CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT
-:- DALLAS -:-
I can’t believe Cork organized a motor show for me to judge.
I felt awful trying to decide who should get a trophy and who shouldn’t.
It was a fantastic day, though. Everyone has said it should have been done sooner.
If we do one next year, we’ll have to include the entire club.
There were some grumbles from the brothers that they had bikes that were better than the ladies rode.
Dancing slow and smoochy at the end of the night brought everything to a nice close of play, I have to say. I’m not sure it did actually end playtime for some of the couples, though. I know Cork and I still had enough energy to enjoy some playtime when we got home.
Miles turning up on the dance floor could have ended badly, but Tex and Colt had that under control quickly, and I’ll thank them for that.
It was certainly a surprise, his turning up out of the blue like that.
I never expected to see him again in my lifetime.
It’s probably for the best that he won’t be at the lasso contest. He was only ever adequate at best, and if he’d tried to lasso me again, I’m sure he would have come under fire from Cork.
Riding out to the ranch on Cork’s hog, I rest my head on his back and have my arms around his waist. It would be comfier without the helmet, but I know he wouldn’t allow me to ride without the brainbox, as he sometimes calls it.
Feeling a tap on my left leg, I sit up and hold him tighter. The tap on the leg is a signal to tell me he is going to be going faster and I need to be prepared. He explained this when he first talked to me about being a passenger. I still have a thing about ‘riding bitch’.
He isn’t joking when he speeds up, either.
We pull away from the traffic behind us, and I glance back to see what made him want to go faster.
All I see are a few cars and trucks, nothing causes me any alarm.
When he pulls onto the ranch’s access road, he spins the bike around, and I almost slide off the seat onto the dust and gravel road.
As he sits there watching the road, a couple of cars and an old pickup truck go by. It seems that it’s the truck that has his attention.
“I didn’t get the plate for PT to run a check on it. I think that’s the same truck I’ve seen near the wine shop a few times.” He’s frowning and looks more than a little concerned.
“If you think that someone’s watching the shop, or the apartment, why haven’t you said something to me?” That is a concern that he should have shared before now.
“I’m not sure that there is, but I just seem to keep seeing that truck around town.” Cork doesn’t look so sure of himself now. “I could just be getting paranoid, I guess.”
Turning the bike, Cork heads to the ranch house so we can have a coffee with Colt before the lasso contest gets under way.
There are a lot of trucks in and around the ranch, so we’re not as early as we thought.
Some of the trucks have horse trailers on the back, too.
Entering the house, there’s a riot of noise that hits you like something physical.
Colt sees us from the kitchen and beckons us over.
“Word got around quickly, Dallas, and we have cowboys turning up from far and wide. Looks like it’s going to be a major event on these boys’ calendars.
I’ve been telling them that if they expect it to become an annual event, they need to work out a schedule for which ranch is going to host which year.
They’ve all said they’re up for it, yet not one of ‘em so far is the ranch owner.” Colt grins at Tex who has just sidled up beside him.
“Hell, Colt. You know damn well that the ranch owners will stand by what these boys promise. I’m expecting at least three of them to show up before the day's over.”
Before Tex can say more, I butt in. “How many ranches are represented here, Tex?”
Glancing around, Tex does some mental ticking off.
“Well now, Dallas, I’d say there were at least six.
Two of which are from across the county line, and one is out of state.
Like Colt said, word spread quickly. It’s like an old-time barn raising.
People take their fun any way they can get it. ” Tex raises his mug and grins at us.
Having coffee in the house, I get introduced to the cowboys present. Cork does too, but to a lesser degree. A couple of Tex’s boys give me a second glance, and I’m tempted to ask what Miles has been saying, but I’m not at all interested in anything he has to say, so I let it slide.
As hard as he tries not to, Cork looks bored with the cowboy talk, so I lead him outside to go look at the horses that have been brought for the day's events.
There are some really fine horses too, I might add.
Cork points out a couple that he likes the look of, and I ask him what makes them special in his mind.
