Come Hell or High Water

by Nancy M Bell

  “Hey Michelle!” Another competitor greeted her when she re-entered the barn.

  “Hey Allie. Who’d you bring?”

  “Flint. Looks like I’m your neighbor. We can keep an eye on each other’s stuff. Is Pat coming?”

  “Great, I was hoping it would be someone I knew. No, Caramel pulled up lame yesterday. Nothing too serious, but she can’t run this weekend.”

  “That sucks. You bring Spud?” Allie peered into the stall.

  “Yeah. I left the mare at home this time. One is enough to handle on my own and she’s not really ready yet.”

  “How’s your boy running?”

  “We’ve had some good times at home. I guess we’ll see tomorrow night how it goes here.” Allie shrugged pragmatically.

  “You want to go grab a bite? I’m gonna let him settle and eat his dinner before I let him get the kinks out.”

  “Sure,” Allie agreed. “I didn’t get a chance to get something on the road. Wanted to beat the weather.”

  “What weather?”

  “There’s a snowfall warning for the mountains. It’s supposed to start tonight or tomorrow. But it can change, you know that.”

  “Damn, I didn’t have the radio on. I hate driving in a storm.” Michelle shuddered. Memories of the wreck just south of Edmonton came rushing back.

  “Can’t blame you. Not after…well you know,” Allie didn’t finish the sentence. “We’re here safe and sound, let’s go get some grub.” She grabbed Michelle’s arm and towed her toward the door. “I’ll drive.”

  She got in the passenger side and leaned back happy to let someone else drive. “Where do you want to go? Chris’ or Popiel’s.”

  “Let’s try Chris’. We’re early enough it shouldn’t be too busy and the food is great.” Allie drove out of the parking lot and pointed the truck towards the downtown. A few minutes later she parked in front of the restaurant.

  Michelle followed her through the door into the welcome warmth of the building. She waved to couple of cowboys at a table in the corner. Thank God Rob was nowhere in sight.

  “Hey, ladies. Nice to see you back in this neck of the woods,” Chris greeted them. “Take any table you’d like. Anita will be with you in a minute to get your order. Menus are on the table.”

  “Allie, over here.” Two other barrel racers waved from a table in the corner. “Come join us, there’s plenty of room.”

  Michelle and Allie weaved through the tables in the small room and took the two empty seats. “Good to see you, Joanie. Bonnie.” Michelle grinned at her competitors.

  “You bring that big Spud horse? If he’s runnin’ like he can I might as well pack up my girl and head home before it blizzards,” Joanie quipped.

  “I haven’t had him out all winter so I’m not expecting anything special out of him. Just didn’t want to miss a chance to get some points.” Michelle hung her hat on the back of her chair and smoothed her hair. “That mare of yours has some crazy speed I wouldn’t count her out.”

  The girls ordered and continued to gossip and talk about the other competition during the meal. Finally, Allie drained her beer and looked at Michelle. “You ready to get back? We should be able to use the arena for a bit.”

  “Works for me. You guys coming?” She glanced at Joanie and Bonnie.

  “Not us,” they chimed. “We’re headed to Pure Country in Blairmore. You sure you don’t wanna come? All those cowboys in tight blue jeans…I bet that’s where Rob Chetwynd will show up…” Bonnie’s eyes sparkled with deviltry.

  “He’s married,” Michelle said and gave the woman a frosty stare.

  “Didn’t seem to slow him down last time I saw him—Ow!” Bonnie rubbed her shin and glared at Joanie. “What was that for?”

  “Really?” Joanie tipped her head toward Michelle.

  “Oh…yeah…well…” She had the grace to blush bright red. “He’s the one that did the suggesting, I only agreed with him.”

  “Try saying no next time.” Michelle stood up and stalked to the cash register to pay for her meal. Allie joined her.

  The night air had a sharp edge to it, overhead the wind was whining in the wires and the branches of the evergreens. “Smells like snow.” Allie observed as they got in the truck. “I’m surprised it hasn’t started yet.”

