Come Hell or High Water

by Nancy M Bell

  “I thought sometime in the spring might be nice. We can tell everyone at Christmas when we’re all together. Mom and Dad are planning on coming to Mary and Doc’s Christmas Eve do, and everyone else we need to tell will be there.”

  “Springtime? May would be nice, when the crocus are in bloom. I want some pictures with the coulee in the background and maybe down by the river. What do you think?” Tiny thrills of excitement twisted through her. Talking about marrying Cale and picking the date made it seem more real that it had before.

  “Now we’re getting somewhere. So, May of next year it is. Now we just need a date.”

  “How about the second week? I don’t want to do it on the May long weekend. Too many people go away and there’s always a rodeo to go to.”

  “May long might make it easier for anyone who has to travel though,” Cale suggested.

  “Anyone we really want to be there lives in town or nearby. There just seems to always be so much going on that weekend. The more I think about the more I like the second week of May.”

  “What’s the date?”

  “No clue. Where’s the calendar?” Michelle disentangled herself from his lap and crossed the kitchen to get the calendar from by the phone. She flipped through the pages while she returned to the table. “Damn, this only goes to December.”

  “Look on the back, Chelly.” Cale grinned, took the folder from her and flipped it over. “Next year is on the back.” He handed it to her.

  “Smart ass.” She looked at the dates. “Second Saturday in May next year is the fourteenth, so I guess that’s it.” Michelle grinned at him over the top of the pages. “Happy?”

  “Very.” He swept her into his arms. “Very, very happy.” Kisses punctuated each word.

  “Me too.” She said when they came up for air. “I’m gonna miss you this summer, but once I’m home I’m gonna start planning.” She paused. “I’d like to keep it quiet for a while, if you don’t mind? Once Mary gets wind of this she’ll be like a dog with a bone. Before I know it, the wedding will be all planned out and I won’t have had a say in it. You know how she gets.”

  “You’re probably right about that. She does get the bit in her teeth. I don’t mind not saying anything, as long as we’re agreed that May fourteenth is the date. No changing our minds.”

  “Deal. You can tell Peggy and Carson if you think Mary won’t get it out them.”

  “I’ll think about it. I’m not sure Mom will be able to keep it quiet once she hears. She’ll be pretty excited that we’ve decided on a definite date. Who are you going to have for a maid of honour? Mary? I guess she’d be a matron of honor?”

  “I want Mary to be mother of the bride and Doc to give me away. I haven’t asked either of them, but I don’t think it will be an issue. What do you think?”

  “I think they’d be upset if you didn’t. Especially Doc. Mary will be happy either as matron of honour or honorary mother of the bride. So, who are you asking to be maid of honour? Pat?”

  Michelle burst out laughing. “Are you kidding? Pat would kill me dead if I asked her to put on some frou frou dress. No, actually I was thinking of asking Stacey.” She waited to see Cale’s reaction.

  “I think she’d like that,” Cale said slowly. “Are you sure?”

  “Yeah. I’ve been mulling it over, and we’ve been getting along pretty good.”

  “Since you gave her the benefit of the doubt?” Cale interrupted.

  “Since she quit making calves’ eyes at you, you mean,” she countered.

  “Whatever, have it your way.”

  “Anyway, her and George look like they’re getting along. I mean, this is the longest my brother has ever stayed with any girl, let alone lived with one. She must be some kind of saint to put up with him.”

  “She really does seem to be in love with him,” Cale agreed.

  “How many guys are you asking? I guess I need to have the same number of girls as you have men.”

  “I hadn’t really thought about it. I could ask George. I have a buddy from school, but if we keep it small and you’re going to ask Stacey it makes sense for me to ask your brother. Are you okay with no bridesmaids?”

  “The smaller the better as far as I’m concerned. I hate a big fuss and being the centre of attention. As long as you’re there that’s all that matters.” She hugged him.

  “A woman after my own heart.” He kissed her nose. “Have you thought about where to get married?”

  “The church in town? It’s sorta traditional. It might be nice to have it outside here or over the coulee. But what if the weather doesn’t cooperate?”

