Hot Rod Ford - A Long White Cadillac
And a stretch Mercedes Benz
****
Two teams caught fire in the early autumn rodeos and cut into their lead, so Carl and Rod had to travel more than they intended before points stopped being added to this year's finals tallies, and began accumulating for next year. In some ways it was beneficial: they kept their edge; their sponsors were happy; and their traveling partner accomplished a number of good things, and caused some problems. Oh, her conduct was impeccable, she kept them entertained on the road, and significantly increased their standing on social media, rodeo vlogs, and TV.
Which also became a problem: they became celebrities of sorts. If any of the three went somewhere alone, they probably weren't recognized, although that was changing for Mia. But if all three went somewhere, or Rod and Mia went somewhere, it was even money they would be mobbed, or at a minimum, asked for autographs.
After watching a video blog, a brief TV feature, and several social media posts, it became clear to the men that their anonymity was being stolen because of their bewitching redhaired companion. It was irritating on the one hand, but their sponsors were thrilled, and Adeline called Rod to learn more about Mia. Was she a potential spokesperson/model for FLI's sporting goods line? Mia excitedly nodded yes, and Rod assured his friend she was.
Besides stirring up their fans, Mia also shopped. She found 'darling sets' for Las Vegas in several towns and cities, and, after she modeled a few, her guys began to give more thought to their own wardrobes. Dressing for the arena and autograph sessions was easy, but the sponsored parties and events, and potential interviews demanded some 'darling sets' of their own.
Mia was more than glad to assist, and she included Gina by Facetime so she could convince her hardheaded husband he needed to look like he belonged with her; she too had been shopping for darling sets for all possible NFL/Las Vegas occasions.
The National Finals Rodeo was a lock, but they wanted to arrive in first place and stay there. Rod, however, learned a hard lesson about saddle broncs; he rode the hell out of all he drew, but the horses didn't hold up their end of the bargain and Terry Walls was a few ahead when the final points for the year were announced. Nothing he couldn't make up in the NFR, but irritating because he had gotten higher scores than Terry on most rides, but his horses got lower. Luck of the draw, but irritating.
They took a break when the points year ended, and Rod took Carl and Bruiser, his heeling horse, home to High Ridge. Gina, with help from Jack and Lisa, killed the fatted calf for their road warriors, who arrived tired, dirty, and hungry. Rod and Mia took 'his' cabin, and enjoyed relaxing shower sex before dressing.
Carl had given them time and privacy when he could, but having him sleeping a few feet away in the trailer living quarters seriously dented their sex life.
Their time together had, however, proven they were compatible in and out of bed, and she was absolutely an asset when dealing with sponsors and their clients, or media of any kind. Theirs was a sanguine relationship, relatively speaking, without unnecessary drama, bullheaded arguments, or senseless efforts to control. Many called them a perfect match, and neither disagreed.
She charmed the Armstrongs and Harts, including Claire, who was sad for her daughter but couldn't hold it against sweet, funny, and beautiful Mia. Jack teased and harassed her, but she held her own, and quickly became a part of the extended family.
They gorged on Hartland beef Monday evening, slept in Tuesday morning, and went to Millerville to eat burgers and fries at an old landmark café Claire and Kevin bought to keep it from closing. Rod took Mia for a walk, and then to the high school to work out. That proved to be a monumental mistake because school was letting out while they were walking up, and they were recognized.
Everyone ogled Mia and/or Rod, they signed autographs, the football players had to tell him about their unprecedented success the last two seasons, and he got a hug and thanks from Harley, who was selected to all-star teams as a senior and had a scholarship to attend college instead of prison, where his dad was.
In appreciation for Rod's help the previous summer, the coaches took them to the workout room and locked them in so their fans wouldn't keep them outside signing autographs. That didn't mean they had no one watching while they worked, but they used the facility without interruption.
Mia wasn't the athlete Hailey was, but she was graceful, flexible, well-conditioned, and a lot stronger than she looked. Rod spent the cooldown whispering about how good her tight, curvy body looked in yoga pants and a cut-off hoodie, and describing what he planned to do to that body when they got back to the cabin. She mostly ignored him, but finally replied with a coy smile and a challenging 'promises, promises.'
That excited him, because he knew she knew what he could do, and she was obviously inviting him to do it!
They went back to the café for a country fried steak with baked potato, and went for another walk in the chilly autumn air. People acknowledged them, but generally kept their distance. A few teens and one dad asked for autographs, which he explained was for his daughter, a red-haired barrel racer who wanted to dress and look like Mia.