  “I’ll be happy if it blows itself out by the time I have to drive home.” Michelle worried her bottom lip with her teeth.

  “Me too.”

  When they reached the sportsplex the lot was full of rigs and motorhomes. “Looks like some of the rough stock riders are here already,” Allie said.

  “Have they posted the draw yet for tomorrow? I need to charge my phone and it won’t bring up the webpage.” Michelle put her cell away in annoyance.

  “I get shitty reception here anyway. They’ll have it posted by the event office,” Allie said. She found a spot not too far from the doors and parked. “C’mon, let’s get in where it’s warm.”

  She dashed across the pavement, Michelle followed, laughing when her friend slipped on a patch of black ice and swore at the top of her lungs.

  The moist heat of the barn felt good on her cold cheeks. Spud seemed as eager as she was to stretch his legs. She ducked out the man door at the end of the aisle and brought her tack into the barn. In short order she had the gelding at the entry way to the arena. Allie was right behind her. A few other riders were circling the edges, a few ropers at the far end twirling their ropes overhead. She led Spud through the gate, leaving it open behind her for Allie to close after she came through. Michelle stopped in the middle of the ring and tightened her cinch. Out of habit she checked the fit of the bridle and other equipment before swinging up into the saddle.

  The horse jigged under her for a moment before settling down. She let him go forward and chose a path to the inside of the rail. The big gelding was happy to work at a relaxed ground eating trot, his head low and his back nicely rounded. After working at the trot in both directions for a while, Michelle gathered him up a bit and picked up a lope. He shook his head and snorted wanting to increase the pace. She deepened her seat and picked up her rein hand to restrain him. “Soon enough, buddy. Just have some patience.” She ran a hand down his neck.

  Once the edge had worn off, Michelle slowed him to a walk and let him blow a bit. Allie came up alongside.

  “Looks like we’ll have the place to ourselves in a minute.” Allie indicated the other riders exiting the ring with a wave of her hand.

  “I’m almost done anyway, but I think I’ll run the pattern a couple of times now there’s room. What about you?” Michelle glanced at her friend.

  “That was my plan too. You want to go first, or shall I?”

  “I’ll go, if you don’t mind.”

  “Sure.” Allie jogged her mare over to a corner. “You’ll just have to pretend there are barrels out here,” she joked.

  Michelle took Spud down the chute toward the holding area and the gelding became all business. His excitement came clearly through the reins and the big muscles bunching under her. Running her hand down his neck to quiet him, she let him settle for a second before turning her toward the arena. His black tipped ears were rigid and pointed at the bright light of the ring. Leaning forward she gave him the signal he was waiting for. The horse leaped forward and exploded out of the alleyway. Even without the barrels they ran the pattern accurately and fast. Michelle jumped off when she pulled up after the run, unclipped the short rein from one side of the bit and led the blowing horse out to check the path of their footfalls in the soft footing of the ring.

  “Good boy.” She slapped his shoulder in appreciation. “Any closer and I’ll have my knee in a barrel tomorrow night.”

  “Nice run.” Allie jogged Flint up and halted beside her. “You gonna go again?”

  Michelle shook her head. “Nope, we’re good. He knows his business and that’s enough to keep him sharp for tomorrow. You go ahead. Just wait and I’ll rake my tracks smooth.”

  “T
hanks.” Allie and Flint disappeared into the shadows of the chute.

  Michelle wasted no time in raking Spud’s tracks out of the dirt. Setting the rake back on the outside of the boards she led the gelding to a corner out of the way. “Okay, you’re clear!”

  Flint burst into the ring and flew toward the spot where the first barrel would be. She overshot the mark a bit but made a good recovery. Rounding the second barrel they raced for the top marker. Michelle caught her breath when the mare stumbled a bit going into the turn. She managed to stay upright and stretched low as she ran for the finish line.

