Chapter 7 #3
Jimmy shook his head. “We need that money. Sign the damn contract.”
“I can’t sign that contract. We can negotiate it.”
“And let them walk away? Are you crazy? If we don’t take it, there are other rodeo associations that’ll jump on it.”
“They came to us because we’re smaller, Jim. They want to take us over. There’s something more going on here, and if we’re smart, we’ll step back from this and figure it out.”
Jimmy Fuller shook his head. “No. They’re going to walk and we’re going to lose out. I can’t believe you’re so goddamn … Never mind. I’ll figure it out.”
“You’ll do nothing without my okay. We’re partners,” Dale reminded him.
“Yeah, yeah. Partners.” With that, Jimmy picked up the contract and stormed out of the room.
He headed straight to the parking lot and climbed into his Escalade, then touched the button on his steering wheel and spoke the name of his contact into the air.
As soon as the call was answered, he said, “He won’t sign it. ”
“What do you mean, he won’t sign it? You were supposed to convince him!” the voice on the other end said. “Let me remind you, if you don’t give them a signed contract pretty soon, they’ll―”
“I know what will happen. We’ll figure this out. In the meantime, be thinking about another plan. This is a lot of money. We can’t let this slip through our fingers.”
“You’re absolutely right. I’ll give it thought. In the meantime, try to think of ways to talk Dale into signing. I’ve got to go. The guys will be wondering where I am, and I’ve got a buckle bunny staring me down from across the room.”
“Fine, fine. Go party. That’s good cover for you. Talk to you later,” Jimmy said and hit the button.
On the other end of the call, Max Barlow sighed and slipped his phone into his back pocket. Shit. He had to do well in all his events, keep up with the girls, and now he had to figure out what they were going to do to fix the situation. He hoped he didn’t have to get rough with somebody.
But he would if he had to.
The next two days were pretty similar. Shyanna got up and went to the university without Jensen, and he showed up in time for lunch. By Friday, he wondered what he’d find when he got to the university farm.
And he was surprised. Roger had two big horses in the chutes and one of them had bareback rigging already strapped on. “Starting this today?”
“Yup.” Roger watched as the handlers got the horse calmed down enough for Shyanna to mount it, then watched as she gripped the sturdy suitcase-type handle in the rigging. “She’s putting that stuff you bought her to good use.”
“I see that.” Jensen sat down with a seat between the two of them and watched. “Think she’ll be okay with this?”
“She’s about to be reminded that bulls and horses buck completely differently,” Roger said into his travel mug of coffee.
“That’s sure as hell true,” Jensen mumbled. In an instant, he saw her nod and the gate flew open.
The big draft cross barreled out of the chute’s gate, twisting and bucking as hard as it could, and he could see Shyanna’s face as she concentrated, her free hand high in the air.
That part she had, but she was having trouble getting her feet up high enough on the bronc’s shoulders.
The brute tossed her off after five seconds, and a pickup rider rode alongside it to loosen the flank strap before her ride finally turned and disappeared into the holding pen.
She made her way slowly to them, brushing herself off as she came. “Well?” she yelled up.
“What did you do wrong?” Roger asked.
“Um, I didn’t get my feet up high enough on his shoulders.”
“Yep. What else?”
She stood there, staring at them, but Jensen could tell she barely saw them. She was deep in thought. “Didn’t keep my arm up?”
“No, you kept your arm up. But you want those feet up?” Roger asked, and Shyanna nodded.
“Then when those front feet of his come down, you should be so far back that the back of your head would be on his rump if you didn’t have that neck roll on.
If you do that, your feet will automatically come up.
I was watching your arm. Nice. Not too straight, but not bent either.
Perfect. Next up.” Roger pointed to the chutes and Shyanna turned to head that way.
“Has she been doing this all morning?” Jensen asked, amazed.
“Oh, no. She rode five bulls before you got here. We just got started with the bareback broncs. Today and Monday for that, then next Tuesday and Wednesday for saddle broncs. Maybe Thursday. Then you’ll have to hit the road Thursday night, right?”
“Yep. Texarkana. It’s a Friday night through Sunday event.” Jensen dreaded that drive, but it was part of the lifestyle.
“What is it, thirteen hours?” Roger asked.
