My Beloved Cowboy's

Chapters 10. Rani, you do it again!

The atmosphere around the campfire that night was getting crowded with the presence of King. The appearance of the man was beyond suspicion. Although it comes with a bandaged hand, but did not dampen King's spirit to entertain everyone with a slick guitar game also beautiful sound.

Rani rushes down the stairs, running towards King. The man waved and smiled at her as he continued to sing. Rani's heart rippled, her gaze could not be separated staring at that handsome face.

So let it out and let it in. Hey Jude, start. You’re waiting for someone to perform with, and don’t you know that it’s just you. Hey Jude, you’ll do. The movement you need is on your shoulder.

(So let it out and let it in. Hey Jude, get started. You're waiting for someone to perform together, and you don't know that there's only you. Hey Jude, you did it. The movement you need is on your shoulders)

Well well nah nah nah nah nah.

King ended the song with a whistle and applause from everyone. Seen how enthusiastic the citizens saw King singing, Rani now knows that everyone likes and adores the man. He gave a look of praise and held out two thumbs.

“Thank you.” King lowered his hat and rubbed his hair, bowed half his body and smiled broadly at everyone.

“We love you, King!”

King laughed when he heard it. “Thank you, thank you.”

King handed the guitar in his hand to one of his colleagues sitting next to him, whispering briefly while pointing his index finger at one place. The man nodded in understanding, then left the King.

“King!” call Rani.

“Hai, Rani.”

Rani could not hide her joy at seeing King's presence in that place. “I thought you wouldn't come tonight.”

“Of course I have to come tonight. I can't possibly miss your welcoming party at this place, ” said King, he pulled an empty bench nearby and told Rani to sit there.

Rani smiled in response, she sat down next to King and looked at his arm wrapped in a thick jacket. “How about the wound on your arm, you look a little pale?”

King grabbed the bottle of drink in front of him, and one gulp he had already consumed half of its contents. He sighed, and put his bottle again on the table. “I can handle it, the swelling has started to decrease.”

“How did you fall off a horse and get bitten by a snake?” Rani turned her seat facing King, now the distance between them was quite close. Even Rani's exposed knee almost touched King's leg.

King turned his face, smilingly looking at the face of the woman before him. He straightened his body for a moment, looking up past the top of Rani's head scanning his surroundings.

There was a pair of sharp eyes that kept an eye on their closeness, King was able to sense it. His trained instincts seemed to sense danger, King searched with the tail of his eyes and smiled faintly as his eyes caught the movement of someone among the crowd of residents who were cleaning up the leftovers after the party.

“I fell off a horse while chasing cattle hiding in the bushes, and the reptile was apparently there and was surprised to see me.” Obviously King.

“You must be in pain, King. I've experienced it when I was a kid, and I know what it's like.”

King smiled at him, “ Oh yes, I never thought you'd ever experience that. Interesting, then how is the story You can get bitten by a snake?” King asked the same thing to Rani.

“I used to think the snake skin was slimy, until I finally touched it.” Rani shuddered, imagining her childhood. He was very afraid of the creature that one slither, some times Rani almost pecked a snake while following her father playing in the field. And he saw how Dad drove them away and caught one of them.

Again King smiled at him. “Almost everyone thinks like that, until they touch it.”

“It seems you know a lot about the way of life of that one creature. Tell me, besides horses, cows, and now snakes, what else do you know about the other beasts Mr Kingstone Hardy?” rani asked, rubbing her eyes while supporting her chin with both hands. His admiration increased for the man.

“The cattle collection time is the busiest time for everyone on this farm. There were always cattle that got lost and hid in the bushes, so we had to collect them on horseback. Not infrequently there are raging livestock, and we must first tame it.”

“Kingstone Hardy!”

Rey appears before the two of them, King looks up and Rani turns her face.

“Mr Hart, how are you?” King stands up and welcomes Rey's handshake to him. He saw Rey's eyes soften at Rani who stood up and nodded at him.

“I came just to greet you guys.” Rey laughed softly, “King, your voice is so good. I love your song, inspire.”

Rey patted King's shoulder softly, laughing again but sounding strange in Rani's ears. Rey said goodbye shortly afterwards, his hesitant attitude as he left Rani alone with King made a big question mark in King's heart.

“It seems that Rey likes you, from the moment I noticed she kept seeing you. And you seem to want to avoid him,” King said without further ado.

Rani turned her head quickly, glaring at King who was laughing looking at her reaction. “Is it clearly visible on my face? Rey offered me a walk with her tonight this Sunday, but I turned her down.”

King chuckled, and the face looked even more handsome. Rani snorted as if she saw it, “Why are you laughing?”

“I hope you won't regret your decision to reject Rey's invitation to date you.” King pointed his chin at the row of seats at the back of them. “You see, Rey is the target of many young women as well as mothers who want her daughter to get a rich man.”

Rani follows King's line of sight, where she sees Rey approaching one of the young women and unhesitatingly starts a conversation with him.

Rani sighed, turning to King for a moment. The man was staring at Rey, there was an intention in Rani's heart to tease her. “You're right, it looks like I've wasted a golden opportunity.”

Rani put on a nelangsa face. His voice was made as sad as possible to convince King that he regretted refusing Rey's invitation. “I'm already feeling sorry now, rejecting the invitation of one of the handsome men in this city. It would be great to be able to go on a trip together with him.”

Rani kept staring at Rey, King frowned trying to convince himself that he had not heard wrong. “There's a weird one here, Or I'm the one who heard it wrong. Didn't you just refuse his invitation, then why do you regret it now? Do you feel the need to compete with the young ladies there to attract her attention again?“

“I just realized it now, it looks like I need someone to take me for a walk. Honey I have refused it,” said Rani with a sorry face, not giving up the slightest view on Rey and her female friend.

King frowned, then he heard his breath. “What since long ago you always got all your wishes?”

Rani shook her head slowly, “Not always, only those who really love me are willing to obey my wishes.”

“Alright Miss Maharani Princess.” King stared into Rani's eyes, “I'll take you on a horse ride one morning, looking through the beautiful scenery of this place as you wish. You just have to wear jeans and boots. Can you ride a horse, Rani?”

Yess! Because of you, Rani shouted in her heart. He tried to hide his smile. Rani is happy to have succeeded in making the man in front of her obey her wishes.

“Of course I can ride a horse, I remind you once again that I am the daughter of a cowboy and the grandson of a ranch owner.” Rani said with pride.

“Nah well. Hey Rani, you do it again!” And Rani laughed loudly at King's words to her.

▪︎ ▪︎ ▪︎ ▪︎ ▪︎ ▪︎ ▪︎ ▪︎