5. Crushed

Taylor felt slightly more relaxed going on a few twirling rides and then playing a few games as no one seemed to pay him any mind. He was just another kid in the crowd.

Kaylee was also beginning to loosen up and talk more, chatting his ear off now. He could barely keep up with what she was chattering on about.

They all shared some custard ice cream and then cotton candy as time passed quickly.

"I think you girls are really enjoying this," said Carissa, loving the smile on her daughter's face. "Really bonding."

"Mom, Taylor's pretty awesome, and I am having fun."

"I'm happy for that, but you look disgusting, your hands are sticky, you've got ice cream on your chin and you hair," Carissa pointed out while wiping the windblown hair from her daughter's face. "Please let me clean you up, all this wind and spinning has ruined your pretty hair."

"Fine, ugh. But, can't I please get out of this dress?"

"I hate to say it, but I'm actually okay seeing you a little messy, honey, as long as you're getting along with Taylor and not acting boyish," said Carissa, wiping Kaylee's hands, the collar of her dress and then surprising Taylor, by wiping his hands, too. "And you Taylor? What happened to that pretty bow of yours?"

"Oh, I dunno," said Taylor, reaching up.

He was able to stretch his loose front braid, and the ends were starting to unwind.

"I'm sure it was the wind, honey. No big deal," said Carissa. "I'll fix you little beauties up. We should have pinned all this up earlier."

Carissa opened her purse again, pulled some scrunchies out and held them between her teeth as she started to brush Kaylee's hair. She was quick and within thirty seconds, Kaylee's hair was in a high pony.

She then turned her attention to Taylor.

It was unexpected for him and he didn't know how to react as she quickly unwound the rest of his braid. It was weird having his hair brushed so rapidly by Carissa. She moved like lightening as she brushed it back away from his face.

It was even hard to focus on what she was doing, since he found himself mere inches from her ample boobs as she gathered his hair and wound it in the first scrunchie.

"Very cute for now, girls," Carissa announced, snapping in another scrunchie before putting away her brush. "Come on. Craig and I have a special surprise I've been promising you, Kaylee, for a while. Craig says you'll love this one too, Taylor."

Taylor feared what was coming next, but there wasn't much he could do about it.

With her left hand, Carissa grabbed Kaylee's hand and with the right, Taylor's, as she weaved them through the crowd, swinging their arms, skipping and giggling.

Craig followed behind.

Taylor looked back at his brother, ready to scream as he could see his hair swaying in and out of his face on each side as they moved.

When they finally stopped, there was a little western shop in front of them.

They stepped inside and his heart stopped seeing all the merchandise.

"Oh mom! Do we have to, Kaylee whined in a low voice so only her mom would hear.

"Yes, and like I keep telling you, if you get rid of that attitude you'll start to love it. You better start showing an appreciation and love for what I'm doing for you, young lady, or else," Carissa replied in a stern Whisper. "I'm making your life better," She added before raising her voice to a normal volume and added, "Now you can get the cowgirl outfit I promised you."

Kaylee reminded herself of what her mom told her before they had met Craig and Taylor for this date and she knew she didn't want to get in trouble for not acting as proper and feminine as possible. Her mom had said she didn't want to see any trace of tomboy tonight or she would pay for it later.

She looked around for a moment and reluctantly pulled a pink skirt from the rack.

"You girls can get the same thing," Carissa excitedly announced. "I'd love for you to match, like sisters. Wouldn't that be fun, Taylor?"

"Uuumm... Ummm," stuttered Taylor.

"Taylor's not really into dresses," said Craig, stepping in. He noticed Taylor was starting to turn pale.

"Kaylee, I know you're excited but, this isn't the mall, it's a carnival and for what we're doing, skirts may be inappropriate," Carissa pointed out, taking a few items from the racks. "Here we go, try these on girls."

Kaylee made a face but made sure her mom didn't see it. A skirt wasn't what she wanted anyways, she was only trying to do what she was sure her mom wanted. Now her mom was taking this new girl's side and saying they didn't need a skirt, just because she didn't like them. Kaylee saw this as a double standard and didn't like it at all.

