Monica and the Crushworthy Cowboy
Page 4
“That was fast,” Jon said. “But Cory can do better.”
Logan watched with great interest. He nudged me and showed me his crossed fingers when the announcer called Cory’s name.
Cory was amazing. I barely had time to blink before he’d gotten the calf roped. None of us were surprised when he finished with the fastest time.
“Yahoo!” Jon yelled, waving his hat. “Cory won!”
Bulldogging was next, but we weren’t as tense for Bobby’s event. “Bobby doesn’t expect to win,” Jillian told us. “He just likes the challenge.”
We cheered when Bobby jumped off his horse and grabbed the steer’s horns. He wrestled it to the ground, but he didn’t even come close to the fastest time.
The Regional Championship awards were presented after the bulldogging event. Cory was the best junior calf roper in the whole Midwest. He had his first silver belt buckle.
“That was amazing,” Logan said once the show was over. He shook his head. “Those kids are talented!”
“Let’s all have dinner together, Logan,” Joann said. “I’m sure the kids want some time to say goodbye.”
Logan glanced at me. I smiled. “Sounds good. We’ll meet you in the café at six,” Logan said.
The café was busy, so we couldn’t get one big table. Logan sat with Ty and Joann. Chloe and I sat with Jillian, Jon, Cory, and Bobby.
“This was one of the best rodeo weekends ever,” Jillian said. “I’m so glad we met you.”
“Same here,” I said. “I feel like we’ve known each other a lot longer than two days.”
“Too bad it has to end,” Cory said.
“It doesn’t,” Bobby said. “You’ve got phones.”
Chloe squirmed. “I’ve also kind of got a guy at home,” she said quietly.
Cory looked down. “He’s a lucky guy,” he said. He looked a little sad.
“Do you have a boyfriend?” Jon asked me.
“No,” I said. Chloe shot me a look, but that was the truth. “Between school and horses and stuff I have to do at home, I don’t have time,” I explained.
“That’s why Jon and Cory don’t have girlfriends,” Jillian said.
Jon nodded. “We’re always either at school, or training, or going to rodeos,” he said. “No time for girls, I guess.”
“I solved that problem,” Bobby said, putting his arm around Jillian. “I tangle with steers so I can be with her.”
Jillian blushed. “That’s not the only reason,” she said.
“Yes, it is,” Bobby said. He squeezed Jillian’s shoulders.
“Most of the girls we meet don’t ride,” Jon said. “They just like hanging out with cowboys.”
“Until one of them steps in horse manure,” Cory said with a grin.
“That’s why meeting you two was so great,” Jon said. “You’re not worried about that kind of thing.”
“And you’re not stuck up,” Cory agreed.
“You helped out a lot,” Bobby said. “We owe you!”
“And you guys like them,” Jillian said, winking.
“Yeah. We like you,” Cory admitted.
“Definitely,” Jon said. He put his arm around me. “So, Monica,” he said. “Can I get a goodbye kiss?”
“Just keep the dollar,” I joked.
Chapter Thirteen
Heading
Home
The next morning, it was time for Chloe and Logan and I to head home. Once again, we got up super early. Chloe and I didn’t have school, but Logan wanted to make it to Granite Electric for part of the day.
Chloe fell asleep after a little while in the car, so I sat up front with Logan. We listened to the radio for a while without talking.
Then Logan said, “You know, I meant for this to be a trip where you and I got to spend a lot of time together.”
“I know,” I said. “I’m sorry —”
Logan interrupted me. “You didn’t let me finish,” he said, smiling. “It was really cool to be able to hang out with you and Chloe, and to see you with the rodeo kids.”
“So you’re not mad that we didn’t have more time together?” I asked.
Logan laughed. “No way,” he said. “But you know how you and your mom have your special Saturdays? Maybe you and I could do that too, sometimes.”
“I’d love that,” I said.
“Maybe we could even go to some horse shows closer to home,” Logan said.
“Really?” I asked. “You wouldn’t be bored?”
“No way,” Logan told me. “Now I get it.”
“Okay,” I said. “Then let’s plan on it.”
Then Logan got a worried look on his face. “I really don’t want to ride any horses, though, okay, Monica?” he said.
I laughed. “As long as you don’t make me spend a lot of time doing electrical work, I promise. No riding,” I said.
“It’s a deal,” Logan said.
Monica’s SECRET Blog
Tuesday, 10:45 p.m.
I slept all day today because I’m still exhausted from our whirlwind weekend in Kansas City!
Once we got back, Logan and I dropped Chloe off at her house, and then we went home. Logan had to go to work for a while, but I went inside the house.
I was actually excited to see Angela. I bought her a headband at the Plaza, and she loved it. It was nice to see my mom, too. She took me aside and told me that she really missed me, and that her Saturday with Angela wasn’t nearly as fun as it usually was with me.
