You're Always in the Last Place You Look Read Online Free PDF

time I did watch Tye. It was a perfect throw, and as his rope began leaving his hand, he braced his wrist, sending the loop straight and true. He was grinning before he even jerked his loop tight.
    He yanked his rope free and whooped several times, causing Gator to bounce around like a spaz. I reached back, petting AJ’s rump, letting him know he had done well. He pranced all the way back to the chute.
    “Good job. Tomorrow I’ll pull in a few calves.” Dad patted Gator then wiped his hand on his jeans. “I think you should pull their boots and take them to the creek to cool their legs.”
    Tye, all smiles, slid off Gator, and began stripping his boots. I dismounted, following suit, velcroing the sweaty boots to AJ’s breast collar. I’d have to remember to wash them before the weekend.
    “I’ll let Mom know she can put the meatloaf in.”
    I looked curiously at Dad. “Where is she getting the beef?” It wasn’t from the grocery store. Both Dad and I could taste the difference. What she had been feeding us was farm slaughtered, no question.
    My dad chuckled. “Enjoy this meal. I think it’s the last of what she found hidden under the corn in the chest freezer. Be glad she didn’t give it to the Russel’s while Bob was sick and out of work.”
    Even Tye laughed at that. My mother was known the county over for her overt generosity. I would definitely be enjoying her meatloaf knowing it would be three weeks of chicken and beans before we slaughtered our first steers of the year.
    *
    “Who are you taking to prom?” Tye asked, throwing his leg in front of his saddle horn. A gutsy move considering Gator spooked at the stupidest things.
    AJ reached for the taller rye grass along the creek bank, and I gave him his head. “I don’t know. I might not go.” I hadn’t even thought about it actually. Other than a few moments letting out of town girls fondle me at the rodeos, I hadn’t actually been on a date in months. There wasn’t anyone I was really interested in dating, let alone taking to prom.
    “Its senior prom, you have to go. What about Sarah Parker? I saw you sucking face with her at Twin Falls and I know she likes you.” Tye waggled his eyebrows at me.
    Sarah was a cute, hippy, brunette barrel racer with all the attitude in the world. She had been chasing me for two seasons, and when I finally let her catch me behind my trailer, it had been nothing short of a slobbery groping session—mostly on her part—and less than satisfactory. I had pushed her off, silently disgusted. She hadn’t gotten the hint though, and was still pursuing me.
    “I don’t know, maybe. I’ve got some time yet.” I fiddled with AJ’s reins thinking about my options for prom, and not the least bit excited about any of the possibilities. I could ask Lily, but if they weren’t fighting at the time, she would be going with her boyfriend Jason.
    “Well, there’s always Amy,” Tye suggested.
    I snorted, and then swallowed down the sick feeling that came up at the mere mention of my ex’s name. “No!”
    Tye chuckled knowingly. “At least she’d put out.”
    “Let’s not go there, okay?” AJ pinned his ears, nipping at Gator. “Quit.” I tapped his shoulder with my fingers. Amy and I had been dating about three months, and it had been going good. Nice and slow. Then one afternoon, we were playing pool in her dad’s rec room and she became really aggressive, laughing off my pleas to stop. It was amazing how strong a girl could be when she was intent on getting what she wanted. To this day, it terrified me that I froze, and was unable to push her off.
    I ignored her after that, and she eventually got the hint. Of course I never told anyone, not even Lily or Tye, exactly what had happened. I’d be the laughing stock of the whole school if it ever got out that I freaked because a girl took advantage of me. 
    Still snickering, Tye shrugged. “You must have been good ‘cause she gets all hot and bothered when she sees