Page 287 of The Texas Sterling Collection
“I have an amazing teacher.” Felix beamed at Joey.
“Felix is a natural talent for this stuff,” Joey said. “I never saw anyone take to this like Felix does. He should have been a rancher all along.”
“I think you feed off each other,” Mabel said. “You give each other strength and encouragement, so you two will excel at whatever you try.”
“You may be right, Mabel. I never saw two young men get along so well. Even Joey and Jacob didn’t get along this well. We’re lucky to have Felix as part of our family.”
Felix thought he would burst with pride. He never felt this way at home. His father criticized him and ordered him around. He never encouraged him to do anything but marry Emmaline, something he would never do.
* * *
Grover joined them at the corral for roping practice. First, Felix practiced. Joey watched from the far end of the corral. Grover held the calf in place until Felix signaled, and released the calf as Felix gigged Sparkle into the chase. Sparkle responded to Felix’s hand, knowing what to do and when. Felix’s aim with the lariat hit the mark, and he scored ten out of ten fast.
Joey's turn. Grover held the calf until Joey signaled, and released the calf as Joey gigged Lightning into the chase. Joey's aim and Lightning's speed helped him score ten out of ten fast, too. The two finished so close in time and accuracy that it was impossible to tell which cowboy was the best.
Walking between them back to the house, Grover wrapped his hand around the neck of each son. “Felix, I gotta tell you, I never saw a cowboy take to calf roping as fast as you. And Joey, you taught him well. Those other cowboys won’t know what hit ‘em when you two show up.”
“Thanks, Pa,” the two laughed in unison.
Chapter Fifteen
On the Fourth of July, Joey and Felix saddled up. They rode into town for the rodeo and the festivities. They practiced well and wanted to snag a ribbon in the calf roping competition. They rode side by side. Grover and Mabel followed in the carriage.
“Do you think your family will come to the festivities?” Joey asked.
“Mother usually takes a picnic, and our family enjoys the afternoon. But Father doesn’t allow time for such things. He’s down at the store, hoping for business.” Felix sighed. “I don’t think he’ll come to watch the rodeo.” His father’s letter broke his heart and pushed him into a two-week period of hating everyone and everything. Despite his father’s actions, he hoped his father would someday extend a compliment or a kind word. Doing well in the rodeo competition would prove Felix possessed skills and abilities beyond being a store clerk and fathering children with a woman he didn’t like. He wanted his father to see how much he had learned from the Sterlings.
“Will your brother and sisters be there?”
“Winston will be at the park. He loves the carnival. Margaret and Helen will act the proper ladies, although Margaret and Winston still run and play. Helen and I are close. She’s the one I told you I talk to at home.”
“Your family sounds nice, Felix. I didn’t have anyone except Jacob. When he left, I was alone.”
“Joey?” Felix said as they approached the park.
“What?” Joey gazed at his best friend. Lightning kept pace with Sparkle.
“I’m your family now.” Felix smiled, halting Sparkle near a tree.
“I’m glad. I think of you as more than family, though.” Joey grinned from ear to ear. “Let’s tie up the horses and walk around the park.”
“Okay.” Felix thought of Joey as more than family, too. Since he stopped trying to get Joey to hate him, he couldn’t imagine being apart from his own personal cowboy. The feelings they shared when they touched were terrific, but Felix didn’t need to touch Joey to feel the love between them. Merely having Joey where he could see him gave him a warm, fuzzy feeling.
They walked around the park, watching all the people gathered for the celebration. The festival featured numerous booths, and the traditional contest for baked goods, canned goods, and handmade items took place in a nearby building. Almost every gal in the county brought something to enter. Joey and Felix strolled into the building, immediately noticing the wonderful aroma of loaves of bread and pies.
“I’m getting hungry smelling all this,” Joey said.
“Me too. Let’s see if we can find Ma and Pa. I think she packed a basket of goodies for us.” Felix tugged at Joey’s sleeve, and they hurried out the door.
They found Grover and Mabel in the shade of an elm tree by the creek at the edge of the park.
“Let’s get Sparkle and Lightning and move them here,” Joey said. They fetched their horses and tied them to the carriage near where Ma and Pa settled. A blanket in the shade next to Ma and Pa waited for them.
“You two getting hungry?” Mabel unfolded the checkered tablecloth and spread it out.
“You bet.” Felix’s mouth watered in anticipation of the fantastic picnic Ma brought.
“We strolled through the baked goods, and they smelled wonderful.” Joey wiped his hands on the blanket to remove the dust. “It made us both hungry.”
