A Cowboy's Claim

by Marin Thomas

  Alex glanced at Vic, then back at the freezer. “You want me to lift you up?” The knot in his gut eased when Alex raised his arms. Vic hoisted him higher so he could view his choices. “Take whichever one you want.”

  He picked a firecracker Popsicle and Vic said, “Grab another for me. I haven’t had one of these since I was a kid.” Ice-cream trucks didn’t dare drive through the barrio unless they wanted to risk being robbed at gunpoint.

  Back in his pickup, Vic set Alex in the front seat next to him and they ate their treats in silence. He waited for the boy to finish, then wiped off his sticky hands with a napkin. When pieces of the tissue stuck to his fingers, Vic said, “We better buy a few supplies before we take off.”

  They returned to the store and Vic carried a shopping basket through the aisles, Alex following behind him. He dropped a box of tissues in the basket then a package of wet wipes, granola bars, bubble gum, a six-pack of water bottles, a notepad and a package of colored markers.

  Back in the truck, Vic buckled Alex into the booster seat and cleaned his sticky hands with a wipe. “We have a lot of driving to do, so if you get bored you can color.” He set the markers and pad of paper on the seat next to Alex.

  Once he merged onto the highway, Vic tuned the radio to a sports talk show. He checked the rearview mirror every few minutes. Alex stared out the window, his face expressionless. Vic wished he knew how to reassure the kid that everything would be okay. But Vic wasn’t sure anything would be okay again.

  “If you ask me, rodeos are pretty awesome.” He hoped the one-sided conversation would keep the boy’s bad memories at bay. Vic could manage that when Alex was awake, but he had no idea how to protect him from bad dreams when he slept.

  “We’ll arrive at the rodeo early this Saturday and then I’ll show you around.” He checked the mirror again—Alex had fallen asleep.

  What kind of mother had his sister been—besides not a good one? The social worker had no idea who Alex’s father was—there was no record of Natalia receiving any child support payments. The guy was probably a gangbanger or had been one of her paying customers. He gripped the wheel tighter. If Maria Fitzgerald hadn’t taken Vic under her wings, he might be sitting behind bars right now, too. He for sure wouldn’t be busting broncs.

  He was halfway to Wichita Falls, Texas, and he was still second-guessing his decision to compete in this weekend’s rodeo. He’d have to ask someone at the rodeo to watch Alex while he rode.

  Like who?

  He cursed the voice inside his head. If he’d been more social the past few years, he might have made a friend or two on the circuit, but he’d been a loner for so long that no one had much to say to him. As for asking a buckle bunny to babysit—no way. They’d want something in return for watching Alex, and he couldn’t imagine being with another woman any time soon—not after sleeping with Tanya. The cute little barrel racer had left her mark on him—not that she’d ever be happy to see him again after the way he’d ditched her at the motel.

  Three and a half hours later, Vic heard rustling noises from the backseat. He checked over his shoulder and caught Alex gripping the crotch of his pants. “You need to use the bathroom?”

  The boy nodded.

  “Hold on. There’s a town five miles up the road.” Vic hit the gas. A minute later they passed a sign for Arrow Creek. He took the exit and turned into Letty’s Griddle Café. He swung into a parking space, shifted into park, then grabbed Alex from the booster seat—the kid had a death grip on his crotch and wouldn’t let go. Vic carried him like a football into the restaurant, his eyes scanning the area for a sign leading to the restrooms.

  A waitress with a bleached-blond beehive hairdo glanced up from behind the lunch counter. She took one look at Vic and Alex and pointed to her left. Vic zigzagged between the tables and raced down the short hallway. As soon as he set Alex on his feet in the stall, he pulled down his pants and plopped him on the toilet seat.

  “Whew, that was close,” Vic said, leaning against the side of the stall. Alex tugged on Vic’s jeans. “Finished?” Alex nodded. Vic helped him straighten his clothes and wash his hands. “It’s early for dinner, but we might as well eat while we’re here.”

