Chapter 9
Chapter Nine
The Westex County Coliseum hosted the annual rodeo.
Pickup trucks of all sizes filled the parking lot, with the horse trailers parked south of the main building.
Horses and cattle occupied the annex until the event took place.
Rod bought their tickets, and they strolled toward the stairs leading to the stands.
“Aren’t y’all the guys in that video?” A cowboy standing near the stairs piped up. He was talking to another cowboy and interrupted their conversation to speak.
“What video?” Wyl asked.
“The one on YouTube.” The other cowboy said.
Wyl threw an uneasy glance at Rod.
Rod sensed this could be uncomfortable if the cowboys had the same attitude as Shifty.
“Yeah, it’s you, all right.” He removed his hat and offered his hand. “I’m George Bradley, and this here’s my partner, Tom Simpson. We’re right proud of you two for what you did.”
“I’m Rod Sterling,” Rod shook George’s hand and turned to offer his to Tom. “Pleased to meet you both.”
Tom turned to Wyl and offered his hand. “And you’re Wyl. Man, are you a tall drink of water.”
Wyl grasped Tom’s hand and shook. “You saw our video?”
“What’s a tall drink of water?” Rod asked.
George laughed. “It’s a welcome sight to a thirsty cowboy, Rod. Same as a sight for sore eyes. It’s a compliment.”
“Ah,” Rod said. “I’m still getting used to boy howdy.”
George and Tom laughed. “You fellers want to join us in the stands? We’d be right pleased to share a row with you.”
“Sure,” Wyl said. “Okay with you, Rod?”
“Fine with me,” Rod said. “Maybe these fellers can splain rodeoin’ to me.”
George and Tom chuckled as they turned to climb the stairs. Wyl poked Rod in the ribs and whispered, “Be nice.”
Rod grinned as they followed Tom and George up the stairs and into the stands.
They took their seats, and Rod noticed banners hanging from the rafters at one end of the arena listing the rodeo records for Westex County. One name caught his attention on the banner for calf roping, and he jabbed Wyl in the ribs with his elbow.
“Wyl, check out the banners hanging from the rafters. Do you see any familiar names on the calf roping list?”
Wyl found the calf-roping banner and read through the names. One name stuck out, Bonner.
“Hey, Felix Bonner set a record for calf roping in 1898.”
“How about that,” Rod said.
“Your middle name is Felix, so it’s pretty much guaranteed to be your relative.”
“Probably a great uncle or something. I wish our parents had kept records so we could be sure.”
Rod searched for 1898 Westex County rodeo records on his phone. He found the records, and, sure enough, Felix Bonner won the calf roping competition that year. Then he noticed the second-place winner and elbowed Wyl’s ribs again.
“Ow,” Wyl chuckled. “I’ll need a week off to recover from rib damage if you keep that up.” He massaged his side.
“This is interesting, Wylton Joseph.” He held the phone between them. “Look who won second place.”
Wyl checked the screen. “Wow. Second place went to Joseph Sterling. Looks like Walt was right when he said our families knew each other.” He sat back. “I bet our fathers knew the history between the two clans.”
Holstering his phone, Rod noticed an angry face a few rows in front of him. Alfonso Ortega.
Alphonso’s glare could start a fire. “I don’t appreciate you flaunting your lifestyle in front of my children.
” His growl sounded almost possessed as he pointed to the next section.
The anxious faces of six children, the littlest one cradled in a woman’s lap, watched their father.
“If you want to defy God’s laws, at least have the decency to do it privately. ”
Rod’s heart pounded. He hated confrontation, especially in a public place.
He had survived Dusty in a crowded restaurant, but this was an entire arena.
He stood on shaky legs and crossed his arms, mimicking Alfonso and trying to appear calmer than he felt.
“You’re already on thin ice, Ortega. I suggest you stop your terrorizing threats before things get unpleasant. ”
Wyl leaped to his feet, followed by Tom and George.
“You’re a lying bastard. What do you want, Ortega?” Wyl growled.