  “It’s only May, Chelly. It might snow for heaven’s sake. I’d rather not be trying to say my vows with my teeth chattering.”

  “Good point. I’ll check with Reverend Carter next time in town and ask him to keep it under his hat.”

  “If we can’t trust him who can we trust?” Cale grinned. “Now that’s settled, tell me when you leave. It’s Grande Prairie first, right?”

  “Yeah, GP is the end of May, the last weekend. But I’ll need to be over at Rolly’s for a couple of weeks before that so I can practice and get to know the horses.”

  “He’s just in High River though. You’ll be home every night.”

  “Just try and keep me away.” She grinned at him. “After that it’s pretty steady. Saskatoon, The Hat, High River, and Ponoka, then Calgary. Can you believe I get to ride at the Stampede?”

  “I just want you to be safe and have fun. If Carrie will cover for me, I’ll be at High River and Ponoka. You’ll have to keep in touch when you’re on the road. You riding with Rolly?”

  “Yeah. A lot of guys have their own RVs, but Rolly says it’s no problem for me to ride shotgun with him. I’ll get a hotel if there’s one near the grounds or I can camp out in one of the portable stalls. Rolly’s got dibs on the sleeper in the semi unless Sharen shows up with the RV.”

  “Just be careful, okay. I can’t help worrying about you.”

  “It’s not like I’m the only woman around. Most of the guys have their families with them, you know that.”

  “Indulge me, just promise me you’ll be careful.”

  “Promise. You promise me you won’t let your head get turned by some pretty little thing while I’m gone.”

  “You don’t have to worry on that count. Even if I was tempted, which I won’t be, Doc and Mary would nail my hide to the barn wall if I so much as looked at someone else.”

  “That’s true.” She laughed. “Mary would skin you alive and Doc would remove certain parts of your anatomy.”

  “Nice, Michelle. That sounds really reassuring.” Cale mocked frowned at her.

  “I do love you so much.” She slid her arms around his waist. “Let’s take the dogs out, check the stock for the night and go to bed.”

  “Sounds like a plan to me.”

  * * *

  “Grande Prairie twenty kliks.” Rolly read the highway sign out loud. “Getting’ nervous, rookie?” He grinned across the cab at Michelle.

  “Oh yeah. Nervous, scared, but in a good way,” she assured him. “I hate the waiting part. Once we get the horses hitched and the wagons start to roll I’ll be fine.”

  “Lots of work to do before we get to the fun part,” he reminded her.

  “No kidding. I can’t believe the amount of stuff you guys haul with you. Do we set up the portable stalls before we unload the horses or what?”

  “We usually put up the temporary corrals first if there aren’t any permanent ones and turn them out for a roll.”

  “Okay, just tell me what you need once we’re there.” She peered in the side mirror. “The boys are still right behind us with the other rig and the RVs.”

  “Reach in the back for the thermos, would you? I could use a coffee right about now.” Rolly didn’t take his eyes off the road.

  Michelle undid her seatbelt and kneeled on the seat while she retrieved the large thermos. Unscrewing the top she poured most
of what remained into Rolly’s go mug. The rest she dumped in her own cup. “Thank God there’s a Tim’s in just about every town now.”

  “You got that right, girl.” Rolly grinned and lifted his go mug in a solute before taking a healthy swig. “Ah, nectar of the gods.”

  Michelle sipped hers more sedately. The butterflies in her stomach were giving her fits. It wouldn’t do for her to hurl all over the cab. Damn nerves. For a moment her thoughts drifted to dangers of wagon racing. Dick Cosgrave having that wreck at Kamloops back in ’93, getting up out of the dirt and walking to the infield rail before he collapsed and died. George Normand at Ponoka. Bill McEwan. Her dad, but she’d rather not thing about that. Any number of wrecks came to mind. But that’s not going to happen. Think of all the races that go off with no problems.

  “What’re you lookin’ so serious about all of a sudden.” Rolly glanced at her as he geared down to take the exit for Grande Prairie off 43 North. “We’ve hit all the high points so far. Whitecourt, Fox Creek, now there’s a happenin’ town, Valleyview. What more can a girl ask?”

