Page 57 of Rough Stock
“They’re not going to find anything. I did all that in my motel room, and they don’t even know Ihavea motel room,” Max whisper-hissed. “But we’ve got to get that contract signed.”
“Then you’re going to have to take care of it,” Jimmy said, “but I don’t want to know a thing about it.”
“Oh, you’re going to know, because you’re going to help me,” Max said, even as Jimmy shook his head. “Oh, yes you will. I’m not going down alone if this thing falls apart. Besides, what’s worse?having the cops after you, or having a big-time, dirty pharmaceutical company breathing down your neck? These local yokels will be the least of your worries. Think about that and let me know.” Max sneered and turned. “I’ll catch up to you later,” he said over his shoulder as he walked away.
I’m so fucked, JimmyFuller told himself as he stood there and watched Max go. It was going to happen whether he liked it or not. And whether he liked it or not, he was along for that impending bumpy ride.
Scrambling upoff the arena’s dirt, Jensen brushed the seat of his jeans and looked up at the scoreboard.Fuck, I shouldn’t have even tried it, he thought. He was far too distracted by everything that had happened to be able to perform well. When his hazer for the night rode up with Snowman’s reins, Jensen took them, then climbed up onto the Appy and rode back to the staging area. Next up would be the team roping, and he and Shyannahadto make a good showing for that.
He took the horse out to the barn and walked him around in the grassy area behind it, but in his mind, he was reliving the night before, seeing the flatbed, seeing Cobra’s lifeless body lying there, and his heart broke all over again. There was a gentle nudge and he realized Snowman was trying to get his attention because he’d stopped dead, just standing and staring into space. “Hey, big guy. You miss your buddy?” The long-legged thing snorted and snuffled, butting his head against Jensen’s shoulder.
“Strader!” Jensen wheeled to see Amos and Stag headed his direction. “How ya doin’?” Amos asked.
“I’m okay, I guess.” He could barely look at them, knowing the grief they’d see in his eyes. It was overwhelming to him, and it would be disturbing to anyone else.
“You don’t look okay,” Amos pointed out.
“Hey, I’ve got something to talk to you about,” Stag told him.
“Sure. What’s up?” Jensen couldn’t imagine what it could be.
“So I got a little news last night,” the cowboy said. “Girlfriend’s pregnant.”
“Congratulations!” Jensen said and slapped him on the shoulder. “You must be happy.”
“I am. Really excited. There’s just one problem.” Stag dragged a toe back and forth in the dirt and Jensen wondered what was coming. “She, her parents, my parents?they all think I should quit the circuit and come back home, find a regular job, provide for a wife and kid.”
Jensen nodded. “And you?”
“I’m inclined to agree,” Stag said, nodding back.
“What’s that got to do with me?”
Stag gave him a gentle smile. “I’m finishing out this season?baby’s not due until January?but I’m going to need to rehome my horses. Think you might be interested?”
Jensen couldn’t believe it. Stag had a roping horse that was out of some of the finest stock in the country, and the horse he used for steer wrestling had nerves of steel. Finding horses like those would be hard. He’d thought he’d have an impossible time replacing Cobra, but maybe this was his answer. “Yeah. I think I am. What do you want for them?”
“I was going to ask ten for Rocket and twenty for MorningStar, but I’ll sell them both to you for eighteen.” Jensen started to argue, but Stag threw up a palm to stop him. “Don’t say it. Yes, I need the money, but they also need somebody who’ll work themandtake care of them. There aren’t too many people who take care of their horses like the three of us and Calvin, Richard, and Brian do. A lot of these guys just work them until they’re worn out and falling apart, then toss them aside like trash and move on. For us, they’re members of our family. I hate to part with them, but seeing you win a couple of championships with one or both of them would make the sacrifice worthwhile.”
Jensen was stunned. He never could’ve imagine anything that good falling in his lap, but there it was. “Yes. I mean, absolutely. I’m more than interested. If I don’t have the cash by then, I’ll get a loan. I want them. Do you think I might be able to start riding them in the off hours a little, get used to them and see how they’ll respond to me?”
Stag smiled. “I don’t see why not. That’ll put you up to three horses. Can you handle that?”
Jensen nodded again. “I can trailer four, so yeah, no problem.” In his mind, he was wondering if he should pass one of them to Shyanna.
That woman was becoming more and more a part of his thoughts every day. Having a horse like that would help her out immensely. Besides, if they decided to be long-term and permanent, they’d have four horses combined. That would work out perfectly.Maybe my luck is changing, Jensen thought.
When they were finished talking, he tied Snowman’s lead to the ring on the outside of his trailer and went in to change shirts, then headed back to the arena for the team roping event. He didn’t want to do anything that would make Shyanna late or mess up her night. She’d missed her events the night before because of him, and he didn’t want that to happen again. She needed to…
Fuck! That’s it! They wanted to do something to keep her out of the events without doing something directly toher. And it worked. She stayed with me and missed them, plus they punished me on top of it all. If I ever figure out for sure which sumbitch did this, I’ll kill them with my bare hands, his brain screamed. It made perfect sense. And no way was he going to repeat that to Shyanna.
She was leaning up against the wall in the alleyway at the back of the arena when he rode in. “Hey, cowboy, lookin’ good!” she singsonged, and that just made him laugh. “Awww, there’s that sexy smile I’m used to. Ready?”
“Ready as I’ll ever be,” he said, checking his rope again.
“Let’s go.” He watched as Shyanna mounted Rhubarb and set out toward the staging area for the team roping competitors.
Do not let her down, he told himself as he backed Snowman into the head side of the chute. The big Appaloosa pranced and fidgeted, and Jensen had to work to keep him under control. It made him grin. That horse always wanted togo. He watched Shyanna ready her rope and look at him, then wink, so he winked back, gathered up the gelding, then nodded.
