5. Dane
“Thanks for the hard work today. You really helped us out.”
Hunter Burke, the fucking roping legend himself, smacks me on the shoulder with a smile.
We worked well together, and I’ll admit I was starstruck at first when he showed up.
Sure, I’d seen him years ago when he travelled with Warren on the circuit, but we’ve never spoken. He’s actually a pretty cool guy.
Can’t say the same for his oldest son, though.
“Thank you, Mr. Burke. It’s been my pleasure.”
“Please call me Hunter. I’m no Mister.” He barks a laugh. “When you’re finished here, come to the office.”
I nod and watch the man hop a fence like he’s much younger than fifty-five before turning back to the final few pigs waiting for loading.
I tried to listen to the numbers and calculate what the selling prices were, but gave up.
But even 5% of the profit, as Jesse promised me in writing, will feel like winning a lottery.
Hell, I might even rent a room without sharing a bathroom until the rodeo season starts. As I load the last pigs for the purchaser, it hits me.
I’m…almost happy.
For the first time in years, I feel a lightness and a light at the end of the tunnel. All because of a day job for the Burke family. Beggars can’t be choosers, as they say, and the first thing I’ll do is prepay Darla’s account as much as I can comfortably.
I’m practically whistling when I arrive back at the office. Of course, I’m met with Warren’s scowl, but whatever. He didn’t even thank me for changing his tire. If me being here pisses him off more…good.
“Thank you so much for the help today, Dane.” Jesse holds up a stack of receipts.
“Can you come by tomorrow after I do the calculations for your pay? It’s gonna take me a bit since I didn’t get the computer set up in time.
If I had my shit together, I’d be able to pay you now, but manually is longer. ”
Hunter snorts. “Computers. I don’t get them either. You get that from me.”
Jesse rolls his eyes. “Dad, I’m adopted. I handled computers fine by the time you met me.” Jesse laughs. “I just didn’t get to it, but I appreciate the bailout.”
My gaze ping-pongs between the brothers as I watch the two sons interact with their father, teasing him about his poor understanding of computers.
Adopted…huh. I didn’t know that. I assumed they did some kind of surrogate thing and popped out kids like Pez since they could afford it.
“Dane, are you coming back to rodeo this year?” Hunter asks as he eases onto the sofa with a sigh. “Want a beer? Oh…are you hungry? I feel like hot dogs.”
Warren and Jesse both groan.
“I love hot dogs.”
Jesse hands me a beer and shoots me a look. “You better tell him how many. He might not know how to operate a computer, but he’s quite good at using the DoorDash app. Says it’s the best thing ever.”
Jesse remains chatty and cheerful, but I notice Warren is mostly silent and staring daggers at me.
“Uh, whatever you order is fine with me. I’ll eat.” Especially when someone else is paying.
Hunter punches at his phone and grins up at us. “Fifteen minutes and a dozen coney dogs will be here!” He takes a sip of his beer before raising it in a toast. “To the Burke Rodeo school for a successful day. Jesse, it was a great idea. The publicity with the talk among ranchers will be priceless.”
“Thanks, Dad. I think we could do it again.” He shoots a glance at Warren, who clenches his jaw. “If Warren is okay with it.”
Warren swallows hard. “It’s for the community. I’m in.”
Interesting. Jesse told me Warren wouldn’t take his calls and bailed. So what changed?
“And Dane!” Hunter shouts. “You have a good head on your shoulders. Solid rope skills. I assume you’re still doing tie down?”
“That’s my plan, yes.”
Hunter’s gaze shifts to Warren, and his scowl grows.
“I have an idea.” Hunter blurts, and if Warren clenches his teeth any harder, he might need a trip to the dentist.
“Should I even ask?” Warren grits.
“I remember Dane, and I know you do, too. So let’s address the elephant, shall we?
” Hunter pauses, but the silence from Warren is deathly.
“Dane always won, and that doesn’t mean you weren’t any good, Warren.
What I’m saying is, you both were excellent.
A great one-two punch, you know?” We both remain quiet as Hunter amps up.
“None of my sons wanted to do team roping full time. Well, Clarence hates rodeo completely, but you two went your separate ways. So what if Dane and Warren teamed up?”
“What!?” Warren shouts. “No, Dad.”
“Hear me out.” He pins a look at Warren, then at me.
“Team roping is something we don’t have here at the school right now.
Yes, I’m a past champion, but over the years, the interest in this area has faded.