  “Oh be still my heart.” Michelle placed her hand over her heart and grinned. “Nope, just nerves. I’ll be fine once I get busy.”

  “No shame in admitting to a case of nerves. Happens to all of us. If I’m not half scared half crazy with excitement before a race I don’t have a good run.”

  “Thanks.”

  Silence filled the cab as Rolly navigated through the already busy streets. The city was filling up people coming from the outlying communities for the Grande Prairie Stompede. The rig turned into the Evergreen Park followed by the rest of their entourage. Michelle craned her neck trying to take it all in. The RVs turned off at the RV campground located on the grounds just past the public parking lots. Rolly continued on and followed the road as it swung around the far side of the track and then turned onto the lane toward the barns on the back side of the track. He pulled to a halt at the entrance to the stabling area to speak with the attendant in the guard shack. Michelle handed him the folder with the paperwork and the horse’s health certificates which Rolly passed on to the guard.

  “Everything’s in order. Same barn as last year. Good luck and have a good meet, Rolly.” The man slapped the truck door and lifted the cross arm to clear the lane.

  “Thanks, Joe. See ya around.” The truck eased into gear and moved forward.

  It was all Michelle could do not to bounce up and down on the seat like ten year old kid. I can’t wait to call Cale and tell him how great this is.

  “Which barn are we in?” Michelle looked at the barns clustered by two outside dirt rings.

  Rolly shoved the paperwork back at her. “We’re over by the track, first barn in the back row as we come in.”

  She set the folder in the pocket on the door where it would be within easy reach. “I can’t believe I’m really here.”

  Rolly laughed. “It’s always fun watching a rookie get their first taste of it.”

  “Oh shut up.” She slapped his arm playfully. “Park this damn thing and let’s get this show on the road.”

  Hours later Michelle dropped into the cot she’d set up in the stall where they kept the feed and harness. All the horses were exercised, fed and watered, their stalls bedded with a thick layer of straw. The wagon parked nearby, all the tack and feed neatly stowed in the area around her. Her stomach wanted food and her body wanted to lie still for about a week.

  “Hey, rookie. You coming into town to get some grub?” Hal, one of the guys who rode for Rolly stuck his head in the door.

  “Yeah, just give me a second.” She forced herself upright, the lure of food stronger than the need for sleep. In the end she was glad she’d gone with them. Some of the people she knew from following the rodeo barrel racing and with Rob. Others she didn’t know were just as friendly. She took some good natured ribbing about her rookie status. She piled into the pickup with Hal and the other guys. They dropped her at the barns before heading back to the RV campground. Michelle had refused their offer to bunk in with them. It wasn’t something she really wanted to explain to Cale, even though it was perfectly innocent. She waved them off and did one last check on the horses before falling into the cot fully clothed after pulling the stall door shut.

  Dawn came early in May on the northern prairies. Michelle rolled out of bed around four-thirty when the eastern sky was turning gold and pink. The sun wouldn’t be actually be up for about another hour, but there was enough light to see. The morning sounds of horses nickering for food and whinnying to each other mingled with the voices of the grooms and the clank of wheel barrows and pitchforks.

  Rolly showed up just as Michelle finished filling the feed buckets in preparation of distributing them to the impatient horses. Without speaking Rolly began pitching hay into the stalls and she followed behind, putting the correct bucket in each horse’s stall. While the horses ate Rolly produced a tray of coffee and a bag of breakfast sandwiches.

  “Gotta feed the help,” he quipped.

  “Thanks, man. I’d kill for a coffee right about now.”

  They ate in silence. Michelle leaned her head against the side of the barn, her feet stuck out in front of the bale of hay she was sitting on. Crumpling up her food wrapper she collected Rolly’s and dumped the garbage in the trash bin.

  “Sit down and finish your coffee.” Rolly seemed reluctant to move from his perch on a hay bale on the opposite side of the feed stall door.

  Happy to steal another few minutes of peace and quiet before mucking out the stalls, she settled back on the recently vacated bale and nursed the last dregs of liquid from the cardboard cup.

