Wild Ride: A Bad Boy Romance (16 page)

“Katy!” said
Sara, reaching out trying to catch me.

But she didn’t
make it.

I fell onto the
hard ground. My knee scraped on a stone.

The whole place
was completely silent, except for my sobs and my tears.

I got up
quickly, before Sara could reach me.

I sprinted
away, into the building.

I didn’t know
where to go. My dress was torn and bloodied from my scraped knee.

I found myself
in the women’s bathroom. I didn’t want to look at myself in the mirror, but it
was right there in front of me…a huge mirror, showing me exactly as I was.

There had never
been a moment in my life more than now where I didn’t want to see myself.

But I had no
choice. I saw myself clearly in the mirror, head on, so to speak.

I looked
horrible. My face was a mess of makeup and tears. My elegant dress was torn.
There was more blood on it than I’d thought. I looked like a lunatic.

I was still
sobbing.

I heard the
door open.

I dashed into a
stall, slamming the door behind me, and locking it.

The sounds of
someone breathing were right outside the stall. I was growing nervous… who was
it? What were they going to say to me? Was it Colton?

I felt many things
at the same time. I was enraged at Colton…but I also didn’t want him to see me
like this… But then again, what did I care? I knew I didn’t want to have
anything to do with him any more.

“Sara?” I said,
between sobs. I was hoping against all hope that it was Sara on that other side
of the stall door.

“It’s me,
Sheila,” said Sheila, the young country singer’s voice. It sounded nasty and
nasally, entirely unpleasant. I knew right then and there that while maybe she
was a country singer by profession, she was an actor at heart. Whatever nice demeanor
she wore for others, she completely dropped it now for me. While I couldn’t see
her face, I could hear the falseness falling away from her voice. She was
speaking to me from her true self, and it wasn’t pretty.

“What do you
want?” I said, sobbing.

“I want to let
you know,” said Sheila, her voice unapologetically nasty and hard…She wasn’t
here to comfort me. She was here because I was weak and vulnerable, because she
wanted to strike me when I was already down, when I was already wounded. “I
want to let you know that you cant’ stop me. I’m going to have Colton, one way
or the other. Do you think this little stunt you pulled is going to have any
effect? If anything, the papers will just write that you were a crazy fan of
Colton’s and wanted him for yourself. Colton’s furious with you, you know. I
saw it in his face after you ran away. You think he’s going to want to have
anything to do with you, now that you’ve ruined his fake wedding? It may have
been a fake wedding at first but we’re going to continue with the ceremony
after a twenty-minute break. And then, I can assure you, that’s it’s going to
be a real marriage. You only succeeded in pushing Colton closer to me. Don’t
you see that, Katy?”

I sobbed. I
couldn’t say anything. She was probably right. I wouldn’t be surprised if
Colton hated me now…. Not that I cared… But I knew I did. I knew I still loved
Colton more than ever…even if I was mad at him…. I didn’t know what to think. I
was confused, and Sheila’s words were only making me more confused, making me
cry harder.

“You know I’ve wanted
this for a long time,” said Sheila. “And that’s one of the advantages of being
a hot young country singer…. I can get the men I want. Don’t worry, Katy, I’m
quite the seductress. After tonight, Colton won’t stand a chance against my
advances. And I know you recognized me from that night at the country bar. What
you don’t know is that when you were in the bathroom having your way with
Colton…. What you don’t know is that that was me, coming into the bathroom, to
redo my makeup. Yes, that was me. I heard the whole thing. I heard Colton
groaning as you had your way with him… But what I want you to know Katy, is
that I can do so much more than that to him… I’ll make him experience pleasure
he never thought possible. Did you really think you had a chance against me?
Didn’t you take a look at me? My friends may have to wear corsets, but I sure
don’t. Why do you think I’m famous? I may be able to sing but it’s my body that
sells records. All the men in America want me, and Colton’s no different. He’s
a red blooded cowboy like the rest. And I can give him what he wants.”

I couldn’t take
any more of it.

I pushed
against the bathroom door.