  They returned to the dining area. When Vic scanned the sea of tables searching for an empty booth, his gaze clashed with Tanya’s. She sat in the booth next to the front door. He hadn’t noticed her when he entered the café. She must have parked her truck and horse trailer behind the building.

  Vic wasn’t ready for this meeting—mostly because he hadn’t figured out what to say that would excuse him for taking off without telling Tanya why. “This way, Alex.” He stopped next to her booth. “Can we join you?”

  She didn’t take her eyes off Alex. “Sure.”

  He lifted the boy onto the seat, then slid in behind him, keeping Alex on his right so he wouldn’t have to see Vic’s scar when he looked at his uncle. If Tanya was surprised to see him with a kid in tow, she hid it well. But her stony expression didn’t bode well for him.

  “This is Alex,” he said. “Alex, this is my...friend, Tanya.” Alex drew imaginary circles on the tabletop and wouldn’t make eye contact with Tanya.

  “You never told me you had a son.”

  “Alex is my nephew.” Relief flashed in Tanya’s eyes, followed by a million questions. “I owe you an explanation,” he said.

  “You don’t owe me anything.”

  She was pissed and he didn’t blame her. “I’d like to explain.” He glanced at Alex. “When we’re alone.”

  She remained silent, suggesting that he’d have to work his tail off to get that alone time with her.

  “We’re headed to Wichita Falls. What about you?” he asked.

  “Same,” she said. “Slingshot took second place in Moriarty and I won enough money to pay for another entry fee.”

  “Congratulations. Sounds like the horse is coming around.” The waitress with the tall hair saved Vic from having to keep the conversation going.

  “Howdy, folks. Name’s Sally.” She placed menus in front of them. “Aren’t you a handsome young man?” Sally’s gaze swung to Tanya. “How old is your son?”

  “Alex is four.” Vic cleared his throat. “He’s my nephew.”

  Sally nodded, her eyes skipping over Vic’s face—as everyone did.

  Except Tanya.

  “I’ll fetch glasses of water and a milk for your nephew while you look at the menu.”

  After the waitress walked off, Vic spoke to Alex. “You had chicken for lunch. You want a hamburger?” The boy acted as if he hadn’t heard Vic speak. “Or we could order breakfast for supper? Do you like pancakes?” No answer. Vic looked at Tanya, her attention riveted on Alex.

  “I got a call from Albuquerque the morning after we...” He couldn’t go into detail with his nephew sitting next to him. “Alex is going to be hanging out with me for a while.”

  Sally returned with their drinks and Vic ordered pancakes and bacon for both him and Alex. Tanya ordered a chicken salad sandwich and a diet cola.

  After Sally left, Tanya tried to engage Alex. “Do you like horses, Alex?”

  His nephew’s finger froze for a second against the tabletop as if considering Tanya’s question, then moved in circles again.

  “I don’t think Alex has ever been around horses or rodeo,” Vic said.

  “You don’t know for sure?”

  Vic put his arm around Alex’s shoulder and the boy stiffened. “This is the first time we’ve met, right, buddy?” He winced at Tanya’s bug-eyed stare.

  “Alex’s mother is my younger sister.” Vic racked his brain for how much he could tell Tanya without causing more questions.

  “How old are you, Alex?” she asked.

  “He’s four. He’ll turn five in September.” Hopefully by then Alex would be in a hom
e and his foster parents would give him a proper birthday party.

  “What happened to his—”

  Vic shook his head, cutting Tanya off. There was no time to explain, because Sally headed their way with their food.

  Chapter Five

  “What do you mean the first time you’ve met your nephew?” Tanya whispered after Sally had coaxed Alex to sit at the breakfast counter and watch her make his ice-cream sundae. Vic abandoning her the morning after to run to his nephew’s aid sounded a little far-fetched.

  “It’s a long story,” Vic said.

  A snarky comment almost slipped from her mouth. Vic deserved her ire for ducking out on her, but he looked so miserable that she didn’t have the heart to lash out at him. “I’m a good listener.”

  “I owe you an apology.”

  Surprised, she said, “Yes, you do.”

  “I’m sorry for taking off like I did without waking you first.”

