Chapter 36 Lucy
The qualifiers went smoothly, at least after whatever happened between Colt and Jarrett got taken care of I guess. Almost all of R&M Ranch entries qualified for next week’s festivities. I can imagine how proud Reese is of all his kids.
Spencer, Heath, Briar and I all head for the diner.
Mawmaw’s working the floor like usual, and Sydney’s chatting up a booth of rodeo boys.
Everything looks alright, and my worry melts away.
I know it’s good to take breaks, and Mawmaw will chastise me forever if I ask her again if taking a night off at the diner is okay.
“Grab a seat, and stop your worryin’,” she says, walking by and smacking my ass with her note pad.
Briar leads, and we all follow, just like we always do.
She’s the center of our universe, but I’m starting to think we should let her break free of some of those old habits.
She’s going to be seventeen this summer, and then in one more year she’ll be moving on to college.
At least I hope so, she deserves to see more of the world than just Goldspur Ridge.
Dinner’s filled with laughter, and good food. We stay long enough to help clean our own booth and for me to take inventory. After that, they drop me off at the house and I head up clutching my phone, willing Reese to call.
I still owe him dinner, and I know exactly what I’ll make when the time comes.
My phone rings, and I pause, mid-way up the stairs. Swiping the button without looking, I answer. “Hellooooo.”
“Hiya, Buttercup,” Indy’s voice only disappoints me for a second before I snap back to reality. “Expecting someone else?”
“Nah,” I shrug, kicking my bedroom door closed. It’s a habit I formed when I started drinking because I didn’t care about anything, it’s the one habit I haven’t been able to break.
“Liar,” she drags out the word then sighs, “You were hopin’ for dick weren’t you? Well I guess you’ll just have to settle for your bestest friend in the whole world.”
“Stop that, I’m always eager to talk to you,” I laugh, “what’s up, Goose?”
I can practically see her biting her nails, the silence gives her away.
“Indy?”
“The town denied our carnival idea.” Her voice goes lax, the disappointment clear.
“The hell? Did they give you a reason?” I ask, confused. The town’s usually yearning for a reason to throw a party.
She stalls again, and I start to worry we sent something that wasn’t meant for the proposal. I could check my laptop, but I’m lazy and don’t want to go back downstairs.
“C’mon, Goose. I can handle it,” I tell her, hopefully I’m right.
“Apparently it’s too big to pull off, plus with the rodeo in town, it distracts from that. They said they aren’t willing to take the chance.”
“That’s bullshit,” I stand, pacing the side of my bed. “We had a solid plan, I can get everythin’ together. Between us and y’all, it wouldn’t be too much, and those old farts know how much rodeo folks love fun and sweets.”
She takes a deep breath on the other line. “I know we could, but…” She sounds tired when she continues, “Maybe they’re right. The goal’s too lofty. Saving our summer camp will cost a lot of money…”
“Don’t you dare,” I warn, “we can do this, we just need a new place. Somewhere that the town has no control over… Maybe we can use the ranch?”
“Mama will never go for it.”
“What about our ranch? I’m sure Spencer won’t mind, and we should be able to get everythin’ spaced out pretty evenly–”
“I can’t ask you to do that,” she’s already protesting.
“You’re not askin’ anythin’, I’m offerin’,” I stop her. “Plus, it’s my duty as your best friend to make this happen. It’s an amazin’ idea, Goose. It makes sense for it to be at Raven Peak.”
“Luce–,” she starts again and I roll my eyes. “We can’t pull this off by the end of summer, it’s okay.”
I’m not going to talk her off the ledge, Indy’s stubborn and once she thinks something’s over, she quits. I’m not gonna let her, this is important and by God, we’re gonna make it work.