  “Whew, I thought we were gonna have a wreck for a second.” Allie and Flint jogged back into the ring. “I don’t know what happened, the footing seems good. She just kinda hesitated going in” Allie slid down and checked her horse’s legs.

  “Are you gonna run it again?” Michelle walked over to them.

  “Yeah. She doesn’t seem to be any the worse for wear and I don’t want to leave it on a bad note.” Allie swung back into the saddle. This time she didn’t run out of the chute but instead turned the mare and ran the pattern at a fast controlled canter. Flint turned the top barrel position with no hesitation and no stumble.

  “That looked better,” Michelle called. Spud stood at her shoulder and turned back to him. Flipping the left stirrup over the seat of the saddle she loosened the cinch. “I’m gonna put him away unless you need me.”

  “I think I’ll just do a little flat work with her. I’m fine, and I see a couple of the other girls are coming.” Allie nodded toward the gate.

  “Okay, see you later, then. I’m at the BCM, where are you staying?”

  “Same, I’ll catch you later.”

  Michelle untacked Spud by the stall and threw a cooler over him to keep off the chill til he dried off. By the time she’d lugged her tack back out to the trailer and locked it up tight, the gelding was fairly dry. She used the curry to loosen the dried sweat and then finished with the dandy and body brush. After combing his mane and tail, she wet a small towel and wiped his eyes and nose clean of sweat and arena dust. Using the same cloth, she rinsed it and lifted the gelding’s tail aside to wash any dirt and grime from between his buttocks. The fine dust from the arena that got thrown up could irritate the sensitive skin there.

  She dug in her pocket and produced a treat. Spud lipped it up and looked for more. “One is all you need. Quit begging.” With a practice twist of her arm she threw the blanket over him and secured. Leading him into the stall, she took off his halter and gave him a good scratch under his mane. The gelding shook his head when she was done and lowered his head to the hay in the corner of the stall. After checking the level of the water and re-checking that there was nothing caught in his hooves, Michelle left the stall and slid the door shut. She secured the latch and then slid the halter through the bars and fastened it just for safe measure. The last thing she needed was to go chasing her horse in the middle of the night. The card with her contact info was tacked to the stall, so if, God forbid, something did go wrong they could reach her.

  Head down, she turned toward the door at the end of the aisle. “Oh, I’m sorry…Wait, no I’m not!” She glared up at the man she’d just run into. “What the hell are you doing here?” she demanded of Rob Chetwynd. The very last person on earth she wanted to see.

  “Just checkin’ on you, darlin’.” He grinned down at her.

  “Like hell. I don’t need you checking on me. Move.” She went to shove past him.

  “Just being neighborly, is all.” He caught her arm.

  “Piss off before I—”

  “Rob? Where’d you get to?” Kayla appeared at the other end of the aisle, the overhead lights casting a halo around her blonde head. “Oh, there you are. Hi, Michelle.” She strode across the rubber mats on the floor toward them.

  “Hey Kayla. Call off your cowboy, will you?” Michelle looked pointedly at the hand on her arm.

  “Rob, you promised.” There was steel behind the words.

  “Aw, now, honey girl—” Rob let go of Michelle and took a step back.

  “Don’t you honey girl me, Rob Chetwynd. You’ve been drinking, I can smell it from here so don’t bother to deny it.” Kayla stepped past Michelle and grabbed her husband by the arm. “Sorry to bother you, Michelle. If he shows up to harass you again just let me know.” She dragged him away.

  “C’mon, Kay. Don’t be such a hard ass…” Rob’s voice faded away.

  Shaking her head, Michelle left the barn and got into the truck as huge wet flakes of snow spiraled out of the cloudy sky. “Damn, I wish the truck had an automatic start.” She shivered while she waited for the glow plug and then started the engine. Cold air blew out of the vents and she killed the fan until the engine warmed up a bit. “Stupid, stupid snow. Why did it have to pick this weekend to come down like this?” The short drive to the hotel didn’t heat the truck much. Michelle parked by the office and went in to collect her key. The place wasn’t fancy but it suited her purpose well enough. The room was clean and the shower had good pressure.