A couple of hours later, I rode my bike to Pizza Palace. Chloe and Rory were already there. We ate and hung out for a while, but Chloe and I were both super tired.
Keep Out! Angela, This Means You!
Rory asked if we met anyone cool on our trip. I didn’t want to lie, so we told him about Cory and Jon. I think he felt a little weird when Chloe said that Jon had a crush on me. So right away, I said, “He wasn’t really my type.”
And I think that made Rory feel better. I hope it did, anyway. Not that Rory and I are a couple. I just mean . . . you know. I guess I just mean that Jon isn’t my type. But someone else might be.
Love,
Monica
Mark my words
ambushed (AM-bushd)—
hid and then attacked someone
boutiques (boo-TEEKS)—
small shops that sell fashionable clothing or other specialty items
bribe (BRIBE)—
offer a reward to persuade someone to do something for you
chandelier (shan-duh-LEER)—
a light fixture that hangs from the ceiling and is lit by many small lights
champion (CHAM-pee-uhn)—
a winner
compete (kuhm-PEET)—
to try hard to outdo others at something
exhibitor (eg-ZIB-it-ur)—
a person who is showing something to the public
goblets (GOB-lits)—
tall drinking containers with stems and bases
obvious (OB-vee-uhss)—
easy to see or understand
resented (ri-ZENT-id)—
felt hurt or angry
sarcastically (sar-KAS-tik-lee)—
with a bitter or mocking tone
sprained (SPRAYND)—
injured a joint by twisting or tearing its muscles or ligaments
trade show (TRAYD SHOH)—
a meeting of people who work in the same industry
volunteered (vol-uhn-TEERD)—
offered to help
You can write too.
Some people write in journals or diaries. I have a secret blog. Here are some writing prompts to help you write your own blog or diary entries.
1 I loved hanging out with Logan in Kansas City. Write about a time you did something special with a parent or another adult. What did you do? How did you feel about it?
2 Meeting Jillian, Bobby, Jon, and Cory was one of the highlights of my vacation. Write about a vacation you’ve gone on. Where did you go? What made it memorable?
3 I loved getting to see the rodeo. If you could go behind the scenes at an event, what would it be? Write about it!
ABOUT THE AUTHOR: DIANA G. GALLAGHER
Just like Monica, Diana G. Gallagher has loved riding horses since she was a little girl. And like Becca, she is an ar tist. Like Claudia, she often babysits little kids — usually her grandchildren. Diana has wanted to be a writer since she was twelve, and she has written dozens of books, including the Claudia Cristina Cortez series. She lives in Florida.
Monica is published by Stone Arch Books
A Capstone Imprint 1710 Roe Crest Drive North Mankato, Minnesota, 56003
www.capstonepub.com
Copyright © 2012 by Stone Arch Books
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in whole or in part, or stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without written permission of the publisher.
032011
006111WZF11
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Gallagher, Diana G.
Monica and the crushworthy cowboy / by Diana G. Gallagher.
p. cm.
Summary: Thirteen-year-old Monica and her friend Chloe meet a young cowboy and his friends while on a trip to Kansas City with Monica’s stepfather.
ISBN-13: 978-1-4342-2554-2 (library binding)
ISBN-10: 1-4342-2554-2 (library binding)
ISBN 978-1-4965-3944-1 (eBook)
1. Cowboys--Juvenile fiction. 2. Rodeos--Juvenile fiction. 3. Stepfathers-- Juvenile fiction. 4. Best friends--Juvenile fiction. 5. Dating (Social customs) --Juvenile fiction. 6. Kansas City (Mo.)--Juvenile fiction. [1. Cowboys-- Fiction. 2. Rodeos--Fiction. 3. Stepfathers--Fiction. 4. Best friends--Fiction. 5. Dating (Social customs)--Fiction. 6. Kansas City (Mo.)--Fiction.] I. Title.
PZ7.G13543Mn 2011
813.54--dc22
2011001993
Art Director/Graphic Designer: Kay Fraser
Production Specialist: Michelle Biedscheid
Photo credits:
Cover: Delaney Photography
Avatars: Delaney Photography (Claudia), Shutterstock: Aija Avotina (guitar), Alex Staroseltsev (baseball), Andrii Muzyka (bowling ball), Anton9 (reptile), bsites (hat), debra hughes (tree), Dietmar Höpfl (lightning), Dr_Flash (Earth), Elaine Barker (star), Ivelin Radkov (money), Michael D Brown (smiley face), Mikhail (horse), originalpunkt (paintbrushes), pixel-pets (dog), R. Gino Santa Maria (football), Ruth Black (cupcake), Shvaygert Ekaterina (horseshoe), SPYDER (crown), Tischenko Irina (flower), VectorZilla (clown), Volkova Anna (heart); Capstone Studio: Karon Dubke (horse Monica, horse Chloe)