Skylar Dunnigan's Story

Growing up in a small town like Cherry Grove, you look forward to things that bigger cities take for granted, like Friday night football games and summer time. Most Cherry Grove residents though, look forward to the fair; not for the rides or the cotton candy though, for the bull riding. People come from other states just to get a glimpse at who might be the next Angus Avery to come out of Cherry Grove. Everyone's bets are on Angus's son Dustin.

Dakota had spent the entire day mentally preparing herself for the night, watching her brother climb on top of a fifteen hundred pound animal and not being able to control anything about the situation never got easier, it didn't help that he had unhealed injuries from the last time he rode, but he refused to let them heal or sit this one out. Kody lend against her truck cigarette between her lips dressed like the typical country girl.

It was no secret that she was probably one of the prettiest girls in town and if it wasn't for her brother she'd have guys lined up at her door begging to take her out, but that wasn't the because Dustin had a bit of a reputation for scaring off all her boyfriends. Dustin was slipping into his riding gear, while Tripp helped. Tripp was always helping Dustin get ready for a ride the two were practically best friends, which was another reason they kept their kind of relationship under wraps.

Once he was ready to go they headed to the arena. They were let in the back way and Kody stayed quite her heart rate already starting to pick up, but she kept emotions under lock and key. The stopped were they would split from him and head to where the family and friends watched in a separate area from the normal onlookers.

Dustin looked at her instantly able to tell she was stressed and he stepped close wrapping his arms around her tightly and kissing the top of her head. "I'm going to be fine Kota." he breathed and she rolled her eyes.

"Yeah I know, cause your tough as hell Bub." she smiled one that matched her brother's smile almost identically calling him his nickname. "Go kick some ass." she said stepping away from him and without another word he slipped into the waiting area with the group of other cowboys.

She turned to make her way towards the family seating reserved for the riders family only Tripp grabbed her and turned her back to face him pressing his lips to hers and she smirked against his lips kissing him back for a moment. He made her honestly happy, but she didn't love him. Dakota was a strong believer in the fact that you only fell in love once and you got one shot at it, you'd know when it was right, and if it didn't work out no one else would ever compare. Harrison had been her one chance at love, but some how she'd fucked that up and he'd left she, that was two years ago.

She'd already come to terms with the fact that if she ever did get married it would probably be Tripp, he was the only guy within five hundred miles her brother liked. She'd be happy, but not in love and that was fine with her. Eventually her and Tripp headed to take their seats as they started announcing that it was ten minuets until show time. The music was blasting, to get everyone pumped, as Tripp kissed her cheek and handed her a beer, wrapping an arm around her waist. Everyone knew she was underage but no one bothered caring.

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Dustin finished changing into his chaps and matching vest before him, Tripp, and Dakota made their way over to where he would wait to ride. He could tell his sister was stressed she was always quite when she was worried about him. He reassured her he'd be okay before the three of them split and he went into the waiting area. Most of the other cowboys were mingling and laughing lightly amongst each other. they didn't take it as seriously as Dustin, he didn't talk, he was psyching himself out, thinking of the worst possible scenarios because there was no telling what would happen.

Out of the corner of his eyes he thought he saw someone and when he glanced up he could feel a surge of rage un through his body. Who he thought he'd saw was exactly that person. He knew he needed to let it go, but he couldn't, he moved quickly grabbing Harry and shoving him against the nearest railing which seemed to confuse a few people, but their was a lot of people who knew him and Harrison had a past.

"What the fuck are you doing here?" He hissed harshly holding him against the railing by his vest. "We had a deal Matthews." his voice was low and dangerous. "Your ass better stay the fuck away from her." he threatened him before shoving him against the railing and stepping back.

The announcer called his name over the loud speaker as the next rider up. He glared at Harrison for a second longer before he made his way to the chute. The steer's name was Devil's Lover and it was already kicking up dust in the chute but it didn't scare Dustin one bit as he climbed onto the beast. He secured his hand in the rope as the announcer went over his statistic and gave a little bit of his bio. The Music changed but he couldn't hear it he was completely tuned out and tuned into the animal at this point as it already started trying to buck with in the small confined space.

He was distracted by the thought of Harry being there, he'd practically given up his career to get that ass hole out of his sister's life and now he was back. It was frustrating. The man holding the gate asked if he was ready and he adjusted himself once more trying to shake the distracted thoughts from his mind. He gave the single and a second later the gate was open and the bull was bucking his heart was pounding in his chest as his body moved fluidly with the bull. He's got his own dance and you've got a half a second to learn ho to be his dance partner son, it's as easy as that. his father's words were always playing in his head.