It burst open,
smacking Sheila in her pretty young face. “Ouch,” she said, falling backward
onto the bathroom floor, her wedding dress flying up around her face, revealing
her tan young muscular legs and thighs. I saw that she wasn’t wearing any
underwear, revealing a very pretty vagina that was far too cute…with no hair, completely
shaved. The thought of Colton entering it made me cry harder.

I ran from the
bathroom. I think I stepped on Sheila’s face or hair as I ran away.

I ran and ran,
far away from the wedding…

I was dashing through
the streets, crying. I was a mess. People were staring at me, because of the
blood, because of my torn dress, because of my tears. But no one stopped to
help me.

I was alone.

Completely
alone.

Colton was
running frantically around. He was looking for Katy. He didn’t think she could
be far. But he had checked all the rooms. The last place to look was the
bathroom.

“Have you seen
Katy?” cried a woman, who he didn’t recognize. “I’m Sara, her friend,” said the
woman. She looked completely frantic, but not as frantic as Colton.

Colton didn’t
have time to answer.

He dashed
towards the bathroom, his cowboy boots clapping heavily against the floor. He
was running so fast he had to hold onto his new cowboy hat. It may have been a
fancy hat, but it didn’t fit his head nearly as good as his trusty old hat…but
Katy had that one. She’d kept it as a souvenir after his injury.

Something
caught his eye.

It was a flash
of grey. It looked like cloth as it whipped around the corner of the main
building. Was it Katy? Was it her dress?

Colton didn’t know.
He had to make a snap decision.

He made the wrong
one.

Instead of
following the grey dress around the corner, he dashed into the bathroom.

“Katy!” he
said.

“She’s gone,”
said Sheila.

“Sheila! What
happened to you?”

He looked down
to see Sheila on the floor, looking horrible.

“Are you OK?”
said Colton.

“No,” said Sheila,
making her voice as sweet and pleading as possible. She really was a master
actress, a master deceiver and manipulator. “I need your help baby.”

But Colton saw
right through her act.

He didn’t know
how he knew, but it was as if Katy was telling him what was really going on….

Colton didn’t
even need to make a decision. He didn’t even need to choose between Sheila and
Katy. He knew right then and there, looking at Sheila on the floor, that it was
Katy he loved. It was Katy he wanted to spend the rest of his life with. If
Katy didn’t want him to have this fake marriage, to Sheila, then that was it,
he wouldn’t have it. His mind was made up, and nothing could convince him
otherwise.

“Where’s Katy?”
said Colton, a commanding tone taking over his voice.

“Stay with me,
baby,” said Sheila. “Please, I need you. I’m hurt. And Colton, I can make you
so happy. Stay with me and I’ll make you happier than you ever have been. I’ll
make you feel good, Colton, really good.”

As Sheila said
this, she spread her legs wide open. Her dress was still pulled up around her,
from the fall. She positioned herself so that she could be sure that Colton
could see everything, everything laid bare.

“Where’s Katy?”
said Colton, immune to the temptation, his voice growing harsher. “What have
you done with Katy?”

“She’s gone,”
said Sheila, her sweet and pleading tones dropping away. She now sounded
vicious, revealing her true self to Colton. “You’ll never have me now, Colton,”
she said.

“Good,” said
Colton, turning and leaving her lying on the bathroom floor. He rushed out of
the bathroom, the door swinging wildly. He knew that Sheila wasn’t in any real
danger. His years in the rodeo had given him a sixth sense when it came to
judging the gravity of injuries. He knew there was nothing really wrong with Sheila.
The person he was worried about was Katy.

“Colton,” said
someone, blocking his path.

“What?” said
Colton, full of adrenaline, not really yet registering on who was speaking to
him.

“Where are you
going, Colton? We still have the wedding ceremony. You look like you’re rushing
out of here.” Of course, it was Cambridge Whitehead, looking dapper in his
wedding clothes. He was even wearing extra jewelry for the occasion.

“I’m going to
find Katy,” said Colton.

