Page 24 of River Ride

A decision had to be made.

Ray was making Bobby angry and that wasn’t a good thing. Last thing Bobby wanted to do was hurt Ray.

Chapter Five

Thursday, July 4th.

Fourth of July.

Wild Stallion Ranch.

Me and Virge were up at the crack getting ready for the Fourth of July trip to Columbia Falls. It was going to be a great day and the most fun we’d had in a long time.

First thing we did was feed the horses and make sure they had plenty of water before we loaded them into the trailer for the trip to Columbia Falls.

We only needed one trailer now that Virge’s horse had been delivered and put into the corral.

Annie’s Ram diesel pulled the long red trailer and there wasn’t enough room in her truck for all of us. Rowdy took the wheel of the big rig with Mick riding shotgun and Annie and the girls sat in the back seat.

In our truck, Dad and Billy rode in the front. Me, Virge, Jacks and Davey were a bit crowded in the back seat, but Columbia Falls wasn’t even an hour away.

Billy said he’d stay home and watch the station, but the Fourth was a holiday and the station was closed. Dad insisted Billy go with us because he was a big part of our family, and Dad wouldn’t leave him behind.

Columbia Falls. Montana.

The fairgrounds in Columbia Falls were all decorated up for the Fourth of July. Balloons tied to every post, and red, white and blue banners and flags flying everywhere.

We arrived fairly early in the morning, but there was already a big crowd of workers and contestants there ahead of us getting ready for the big day ahead.

Tents were set up and scattered over the field next to the arena. Vendors were setting up tables and getting ready to display their boots, saddles, belts and buckles, T-shirts and all kinds of rodeo-related goods and souvenirs.

“Look at all the fuckin food trucks,” hollered Virgil. He was all about eating and seeing so many trucks in the long line made him grin.

“We’ll catch some of those trucks later, Virge. For now, we have to help with the horses.”

“Yeah, I want to stay with Lucy today. She might be feeling nervous waiting for her turn.” Virge had a serious side he rarely showed to people.

“I think there’s only one event today for barrel racing. This ain’t an event where it’s all girls.”

“Can’t wait until we go to that one,” said Virge.

“Me too. That’s gonna be a big day for Lucy. I think she can take most of the competition from up this way. She’s used to winning rounds in Texas and I think that’s a way tougher crowd of girls.”

Sheridan. Wyoming.

North of Sheridan, Ray pulled into the rest area at the state line and he and Bobby slept for three solid hours. They’d been trying to push it through without stopping at any hotels and the lack of sleep finally caught up with them.

Bobby woke up first, got out of the truck and walked across the parking area to the washroom facilities. He used the men’s room, then bought a couple of Cokes from the row of vending machines.

Ray was snoring when Bobby got back to the truck, and he didn’t bother waking Ray up. He started the engine, put the truck into gear and headed northwest as soon as he crossed the Montana line.

Bobby had been driving for about an hour when Ray finally woke up. “Where are we?”

“Heading northwest through Montana. We crossed the state line while you were asleep. If we’re lucky, we might be in Canada by tonight.”

“What if the border cops have a warrant for you, Bobby? We might not make it across the border.”

“There won’t be anything like that. I have new ID, and nobody knows who you are, Ray. They don’t even know your name. We’ll be fine.”

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