Post by Deleted on Feb 17, 2018 22:55:07 GMT -5
A dingy little bar. Every person in the building was dressed in western wear. Jeans, cowboy hats and boots. And almost everyone was swilling beer or some amber liquid from a shot glass. It was late Friday night when the establishment was in the full swing of things. Loud music plays from the juke box as laughter erupts from tables. Glasses clanging together in toasts for only God knows what. Cassidy and her sister Clara sit at a table with John and Wyatt,the two of them cousins and mutual acquaintances of the siblings.
After wiping her forearm across her mouth, Cassidy raises the draft beer that John had bought her after challenging her to drink a man’s drink. Sixteen ounces of Coors drained from the glass and down her throat in four seconds flat. She slams the glass down on the table with such finality, everyone at the table jumps and every patron in The Silver Spur Saloon turns and looks. She grins at John.
Cassidy: There, you son of a bitch. Was that man enough for you? Did you like the way I swallowed the Jack Daniels and gulped down the chaser you bought?
John: Yeah, that was sweet. I’ll bet you’d wallow other things if I gave them to you. Wouldn’t-cha?
Cassidy: You’ll never know, ‘cause I don’t fuck the competition.
Just then, Wyatt jumped into the conversation, interrupting the conversation with his own commentary.
Wyatt: Competition? We don’t compete with you girls.
Cassidy starts to turn toward Wyatt but John grabs her hand with a firm grip to hold her attention.
John: I can think of something that I’ll bet your mouth would look good around.
Cassidy: Fuck you John. To think I used to like you.
Slightly irritated now, Cassidy turns her attention to Wyatt.
Cassidy: Like I said, a woman can do everything that a man can do, only better and faster.
Just then her younger sister pipes in.
Clara: I don’t know, Cassidy. There are --
Cassidy: Be quiet, Clara.
She turns back to Wyatt.
Cassidy: I know we don’t compete. That’s the problem and it’s not fair. I can ride circles around ninety percent of the guys on the circuit and you know it. The only thing a woman can’t match or exceed is a comparable man’s strength and I’m working on it.
With a smile, she snatches his beer and takes a giant swallow. She sighs.
Cassidy: You ready to arm wrestle, big guy?
Wyatt’s eyebrows arch.
Wyatt: Arm wrestle?
He chuckles.
Wyatt: You’ve got to be kidding. I’ll bet I have sixty pounds on you.
She cocks her head.
Cassidy: What do ya weigh?
Wyatt: One ninety-five.
Cassidy: More like sixty-five pounds.
Scooting sideways, she inches away from Wyatt and towards John. She sets her elbow on the table and assumes the position.
Cassidy: Let’s go.
Wyatt shakes his head.
Wyatt: Why don’t you arm wrestle John? He weighs less than me.
A deep frown forms on her brow, she purses her lips.
Cassidy: Can John beat you?
John makes a grunting sound.
John: Not even close.
Cassidy: You see? That’s the difference between men and me. I don’t want to work my way up. I start at the top. If I can beat you, then I automatically can beat anyone you have beaten.
She raises her hand and flips the bill of Wyatt’s black stetson back, causing it to slide down his wavy brown hair. A flash of ire passes through his dark brown eyes.
Wyatt: Hey girl. Don’t mess with my hat.
With her hands on her hips, elbows turned outward, she returns her ‘don’t mess with me’ look to the other cowboy.
Cassidy: If you don’t arm wrestle with me, I’ll knock your hat off every time I see you.
Wyatt raises his hands in mock surrender.
Wyatt: Alright, you win.
He sets his arm on the table beside hers. Everyone except Cassidy laughs when it becomes obvious her forearm is two inches shorter than his. Cassidy had gone this far and she wasn’t going to be denied. She turns to Clara.
Cassidy: Clara, the Mark Twain book you been reading?
Clara pops her gum.
Clara: Yeah, what about it?
Cassidy: Do you have it with you?
Clara: In the car.
Cassidy: Would you be a doll and get it for me?
Clara gets up out of her seat and disappears from the table, retreating to the parking lot. Wyatt orders another round and John loops his arm around Cassidy’s bare midriff.
