted a little, his mouth going dry at the memory of sneaking off in the middle of the barrel racing event. He remembered pinning her against the side of the concession stand that had already closed for the night. It had merely started off as a kiss, but it quickly grew into more and she pulled him into the small dark room, the door having been left unlocked.

In seconds they were on the floor, using her dress and his shirt as a blanket.

Her cheeks flushed when he licked his lips, leaning down close to her ear, then his lips softly brushed the shell of her ear. “My second favorite rodeo.”

She giggled a little, shaking her head as she took a breath. She couldn’t believe that she was still so needy. They had pretty much spent every night together since driving into her first tornado. Though, some of those nights had been spent cuddled up as they watched old movies.

She wasn’t sure how she had gone ten years without sex, well, unless she counted the many nights she had used her hand and the thought of Boone to get herself off. But sex with him was so, so much better than just her hand.

Soon the bull riding was done and the barrel racing started up. Magnolia cheered with her hands cupped around her mouth. Boone just smiled at her, he couldn’t believe that she was there next to him, wearing that ring on her finger but this time it wasn't just a promise.

It was so much more.

He had to pinch his arm to make sure he wasn't dreaming, he had even asked Tyler to pinch him when the girls had gone to get drinks. But sure enough, he was awake and she was real.

She was his.

Just as the next barrel racer started, the wind picked up. The strong breeze shaking the leaves from a few nearby trees and sending them towards the arena. With a furrowed brow, Kate leaned forward and picked one up before looking over at Tyler, who looked up at the sky. He was just as confused as she was.

“Are you tracking cells out this way?”

“What’s happenin?” Magnolia asked softly, looking up at Boone, who looked just as worried as Tyler and Kate did.

“Air feels heavy. This isn’t good.” Kate stated, looking around.

Then every phone in the arena blared when an alert, Boone pulled his phone out and Magnolia leaned over to see the screen.

Her stomach dropped when she read it, there was a storm coming and fast.