The perceived favoritism being shown the new girl began to cause a little resentment to form in Kaylee's mind.

Carissa handed the items to Kaylee and Taylor and sent them off to the dressing room. Taylor was completely uncomfortable, turning his back as he pulled off his top and quickly buttoned up the new shirt.

Kaylee was already changed when he turned around. She was so happy to not be in a skirt that she dropped her negative feelings and before he could even blink, she was excitedly dragging him back out where Carissa and Craig were waiting.

"Very cute on you, Taylor," said Carissa coming over, "Go try on the denim top, Kaylee. I'm not sure I love that one on you."

Kaylee headed back into the dressing room, while Carissa held out a pink vest, slipping it over Taylor's arms. She wrapped her arms around his waist and he looked down, seeing the huge belt she was fastening around him.

"Go sit over there and the man will help you Taylor, while I attend to Kaylee," Clarissa instructed.

Taylor turned and saw a big shoe box in the salesman's hand. "These should be her size, miss," said the salesman, pointing Taylor to a bench.

He had little choice but to sit and be fitted. The salesman quickly slipped Taylor's flats off his feet before slipping some little polyester peds on.

Taylor could hardly believe his eyes when the salesman opened the box and revealed a pair of short, white cowboy boots with designs made of hot pink threading.

The salesman slide the ankle boots over his feet and perfectly in place.

Kaylee walked out of the dressing room. Seeing Taylor in his new boots, she paused, swallowed, then began to speak.

"Am I getting those too, mom?" cried Kaylee, suddenly looking and sounding excited. "You know I've been dying for boots like those."

"Now, that's better. That's the attitude I wanna see." Carissa smiled as Kaylee rolled her eyes and plopped on the bench next to Taylor.

"Let me just do a little something with you, Taylor, while Kaylee gets her boots on." Carissa offered her hand. Taylor took it, stood, and allowed Carissa to lead him over to a wall filled with accessories.

He looked back at his brother, desperately wanting him to intervene, but all he did was wave the back of his palm at Taylor to say, go on.

Taylor turned around and Carissa held a few things up against him. Pretty quickly a thick silver costume bracelet was slipped on his right wrist, and fear overcame him as she held a few different earrings up to his ear, looking at options. She then placed a few of them back on the peg racks and took one set from their little packaging.

Taylor felt pressure as she clipped them on each ear. She then did the same thing with a series of bows and clips, holding them up near his head until she was satisfied with her selection.

She twisted his head as she tugged at his hair on the right side, before hearing a snap of a band and then she repeated it on the left.

"Adorable! Your turn, Kaylee," Carissa announced as Taylor just stood there feeling strange.

"I know I normally like a high pony on you, sweetie, but I'm just going to lower it a little for now like I did Taylor's, or the hats won't sit right."

"These are perfect, right?" Craig asked Carissa from behind, startling Taylor as he dropped a hat over Taylor's head.

"Oh my gawd!" Carissa gushed excitedly as he dropped the other onto Kaylee's head.

"They're gorgeous. You excited, girls?"

"Yes mommy. I feel just like one of my American girl dolls," said Kaylee a bit sarcastically.

While Craig and Carissa split the bill, Kaylee stood next to Taylor, in front of a big store mirror. He felt physically sick to his stomach seeing his cute new cowgirl image.

When her mom looked her way, Kaylee made a show of twisting and turning, admiring herself in her new outfit. She was obviously putting on a show for her mom, more than enjoying it.

Taylor took stock of how he now looked.

The only thing still on Taylor that he had left the house in was his tight white ankle length jeans. His pink top had been replaced with a white, western, collared shirt with pink threading.

The girls' Red Ranch western shirts featured a spread collar with shiny metallic dots decorating the entire shirt. Pearl buttons at the front placket and cuffs added some extra shine, but the matching pink vest really broke up the white purity of the outfit.

The open vest was highlighted by a thick row of pink fringes hanging loosely across the chest area, and on each side were faux vest pockets. On his feet, his white ankle length cowgirl boots with pink designs and fringe added to his cute new country girl look, and a thick pink belt with a large silver buckle graced his waist.