Mia was surprised and honored, and later told Rod she wanted to talk to Adeline about repping the sporting clothes she had mentioned. Rod shared her number, and then took her to the cabin and blew her mind, and his own. Just as he had learned every hot spot on her body, and how she would react to his sexual efforts, she had picked up all the nuances that make oral, vaginal, and anal intercourse indescribably wonderful.
A motion here, an angle change there, a stall, a speed up, a circle, pressing down, long and slow, piston-fast - she was a quick learner who loved the subject matter and had become most adept at pleasing herself and her man. That neither party was selfish made it all better, because you could try new things and strive for new levels of pleasure while knowing your partner would take care of you even if (s)he came first.
Whether it was curiosity, as she claimed, jealousy, or the desire to let Rod know just how much and who she was dating, Mia kept up with Hailey. Some might say 'stalked' but it was simply checking her bookmarked sites and maybe following a link or two, which she claimed fell far short of stalking! Regardless, he no longer had to check, because Mia gave him periodic updates. Hailey was far ahead of Mia and Rod in mentions, in photos, and in speculation, though Mia's mentions and photos were accelerating rapidly. But Mia wasn't concerned about that; she told Rod every time something notable happened so she could read reactions. Rarely did he react - he had Mia, he and Hailey were doing what they said they would do, and he could tell most of it was for the publicity anyway.
In addition, Rod's poker face was excellent, so even though he flinched when shown Hailey arriving at a five-star hotel in a stretch black Mercedes Benz limousine with some European movie star, who was said to have stayed in her hotel room for two nights before sneaking away, his flinch was internal. So all she saw was a practiced smile and shake of his head. He was signaling that Hailey's actions were irrelevant, which she hoped was true.
It was too late in the year for skinny dipping, but Rod found a sunny patch of grass with cliffs on two sides and trees on another, and they spent an afternoon sun worshipping before heading back to Texas.
It was plenty warm to sun worship on the Ford Ranch, but Mia's nips were opposed. When he verified, Rod noted that her alabaster skin was intact, without sunburn or tanning. Not so with him - his butt was tender and pink!
Mia and Rod met Adeline and Carlos at his
estancia
across the river from Eagle Pass. It was a combined business and pleasure trip, so they spent the first night dining and dancing in
Piedras Negras
, and Adeline spent the following day with Mia, while Rod and Carlos rode around the ranch looking at the fat cattle and big deer of which Carlos was so proud.
They also talked about Hailey, with Carlos verifying that most of the photos and sensationalized indiscretions were publicity stunts... but not all. "She has changed, amigo. She's much more worldly, more demanding, and more selfish, but not in the worst way. A year ago, she was easily misled, but her PA is a very worldly woman, a cynic, and demanding. She has influenced Hailey in good ways, and maybe in some ways of which you would not approve.
"But no sheikh or prince, no millionaire or billionaire, as some of her Middle Eastern escorts are, can do to her what Abdullah did. She's harder and less gullible, yet mention of you brings out the vulnerability that makes her so attractive to you, and to other men - including me!
"She knows all about Mia - we have made no effort to keep your relationship or our interest in her a secret. She admits it hurts her to see you with Mia, or with Kathy, because she recognizes when you care about someone.
"She is under great pressure to stay in Europe though the New Year and then move to the events around the Mediterranean, but she insists she is spending Christmas with you, and will not negotiate. That should tell you where her heart is. Now, where is your heart?"
"My heart is beating in my chest, and it beats faster when I think of the NFR. Honestly, I'm happy with Mia, and she is probably a better match for me than Hailey. I'll admit I still feel something special for Hailey, but there are a lot of moving pieces around me right now, and I'm going to give the Christmas holidays a change to resolve those issues.
"For instance, amigo, Mia is being courted by an agent who claims a major streaming service is interested in a screen test. That just happened, and I set her up with an IP attorney for advice, but it could happen after Las Vegas. So if y'all want her, best get her signed up, while leaving time for a movie or mini-series."
They went back across to Eagle Pass and the Kickapoo Casino that evening, and stayed in comped rooms, thanks to the support Chito Longoria gave during the Kickapoo's effort to get approval for the casino though the Texas legislature, and for Carlos and Adeline's continuing patronage. We gambled with minimal effect on pocketbooks, dined, and danced in one of the clubs.
As always, we danced with each other's partners, and either Carlos has a thing for redheads, or he drank a little too much. He was charming, of course, but he also got inside the neutral zone and his hands wandered a bit. Adeline saw it, saw that Mia was handling it was grace, and decided to get even.
She maneuvered them across the crowded dance floor from her husband and Mia, and suddenly she was in Rod's neutral zone, with her body pressed tightly against his and her arms wrapped around his back. It was far more embrace than dancing position, and she writhed her hips to get maximum effect from his hardon.