“Colton, let me
give you a friendly piece of advice.” Cambridge was speaking slowly, drawing
out his words. Colton was practically jumping in place. He didn’t have time for
this. He just needed to find Katy. “Forget about that girl, Colton. There’s
plenty more where she came form.”

“She’s special,”
said Colton, abruptly. He didn’t want to have to waste any more time than he
had to, but Cambridge Whitehead was a big, imposing man, with wide shoulders.
He was blocking Colton’s’ path.

“Let me through,”
said Colton.

“Colton, if you
leave here now, then I’m afraid I can’t keep working with you. What I would
advise you to do is to march yourself back up there and say your vows. This is
the big change you’ve been waiting for. If you don’t take it now, there’s
nothing more I can do for you. I can’t work with such impulsive and irrational
clients. If you leave now, you go back to being a rodeo star for the rest of
your life. You might be the best rodeo star there ever was, but I can promise
you no one will ever know your name again, Colton. I’m a powerful man, Colton,
and I’ll make it my job to make sure your name never sees the light of day. You
could be the best rodeo champion for twenty years running and that’s all you’ll
be…nothing more. No one will ever no your name. You’ll never be a celebrity.
You’ll be just another nobody until you get trampled some day by an overly
vigorous bull…”

“Fine,” said Colton.
His mind was already made up. He didn’t even need to think about it for a
second. “Get out of my way. I need to find Katy.”

“Colton, I’m
warning you…”

But Colton had
already had enough.

Putting his
right shoulder down, he charged at Cambridge. It was an old football maneuver
he had learned in high school pick up games. And it worked. Cambridge practically
went flying. He was a big, heavy man, but he was no match for Colton’s power,
force and speed.

Colton bolted
past him, not even bothering to look behind him.

He had already
looked everywhere on the property.

An idea flashed
in his head. That grey fabric he had seen disappear around the corner…that had
been Katy. Why hadn’t he realized it before? He knew she had been wearing a
grey dress…

If that had been
Katy, then it meant that Katy was off the property, running…

Colton ran to
the parking lot. His truck was still there, with the Triumph motorcycle on the
back.

Katy didn’t
have her own car here. She must have left by foot.

Colton would
find her…but he needed a vehicle.

He got into his
old beat up truck, slamming the door behind him.

He jammed his
foot down on the clutch, and turned the key in the ignition. He was still in
the habit of leaving the keys in the ignition, no matter where he was. The only
key he took with him was the key to his Triumph…

The engine
whined. It didn’t sound right.

Shit, though
Colton. The truck wasn’t starting.

Colton cursed
and banged his fist into the dashboard.

He jumped back
out of the truck, and looked around wildly. The first thing that popped into
his head, was the Triumph motorcycle. But he remembered how much Katy had hated
riding on it.

No, thought
Colton, he couldn’t take the bike.

“Hey Colton,
what’s going on with the wedding? They sent me out to see if you’re still
here…” It was one of Colton’s buddies from the rodeo practice ground. Colton
had convinced him to come along with the promise of free food, booze, and the
possibility of getting lucky with one of the female guests.

Colton didn’t
say anything at first. He didn’t have time for this. He needed to find Katy.
That was all that was on his mind. But he also needed a ride.

“Hey,” said
Colton, suddenly getting an idea. “You didn’t bring your horse, did you?”

“Don’t go
anywhere without her,” said his friend, tipping his cowboy hat. Colton’s’
friend’s name was Matt, and he was known around the city as The Cowboy, because
he didn’t even own a car. Nor a motorcycle, moped, or bicycle. He went
everywhere on his horse, tying her up outside at the bicycle post.

“Great,” said
Colton. “I need to borrow her.”

“Sorry,
Colton,” said Matt The Cowboy. “I’ve never been in the habit of lending her
out. You can understand, right, Colton?”

Colton nodded
frantically. “But here’s the thing--- Well, first of all, yes, I understand
that. But this is love we’re talking about. I need to find Katy, and she’s
terrified of motorcycles, and my truck’s not starting.”