  There was no point in unpacking the small duffle bag with her things in it. She found the makeup bag and stripped off her clothes on the way to the shower. The hot water was welcome and warmed her up. Dressed in sweats and a t-shirt she left the bathroom door open and stretched out on the bed. I should call Cale and let him know I got here okay. The cell phone only showed a bar and a half for reception. There was a pay phone by the front office but the thought of going out in the wind and snow didn’t hold much appeal. She settled for sending a text, once the weather cleared maybe it would go through. She should let him know Rob was here before someone else told him. All the gossips in the world should just go jump in a hole and pull it in after them.

  Idly, she flicked on the TV and channel surfed. There wasn’t much worth watching except some reruns of current sitcoms. That amused her for about an hour. Maybe she should get dressed and go to the bar. That was probably where Allie was. The wind rattling the window pane and snow pelting the glass made that option less than desirable. Instead, she snuggled under the comforter and picked up the book she’d left on the bedside table before her shower. When her vision started to blur she put the book down and turned out the lights. Hope Spud is getting a good rest. Man, I miss Cale.

  Chapter Ten

  Snow was still falling when Michelle got out of bed and pulled back the drapes in the morning. A blanket of white obscured the mountains and visibility was restricted to a few feet. At least Spud was safe at the sportsplex. She didn’t have to worry about hauling him anywhere in this mess. A glance in the mirror over the dresser told her she shouldn’t have gone to bed with wet hair last night. It was only seven-thirty, plenty of time to shower and get something to eat before going to feed Spud and clean his stall. The girls in the slack were running at the end of the other events that started at ten. Maybe she’d shower and then go take care of Spud before getting breakfast.

  Putting thought to action she took the time to blow dry her hair before putting on her outer gear and driving to the rodeo barn. She shook the snow from her hat and shoulders inside the door and stomped the muck from her boots. The barn was already bustling with other competitors and the stock contractors hanging around the concession or taking care of their animals. She grinned, no sign of the rough stock riders. They’d be sleeping off last night’s revelry. Only the bull doggers and tie down ropers had horses to care for, the others travelled light with just their rigging bag and some extra clothes.

  Spud whinnied as he recognized her footsteps when she neared his stall. “Okay, I’m coming,” she called to him. Unlocking the chain on the tack stall, she collected his hay and went to open his stall and drop it in. The water in his bucket was half gone so she filled it before going to get his grain. Setting the rubber tub in the corner, she moved the gelding over so she could clean the stall around him. Thankfully, he was a neat horse. All the manure was in one corner at the back and only a spot in the centre of t
he stall was dark with urine. She skipped it out and into the waiting wheelbarrow in record time. The manure dump was by the shavings pit. Stalls had to be cleaned and the waste in the dump by nine or there’d be penalties. The complex staff would remove it with the tractor before anyone from the public would show up.

  Tipping her contribution into the pile, Michelle returned the wheelbarrow and fork to the tack room. “Mornin’, Allie.” She met the other girl coming down the aisle when she stepped out of the stall door.

  “Mornin’. You missed a good party last night.” Allie yawned. “But, man, I’m feeling it this morning.”

  “I thought about going down to the hotel but the idea of going out in the snow kind of talked me out of it.”

  “You done already?” Allie waved at Spud’s stall.

  “Just finished. I’m headed down to Chris’ for some breakfast.”

  “If I don’t take too long I’ll see you there. Otherwise I’ll have to make do with the concession.”

  “I’m off, but I’ll save you a seat.” Michelle waved and after one last check to be sure Spud had everything he needed, she left the building.

  Chris’ place was jammed on a Friday morning so she tried Popeil’s. There was an empty table available, she sat down and ordered coffee and breakfast. A couple of girls she knew joined her and the meal passed quickly. Allie showed up just as Michelle got a coffee refill. The two girls she’d shared breakfast with left and Allie dropped into one of the vacated chairs.