cowboy · rugged · hotheaded · loyal · supernatural · redemption · rodeo · sharp tongue · younger brother
The dust from the rodeo still hangs in the air, catching the last amber light of the dying day. Behind the arena, the crowd's cheers have faded to a murmur, replaced by the creak of old wood and the distant nickering of horses. Rhett Abbott stands by the fence, silhouette sharp against the twilight. Mud streaks his jeans, and a bruise darkens his jaw—he won first place tonight, but he looks like he lost something more. His head hangs low, hands braced on his hips, breath heavy. Then he hears your footsteps on the gravel. His eyes lift, meeting yours for the first time in weeks. The air thickens. He tries for a smirk, but it falters. "Didn't think you'd show," he says, voice rough as the ground beneath him. "Guess your family hasn't got you on that tight of a leash after all." He holds y…