Page 18 of A Montana Rodeo Star

“Might be for the best.”

CHAPTER SIX

Faith took a sip of her soda and for what felt like the hundredth time, she allowed herself to stare at Brent. He was hanging out with his brother and future sister-in-law. Tate was over there, too, but Jason was off dancing with some girl.

Over the last couple of days, Faith continued to kick herself for what she’d said to Brent. The conversation had been far too awkward. She couldn’t stop thinking about the surprise on Brent’s face when she’d told him that she wasn’t going to date him.

The problem was, she couldn’t tell if he was surprised because she beat him to the punch or if he was disappointed that she brought it up at all.

Was there a chance that he’d been interested in more?

Nope.

Not gonna happen.

Faith sighed and turned away from Brent resolutely. He was cute. He listened. And boy, could he make her laugh. But he was about as emotionally prepared for something as any of the other rodeo stars she’d met through her brothers. They didn’t do serious. Most of those guys were far more interested in their careers and the adrenaline high they got from it.

“What’s with the face?”

Faith startled and glanced over to find Hallie watching her curiously as she pulled a can of soda from the cooler. “What?”

Hallie moved closer and pointed up at the lines that were likely carved deep between Faith’s brows. “Why the face? Someone didn’t spit in your drink, did they?”

Faith glanced over her shoulder, unsure of what to say. Hallie was outgoing. She spent time with the other girls who fawned over the rodeo stars. She could be loud at times and usually drew the attention of others.

Faith? Well, she couldn’t be more different.

Hallie snickered. “Yeah, I’m talking to you.” She turned so she could prop her hip against the table where they stood. “Close to the food. I like it. That way we can eat all we want without people noticing that we’re coming this way, right?”

Nodding, Faith allowed herself a small smile. “True. Didn’t think about that.”

Hallie twisted her waist and reached for a cookie on the tray nearest them. She took a bite and her eyes rolled back into her head. “Who was the caterer?”

“Hmm?” Faith eyed Hallie for a moment then her eyes dipped to the cookie and the rest of the spread on the table. “We didn’t hire a caterer.”

The girl reached for another cookie. “Then where did you get these? I’m going to have to order some for myself.”

“Oh.” Faith turned her attention to the crowd of people—the crowd that consisted mostly of her brothers’ friends. “I made them.”

Hallie all but choked on her third cookie. She coughed and wiped at the crumbs near her lips. “What? You’re kidding.”

Faith glanced at her again. “Nope.”

“Okay, you should sell these.”

There was nothing to do but laugh at the recommendation. Faith shook her head. “I’m good at baking exactly one thing. Those cookies. The rest? Meh.”

Hallie waved the cookie in her face and for a moment Faith wanted to ask her if she was okay. Had she hit her head or something? But then Hallie continued to gush. “You could make a whole business out of these cookies. Isn’t there like some business that operates in the mall just selling chocolate chip cookies?”

Faith shrugged and once again found herself staring at Brent.

He wasn’t with his brother anymore. Instead, he was talking to her sisters. Lydia and Wren were crowding him, smiling, laughing, flirting.

A small curl of Faith’s lip must have been all that was needed to draw Hallie’s attention. Suddenly everything felt quiet and still at Faith’s side and she tensed. When she brought her attention to Hallie, she immediately regretted all her life’s choices leading up to this moment.

Hallie sported a knowing smile. They weren’t close, Faith and Hallie. But they knew of each other because of certain social circles. With Tate and Jason being well known enough in the rodeo circuit, it was difficult not to know who their sisters were.

And while Hallie’s family didn’t participate in the rodeo, that didn’t stop her from tagging along. Faith had heard rumors about Hallie pining for a guy who competed, but Faith preferred to steer clear of town gossip. She considered it the least she could do when there was already too many people putting their noses where they didn’t belong.