Chapter 22
They rose early Saturday morning. It was a big day. Pig roast. Parade. Kitty’s farewell ride. Afternoon rodeo. And, if the family desired, the world famous Omak Stampede Suicide Race late in the afternoon.
The plan was for Willie and Buck to dig the pit, set up the spit, mount the pig, and start the fire.
Brett and Bart agreed to monitor the operation so Willie and Buck could head down to the festivities.
A high school stable worker had been hired to monitor the pig all day.
That involved keeping the fire going, turning the spit every fifteen minutes, regularly basting with an olive oil and herb concoction, and keeping predators away.
Smells of a fresh pig roasting all day could drift for miles.
If someone was on guard, animals might creep up in the woods to check it out, but wouldn’t approach.
If left unattended, the pig was fair game.
Brett and Bart would attend the parade, but planned to check on the pig between the parade and rodeo. The stable worker would stay with the pig all day.
Molly dressed in the same outfit she’d worn when she’d been crowned eighteen years ago, the same outfit she wore on Jo’s last ride.
When Molly rode past Mack’s VIP section, the McKinnons rose to clap and cheer.
Molly broke ranks and rode over to visit with her special guests.
She could easily catch up. She got off Ginger and let Cheyenne’s kids admire her fancy rodeo outfit.
She was pleased to see that Mack was sitting with Bart’s family.
She was getting to know Bart’s family. They might as well meet hers.
Mack had circulated the story from the morning paper and handed it to Molly.
The lead headline on the sports page was, “Molly Omak Leads Team Mack to Victory in Ladies Unlimited.” The accompanying posed photo showed Team Mack in their matching outfits on horses in the infield.
The story described the exciting race and included a paragraph about Molly Mack’s new quarter horse, Ginger, a striking chestnut mare.
Molly participated in the Queen’s Ride to officially open the Omak Stampede Rodeo.
The newly crowned queen was first introduced, then one by one the visiting queens from other rodeos, and finally former Stampede queens.
The queens rode in a fast gallop around the arena waving at the fans and carrying banners from the rodeo they represented.
The Queen’s Ride is consistently a crowd favorite at every rodeo featuring the best young female riders in the region dressed in their cowgirl finest. She got an especially loud welcome when her name was announced.
After the Queen’s Ride, Molly joined the family in the stands to watch Kitty’s farewell ride.
The McKinnons were on their feet screaming for Kitty in her final competitive race. She did well, earning $1500 for placing third, a respectable finish given that the field consisted of twenty of the top racers in the region.
The family watched most of the afternoon rodeo but decided against the Suicide Race. They were anxious to get home for the pig roast and didn’t like the idea of horses getting hurt in the dangerous ride.
Molly and Bart stopped at the training center to pick up Shadow, Bear, and the pups. Cheyenne’s kids had been clamoring to see them.
When they arrived at the cabin, Brett had a loud Shania Twain playlist on, the pig was roasted a beautiful brown, Cheyenne’s kids were swimming in the lake, everyone had a drink, and folks were still rolling in for the party.
The smells from the freshly roasted pig were intoxicating.
Molly and Bart opened cold beers and set the pups near the pig so all the action was in one place.
Cheyenne’s kids came bounding out of the lake to pamper the pups.
Molly and Bart retired to the kitchen. Every time Molly went into the kitchen, the McKinnon ladies followed.
They were determined that she not be working alone while they were partying by the lake.
Molly was serving coleslaw, pesto pasta, and French bread with the pork.
She had fresh pasta that would boil up in two minutes and a pesto sauce she’d gotten from the diner.
That would be a simple toss and serve in a big bowl.
Molly put the ladies to work, sending Bart to entertain the men.
Cheyenne grated a huge pile of cabbage for the slaw.
Cassie mixed the coleslaw dressing to Molly’s recipe.
Darcy sliced baguettes of French bread. Kitty whipped up two bowls of soft butter with herbs.
Molly worked on the pesto sauce. Dinner would easily fall together when folks were ready to eat.
Chet and Brad were setting the table. Brett and Bart were preparing the pig.
The prep work done, the party turned into a late afternoon happy hour until it was time to carve.
Brett and Bart had let the fire burn down.
On Molly’s signal, everyone assembled around the pig.
