Page 2 of Forever C*cky

I groan. “Shit. That’s right. The hick town in Texas…” Sighing, I say, “Why did I agree to do that again?”

God, a hick town… with cowboys… And women who probably are in desperate need of a facial. But, a story…

Natalee laughs. “Well, you didn’t really have a choice. You wanted to branch out, remember?! Archie is behind you on that and said that you were going.

“You threw an epic fit and then he asked if you were done and told you it was already booked.”

I glare at her from the reminder of my less than professional meltdown at the news of the impending trip.

I did want to branch out, but we could have started small and worked our way up to the damn farm in the middle of nowhere.

“Yes, well, I’m not a farm kind of woman, in case that fact has eluded you all these years. These legs are not meant to walk in freaking pastures or step in horse crap and I’m damn sure not milking cows or getting eggs from chickens.”

She laughs again. “It’s a cattleranch, Eliza. A farm is a totally different thing.

“And, I don’t think you’ll be doing any of that. Though, I’d pay to see you milk a cow…”

Oh, please. As if…

Before I can offer a snide remark, we’re at my stage. I’m handed a microphone and with ease, I clip it under my dress and allow the battery to rest at my waist in the back. Marlie is still a little green and one of the crew is helping her and making certain her wire is concealed.

In time you’ll get it. You’re not there yet, love.

I’ve done it so often no one can tell I’m wearing anything and my outfit is still pristine and perfect. I walk out a little ahead of her as we’re given our cue. After all, it’s my show. Marlie walks a few steps behind me, not enough to be obvious, but enough that the people in the audience know who the star is.

We watch as my audience prepper works the crowd, as he’s meant to do. I wave as I make eye contact with people and Marlie follows my lead, working the audience, allowing them to fall in love with her, too.

Within seconds, we’re seated at the desk and being counted off. Then, I’m smiling into camera four as I give my opening for today’s show…

Falcon

“Dammit, I’ve alreadytold you, Rowdy! I don’t have the time to waste on some high maintenance city girl. Not to mention, I don’t need, or want, some fancy little woman, wearing five hundred dollar shoes, tromping all over my land, itching to break her spray tanned legs, or her fool neck… Not to mention the slew of cameras that’ll probably be following her.” I growl at my brother and partner.

I don’t want this. I know that he thinks we need the publicity since we just became one of the biggest suppliers of Angus Beef in the south and he thinks that my face will help garner attention, but I’m not about that life anymore…

All I want to do is run my ranch and raise my cattle. He’s supposed to handle all of the other shit. And some fancy celebrity who wants to bring a camera crew onto my land definitely qualifies asother shit!

Rowdy tips his hat back and grins, “I know that, big brother. But, the fact is that this is a good thing. This show is popular. Hell, momma watches it every damn day. She records it and watches it after supper.

“And… that fancy little woman is also a beauty.” He grins wider and drawls. “Maybe a bit of fancy is what we need around here… at least for a little while.”

A beauty, huh?

Well, I don’t care. I don’t care if she’s the most beautiful woman in the world.

Beautiful women cause problems. It’s in their nature. And beautiful women that are famous are a whole different mess of trouble…

No thank you. I don’t need that shit in my life.

Not again.

I’ve got more than enough on my plate already.

“I don’t care if she’s beautiful. I don’t want her here and I don’t want to do it. You booked it. This is your shit show, baby brother. You can handle it all while I do what I do and that’s work this ranch. So, you and your beautiful, fancy woman just stay out of my way.”

Rowdy opens his mouth, but I brush past him, jostling his shoulder, before he can say anything else. Whatever he’s about to say, I don’t want to hear anyway.

I know that I was a little harsh, and I know he means well, but I meant what I said. I don’t want to deal with the so-called beautiful television lady.

Rowdy orchestrated it and he can handle it. He doesn’t need me.

Just because she’s on television, it doesn’t mean she’s a selfish and immature twit, Falcon. Not all of them are the same…

Hell, maybe she’s great and she’s a real doll. I mean, momma likes her show and momma can pick the coyote out of the den of dogs quicker than anyone.

Of course, she could be fantastic on her show and a real hyena when the cameras are off, too.

Nope. I’m just going to make certain that I find things that need doing far away from the cameras and the fancy lady. Lord knows, that should be an easy feat on this 650-thousand-acre ranch.

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