It would be nice to revive it again and thin out some bull riders.
” He sighs. “It’s always about bull riding. But anyway…I have a proposal.”
When neither of us says anything, he continues. It’s almost comical watching the pulse point on Warren’s neck throb as his dad gets to the meat of his idea.
“Dane and Warren compete in team roping this year, and the rodeo school is the sponsor. I’ll clear that with Clarence myself, but I think we can sponsor whomever we want.
You split the prize money equally, and you can still do your individual tie-down roping.
More visibility for new students and a new sport, and possibly bring home a championship. ”
“No.” Warren shakes his head so hard his hair falls in his face. “Absolutely not.”
“Dane? You haven’t said a word yet. What do you think?
” Hunter won’t let this drop despite his son being so against it.
If I know Warren, there’s one thing that will have him change his tune and rope with me.
A sponsored event and extra cash aren’t something I want to say no to.
I can deal with Warren, but I can’t let him lose this opportunity for me.
So it’s time to poke the bear.
“I think Warren is afraid he’ll look bad if we team up.”
“I’m not,” he seethes.
“Okay, so if you’re not afraid of looking bad and you like to win…why say no? Your dad just said we’re a great one-two punch.”
His chest heaves as he stares me down with a gaze just this side of murderous.
His brother watches between the two of us, vigilant for something I’ve not figured out yet.
His dad waits with a smirk that I’m unsure means he loves being a dick to his kid or maybe something else entirely.
He seems too down-to-earth to want to make his son this uncomfortable.
This family is something else. They’re either cutthroat competitors or enjoy poking each other.
“Fine. I’ll do it, but not because I want to win. Because I want the school to get a boost.” He looks towards his dad. “This is a business decision and nothing else.”
Warren shoots his gaze my way as he emphasizes the word business. Which…whatever. It is business, so don’t talk to me like I’m an idiot. I’m in the business to make money, which is clearly my motivation here. Working with Warren isn’t exactly my dream scenario, but I’ll make a sacrifice.
Hunter claps his hands together. “Fantastic!” There’s a buzz on his phone, and he holds it up. “The hot dogs are here! Let’s celebrate with tubed meat!”
He rushes out, leaving the three of us standing there. Warren sighs and hangs his head while Jesse forces a smile.
“Welcome to the Burke Rodeo School, Dane. Seems like we’ll be seeing you around more.”
“I guess you will.”
Warren doesn’t even lift his head.
Jesse hands me the envelope with a smile.
“I had to get a bank draft, and I’ll need your information for a tax form. If you have time, you can fill it out right now.”
“For sure. It’s that much?”
“Over ten grand. Far too much to give you in cash, I’m afraid.”
“Oh.” Peeking in the envelope, I look at the number and puff out a breath. “Not bad for a day’s work.”
“Almost as good as rodeo.” Jesse hands me a few papers and a pen with a clipboard.
“They’re standard forms for the government.
Want a coffee?” He moves to the small machine near the mini fridge.
“I had a long night with my daughter. She had a fever, and I just couldn’t fall asleep. Do you have kids?”
“God no. I mean…no. How old is your daughter?”
Jesse just laughs like he’s used to hearing people cringe at the thought of kids, and I’m not sure why that makes me feel bad.
“She’s four. Maise.” He smiles with a fondness I wish I could remember from my parents. It was like that for us once. Before all the shit in our lives happened because I was stupid.
“Daddy’s girl then?” I ask as I fill in the papers. When I come to the address section, I hesitate and fill in the address for my sister’s care home. I hate these things. They only need to know my tax identifier. They don’t need to remind me that I have no fixed address.
“And her grandpa’s…and even Uncle Warren. He’s her favourite. Although Clarence isn’t exactly into kids, and Warren lets her play with his rabbits, so it’s not a hard choice for a four-year-old.”
He has rabbits? Huh. Jesse just keeps giving me all kinds of information about Warren, and he doesn’t even know it.
“Are you…married?”
He smiles, but not the same as before. “That’s a complicated story.”
“None of my business.” I pass the completed papers back to him.
“There you go. Now you can keep the accountant off your back.” Standing, I fold the bank draft into my wallet.
“I’m going to get this in the bank asap, but…
I don’t have contact info for Warren. If we’re going to team rope, we should probably practice. ”
Jesse nods in agreement.
“Your number is on the form. I’ll pass it on.”
“Thanks, and I hope your daughter feels better soon.”
“Me too. Have a great day, Dane.”