John: Look Wyatt, this is the closest Princess Cassidy has ever been to me.
Though she faces away, she turns her head enough to address him.
Cassidy: I’m glad you’re getting a thrill. Just make sure your hand doesn’t wander up or down from there.
She wishes Clara would hurry because while they wait, John peppers her neck with soft kisses.
John: I bet you look damn fine without those jeans and skimpy blouse.
He whispers, his hand starting to grasp at the fabric of her thin blouse, tied under her breasts. She elbows him. What a stupid, drunken idea. Cassidy almost felt like kicking his ass in front of the whole bar of rowdy drunks for that discretion. Next time, perhaps.
John: Oomph! What’cha do that for?
Cassidy: You were getting fresh and you know it. Even if I wanted it, which I don’t, this is not the time for hanky panky.
Thankfully, it was just a few short moments later when Clara finally returned to their table, appearing among the group once again and waving her novel around before she hands it to her sister.
Clara: Here ya go, Cassidy.
Cassidy: ‘bout time. John was about to undress me.
Clara’s eyes widen and she purses her lips into a pucker.
Clara: He was about to do whaa-- you know what, nevermind. I don’t need to know.
Shaking her head, Cassidy sets the book beside Wyatt’s intimidating muscular arm and places her elbow upon it. As intended, her arm raises higher, even a little higher than his, but his large hand still engulfs hers when they join. Cassidy looks Wyatt over, sizing him up.
Cassidy: Are you ready?
Wyatt: Ah huh
Cassidy: Clara, start us off, and Wyatt, I don’t wanna see you rising up and using your extra weight for leverage.
Wyatt: Don’t worry, sweetheart. I don’t need to cheat you.
Clara: Go!
Clara shouts without warning,catching both participants off guard. Cassidy’s reflexes beat Wyatt and she pushes his arm half way down to the table top before he arrests her progress. Both grunt and groan and sweat with their brows and their muscles taut, but neither seem to make any headway. The match remains a stalemate for a good minute. Then slowly, inexorably, Wyatt’s superior size and strength begin to weigh Cassidy down. She bites her lip to find extra resolve, but it doesn’t help. Soon, their arms are both upright and Cassidy continues to give up ground. After another excruciating thirty seconds collapse seems imminent, so to her and everyone else’s shock, she leans over and bites his thumb.
Wyatt: Oww! What the…
Losing his concentration for a moment, Cassidy is able to slam his hand down to the table. Shaking his hand while John begins to laugh, the look on his face was complete confusion. He stutters.
Wyatt: H-hey you --
Cassidy: Cheated.Yeah, I know.
Her gaze quickly shifts to her sister.
Cassidy: Clara, I think it’s time we leave. Are you ready?
After wiping her forearm across her mouth, Cassidy raises the draft beer that John had bought her after challenging her to drink a man’s drink. Sixteen ounces of Coors drained from the glass and down her throat in four seconds flat. She slams the glass down on the table with such finality, everyone at the table jumps and every patron in The Silver Spur Saloon turns and looks. She grins at John.
Cassidy: There, you son of a bitch. Was that man enough for you? Did you like the way I swallowed the Jack Daniels and gulped down the chaser you bought?
John: Yeah, that was sweet. I’ll bet you’d wallow other things if I gave them to you. Wouldn’t-cha?
Cassidy: You’ll never know, ‘cause I don’t fuck the competition.
Just then, Wyatt jumped into the conversation, interrupting the conversation with his own commentary.
Wyatt: Competition? We don’t compete with you girls.
Cassidy starts to turn toward Wyatt but John grabs her hand with a firm grip to hold her attention.
John: I can think of something that I’ll bet your mouth would look good around.
Cassidy: Fuck you John. To think I used to like you.
Slightly irritated now, Cassidy turns her attention to Wyatt.
Cassidy: Like I said, a woman can do everything that a man can do, only better and faster.
Just then her younger sister pipes in.
Clara: I don’t know, Cassidy. There are --
Cassidy: Be quiet, Clara.
