Page 34 of Rough Stock
“Hey, Roger!” she chirped back. “So are you!”
“I had a feeling you’d be here so I thought I’d come on over. You’ve already taken care of all three of those horses?” When Shyanna nodded, he said, “You know the students will do that, right?”
“I know, but I like to spend time with them,” she said, dipping her head a little as her cheeks warmed.
“Yeah, I know what you mean. I’ve got this old gelding. Believe it or not, his name is Darth Vader.” Shyanna laughed aloud and Roger chuckled. “I know. Ridiculous. I didn’t name him. That was his name when he came here. The kid he belonged to lost his scholarship and his dad lost his job. They couldn’t take care of him anymore, so they wanted the school to take him, but we have a policy against that. So they asked me if I wanted him. I said sure, why not, and took him to my farm. He’s been there ever since. That old horse, he’s a lover. He likes nothing better than to stand with his jaw resting on my shoulder and my arms around his neck. My wife always says, ‘If you left me, it would be for Darth Vader. Boy, when I told everybody, I’d have trouble explaining that one!’ Makes me laugh every time.”
Shyanna lifted her eyes shyly to his. “I haven’t had anybody but that horse for a long time, so we’re tight. She’s the only family I’ve got.”
“That’s not true anymore, though, right? I mean, you have Jensen and his family,” Roger said.
She let out a long sigh. “I don’t think his family likes me.”
Roger shook his head. “But I know Jensen. That won’t mean shit to him.”
Those words gave Shyanna a little hope. “Really think so?”
He gave her a broad smile. “Like I said, I know Jensen. When he wants something, he goes after it and he doesn’t let other people’s opinions alter his path.”
“Good. Maybe I stand a chance,” she mumbled.
Roger laughed loudly. “The way he looks at you? You stand way more than a chance!” He motioned for her to follow him as he walked away. “Come on. You need to get started. I’ve got you set up with some really good bulls today, some that’ll challenge youandgive you some confidence.”
Shyanna could barely wait. She was positive it was going to be a great day.
“You knowwhat you did wrong that time, right?” Roger called down to her from his spot in the stands.
“Yeah,” she yelled back. “I got in too much of a hurry to get out of the gate and didn’t have my seat right before we left it.”
“That’s right. You came out imbalanced and the ride didn’t get any better after that. But don’t worry?you’ll eventually get to the point that you take the same seat every time you climb onto a bull. Two more days and we’re going to switch you to broncs.”
“Oh, yay. I can hardly wait,” she grumbled under her breath.
“Show a little enthusiasm,” a voice called out from somewhere to her right. When she turned, she found Jensen making his way down the stands and toward Roger, grinning at her the whole way.
“Hey, look who decided to get out of bed!” she yelled up at him.
“Yeah, well, I took a shower and put on clean clothes, unlike some people I know,” he said, pointing at her.
She laughed. “No point in getting all cleaned up when I’m going to look like a pig by the end of the day.”
“How’s she doing?” she heard Jensen ask Roger when he reached his old friend.
“Oh, you know?bitching about this, grumbling about that?”
“Hey! No fair!” Shyanna yelled with her best pretend mad face.
“Yeah, I know how she is,” Jensen said, playing along with Roger. “Bitching, grumbling?”
“Was I bitching and grumbling last night?” she asked and watched Roger’s eyebrows shoot up.
“Good thing there aren’t any students around!” her instructor called back.
“Ooops! Sorry!” Shyanna could feel her face burning, and it burned even hotter when she heard Roger and Jensen laughing at her.
“None of them are around right now. But for future reference…” Roger warned.
Shyanna held up her hand. “I get it. Sorry. I’ll be more careful.”