Alfonso’s eyes narrowed further to mere angry slits. “Not only are you two an embarrassment to decent folks. You almost cost me my job at the college.” Gritting his teeth brought emphasis to his anger.
“Look in the mirror, Ortega.” Rod’s confidence grew. He had Wyl by his side. “You started a false rumor to discredit me. That’s harassment. Harassment violates college rules. Like my husband just said, your lies are what almost cost you your job.”
Wyl aimed a fist at Alfonso. “You'd best back off before I punch you in the face.” His loud, angry voice alarmed those seated nearby.
“Your kind is ruining this country for decent folks.” Alfonso glared at Wyl. “And how dare you refer to him as your husband. Your relationship is a slap in the face of the sacred institution of marriage.”
“Wrong!” Wyl pointed a finger at Alfonso. “The slap in the face is misinformed and ignorant people like you who think they are right and everyone who disagrees with them is wrong.”
“There ain’t nothin’ decent about a closed-minded bigot,” George stood and crossed his arms.
A murmur went through the nearby crowd as people fled to seats further away.
Tom raised his arm and flicked two fingers at a group of cowboys seated across the arena. The group stood and began moving in their direction.
Rod noticed Tom’s signal and turned to see where Tom motioned.
The approaching group flared up his gay-bashing past. Was the group coming for them?
He and Wyl had just met Tom and George. Did their friendly approach disguise another intent?
He grabbed Wyl’s arm and pointed to the husky cowboys marching in their direction. “Wyl!”
Alfonso turned. The six cowboys surrounded him and looked up. “You men got trouble here?”
George pointed to Alfonso. “This one don’t think the two richest men in the county set a good example for his kids.”
“What’s his problem?” One of the six cowboys turned a glare at Alfonso.
“He don’t like cowboys who prefer other cowboys.”
“Oh, he don’t, do he? Let’s teach him some manners, boys.”
They grabbed Alfonso, gagged him with a brightly colored bandana, and dragged him from the stands. Alfonso struggled to no avail as the strong arms of the six cowboys quickly overpowered him and kept him from making a scene.
The Ortega children screamed “Daddy!” as they watched their father being hauled down the stairs. Mrs. Ortega quickly assembled the mob of wailing youngsters and ushered them off to find their father.
The four men took their seats.
“You two okay?” Tom asked. “That guy sure had a thorny cactus up his ass.”
Wyl chuckled. “Thanks for stepping in. That guy started a false rumor at the college last fall about Rod and me. I was a student, and Rod was a department head. I had his class, and we met each morning for coffee. The rumor mill took over.”
George leaned forward. “What you two did with that video took guts. Those six guys are our friends. We’re all ranchers and horsemen.
Nothing like your operation, but it keeps us busy.
We play poker together occasionally and try to attend regional rodeo events as a group.
There are three couples, like us and you two. ”
“We’ve all seen your video,” Tom said. “I ‘bout fell over when I saw you two walk in tonight. I’d been hoping to run into you.”
“Let’s exchange numbers,” Rod said. Relief had washed over him at the easy chatter with George and Tom. “I don’t know much about poker, but we have a nice pool table. You two could come over sometime. We’ll grill steaks.”
“That sounds right nice,” George said. “You got a deal!”
The four settled back in their chairs, sharing comments about the rodeo events.
The Sterling Ranch team did well, taking first place in team roping. Afterward, the four shared a beer from one of the vendor trailers outside. It was good to know another gay couple in the area. They promised to get together again.
* * *
The following week, an ad appeared in the Blackfield Daily News.
Wanted. Science Instructor. White Buffalo Community College.
Rod drew his lower lip between his teeth.
Alfonso’s manufactured story of Wyl and Rod kissing in the campus courtyard started a firestorm that went all the way to the president.
Alfonso didn’t seem the type to give up easily, and the incident at the rodeo, combined with the possibility of his involvement in the barn fire, was proof.
Hopefully, the loss of his job drove Alfonso and his family to a place far away.
However, distance rarely appeased these people, and Alfonso would create problems wherever he ended up.