She turns back to Wyatt.
Cassidy: I know we don’t compete. That’s the problem and it’s not fair. I can ride circles around ninety percent of the guys on the circuit and you know it. The only thing a woman can’t match or exceed is a comparable man’s strength and I’m working on it.
With a smile, she snatches his beer and takes a giant swallow. She sighs.
Cassidy: You ready to arm wrestle, big guy?
Wyatt’s eyebrows arch.
Wyatt: Arm wrestle?
He chuckles.
Wyatt: You’ve got to be kidding. I’ll bet I have sixty pounds on you.
She cocks her head.
Cassidy: What do ya weigh?
Wyatt: One ninety-five.
Cassidy: More like sixty-five pounds.
Scooting sideways, she inches away from Wyatt and towards John. She sets her elbow on the table and assumes the position.
Cassidy: Let’s go.
Wyatt shakes his head.
Wyatt: Why don’t you arm wrestle John? He weighs less than me.
A deep frown forms on her brow, she purses her lips.
Cassidy: Can John beat you?
John makes a grunting sound.
John: Not even close.
Cassidy: You see? That’s the difference between men and me. I don’t want to work my way up. I start at the top. If I can beat you, then I automatically can beat anyone you have beaten.
She raises her hand and flips the bill of Wyatt’s black stetson back, causing it to slide down his wavy brown hair. A flash of ire passes through his dark brown eyes.
Wyatt: Hey girl. Don’t mess with my hat.
With her hands on her hips, elbows turned outward, she returns her ‘don’t mess with me’ look to the other cowboy.
Cassidy: If you don’t arm wrestle with me, I’ll knock your hat off every time I see you.
Wyatt raises his hands in mock surrender.
Wyatt: Alright, you win.
He sets his arm on the table beside hers. Everyone except Cassidy laughs when it becomes obvious her forearm is two inches shorter than his. Cassidy had gone this far and she wasn’t going to be denied. She turns to Clara.
Cassidy: Clara, the Mark Twain book you been reading?
Clara pops her gum.
Clara: Yeah, what about it?
Cassidy: Do you have it with you?
Clara: In the car.
Cassidy: Would you be a doll and get it for me?
Clara gets up out of her seat and disappears from the table, retreating to the parking lot. Wyatt orders another round and John loops his arm around Cassidy’s bare midriff.
John: Look Wyatt, this is the closest Princess Cassidy has ever been to me.
Though she faces away, she turns her head enough to address him.
Cassidy: I’m glad you’re getting a thrill. Just make sure your hand doesn’t wander up or down from there.
She wishes Clara would hurry because while they wait, John peppers her neck with soft kisses.
John: I bet you look damn fine without those jeans and skimpy blouse.
He whispers, his hand starting to grasp at the fabric of her thin blouse, tied under her breasts. She elbows him. What a stupid, drunken idea. Cassidy almost felt like kicking his ass in front of the whole bar of rowdy drunks for that discretion. Next time, perhaps.
John: Oomph! What’cha do that for?
Cassidy: You were getting fresh and you know it. Even if I wanted it, which I don’t, this is not the time for hanky panky.
Thankfully, it was just a few short moments later when Clara finally returned to their table, appearing among the group once again and waving her novel around before she hands it to her sister.
Clara: Here ya go, Cassidy.
Cassidy: ‘bout time. John was about to undress me.
Clara’s eyes widen and she purses her lips into a pucker.
Clara: He was about to do whaa-- you know what, nevermind. I don’t need to know.
Shaking her head, Cassidy sets the book beside Wyatt’s intimidating muscular arm and places her elbow upon it. As intended, her arm raises higher, even a little higher than his, but his large hand still engulfs hers when they join. Cassidy looks Wyatt over, sizing him up.
Cassidy: Are you ready?
Wyatt: Ah huh
Cassidy: Clara, start us off, and Wyatt, I don’t wanna see you rising up and using your extra weight for leverage.
Wyatt: Don’t worry, sweetheart. I don’t need to cheat you.
Clara: Go!
