"Now you're in for it," Desi whispered under her breath to Harley before she was shoved aside by Becca who was as excited as a puppy with two tails.

She pulled open Harley's driver side door which squeaked like nails dragged slowly across a chalk board in protest.

"Why are you driving this old POS?" Desi asked, giving a disapproving once over of Harley's beat up, blue and white, two toned, 1996 Ford 250, 4x4. Desi, Max and Becca were the only people in town who knew the truth about Harley and her past. She had sworn them to secrecy months ago, wanting to earn the respect of her new town on her own merits and not on the back of her rodeo fame. Or, as Desi had suggested, on the amount of her bank account.

"Be nice to Old Blue," Harley cooed as she petted the worn dash cover and attempted to avoid Becca's obnoxious powdering. "It's got character." She managed to add around a mouthful of puff when she turned back to Desi.

"Humph...you have a brand new, gorgeous King Ranch sitting in the barn with enough chrome and leather to make my panties wet and yet, here you sit, in this dinged up, road rash covered monstrosity. Mind enlightening us as to why?"

Harley sneezed as a fine dust of powder tickled up her nose. "Ugh...enough, Becca!" She reached out, trying to wrestle the puff away from her. "Because I needed to pick up feed today and because I'm trying...to...fit...in," Harley answered struggling to keep Becca at bay and managing to capture the puff. "Ha! Got it!"

Desi blew out an exasperated breath. "Yeah...and how is that whole, I'm trying to fit in thing, working out for you?"

"What do you mean?" Harley's voice cracked.

"We heard what happened at the feed store with that big jerk Rafferty and Lloyd refusing you service," Becca stated nonchalantly as she stepped back smiling, putting her hands on her hips to admire her handy work. Undeterred by having lost her powder puff.

"You heard about that?" Harley gulped. "Already?" She slumped down in her seat as a wave of nausea washed over her. The whole town would know of her humiliation and the slanderous lies Rafferty had spoken. Her bottom lip began to tremble as a little sob escaped.

"Only because we ran into Brady behind the feed store when we were handing out flyers. Oh...don't cry." Becca coaxed, stroking her hair. "He sent us over here to cheer you up." She smiled uncertainly.

"And such a good job we're doing too," Desi dryly commented while Harley softly sniffled. "Why don't you try to smother her again? We can put a more permanent end to her suffering. She might be dead, but she will have a splendid glow with rosy cheeks."

"Listen Morticia, I don't see you being overly helpful...uh-oh!" Becca's eyes got huge and round before she whipped around. Stepping up on the running boards of the truck, she all about jumped on top of Harley in the cab brandishing her lipstick like a sword. "Hold still and let me finish."

"What are you doing? Get off me and let me enjoy my misery, dammit." Harley struggled as Becca swiped at her lips with a frosty tipped wand.

"Hush and pucker. Desi, hand me back her glasses. We have company," Becca ordered.

"Company? Who?" Harley struggled to look around Becca and Desi who decided to block the door to the pickup. Standing like one of the Queen of England's tower gaurds.

"It's the best I can do under the circumstances," Becca mumbled as she slipped Harley's sunglasses back on and pinched her cheeks so hard, Harley winced. "Now, smile pretty...lover boy is here," she whispered, giggling.

"Harley? Are you alright, sunshine?"

A low, growly drawl hit her ears. Making her nipples immediately peak and rub uncomfortably in her bra. Only one man could make her body respond with just the sound of his voice. Adonis, or aka, one handsome cowboy by the name of Travis Montgomery.

She peeked over Becca's shoulder to see him trying to maneuver his way around Desi, who kept in step with him back and forth until it looked like they were dancing an odd kind of waltz.

"Sorry cowboy, no card carrying member of the purple headed custard chucker's club allowed," Desi taunted.

Becca tried to smoother a chortle behind her hand and ended up snorting while Harley had to swallow her giggles when she spotted Travis's open jawed expression.

"Purple headed...what's it?" He asked, his eyebrows shocked to the top of his forehead.

"This is girls talk cowboy and that salty yogurt slinger you're carrying behind your zipper, makes you ineligible to attend."

