Page 68 of Rough Stock
Shyanna swallowed hard. “Hi, Mrs.Strader?”
“Who is this?”
“It’s Shyanna, ma’am. ShyannaOwens. I hope I didn’t wake you.”
There was a snuffling sound and the woman said, “No. I have a cold. Is everything all right?”
“Mrs.Strader,” Shyanna said, trying to keep her voice calm and measured, “have you heard from Jensen?”
“Since you left?”
“Today. Like tonight. Have you heard from him?”
There was silence before Dora said, “Uh, no. Roland, has Jensen called you?” A muffled voice could be heard through the phone before she answered, “No. He hasn’t called his daddy. Want me to ask Leo?”
“Would you please?”
“Is everything okay, Shyanna?”
She didn’t want to lie, and yet she didn’t want to upset them unnecessarily. “I’m not sure. Just ask Leo, please.”
The sound of the phone being placed on the nightstand came through, and then it was quiet. In a minute or so, she heard the sound again and Dora’s voice said, “No, Shy. He hasn’t heard from Jensen either. What’s going on?”
“I… I can’t find him. I don’t know where he is.” The panic she felt was almost unbearable, and she didn’t want to impart that if there was a perfectly good reason for what was going on.
“What do you mean? Didn’t he go to the rodeo with you?”
“Yes, ma’am, but he scratched on his last event. Didn’t show. And now I can’t find him.”
“Is Snowman there?”
Shyanna smiled. “Yeah. He’s still here.”
“Then he can’t be too far away. He’d never leave that horse!” Dora said with a laugh. “Did y’all have a fight or something?”
“No, ma’am. But I need to know?does this sound like something he’d do? Tell me he… say sweet things to me and just run away?”
“Lawd, no, girl! That boy wouldneverdo that. Never. Put that right outta your mind. He loves you. He told me so himself. Don’t be worrying about that. He probably just went to town to get something from the store and he’ll be right back. But you let me know if I need to know anything, okay?”
“Okay. Thanks, Mrs.Strader. I’ll let you know,” Shyanna said.
“Honey?” Dora called through the phone.
“Yes, ma’am?”
“Love you, sweetie. It’ll be okay, I promise.”
Shyanna’s eyes filled with tears. “Thank you. I’ll give you a call tomorrow. Night.” When she hit end, she sat down on the steps of her little trailer and let the sobs take her.
“What the fuck are you crying about? Boyfriend gone off and left you?” a mocking voice called out, and she could hear two or three more laughing.
“Best get the fuck out of here. I’m in no mood,” Shyanna almost yelled.
“Whatcha gonna do about… Whoa there, filly! Just kidding with you!” the guy said as Shyanna showed him the business end of her Browning shotgun. “No need for that.”
“Shut the fuck up and get out of here. Now,” she said, her finger on the trigger.
“Go lick your wounds, broken-hearted bitch,” another one of the guys yelled as they walked away, and the whole group whooped and laughed.