Dustin always made riding look way to easy, he was a natural. The second the buzzard for eight seconds went off he hopped off the bull and It's back hoofs nearly missed his lower back where his previous injury had been, by centimeters. The bull charged him and he smirked as he ran before the bull was blocked up. He climbed the railing near the audience as they cheered for him. Young girls wearing close to nothing were always front row and they swooned as he shoot them a flirtatious smirk. His eyes ran over the crowed before they landed on a pretty young red head he'd never seen before, who looked miserable, he gave her a playful wink before hoping off the fence and making his way back to the gate. Dustin didn't just ride he gave a edge-of-your-seat kind of show every time.

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When Dustin was sent out of the gate it was like the entire world went silent and all she could hear was the pounding of her heart beneath her clothes and the thud of the bulls hoofs on the dirt. She hadn't even realized she was holding her breath until after the bull was contained and her brother was heading back to the holding area. She let her body relax from its tensed state. He did incredible like always, making that eight second buzzard and hopping off, flirting with the crowed like a natural.

She kissed Tripp before turning her attention back to the arena when they started announcing the next rider. She took a drink of her beer, whoever they were announcing sounded really damn familiar. "Ladies and Gentlemen, there saying he's the next big thing, Cherry Groves very own Harrison Mathews." the announcer said his name and instantly she spayed her beer all over the poor girl in front of her.

Her eyes feel on the rider in the arena on the bucking bull. It was him she could tell just by the way his body moved with the bull, the same way she could pick her brother out just by his movements. She'd grown up around bull riders, they all had their own ticks. it was him there was no doubt. She'd spent the last two years of her life trying to forget him. He'd never even said goodbye. Then she'd been a stupid teenage girl who thought love was a fairytale. Harrison had been her cowboy and a God damn brilliant lover. Ho could he even show his face after the shit he'd put her through.

A few weeks before he'd left without a trace, they'd fought non stop and she blamed herself. She was too stubborn. She wasn't stupid, he'd left for a life on the road and if he'd have asked she'd have gone with him in a heartbeat. A thousand sleepless nights with him flashed like a movie reel in her head and she could still remember the taste of his whisky laced kiss like he'd kissed her right before he'd climbed on the bull.

Before he'd even finished his ride she'd left, without so much as a word to Tripp and he'd followed her. He knew about her past with Harry, hell everyone in that damn town knew she was Harry's girl. She moved quickly to her truck leaning against it waiting for Dustin. She ran her fingers through her hair before lighting herself a cigarette as she dug through her purse almost frantically looking for the pain killers she always carried, because she was hopelessly addicted thanks to Harris, only everyone was convinced she'd quite when he left.

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Dustin was pissed and he could feel his anger growing. He had to find Dakota, before Harris did or there would be some serious problems. There was no doubt his sister already knew he was there and she'd made a run for it. The first place he'd gone was to her truck and that's exactly where she was. She was looking for something in her purse digging frantically and he raised a brow.

"Kota?" he breathed a she jumped glancing up at him before turning and tossing her purse in to the truck. "We're not going to that party." he said sternly and she glanced up to him, a pissed off look in her eyes that honestly scared him. She was just as dangerous as him when she was pissed.

"The hell I'm not. Fuck him, I don't give a shit. I was over that eight grade romance the second he was gone." she shrugged, like it wasn’t a big deal as she stomped out her cigarette but he knew better. "He can kiss my ass. Now get in the damn truck so we can go, if we don't get there soon all the good spots are taken." He rolled his eyes, slipping his chaps and vest off tossing them into the back of the truck. He debated asking her to drop him off at him, because once he had a few drink he was liable to try and fight Harrison.

Him and Harrison had been like brothers in high school, until he'd started dating Dakota. He was clearly to old for her. It had put a riff between the two of him, not to mention he was into drugs and had no problem dragging everyone down with him. The drive to the lake felt longer then normal. They had gotten a head start most people would stay for about half the riders before they'd leave to come down to the lake and all that would be left was the older generation that ran Cherry Grove.

Once they got to the lake, Kody parked her truck close to the water before hopping out and opening the bed of her truck. Tripp arrived quickly after in his truck parking next to her. The Carter siblings and a few other's were already there. The fire was already roaring and the country music made it feel like home.

Katie came up to Dustin wrapping her arms around his neck pressing her lips to his and he kissed her back. He wrapped his arms around her waist. Unless you experienced it, no man would ever know the feeling of having a girl want to see you after being on a bull, because she'd just seen you risk your life for your passion. Sure he didn't love Katie, he'd loved her sister but it was nice to have a girl he could fall back on and one that wanted him.