It was at this point he got a good view of the low pigtails Carissa had rearranged his hair into, and even worse she had wound in some pink and white bows, which had long pink ribbon tails streaming down four or five inches with each pigtail.

On his wrist was a thick silver pewter bracelet, and silver horseshoe drop clip-on earrings with rhinestones pinching his lobes. On his head sat a pink cowboy hat, which had a rhinestone tiara-like crown decorating the front of the hat above the brim. Across his neck sat the little plastic knots of the hat's thin chin strap.

Kaylee's outfit was almost identical with the same boots, vest and hat except her top and jeans were distressed denim instead of white.

"Okay, we're ready to go," announced Craig, holding up a group of small green tickets.

"Let's go, my pretty cowgirls," said Carissa, taking them by the hands and back outside. "They said to go out this way."

As they exited out a back door of the store, Taylor's sense of smell perked up, and he immediately winced from the aroma of hay and manure.

He looked up, seeing only a few kids in line ahead as Carissa led them over and Craig handed the tickets to the handler.

"You excited, girls?" asked Carissa as she adjusted the little cords under each of their chins so the hats were snug. "I know you've been dying for pony rides, Kaylee."

Sure, she loved horses and thought they were the coolest animals ever, but that came from her love of the video game she spent so much of her time playing, Red Dead Redemption 2. Getting to ride a horse, or just a pony, excited Kaylee even if she had to wear this ridiculous, over-cutesy outfit to do it.

"Yes, thank you so much, mom," said Kaylee, clapping her hands a few times.

"I've got the hand sanitizer in my bag for when you come off. Have fun, sweetie."

Taylor rolled his eyes and made a face at his brother as they lifted Kaylee on to the small horse. Carissa snapped shot after shot as Kaylee took her first pony ride.

Taylor just stood there waiting his turn, internally fuming and trying to figure out how he would get his revenge on his brother.

"Ok pretty little filly. Step up. You're next," said the man as Taylor stepped up on the hay bail awaiting his turn.

Taylor gave Craig a fake smile as the man hoisted him up on the pony. When he dropped him into the saddle, Taylor got the surprise of his life feeling a sharp pain, instantly realizing he was sitting on his pinned back shaft and his balls were being crushed aginst the hard leather saddle.

"Craig, get me off!" cried Taylor in a high pitched voice, tears forming in the corner of his eyes.

He was now bouncing on his own manhood as the horse began moving. "PLEASE! Help me. Help!"

"Honey, don't be scared," Carissa called out while running along the fence as the horse was being led away with him on it.

"You're fine. I'd never let anything happen to you honey," Craig called out with a smirk.

"Relax, it's just a pony! Be a big girl! You can do this."

Taylor was in pain and the only consolation was that he was beginning to go numb down there, as he continued bouncing with each movement of the horse.

Craig, meanwhile, pretty sure he knew what was happening, could barely control his laughter as they had made the first half circle.

"Stop that," said Carissa, slapping him playfully. "She's really scared to death. Don't be mean to that little cutie."

"Sorry," said Craig, trying to catch his breath from laughing. "I just didn't expect that."

"Me either. I thought she was a rough n' tough outdoorsy kinda girl," Snickered Carissa, smiling and giggling a little. "You better hug her and kiss her non-stop when she gets off. She's obviously not some little ruffian like you've been treating her. You need to accept she's more delicate than you'd like to think."

"Good thing I met you then," teased Craig. "I'll try, but I'm out of my league here."

"Good thing for all of us, I hope," said Carissa, rubbing Craig's forearm and looking up into his eyes. "I'm going to help her if it's okay with you. I'm good with the girly stuff. Also, my daughter seems to be bonding with her really well, so I was thinking maybe we could spend more time together. You know... really get to know each other."

"I'd definitely like that," said Craig before looking over at the man who was leading the pony towards them, and yelling out to him, "She's okay! We've got three more tickets, so keep going around."

Carissa was thrilled, giving Craig a hug as Taylor and Kaylee went around three more times. When the ride finally finished, Taylor was lifted off.

He wobbled as his feet touched the ground.

"You did it, sweetie." Carissa hugged and kissed him. "Come on, no more excitement for today. You girls look tuckered out."