Chapter 174: Dawson

Nine Years Later

August, 2017

Early on a Tuesday afternoon, Dawson angled the horse trailer into an extra-long parking spot, straightening the wheels before killing the engine on the truck. He saw an eighteen-wheeler parked a few spaces over, but they were the only large vehicles there. Otherwise, only cars and small trucks occupied the restaurant's parking lot.

He locked the truck with the remote after sliding from the cab. Bolt nickered when he peeked inside the trailer. "Hey, guy. I'll get you out of there soon." He knew the horse had to be restless after seven hours in the trailer. After an early start, it had been a long day and he was ready for some lunch.

After grabbing a bite to eat, he'd set up at the fairgrounds and let Bolt have some time outside. The horse was chomping at the bit to get out of the trailer, and Dawson could relate. He was eager to get this rodeo performance out of the way, so he could get off the road for a while.