by Ali Spooner
“Besides, it will give us time to shower and get some of this dust off us,” Gene said.
“Stan and I have already set up the barrels for you,” Harley said.
“Thanks, Harley,” she said between bites.
“No problem,” he said as he reached for another portion of dessert. “You outdid yourself on this meal, Melissa.”
“You all have been working really hard, so I thought something heavier than sandwiches was in order for today.”
“It was a great treat,” Lucas said. “It’s hard to get a good meal around here since Coal abandoned us,” he teased.
“Good grief, I’m only a quarter of a mile from here,” she said.
“Do not invite these lugheads to come over or they will be there every night,” Harley said.
“Well, maybe I could be convinced to come and cook once in a while,” she said.
“Oh, Coal, I’d loved to have some of your cube steak or chicken and dumplings,” Gene said.
“I think that can be arranged,” she said between bites.
“Cool,” he said. He began placing the dishes in the dishwasher, too excited to sit still any longer.
“Will you have a cup of coffee with me?” Melissa asked as she finished the meal and reached for the dessert.
“Yeah, that sounds good,” Coal answered.
“Would you care for a cup, Harley?”
“Sure, boss,” he answered.
Melissa poured them cups of coffee and carried them to the table. Gene and the rest of the crew had left to go take showers and Stan was on his way home. “I think I’ll go ahead and make our reservations for Dallas tonight,” she said.
“According to Gene, you might as well make reservations in Austin too,” Harley said with a chuckle.
“You have to appreciate his optimism,” she said.
“He’s not too far off the mark either, they do have a very good chance of making it to Austin this year.”
“Well, maybe I’ll go ahead and make those reservations too,” she said. “What do you think, Coal?”
She smiled at Melissa and Harley. “We have improved this year. Our times are down on the barrels and since we switched roles, our roping time has improved. We could do it.”
Melissa liked the excitement in her eyes when she talked of winning. It was a relief to see that sparkle in her eyes, given what she had been experiencing lately.
“Speaking of winning, I think I’ll get a few runs in while the boys are getting ready. Will you come and time me after you finish your coffee?” she asked Harley.
“Go saddle Shadow and I’ll meet you at the corral.”
†
Coal crossed the yard to the barn. Shadow stood patiently in a stall waiting for her return. When he saw her enter, his head lifted and his ears perked forward.
“Are you ready to run, big boy?” she asked him as she opened the door to the stall and led him out to saddle. “We’ve got some work to do to get ready for the rodeo.”
Shadow tossed his head in agreement with her. When she finished cinching the girth strap, they walked outside and she climbed into the saddle. She rode into the corral and urged Shadow into a gentle canter to warm his muscles. They made the circuit of the cloverleaf pattern used in barrel racing twice before she felt they were ready.
Harley and Melissa followed them out and climbed onto the top rail to watch. Harley pulled out a stopwatch to time her when she was ready for a run. She was still warming up when she saw Mary Leah’s car approach down the drive. The smile grew on her face as she positioned Shadow just outside the entrance of the corral and gave Harley a nod. He nodded back, her heels nudged Shadow’s side and he flew into action. Coal guided the strong horse to the first barrel and they took a wide turn around it before heading across the ring to circle the left-hand barrel and then flew to the top of the ring to finish out the cloverleaf and then race to the finish line.
Harley clicked the stopwatch to a stop. “Not bad, but you can do better. That first barrel turn was too wide. You’ve got to bring him in closer.”
Coal watched as Mary Leah climbed up beside Melissa. Gene and Lucas were saddling their horses and would warm up in the ring, and Tom and Roy positioned steers in the chute. “Let’s make two more runs, and then Shadow can rest as we watch them bulldog for a bit.”
“Tighter turns,” he reminded her.
She nodded and turned back to the entrance of the ring. “Okay, let’s show them how it’s done,” she said. She gave Shadow his head as her heels prompted him into action. Shadow cut the turn around the barrel so tight, she worried her boot would get caught on it and tip it over, but Shadow brought them safely through the first turn, escaping what would be a five-second penalty if they knocked a barrel over. They finished the cloverleaf two full seconds faster than the first run.
She pulled Shadow to a stop outside the ring and they walked over to Harley. Shadow’s nostrils were flaring with excitement, he was ready for another run. “Better?” she asked.
“Two seconds faster, but you can do better.”
“Hey, baby,” she said to Mary Leah.
“You two are looking good,” Mary Leah said.
“This will be better,” she said. They spun around to trot back outside the ring. She felt Shadow was eager to go faster, and this time she would give him complete control over the speed of the run. “It’s all on you, big boy,” she said as she lowered the reins to his neck and gently pressed her heels in his sides.
Shadow took her instruction and raced to the first barrel, turning so close that dirt flew up in Coal’s face from the tight turn of his hooves. His speed picked up as he made the second turn and raced for the final barrel and when he turned for the homestretch, Coal was grinning from ear to ear, knowing this was one of their fastest times ever.
Harley clicked the stopwatch and hollered, “Hot damn, that was fast. You would win Austin with that kind of run,” he added.
“I hope we can do that in Dallas in a couple of weeks.”