“By the time we stop to eat, walk them, and go to the bathroom, yeah―about that. We’ll probably drive four hours to start, stop for the night, then get up early the next morning and finish the drive.” It made him tired just talking about it.
Roger looked down at his shoes and shook his head. “I don’t envy you, buddy.”
“Thanks. Oh, here we go,” Jensen said and pointed to the chutes.
Both men watched as she nodded and they opened the chute’s gate.
She was on a different kind of horse that time, longer legs and slimmer, but much, much taller.
The ride was completely different, and Jensen remembered that kind of ride―like riding a pogo stick.
Shyanna almost made it to eight seconds before she took a dive and landed on her side.
Jensen jumped to his feet but she was already on hers, cradling her arm.
She made her way slowly back to them, rubbing her lower left arm. “You okay?”
“I think so. Fell on it,” she called up to them. “How’d I do?”
“I think you need to take a break,” Roger yelled down to her. “Come on up here and sit down.”
Instead of answering him, she made her way up into the stands and sat down in front of the two men. “Let me see your arm,” Jensen ordered, and she pulled up her sleeve to show him. “You’ll be bruised, but I don’t think anything’s broken,” he said as he pulled her sleeve back down.
She nodded. “Thank god that’s not the arm I hold on with.”
“Yeah. No shit. Think you’re getting the hang of it?”
“I think so,” Shyanna answered. “Feels like it. But that’s only my second horse.”
“Different from a bull, huh?” Roger asked, and she nodded. “Yeah. Saddle broncs will be the hardest for you. Completely different from both bareback disciplines. You probably won’t like it as much.”
“Guess we’ll see.” She stood and looked from Jensen to Roger. “Can I go mount up again?”
Roger pointed to one of the assistants down by the chutes, then motioned for him to bring up another bronc. “Sure. If you’re ready, go on.”
Four more went by, and when she’d finished that one, Jensen announced, “That’s it. You’re done for the day. You need some rest. That last ride was a little sloppy, and it was because you’re exhausted.”
“But I―”
“But nothing. Come on. Let’s go. Roger,” Jensen said and reached for his friend’s hand.
Roger took it and shook it heartily. “You guys have a good weekend and you,” he said, turning to Shyanna, “get some rest.”
“Yes, sir.” She walked away without even looking back and Jensen turned and grinned at Roger before following her out.
They stopped at the paddock to see the horses, and she seemed to brighten a bit just being there with Rhubarb.
Jensen couldn’t help but think how he hoped one day she’d love him as much as she loved that horse.
There was a sadness about her as they walked to the trucks, and when they reached his, he grabbed her arm, spun her to face him, and pressed her back against the side of the truck.
“You miss that horse when you aren’t with her, don’t you? ”
“I do. Very much.”
“And you miss being on the road.”
She nodded. “I do. Well, it’s not that I miss it―it’s that I’m used to it. That’s all.”
“Come on. Let’s go see what Mama’s got ready for dinner,” he said and kissed her forehead. She never said a word, just slipped into the cab of the truck, and he followed her back to the ranch.
Dora had just started dinner when they arrived, so Shyanna disappeared upstairs to shower. The sound of the water in the pipes could be heard through the walls downstairs, and as soon as they could hear it, his mother said, “Son?”
Jensen turned to face her. “Mama, if you’re going to start, then I think―”
“Hear me out.” When he set his jaw, she added, “Please?”
“Okay. Go ahead.”
“I want to apologize to you for the things I said about Shyanna. I still don’t really think she’s right for you, but I’ve noticed how happy you seem to be with her. Like her or not, that’s important to me, that you’re happy. So I’m happy for you.”
Thank god, he wanted to sing. “I appreciate you saying that. Thank you.”
“You’re welcome. Dinner will be ready in about an hour. Why don’t you go upstairs and take a nap? She’ll probably need to when she gets out of the shower.”
“Sounds like a good idea.” Jensen headed for the stairs but as soon as he stepped onto the first riser, he turned. “Mama, I love you.”
In a small, quiet voice, Dora answered, “I love you too, son.”
After dinner, Jensen insisted on walking Shyanna down to the creek he’d played in as a child.
It was spring fed, and being in the foothills of the mountains north of Greenville kept it full year-round.
He was quiet as they walked, and Shyanna really didn’t know what to say.
Sharing childhood memories with him seemed strange, since she didn’t have any to share back, at least not good ones.