"You were so damn sexy out there baby." she breathed against his lips and smirked. "What do you say we sneak off later and I show you just how glad I am that your safe." she breath between kisses as she moved her lips along his jawline.

"That sounds like exactly what I need." he smirked back before slipping his arm around her waist and kissing her once more before the two of them headed to the small group that was there, it wouldn't be long before the lake was swarming with teens and young adult ready to get drunk and celebrate to first bon fire of the summer.

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Dakota sat on the tailgate of her truck, Tripp sat next her. She had a beer in her hand and a cigarette in the other. The warm summer air felt incredible, the smell of honey and the trees was something she'd never forget. She'd grown up in Cherry Grove and aside from a few times her brother competed out of state, she'd never been out of her small town. She was a lot different from most people who'd grown up in a small town. She didn't want to get out and see the world, because this was her world. Unlike most people Kody was content with her life no matter how shitty other's thought it was, she loved it. She'd almost died three times, she was just grateful to be alive.

She hadn't been paying much attention to everyone else, she really was focused on Tripp not that he was saying anything particularly interesting to her. There conversation consisted mostly of him talking about this next fishing trip and his mother's health. She glanced away from Tripp in an attempt to see if anyone else interesting had arrived and she caught sight of Harris. She hated seeing him, because he actually looked happy. She knew that was selfish of her, she'd just always thought he'd be the one who'd be standing by his side, the one he took all the way to the top with him.

"Kody Bear?" she heard Sawyer's voice pull her from her thoughts. She glanced to the two girls that stood in front of her. Sawyer Beckett and Ruby Olveda were best friends who'd started attending the Avery's camp two summer's ago and started training under Kody. They'd won several shows under Kota's training and practically worshiped the ground Kody walked on.

"Hey babes." Kody smirked as she finished the rest of her beer and hoped off her truck. "You excited for tomorrow? I better see you both there bright and early, you’re my best girls, you know that." she stated matter of factly. The first day of their camp started tomorrow morning so it probably wasn't best for her or Dustin to be out partying the night before, but she didn't really care. "I have a favor to ask of you ladies, you see that pretty red head over there." the girls nodded simultaneously "She's new around her, her momma signed her up. You two go introduce yourselves" she said simply and just like that the two were headed over to where Harrison sat with a young girl he assumed was his cousin.

News traveled fast in a small town. She watched as the two girls approached the red head. She down a quick shot of whiskey and Tripp looked at her slightly confused she explained she'd be right back before she headed in the direction Sawyer and Ruby had gone. She had to drink a bit before she faced Harry or she was sure she'd break down or if he tried to hook up with her, she'd given in too easily. There was just something about cowboys like him that could make her fold quicker then anyone.

Ruby and Sawyer stepped aside, thankfully Harry wasn't with her, she knew he'd be back soon though. "Hey hun. I'm Kody, you must be Skylar. Your mom says your pretty damn good with a horse." she said a perfect smile on her powder pink lips.

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A couple minuets had turned into an hour later and the placed was full of people Dustin had grown up with. It was home to him and he wouldn't trade it for the world. Sure there were times he wanted to have a name for him self when it came to PBR, but at the same time, once he was famous he'd never have a normal life. There were still reports trying to interview his dad and his dad had been retired for almost twenty-one years.

He was already half drunk, the problem with Dustin is he didn't know when enough was enough. Not with riding, not with drinking, not with anything. He was fairly popular amongst his friends and the girls. People were drawn to him, there was something charming and intoxicating about him. People just couldn't seem to get enough of him. He loved the summer, but he loved Saturday nights down by the lake with everyone even more. He lived the life of a typical country boy.

Currently him and Katie were together, when just yesterday they'd been broken up and she'd sworn up and down she as never coming back to him and he'd be sorry. She sat on his lap, her eyes on him as he talk to the guys. She admired him probably more then she should. He didn't exactly treat her the best, but that didn't seem to matter to her.

Without even asking she'd gotten up and got him another beer and lend in kissing him. He kissed her back and everyone around them laughed and cheered, like they were still in high school and they were the popular kids. Dustin got off on being the center of attention, it was breed into him. It only helped that he was ridiculously attractive. She pulled him up from his chair and he followed willingly, popping open the beer and chugging it easily. She tugged him towards the water and he followed without a fight.