“That was really incredible,” Mary Leah said.
Coal walked Shadow over to the railing and took her rope from around the top of a fence post and tied it to her saddle, then took a pair of thin leather gloves from her back pocket. One of the tasks to team roping was to wrap the rope around the saddle horn or “dallying” the rope to secure the animal that had been roped. Ropers learned early on that a finger caught between the rope and the saddle horn became mangled beyond repair. She turned Shadow toward the far end of the corral where steers moved into the chutes.
Lucas and Gene had mounted their horses and moved inside the corral to begin practicing bulldogging. Gene galloped down to the entrance of the corral and closed the gate to secure the steers inside the ring. They would use the same steers to practice roping after he and Lucas had finished wrestling with them.
Roy and Tom, two of the other ranch hands, worked the first steer into the chute as Lucas backed his horse in beside the chute, into a position called the box. In competition, there would be a rope barrier across the entry point where the cowboy would start. Horse and rider could legally break the barrier only after the steer had left the chute, giving the steer a head start. If the rider breached the barrier too early, he would be assessed a ten-second penalty, effectively eliminating them from competitive times.
Lucas nodded that he was ready and the first steer was released from the chute. Lucas broke the barrier and raced after the steer coming along his left side as Lucas leaned across his horse and launched his body reaching for the steer’s neck and horns. His task was to turn the steer’s head back toward his body and wrestle him to the ground. Lucas launched and dug his boot heels into the dirt, slowing the steer’s progress as he wrestled him to the ground. His first attempt was almost perfect as he brought the steer to the ground, and then climbed back to his feet, dusting his pants off.
“Great job, Lucas,” Harley yelled out.
Gene was eager to get into the action, and backed his
horse into the box as the next steer ran into the chute. Gene nodded his head and the steer released, rushing from the chute. Gene’s timing on the barrier was good, but the run went downhill from there. Gene launched his body toward the steer, just as the animal decided to put on the brakes. Gene’s momentum carried him beyond the steer’s neck and he somersaulted across the dirt.
“Whoa,” Harley shouted. Coal stifled a laugh.
“You okay, man?” Lucas asked with a grin.
Red-faced, he looked up at Lucas as he approached with Gene’s horse. “I definitely wasn’t expecting that.”
“Mount up and try again,” Lucas said.
Gene’s second attempt went off without a hitch. They each made two attempts that were more successful before Gene looked over at her. “Are you ready to do some roping?”
“Are you done eating dirt?” she teased.
“For today,” he hollered back.
“Let’s do it then,” she said as she helped Lucas herd the steers back into the catch pen.
Gene entered the box on the left-hand side of the chute as Coal took up the right. He looked at her and she nodded her readiness. Gene nodded to Roy, and the first steer released from the chute. Gene raced toward the steer, swinging the rope above his head and launched his loop at the steer’s head. He pulled the rope tightly around his saddle horn and turned the steer back toward him as Coal moved in to rope the steer’s back legs. She threw her loop, but the steer kicked out one leg before she could tighten her loop. She wound her rope around the horn to dally her rope and backed Shadow to stretch the steer out until he was immobile.
“Damn,” she said. Catching only one leg would be a ten-second penalty. She urged Shadow forward and loosened the tension on her rope allowing the steer to kick out and rid himself of the rope.
Gene also retrieved his rope and coiled it back into his hands. “Let’s go again.”
They took up their positions and the next three runs were perfect. On the last steer, Gene missed his first throw and had to pull out a backup rope. By the time he had the steer headed and Coal could heel it nearly twenty seconds had elapsed.
“We can’t stop with that,” she said and rounded up two more steers.
The next run finished with perfection and they decided to call it a night. “Not bad, but we definitely need more practice,” Coal said.
“Tomorrow night?” Gene asked.
“Nope, it will have to wait until Friday. We can practice before the cookout. I have an appointment tomorrow night.”
“Friday night it is then,” Gene said.
They released the steers back into a small pasture to graze and then she rode over to where the sisters were talking. “I’m going to head home so I can get Shadow taken care of,” she told Mary Leah. “See you tomorrow, boss.”
“We are cutting hay tomorrow,” Melissa reminded her.
“Right,” Coal answered. “See you then.”
She rode Shadow home and unsaddled him, brushing him down before placing him in the stall for the night. “You did good today, big boy,” she said as she stroked the brush across his back. She was very pleased with how much progress he had made from last year. Shadow had turned into a great cow pony. She was lost in thought as she tended to her mount and did not hear Mary Leah arrive home.
“Are you just about finished here?” Mary Leah asked from the barn entrance.
Coal started as she spun toward the sound of her lover’s voice. “Yeah, I won’t be long.”
“I didn’t mean to startle you,” Mary Leah apologized.
“That’s all right, honey; I was just enjoying my time with Shadow.”
“What would you like for dinner?”
“Something light, I’m still stuffed from that huge lunch Melissa cooked for us.”
Mary Leah thought for a second. “I could make us a salad,” she offered.
“That would be perfect,” she answered.
Chapter Eleven
Coal was thankful for a restful night without dreams disrupting her sleep. She woke up refreshed the following morning and snuggled into Mary Leah. “Good morning,” she whispered.