Brett put on a McKinnon Ranch apron and brought out a large, ornate carving knife.
He explained he’d made the knife in his metal shop and that Darcy had inserted stones into the carved bone handle.
He then did a stylish sharpening ceremony using his own whetstone, his audience applauding.
With a captive audience, the carving was a work of art.
Wearing heavy leather gloves, Brett and Bart slid the pig off the spit onto a large carving board resting on saw horses.
At Brett’s request, Molly brought three large platters.
He started by carefully slicing off the shoulders and legs, setting them aside.
He then cut the pork loins and back meat, stopping to slice smooth, even pieces.
He carefully placed those to one end of the first platter.
He next removed the spare ribs, cutting them into individual pieces, and placing them nicely next to the slices of pork loin, filling the first platter.
From the shoulders, he cut long, even slices and placed them on the second platter.
Then he did the same with the legs, and setting the bones aside, announcing they were for Bear and Shadow.
That finished the second platter. Finally, wearing plastic gloves, he pulled long strips of moist, white pork roast that he carefully positioned on the third platter until it was heaping.
With all three platters beautifully arranged, he stepped back to applause and took a bow.
It was one of Molly’s favorite meals ever. A feast of fresh roasted pig, pesto pasta, coleslaw, and fresh bread with whipped butter. Loud western music outdoors by the lake on a hot summer day. The gathering of a Montana ranch family for a festive western meal.
Clint and Cassie were at one end of the long table, Bart and Molly at the other. In the middle of dinner, Clint rose and raised his glass.
“It appears that this will be our final meal in one of the nicest weekends this family has ever spent. I’d like everyone to raise your glass to our hostess, Molly Omak.”
Everyone raised their glass and awaited the toast.
“Molly, we’ve enjoyed every moment of this beautiful weekend.
The cabins on the lake are perfect. You provided space in your stables and gathered horses for us.
You led the ladies to victory in the Stampede Relay Races.
You astonished us with three fantastic meals at your perfect cabin on the lake.
For your wonderful hospitality, we thank you. To Molly Omak.”
Voices cheered and glasses clinked.
Clint continued, “Every mother and father’s fervent wish is that their children be happy. The best part of this weekend for Cassie and me is seeing our son happy. We have no words to express our appreciation to you for that.” He raised his glass again, “To Bart and Molly.”
This time the voices were quiet as the glasses clinked. Molly was blinking back tears. It was a lovely tribute and one she’d cherish, Bart’s leg pressed warmly against hers, as they drank the emotional toast.
After dinner, the campfire by the lake was lit and folks settled into their chairs, each with their choice of cognac, Jack Daniels, Glenfiddich, or coffee.
Clint brought out a box of Cuban cigars in the fancy original box and walked around the circle offering a cigar to anyone who wanted one.
To Molly’s surprise, everyone but the kids took one.
She wasn’t a cigar smoker but did enjoy the occasional smoke at festive occasions.
Having distributed the cigars, Clint went person to person, expertly making a precise cut and toasting the end with a torch flame lighter before handing it back for a proper lighting.
Molly enjoyed the ceremony and letting Clint properly light her cigar.
She took her first toke and smiled. She’d smoked a few cigars in her time, but this was special: an expensive Cuban cigar, most likely illegal, the draw beautiful, the smoke aromatic.
Bart kept throwing large logs on the fire, letting the flames shoot high as the air from the lake brought a welcomed cooling to the hot day. The cigar, cognac, and lakeside fire were the perfect ending to a beautiful party.
Naked in bed, Bart was spooned in behind, his arms holding her tight.
He whispered in her ear, “What’s your pleasure, cowgirl?”
She wiggled her rear into him and said, “Just like this, please, slow and steady. I’m exhausted.”
She continued to work her behind as he touched her with his hands.
Molly could feel the stiffening process.
Her head was light from the cognac and cigars, her face hot from the sun and building arousal.
She lay still while he retrieved a condom and resumed his position spooned in behind.
It was all the energy she had to raise her leg so he could slip inside.
Once connected, they rocked slowly back and forth for a long time before she whimpered and let her contractions pull the fluid from his body.
She woke several times in the night to enjoy him. For the first time, he was still spooned behind. The second time, the positions were reversed.
And when she woke in the morning, she was back in his arms.