Travis snorted. "Does Max know you're off your leash, again?"

"Ha, ha...stay awake all night thinking up that one? Don't you need to go back out on the prairie to practice your social skills on whatever poor heifer you're dating?" Desi crossed her arms over her chest, narrowing her eyes at him.

"For someone who doesn't know squat about cows, you sure are educated in bullshit." Travis sneered as he loomed over Desi.

"Have you signed up for the Rancher's Rodeo yet, Travis?" Becca thrust a flyer over the top of Desi's head and under his nose, breaking up the two spitting cobras. "There's a bunch of new changes this year you might want to read up on. Unlike last year where the hands had to pay for each event they wished to enter, this year the rancher's make one donation of five thousand dollars."

"That covers all the entry fees, stable space, individual ranch advertisement in the rodeo program and what not. For an extra fifteen hundred you can get a board painted by the high school art club and have it up in the arena." Becca charged forward, barely drawing a breath and rivaling the best auctioneers out there.

"That money doesn't go to the charity, but to the high school art club for supplies and future field trips. They try to raise as much money as possible throughout the year with smaller fundraisers, car washes and such, but this could really give them a boost. We are encouraging as many ranches who can afford the extra expense to do it. If they can raise enough money, they will set some of it aside for future scholarship awards."

"As you can see," she reached over Desi's purple head and tapped the flyer, "there isn't a set charity for the event this year. The ranchers couldn't agree on just one, so instead they are letting each individual ranch decide on a charity of their choosing to sponsor. Whichever ranch team scores the highest point percentage, wins and their charity of choice receives all proceeds from the rodeo."

"Minus, of course, any costs the rodeo committee acquired setting up the event. But, this year has been a block buster year for donations and people have been extremely generous. The committee has really out done themselves, so there will be very little out of pocket expense." Becca batted innocent baby blues and finally took a breather.

Harley couldn't help the tiny giggle that escaped as she and the rest of the little group stood in wonderment of the whirlwind who was Becca. Even Desi seemed to have been momentarily stunned and turned speechless.

"Sounds like a lot of fun," Harley commented as she watch Travis gradually recover from being bulldozed. She reached out, grabbing a flyer from Desi.

"Oh...it's a real hoot, but fairly predictable on who is going to win." Desi managed to find her voice again. "Which ever ranch wins, gets the bragging rights for the year until the next rodeo." She rolled her sandy eye's heavenward.

"Who won last year?" Harley decided to ask, even though by watching the comical display on Desi's face, she already had a fairly good idea who.

"I did," Travis quickly replied.

Blushing a bit when all female head's turned to him. Woo-boy, he was damn adorable when he blushed.

"Well the Dusty Rose won," he clarified, puffing out his chest.

Harley let her shaded eyes roam the scrumptious, expansive muscled area. Behind the safety of her sunglasses, she was free to drink in the sight of him which she had been longing for. Adonis stood in all his magnificence in a pair of worn blue jeans which molded to his body like a second skin. The material caressing his legs in a lover's touch.

He wore a black leather belt around his narrow waste with a silver belt buckle baring the DR brand design glinting in the sunlight. A large D snuggled up to a backwards R. It drew her attention like a beacon. Her eyes shamelessly groped his crotch and the naughty side in her did a victory dance when the bulge seemed to grow from her visual caress.

Harley continued her wanton wandering up to the blue denim shirt he was wearing. Noticing how tightly the material pulled across his chest and shoulders. Three little buttons were undone showing a peek of tanned skin beneath.

Imagining working the rest of the pearl snaps loose of his western shirt and revealing those smooth contours to her greedy tongue, had her softly panting and squirming uncomfortably in her seat. His dark hair was tied back and she itched to set it free so she could plunge her fingers in and run them through.

A well-worn, Stetson straw hat was pulled low on his head shadowing his beautiful face, giving him a dangerous look that made her heart do somersaults. Harley was so absorbed in his stunning male carnal attraction, she had to close her eyes. Trying to control her overly loud breath which she was sure was making her sound like a Saint Bernard, she took a deep steading inhale before slowly releasing it.