“First of all, look at the way that one watches you.” He points to a dark brown mare at the house's hitch rail. “She wants to know what you’re thinking, what you’re doing and where you’re going.
She looks as smart as a whip. There’s a white male horse in the field, at the fence by the access road.
He’s another one who watches and looks like he understands what’s going on around him.
They look like they know humans and what we’re about. ”
“The white one is a gelding, we don’t call them males.” I point out to him. “He’s a gelding because he’s had his nuts removed to calm him down. We keep them intact if we’re going to breed with them, and then they are stallions. If not, it’s best to get it done early.”
“In that case, I’m mighty glad we’ve already discussed starting a family.” Cork grins, and I notice he adjusts himself in his jeans.
A rumble from the access road announces the arrival of the MC. It is quite a sight to see all those bikes rolling in a procession. I notice the women with bikes have brought theirs again. I bet that turned the air blue. These bikers like to have their bitches on the back.
Kenzie's trike is so big she can’t ride two-a-breast with anyone. BigDog sits on that thing like he was born to it. I think he is awesome. I’d love one like him in size when we get settled into our forever home.
“Hey, Cork. How do you feel about dogs? Ever thought about having one?” I snuggle under his arm as we walk as though this will sway him to wanting one.
“Hell, yes. When I was living on the streets, I tried to talk the others into adopting one of the many strays that we came across. There was a big German Shepherd that I tried to get friendly with, but he was just too nervous. The other guys quite rightly pointed out that we were struggling to feed ourselves, never mind adding another mouth to feed. I just liked the idea of having one for extra protection as much as companionship.” He gives me a gentle squeeze.
“Maybe we could look into the breeds that they use for protecting flocks of sheep in the mountains. They chase away wolves and bears and stuff. We could get them out with the horses, maybe. I don’t know if they work like that. ”
“I think a herd of horses is better prepared to look after themselves than a flock of sheep. I like your thinking, though. I’d like to keep chickens and maybe some hogs. We could use them around those animals, perhaps?”
“You’re just determined to turn me into a farmer. I thought we were taking on a horse ranch, not a full-blown farming community. I suppose we’ll be getting cows next?”
Further discussion is interrupted by the blare of a very loud air horn from behind the ranch house. Everyone appears to recognize that as a signal to gather and prepare for the lasso contest to start. Walking that way, we catch up with others from the MC and a few straggler cowboys.
Colt is standing in the middle of the field directly behind the house and patio.
Someone has been busy, as there are straw bales laid out as seats and temporary fencing sectioning off areas of the field.
Once he thinks we’re all gathered, he takes up a bullhorn and announces the contest is about to begin.
There are now several categories for the event, rather than just the Ol’ Ladies category that was the inspiration for the event in the first place.
There will be the Ol’ Ladies stationary target roping, tie-down roping, breakaway roping and team roping. I have to explain the categories to those around me from the MC as they look a little nonplussed by it all.
“Tie-down roping is when a rider throws a loop around a calf's neck, then jumps off the horse, throws the calf to its back and ties off three of its hooves. The cowboy raises his hands, and the clock is stopped to give him his time. Breakaway roping still involves roping the calf, but as soon as the calf is roped the horse stops, and the rope comes away from the saddle horn with a flag attached. That’s when the time stops.” I always preferred tie-down, personally.
That’s what I’ll be going in for, though only Colt knows that.
“Team roping is two riders working together. The first rider, the header, has to rope the head of the calf. The second rider, the heeler, ropes the two back legs. When the two ropes are tight with the riders opposite each other, the time stops.”
When Colt announces the first event, I make my excuse that I need the bathroom and slip away to get my horse.
I’m using the one that Colt let me use to ride the ranch on.
She’s a good horse and knew her stuff when we were out on the range.
I’m the third contender, and although everyone cheers for each contestant, when my name is called all the bikers jump to their feet, clapping and screaming.
I don’t do too badly considering it’s been a while since I did any serious roping.
At the end of the category, I came in third place.
Tex takes the win, and another from their ranch takes second.