They passed by Kody talking to the same red headed girl he'd winked at back at the rodeo and his eyes caught hers for a second and he shot her yet another flirty smirk, despite the fact that he was already with another girl but that didn't seem to matter. Once they got down to the water, she pulled him out and they walked to the end of the dock before, he kicked off his boots and slipped off his socks. Katie pulled off his shirt reveling his six pack, wash board abs. He slipped off his jeans and she slipped out of her clothes, reveling her swim suite and her belly button piercing. She was incredible, but so was every other girl he'd ever slept with, he grabbed her pulling her close and kissed her hard before playfully shoving her into the water.

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"I am and I should hope that I'm good. I've been riding since I could walk." the girl said and Kody raised a brow, girls didn't talk to Dakota Avery like that, because she had a bit of a reputation, but Kody just bit her tongue which was surprising and as Skye glanced around for a clear escape route, Sawyer and Ruby looked at each other as if wondering what Kody was going to do. "Look..thanks for the welcome wagon and everything but..I'd prefer it if you'd just leave me be." the girl spoke again.

Kody was just about ready to put the younger girl in her place when his voice hit her like a tone of bricks. "And just what are you three doing?" He asked in his rough voice that she missed more then she'd like to admit. Her eyes fell on him and she could hear Sawyer and Ruby quietly gushing over him and she shot them a look the shut them up before she turned her blue eyes back to the cowboy.

He was handsome that was for sure, but he'd seemed more like a man to her now then the twenty-one year old she'd been in love with years ago. She crossed her arms in front of him wanting nothing more then to reach out and strangle him, she wanted to demand answers. In the end though, she knew it was just a waste of time. Even if she forgave him, he'd always be chasing a dream and she'd always be chasing him and she wondered if he was worth the chase.


"You should leave her alone. Skylar isn't your cup of tea, Kody. And..pretty sure that she wants nothing to do with any of you. Otherwise, she wouldn't have snuck off." his words were blunt and it caught her a bit off guard. He'd always been the only person who'd never put up with her shit and put her back in her place and she use to admire that about him, however she'd grown so used to walking all over Tripp and everyone else that it pissed her off. "Why don't your lackies get lost." he said plainly and she was about to turn and tell the girls to stay, but they were already leaving, leaving her alone with him. "Look, I just wanted to let you know that your dad hired me. I'm a bit scraped for cash and he needs the extra help. I just thought you should know."

Her jaw clenched, she couldn't believe her dad and she was ready to jump in her truck and beat the shit out of her piece of shit father for hiring him back. Only, she wanted to show Harry that she wasn't the same hopelessly love sick girl he'd left behind. She wanted him to think that she was over him even if she wasn't. Se moved so she was standing in front of him, leaning in close she place a hand on either side of him. She leaned in so that her lips were a breath away. If she wasn't filled with so much rage and a bit of liquor she'd have probably kissed him.

"Good, we need a real man around the ranch." she breathed seductively as she lifted her hand and ran her finger tips along his arm and she could feel eyes on them, she could almost guarantee that the people who were watching thought they were about to get back together, but she was about to give them a show. Anyone could tell you that Dakota was the crazy ex-girlfriend type in fact she would probably be the first to admit it. "I hope like hell, when my brother finds out he beats the shit out of you." she smirked.

She grabbed his beer can from his hand then and dumped all over him before taking his cowboy hat off his head and walking up to the firs tossing it in with a smirk on her lips. She grabbed an unopened bottle of liquor from the collective pile of alcohol that others brought and popped it open taking a swig from it before turning back to him. "Welcome home cowboy." she spat before walking off.

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Dustin dove in after Katie and she playfully splashed him, he simply grabbed her and kissed her lips before dunking her under again. They seemed like a perfectly happy couple, when he was drunk. Sober he couldn't really handle girls and they couldn't handle him, because he was a smartass. The two of them messed around in the water for a bit, before she swam off to go hang out with her friends who were floating more towards the shore. He was about to get out of the water till his eyes found the red head across the way a bit alone.

She was on her phone and he raised a brow. Dustin had either slept with every girl in Cherry Grove or if he hadn't slept with you he'd probably slept with someone you knew. So, he caught on very quickly to new blood in town especially when it was a girl. He swam effortlessly across the lake as he got closer he stayed under the water until he popped up next to her. He pulled his dripping wet body up onto the dock next to her, like he already knew her.

"Why are you all alone?" he asked simply, his western accent was thick. "Your too damn pretty to be hang out here alone, you want a drink or something." he was blunt, he'd always been that way. "Your too damn pretty to be hang out here alone, you want a drink or something." he said his eyes raking over her shamelessly. "Or is your big city, pampered ass to good for a beer? You drink that wine cooler shit?" he teased.