“Hey, baby, did you sleep well?”
“Thankfully yes, I feel good this morning.”
“Toast and cereal okay for you?” she asked. “I want to get on the road early so I can get home sooner tonight for our drive. Can you be ready by four if I promise to treat you to a nice dinner?”
“Can we have beef brisket?” Coal asked with a grin.
“You can have anything you want,” Mary Leah said as she rolled over and kissed her.
“That sounds promising,” she said as she wrapped her arms around Mary Leah.
“Do you want a ride this morning since you are cutting hay today, or do you plan to ride Shadow?”
“I might as well ride him. If I don’t he’ll just jump the fence and follow me anyhow.”
Mary Leah burst out laughing. “Good point. You can ride him home after work and get ready then.”
“I’ll be all shiny clean by the time you get here to pick me up,” Coal said as she climbed out of the bed. “If you’ll pour us a cup of coffee I’ll start the toast and get some cereal ready.”
“Deal,” Mary Leah said as she climbed from the bed and put on a robe before following Coal to the kitchen.
†
Coal finished breakfast and then saddled Shadow as Mary Leah left for work. She rode to the MC2 and unsaddled Shadow, leaving him in the corral before walking into the bunkhouse. Stan and Harley were discussing the morning’s assignments.
“We have equipment to cut and rake three fields,” Stan was saying as she poured a cup of coffee. “I’d also like to have the older hay brought down into the barn so the fresh cut can be placed in the loft.”
“How many bales are still in the loft?” Coal asked.
“Two hundred or so,” Harley said.
“Why don’t Gene and I take care of that while the rest of you start cutting? Then we can ride out to help when we’re done,” she suggested.
“I have a better idea. You two move the hay and then you can help Melissa bring out lunch. It’s going to still be smoking hot up in the loft. If we have everything in hand by lunchtime then you two can have the afternoon off.”
“That sounds fine with me,” Gene said.
“Eat up, big boy, and let’s get started then,” she teased Gene. “I’m going to check on Melissa and will meet you in the loft.”
†
“Morning, boss lady,” Coal said as she stepped onto the porch of the main house and found Melissa drinking coffee.
“Good morning, Coal, it looks like it’s going to be a beautiful day.”
“Yes, it does.” She brought Melissa up to date on the plans for the day.
“You and Gene will have a good workout this morning,” she said.
“We should be able to knock it out in a few hours and work up a good appetite.”
“How about I prepare some egg salad sandwiches for lunch then?” Melissa asked, knowing they were Coal’s favorite.
“I will never complain about egg salad,” she answered. “Gene and I are supposed to help you bring lunch out when we’re done, and then we’ll have the rest of the afternoon off.”
“Maybe you can get a nap in before Mary Leah gets home.”
“She promised to take me for beef brisket before my appointment with the shrink.” Coal grinned at the thought. “I guess I better get busy then,” she said and walked off the porch.
“I will bring y’all something cold to drink in an hour or so,” Melissa said.
“Thanks, boss,” Coal said as she started across the yard.
Her boots kicked up dust as she walked and the sun shone brightly in the cloudless sky. She reached the barn and climbed the ladder to wait for Gene. She opened the doors at both ends to allow a cool breeze to enter the loft, which gently lifted stray strands of hay sending them floating down to the barn floor. She sat in the open door, her feet
dangling outside as she waited for Gene. In the distance, she could hear the cry of a red-tailed hawk, and her eyes scanned the air in search of the predator. She spotted the bird as it flew toward one of the oaks near the lake and landed near its mate. The pair would have a successful morning hunt as field mice and small animals fled the sound of the tractors and mowers in the hayfields.
The sound of laughter brought her attention back to the yard as the crew exited the bunkhouse and walked toward a flatbed truck. The tractors had been driven to the fields the day before allowing them to make an early start.
Gene looked up to see her sitting in the loft opening and smiled. “You ready to rock and roll?” he asked as he stepped into the barn.
“Just waiting on you,” she teased. “Roll that slide over and I’ll start shooting bales down to you,” she said as she put her gloves on.
Moving the bales down from the loft would be much easier than lifting the bales with a winch into the loft. A metal slide, similar to a playground slide, would be propped against the edge of the loft. She would place bales on them and Gene would catch them and stack them in the rear of the lower level of the barn.
“Remind me to load a dozen or so onto the back of the truck to take to my place for Shadow,” she said to Gene as she placed the first bale on the slide.
“You want me to get the truck and we can load yours first?”
“Sure, go ahead. I’ll send a dozen down and come help you load them.”
“Just drop them and I’ll get them loaded,” Gene said and jogged out of the barn.
She began carrying bales to the slide and had four down when Gene raced back into the barn and picked up two bales. “Showoff,” she yelled at him as he disappeared with a smile growing on his face.
After Gene loaded her hay, they got into a rhythm and moved fifty bales before Melissa entered the barn carrying a pitcher of lemonade and glasses. “Come on down and take a break,” she hollered up to Coal.
She took the easy route and slid down the slide.
“That looks like too much fun,” Melissa said, grinning as Coal stood and brushed the hay from her jeans.