"Like I said, it's fairly predictable on which loud mouth wins. Except for the few times the Circle Diamond didn't get caught cheating," Desi replied in true snarky form, bolting Harley back to reality.

"Nobody gets away with cheating, Desi. The two times the Diamond tried, they were disqualified," Becca interjected before Travis could respond to her insult. "It's actually a big deal to win and the winning ranch deserves the respect it receives from the town." She looked over at Harley. "It's not just Wolf Springs ranches anymore that participate. It's ranches from all over the surrounding area too." She turned back to Travis's direction and sighed. "The Dusty Rose has some of the very best cowboys around and it's a real accomplishment to their ability."

Desi made an unlady-like gagging sound. "Oh, puh-lease. The only abilities you all are after, is what a couple of those cowboys can do once the Wranglers hit the bedroom floor."

Becca gasped, turning a cherry red while Harley rolled up her flyer and started smacking Desi on the head.

"Hey! I'm just saying!" She ducked as Harley played her purple spiked melon like a snare drum. A deep chuckle stalled Harley in mid-strike.

"I would be curious to know which two cowboys you are referring to. That is if you don't suffer a concussion." Travis reached up, snatching Harley's weapons out of her grasp.

Warm deep blue eyes twinkled in amusement as he gave her a little wink, sending her heart beating out a rapid rhythm. One dazzling smile directed her way and her pussy corresponded with a warm slick aroused tempo of its own. The rest of her body started to sing just for him.

"I'm sure she wasn't referring to anyone in particular." Harley frowned at her soon to be ex best friend as she tried to rein in her wild body responses. "Besides, you can't take anything Desi say's too seriously. Some babies get dropped on their heads, but she was clearly thrown." Going for a Hail Mary subject change she turned her attention to Becca, who was slowly turning back to her original creamy, colored self. "When is the due date for sign-ups?"

Clearly confused as to why Harley would be asking or maybe because she was still suffering from shock, it took Becca a moment to respond. "End of next week."

Travis nodded his head, grabbing a handful of flyers out of Becca's hand. "I'll take a few of these down to the ranch to pass out around the ranch hands. I have to say, it's a lot easier paying one lump sum than trying to corral everyone in and set them up individually. Sign-ups still down at the county treasury?" Becca nodded affirming that they were. "Well, ladies...and Desi...I will see you later then." He grinned, nodded and tipped his hat before turning on his heel of his well-worn work boots and started to leave.

"That should give me enough time to put everything together," Harley mumbled lost in thought. "Do I need cash or will a check do at sign-ups?"

"What you need is a ranch," Desi snapped. "Did you have to take it out on my hair?" She groused, primping and peeving over Harley's abuse of the purple lacquered spikes.

"I have a ranch." Harley chose to ignore Desi's bid for respect on the hair follicles.

"She means a fully functioning ranch, sunshine," Travis stated as he turned back around. Obviously curious over the change of their conversation.

Harley narrowed her eyes behind her glasses. "It is a fully functioning ranch."

"He's right Harley. In order to qualify you have to have a valid ranch and brand," Becca clarified, reluctantly. "You can't enter each event on your own. You have to have...umm...you know...ranch hands," she stuttered.

"Besides darling, this isn't some little pony show at the fairgrounds," Travis scoffed as he walked over to her. "This is an actual rodeo with experienced cowboys and cowgirls who have been doing this for generations with some of the toughest stock around. I wouldn't want you to do something that could end up getting you hurt, but, if you want to participate, I don't see why you can't be part of my team."

He smiled a boyish grin that made her pulse skyrocket up her throat.

"We could probably find something you can take part in if you can ride," he softly drawled while he reached up to stroke her hair.

Harley had to bite down on the inside of her cheek to keep from leaning her head into his touch.

"You can toss a saddle up on that nightmare of a stud you own and ride him I suppose," he stated flatly. "Then again, riding a stud is probably not the best idea, especially one as rowdy as him. I have some geldings on the ranch that are absolutely bomb proof. The littlest of kids can ride them with no worries. I swear you'll be safe with me, sunshine and I'll keep an eye on you."

Safe? What the hell was that supposed to mean? Why the hell would she need his protection or anyone to keep an eye on her? Harley bristled from his condescending tone and words, even though she supposed he meant well.