  The sun was well up and the rest of the crew began showing up, wandering in from the RV campground looking a little bit the worse for wear from the night before.

  “Time to get cracking.” Rolly got to his feet and stretched.

  Michelle tossed her cup out and hurried to help brush the horses. Rolly came down the shed row with a list of which horses he wanted hitched for the first night and which outrider horses were going to go that evening. The others would get a light workout later in the day.

  She’d harnessed before but it took her a few minutes to make sense out of the traces and the lines. One mistake could result in a horrendous wreck and she was acutely aware of the need to get everything correctly placed. Rolly rechecked everything once the team was hooked. Michelle went to get the rangy chestnut gelding she was to ride. The light saddle sat nose down outside the stall with the pad lying on top. With quick sure movements she settled them on his back and tightened the cinch. She snatched the bridle from the hook outside the stall and slipped it on his head. The horse followed her eagerly out of the stall. He knew his job and the crisp morning air made him want to run. He curveted around her while Michelle took the helmet Hal tossed her and fastened in under her chin.

  Rolly swung up into the driver’s seat and took the team toward the track. The barrels were set in the figure eight pattern in the infield in front of the grandstand. A few other wagons were already circling the track. Michelle vaulted onto the gelding and laughed as he danced beneath her. “Soon enough, Hank. Soon enough.”

  Rolly waved her up beside the wagon and she let the horse lengthen his stride until she came even with the driver’s seat. “Hal’s gonna take the leaders. You take the stove.”

  She nodded and dropped back. When the way was clear Rolly took the team through the figure eight at a controlled pace. Michelle noted he took care to keep the leaders from ducking in toward the first barrel. He’d drawn the number one barrel and wanted to make sure the horses didn’t get distracted turning past the chutes. He pulled the horse to a jigging walk and Hal nodded to the other two riders. Rolly halted the horses with the front wagon wheel beside the barrel. Hal jumped down and took hold of the leaders. The rear wagon wheel couldn’t be in front of the barrel when the horn blew or there’d be at least a one second penalty. Michelle vaulted off and lined up behind the wagon, holding Ha
nk with one hand and the other on the barrel. Rolly gave the signal and Michelle heaved the light barrel that served as substitute for the stove. It landed in the back of the wagon with a satisfying thump. Hal had already released the lead team and gotten onboard his horse. Michelle vaulted onto Hank and keeping an eye out for the other riders and the wagon wove through the figure eight pattern and followed the wagon out of the infield.

  Rolly pulled them up half way down the back stretch. The two riders trotted alongside.

  “You did good, Michelle. You okay or do you want to do it again?”

  “I think I’ve got it. Unless you guys think I should do it one more time?” She waited for the two men to pass judgement on her performance.

  Hal shrugged and looked to Rolly’s brother Clay. “I didn’t see what went on behind, but she stayed out of the way.”

  “Looked good to me,” Clay said from his perch on the chutes.

  “Okay then. I’m gonna take these guys easy around the rail. I’ll meet you back at the barn and we can get these guys put away and give the other horses their workout.”

  Michelle let Hank canter back to the barn, her feet swinging free of the stirrups. Adrenaline thrummed through her body. It was euphoric. She whooped and grinned at her companions.

  “Oh, oh. Looks like the rookie’s hooked,” Clay joked. She liked Rolly’s brother even if he was a bit of a clown sometimes.

  “Another adrenaline junky.” Hal shook his head.

  “Like you should talk,” she shot back.

  “You couldn’t pay me to tear around out there,” Clay declared. “I like my skin in one piece.”

  Back at the barns she stripped the chestnut and rubbed him down, taking care to make sure there was no heat or swelling in the legs. It took the better part of the morning to get through all the horses. Then the tack and harness all had to be checked for loose stitching or anything else that might need repairs. Michelle busied herself cleaning tack after throwing the horses their noon hay and checking water. All the animals seemed to be in good form. The backstretch settled into afternoon quietness. A few kids played in front of the barns and country music played in one of the shed rows. Rolly had gone back to his RV for a nap. Hal and Clay had disappeared as well. She guessed they had gone off either to nap or go into town.