“Look, Colton,”
said Matt. ”I really appreciate the initiation. There’s a lot of free food and
booze. I’ve already had over five whiskies. But why don’t you try to find
someone else’s car to borrow? Sally Thunder has always been with me, and I
don’t want to lend her out to anyone. You get that, right?”

“Yeah,” said
Colton, distractedly. He was in the zone where none of what Mat The Cowboy was
saying mattered to him. “Where is she?”

“Tied up right
around the corner, under a big Oak Tree. But I already told you, Colton, I’m
not lending her to you.”

“Great,” said
Colton, not paying any attention, and dashing around the corner of the building
to the horse, Sally Thunder.

Matt The Cowboy
chased after him. “Don’t you dare get on that horse,” screamed Matt.

Colton ignored
him, and expertly swung himself up on Sally Thunder. She was a really magnificent
horse, strong, powerful, and young. She was jet black, with a beautiful coat.
One white mark ran down her back in the middle, twisting and turning like a
lightening bolt.

“Get off her
now!” shouted Matt The Cowboy.

“No time for
that,” said Colton. “Got to find Katy.”

“To hell with
that!” shouted Matt. “To hell with Katy.”

“What’d you
say?” said Colton.

“You heard me,”
said Matt.

Matt tried to
grab Colton’s legs, to pull him off the horse. But Colton had already jumped
off the horse himself. He didn’t want anyone insulting Katy, his Katy. He was
filled with a rage.

Matt put his
hands up, and got into his boxer’s stance.

But Colton was
too fast for him. Colton was too powerful.

Colton spun on
his hips, putting one leg forward, the way he had been taught to punch.

He swung, his
fist flying in a huge arc.

His fist
connected with Matt’s face.

Matt wasn’t any
match for Colton’s strength. He crumpled, and fell to the ground in a heap. His
cowboy hat rolled away into the dust.

“Sorry, buddy,”
said Colton, feeling a bit of remorse.

He swung
himself back up on Matt’s horse.

“Giddy up,” he
cried, using his boots to dig into Sally Thunder’s hide.

She responded
by shooting forward at a gallop.

Soon Colton was
racing through the city streets. The sound of her hooves on the pavement was deafening.

Colton rode,
his suit jacket flapping in the wind. He kept one hand on his cowboy hat, to
keep it from flying off in the wind. If he had had his old regular hat, this
would have never happened. It would have stayed right on his head, without any
issues.

Colton rode and
rode. Eventually Sally Thunder tired, and they had to slow to a walking pace.

He got some
strange looks, and quite a few wolf-whistle calls from women, women who liked
nothing more than to see a sexy muscular cowboy riding by on a horse.

Colton rode for
hours.

The sun was
already starting to set.

There were
still no signs of Katy.

Should he give
up? Should he head back to her apartment?

But somehow
Colton didn’t think he would find her there.

He had a
strange idea come on to him all of a sudden. He didn’t know where it had come
from.

But thought
that maybe Katy had gone to a little park in an obscure corner of the city.
There was an unusual weeping Willow tree there, by a small lake. Katy had mentioned
it once to him in passing as a place she liked to go.

“Let’s go,”
cried Colton, digging his heels as hard as he could into Sally Thunder. Sally
was tired, but she rallied to the cause.

Her hooves were
clamoring against the pavement once again.

Colton’s’
cowboy hat flew off in the wind. He turned to look at it flying through the
air…the fancy white hat. He didn’t need it anymore. To Colton, that hat represented
the last of his quest to become a celebrity. As soon as he got home, he would
put his old hat on again. He was done with fancy hats, with Sheila, with
Cambridge Whitehead, with everyone except Katy.

The wind was
flying through his hair.

Twenty minutes
later, it was dusk, and Colton arrived at the park.

Sally Thunder
blasted through the park at top speed.

“Whoa,” cried
Colton, pulling back on the reins.

There was Katy,
crumpled into a little ball, under the Weeping Willow tree. The tree was
massive, towering into the sky, its branches turned down in sorrow towards the
ground.