She looked into his eyes and about puked from the sincerity reflecting back. He was acting like Snidely Whiplash was waiting around the corner to tie her down on some railroad tracks. Just because he stormed in and rescued her from Rafferty, didn't mean she actually needed to be rescued. She could have handled the situation just fine if she hadn't been momentarily stunned by his gorgeous male dominance physique.

Harley rolled her eyes from behind the safety of her sunglasses. He couldn't help it all men seemed to be born with an extra amount of ape hormone which made them act like idiots. Despite her inner arguments to cut the man some slack, it took all the willpower she possessed to not turn her head and sink her teeth into his hands still lingering in her hair.

Deep inside her head, Harley's inner little evil demon raged. Screeching for justice and a surprisingly good amount of his blood, but she knew how to play with the big boys better than most. Her years of dealing with cowboys and their over stroked egos mixed with a generous amount of chauvinist mentality, made her a damn fine savvy competitor in their little world.

Now was not the time to become unhinged, so she reeled in the nastier side of herself knowing full well that its desire for vengeance would be appeased, just not right at this moment. After all, a poker player never showed their cards and she had more than just a dog named Ace.

"That's very kind of you, cowboy," she managed to stop grinding her teeth long enough to speak, "but not necessary, thank you." Harley kept it short and sweet, not trusting herself to say more. She also extracted herself from his touch, just in case the desire to bite him won out over common sense.

"Yeah, cowboy! If you're looking for a charity case, you're barking up the wrong tree. Or is that just your normal voice?"

Thank you Desi! Harley all but chirped, barley stopping herself from fist pumping the air when her gothic nightmare of a friend swooped in with her snarky attitude to save the day.

"I guess only you would be able to understand me then," Travis snorted. He turned his puzzled artic blues to Harley. "Does this mean you don't want to compete?"

Was that a hint of disappointment in his voice?

"I think it means she doesn't want to compete with you!" Desi shoved a finger into his chest.

"Who is she going to team up with then? You?" he scoffed.

"You got a problem with that big boy?" Desi crossed her arms over her chest and glowered at Adonis as he burst into laughter.

The rich booming sound sent tingles up and down Harley's spine, making her heart skip a few beats. His eye's crinkled up in the corners and those oceanic peepers turned a brilliant hue with his amusement. Harley shook her head. She was supposed to pissed at him, not swooning over the color of his eyes.

"Well, I can see you ladies have it all figured out, so I will just be on my way." He looked over at Harley. "If you need me, the offer still stands." Sending her a little wink that made her heart leap, Travis tipped his hat and left. His chuckling could still be heard as he sauntered off across the parking lot and around the corner of the feed store.

"If Desi is going to be on your team, can I be on it too?" Becca broke into a fit of giggles when Desi started to fume, cuss and stomp around in her four inch, black leather, lace up boots, complete with spikey studs and buckles.

"I sure as hell hope you have something up your sleeve or a freaking posse in your pocket, because there is no way you are going to get me up on some flea bitten nag playing Annie fucking Oakley." She punctuated her words with sharp pokes into Harley's shoulder.

Her purple locks glinted in the sun, catching the many multiple piercings adorning each ear. Harley loved her unconditionally, even with the orange striped stockings, black leather miniskirts, halter tops and the abundant of leathered adornments, but Annie Oakley she definitely was not.

"Don't worry my grumpy gothic girl, I have a plan. Now you two scoot and finish handing out those flyers and leave the details to me," Harley promised as she gave Desi a hug and peck on the cheek.

"What are you going to do?" Becca asked as she leaned in for her hug.

"I'm going to pull a posse out of my pocket." Harley winked, reaching for her cell phone.

I wanted to take this time to thank you for reading! I really hope you enjoyed this installment of When Roses Collide, and that you'll consider giving it a vote. I can't tell you how much your support means to me and how much it motivates me to keep going.

If you find any errors along the way, don't be afraid to point them out and I enjoy any recommendations or critiques you may have. As always, I will try and update once a week, but if you don't see an update here, check out my other story Bending Steele and FANGED. Thanks again!