He smirked at her, with his charming cowboy smirk. He ran his hand through his wet hair. His eyes glancing back to the bon fire, the sun was starting to go down and his eyes found Katie, she hadn't even realized he was gone and he was grateful, he didn't want to deal with her bitching if she realized he was talking to another girl, it wasn't out of character for Dustin to cheat on her when they were supposedly together. He just couldn't help it, he was more attracted to things that could get him in trouble then safe things.

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Her intent was to find Dustin and get the hell out of there. She wanted to go home, mostly because her words had been false. She didn't really want Dustin to beat the shit out of him. She hated that she still loved him after all this time. She felt him grab her upper arm roughly and her skin burned from his touched. She fought him every step of the way but he didn't seem to care and his grip on her didn't loosen. He pulled her out of the clearing into the trees so that they were alone.

Being alone with him honestly scared the shit out of her. There was something about Harrison Matthews that was dangerously captivating to girl like her. He was reckless, danger, and passionate all the things that made up a cowboy that she would give into in a heartbeat, despite their history, so being alone with him wasn't exactly something she thought she could handle. He pushed her up against the tree pinning her there with his body and she tried hard to ignore the heat that was obvious between them.


"You listen and you listen good, Dakota." He breathed using her full name clearly irritated with what she'd done. "I don't give a fuck what's happened around her since I left. The only reason I'm back is because your dad asked me to be here. I know that you're pissed at me and I get it..but you're going to have to get over it. I'm here to stay. Dustin can come at me all he wants..I don't care." he said and she held his eyes, making sure he knew she wasn't scared of him and she wasn't backing down. "But, you are not going to act like such a total bitch to me. You need to grow up and stop being a little girl. What's done is done, sweetheart. There's no changin' it. If you don't want to speak to me..to see me, then stay away from me. Do not try to torment me."

His face had gotten so close to hers all it would take was her leaning up on her toes to feel his lips agents hers again and she was tempted. She looked away biting her lip until she tasted blood to keep from crying. She knew his type well her brother and her dad were just as stubborn, they all acted like they didn't care and it would take something happening to her before he ever admitted to missing her or still loving her and she hated that.

"I need to grow up?" she breathed turning back to hold his eyes she shoved him away. "Growing up was a seventeen year old girl who got involved in drugs, because she thought it would make your ass love her more. Growing up was picking myself up when you walked away from me. Don't tell me to grow up Harry, because you don't know the first thing about being an adult." she practically hissed. "You forced me to grow up, you made me realize that fairytales didn't exist. What'd you expect, I'd roll out the red carpet and kiss the dirt you walked on again. Did you expect me to wait around praying you'd come back." she held his eyes letting silence fall between them for a long moment.

"You did a lot of people wrong by leaving, but your right what's done it done. You remember that." she breathed with a simple shrug. "Now why don't you go back to that party and I'll pretend we never happened." she said althogh her words weren’t harsh they were simply honest because that's what she'd done for the past two year, pretended that there was never a them.

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[b"I don't drink."[/b] she said simply and he raised a brow. He was not concerned with her age , despite the fact that she looked young. "I'm only here because my mom dumped me off onto my cousin." he nodded listening wondering who her cousin was, but not speaking quite yet. He was feeling her out.

She was a different girl, that was for sure, but it didn't put him off. Only made him want to chase her a little harder. When Dusting wanted something, he got it or he went for it until he got it and at the current moment he wanted to get to know her. He liked that she was different, she was honestly a breath of fresh air from all the girl he usually talked to. She shifted a bit making it clear she was uncomfortable with his closeness and the idea of him just being there.


"Uhmm..is there something that you wanted?" she asked bluntly and he smirked wickedly. Most people would probably be offended by her attitude, but it didn't even phase him. As far as most people were concerned they didn't know what attitude was until they'd met his sister or been on the back of a bull.

"Nah, I just figured you were bored." he shrugged simply. "You know, no ones going to tell on you if you want to cut loose a bit a little doll, your wound up tight as hell" he spoke just as bluntly as she had to him. Guess I'll let you get back to that smart phone of yours." he said jumping back into the water without another word.

He figured she wouldn't stop him, he didn't think she would. She was obviously not interested in him, not that, that meant he was stopping. People tended to get stuck in Cherry Grove. If you left you always came back and when you came there, you generally never left, so he knew he'd have plenty of time to get to know her.

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