Clara shouts without warning,catching both participants off guard. Cassidy’s reflexes beat Wyatt and she pushes his arm half way down to the table top before he arrests her progress. Both grunt and groan and sweat with their brows and their muscles taut, but neither seem to make any headway. The match remains a stalemate for a good minute. Then slowly, inexorably, Wyatt’s superior size and strength begin to weigh Cassidy down. She bites her lip to find extra resolve, but it doesn’t help. Soon, their arms are both upright and Cassidy continues to give up ground. After another excruciating thirty seconds collapse seems imminent, so to her and everyone else’s shock, she leans over and bites his thumb.
Wyatt: Oww! What the…
Losing his concentration for a moment, Cassidy is able to slam his hand down to the table. Shaking his hand while John begins to laugh, the look on his face was complete confusion. He stutters.
Wyatt: H-hey you --
Cassidy: Cheated.Yeah, I know.
Her gaze quickly shifts to her sister.
Cassidy: Clara, I think it’s time we leave. Are you ready?
The short drive from the bar to the motel took place in silence, until Clara turns the ignition off. The bright neon sign flashing the word “Vacancy” lit the dark parking lot just enough to keep someone from falling down on their face.
Clara: I was trying not to say anything, but I have to ask. What got into you?
Cassidy: Nothing.
She gets out and Clara follows after her through the parking lot, hurrying on her feet to keep up with Cassidy who keeps moving at a rather brisk pace along the cracked cement.
Clara: Don’t tell me nothing! You arm wrestle a man who weighs sixty-five pounds more than you and when it’s obvious he’s going to beat you, you bite his hand.
After Cassidy opens the motel room door, they both step inside.
Cassidy: Okay, I lost my cool. I just feel very strongly about the inequality between rodeo cowboys and cowgirls.
Clara shrugs her shoulders. Their room certainly isn’t anything to look at. Small bed, small TV, small end table - you get the idea.
Clara: We do alright.
Cassidy sits on the bed and lays back on the pillow.
Cassidy: No, we don’t. Our only event in the big rodeos is the barrel races and at the all women’s rodeos, the crowds and our purses are a fourth of theirs, if we’re lucky. That’s why we both have regular jobs and can’t afford to go to all of the events.
Clara extends her hands out and shakes her head.
Clara: Cassidy, you’re not fooling me. There’s more to it than that. Something’s bothering you.
This was the truth. Cassidy was co-owner of her family’s ranch with her sister and a cowgirl did what a cowgirl had to do to keep the business afloat. Especially with the debt that had been owed on the place after their dad’s death.
Cassidy didn’t like to let the thoughts linger for too long. In fact, her jaw tensed thinking about it. Almost two years had past and her anger was still as hot as it had been the day she’d learned how bad her dad’s gambling had been. Two years since she seen the hurt in her grandad’s eyes Pops had worked his fingers to the bone to build the ranch and watch all of his sons but one die while he was doing it. All but Butch, Cassidy’s dad and he’d nearly destroyed everything that pop’s had lived for, anyway.
Truth was, it took the united efforts of the sisters’ to dig the ranch out of the hole that it was in - that it was still in. They were still digging but had managed some success with paying the debt down. Cassidy’s part in the occasion was the rodeo events. They helped pay the bills but it wasn’t nearly enough. That’s why she had needed to search for something better. Something that would really help. And she finally thought she had it. She just hoped that her sister would understand.
Speaking of Clara, it was pretty clear that she had caught her sister so lost in thought. There wasn’t really any hiding it now.
Cassidy: Okay, fine. Here it is.I got a new job. Pays really good. Way better than the money that I’m making in the rodeo circuit right now. It should put a real nice dent in the debt we owe on the ranch.
Clara’s eyes widened in disbelief at what Cassidy was saying, the wheels in her head were clearing spinning as she was trying to process the information that she was just given.
Clara: Well… that’s great! Where ya working?
Cassidy: …Las Vegas.
Clara: What?!
Cassidy: I’m going to be a professional wrestler.
Clara: WHAT?!
Cassidy pinched her nose as she lowered here head. She was going to be in for a very long night.