“Pa! What are you doing? Where are you going?!”

Red Cedar asked her father in a hushed voice, trying her best to keep a smile on her face for the stallion standing next to her. She didn’t want to be rude after all, though she was being left in an awkward situation.

“You’ll be fine, I’ll be off talkin’ with an old pal. You two take care now!”

Her father had dragged her here and while she did sort of enjoy the show, it just wasn’t her thing. And she definitely didn’t expect to be stuck here alone with the star of the rodeo.

She sighed as he walked away, turning back to her company with a more genuine smile now.

“Well…Hello, I’m Red Cedar.”

The stallion grinned back at her, reaching out his hoof for a shake.

“Howdy there! I’m Rainier. Did ya enjoy the show?”

“I did,”

Red Cedar shook his hoof, searching through her mind for something to say that would make her sound interested without lying.

“I don’t go to rodeos that often, so I guess I don’t know much about them. But I did like the rope tricks you did. They were…really impressive. I don’t think I could ever have the skill for that.”

Her eyes lit up with awe as she recalled his routine.

“I was sure you’d win first place. I’m sorry you didn’t.”

Rainier’s smile didn’t dim in the slightest at this reminder; he simply shrugged good-naturedly.

“Aw shucks, that don’t matter! It was fun is what counts! Ya don’t need fancy skills to have a good time!”

“That’s true!“

Red Cedar nodded in agreement.

“The band I’m in may not be quite up to Sapphire Shores’ standards but that doesn’t mean we don’t have fun most of the time—“

Her face grew hot once she realized how much she was sharing. She stopped and turned away from him to hide her embarrassment.

Rainier was unfazed, of course.

“Oh golly, yer in a band? When’s yer next show? I might come see ya if I can get mah hooves on a ticket!”

“Well, uh…”

Red Cedar hesitated, not wanting to embarrass herself even more.

“I’m not sure you’d like it. It’s rock music. And kind of…vulgar. I don’t write the lyrics of course!”

To save face, she diverted:

“But Princess Flurry Heart is our lead if you would like to meet her!”

“That’d sure be an honor! But I really wanna see you doin’ what ya love! Where can I buy a ticket?”

A warm feeling spread through Red Cedar’s chest knowing that this stallion was so interested in her. She almost felt bad that she hadn’t given him that same courtesy for his rodeo, but she really enjoyed spending time with him regardless. His upbeat attitude was so infectious that she found herself eager to see him again.

So she got an idea.

“Actually…I could get you one for free.”