  “You should have told me you had a family emergency. I would have understood.”

  “But then I would have had to explain and I...” He rested his elbows on the table and rubbed his head.

  “Is it that bad?”

  “It’s not good.”

  She didn’t care for the twenty-question game they were playing. “Did something happen to Alex’s mother?”

  Vic’s gaze swung to his nephew. “No. My sister’s in prison.”

  Prison? “I’m sorry.” She clasped his hand and was surprised when he squeezed back. “Talk to me.”

  Vic’s eyes pleaded with her. Did he yearn to tell her or did he not want to discuss it? Too late for answers—Alex returned to the booth with his sundae.

  “This kiddo prefers chocolate ice cream over vanilla. Doesn’t like the cherries but loves nuts and whipped cream.” Sally winked at Alex, then escaped to take another couple’s order.

  “Where’s home for you?” Tanya knew he was from Albuquerque but didn’t know if he lived there or somewhere else when he wasn’t riding the circuit.

  “The road.”

  “Are you still planning to rodeo now that you have...” Her eyes flicked to Alex.

  “Yes.”

  He was dead serious.

  “Where are you staying for the Wichita rodeo?” he asked.

  “I’m boarding Slingshot in Vernon for a couple of days until I compete.”

  “What do you do when you’re not barrel racing?”

  “Catch up on laundry. Make phone calls. Surf the web on my laptop.” She checked her phone for the time. “The manager at Windy Acres said I could use the cot in his barn.” It wasn’t the greatest setup, but she didn’t have to pay for a motel room and she could keep a close eye on Slingshot—a win-win in her opinion. “What are your plans after Wichita Falls?” Surely he wasn’t going to keep the same frantic pace now that he had to care for his nephew.

  “Bakersfield, California, then Texas and Nevada.” He must have read the question in her eyes, because he said, “Alex doesn’t turn five until the end of September, so he can’t enroll in kindergarten for another year.”

  “He’s awfully young to drag around the country with you.” As soon as the words left her mouth, she knew she’d overstepped her bounds. Vic clenched his jaw, and the scar across his cheek turned white.

  “I’ve had my schedule planned out since last year. As long as I keep riding well, I’ll be in Vegas this December. This might be my last shot at a title.” He stared at Alex. “Besides, CYFD is hoping to place him in a home before the end of summer.”

  Tanya understood Vic’s urgency. He wasn’t getting any younger and he had another good year, maybe two, left in the sport. But Alex was family, and the little boy, not Vic’s rodeo schedule, should be a priority.

  “We’ll be fine, won’t we, buddy?” Vic ruffled Alex’s hair, but the boy barely acknowledged his uncle’s affectionate touch. Tanya got the sense that there was a lot more involved with Alex’s situation than Vic having temporary custody of him.

  Her heart broke for the little guy. She wanted to ask what had happened to the person who’d been caring for Alex while his mother was in prison, but now wasn’t the time.

  “Where are you competing after Wichita Falls?” Vic asked.

  “I’m not sure.” If she didn’t win any money in the rodeo, she’d seriously have to consider returning to Colorado. Going into debt just because she wanted one last season before she put barrel racing behind her wasn’t smart. She just needed a little more time to wrap her head around leaving the sport. At least when she walked away from rodeo for good, she’d go back to a job she loved—training her stepfather’s Appaloosas.

  “Tanya, I’m really sorry about—”

  She waved off his apology. “No worries.” She couldn’t hold a grudge against Vic when Alex was the reason he’d left. She was relieved that he hadn’t taken off because he regretted sleeping with her.

  A stilted silence hovered between them, and Tanya’s gaze swung to the boy. It wasn’t just her and Vic anymore, trying to cross paths with their rodeo schedules. “I better go. I want to arrive in Vernon before dark.” She dropped a ten-dollar bill on the table and slid from the booth. “Alex, it was nice meeting you.” She smiled. “Have fun at the rodeos with your uncle.” She purposefully avoided eye contact with Vic and walked out of the diner.

  * * *

  “LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, it’s time for the saddle-bronc competition.”

  Vic crouched in front of Alex and looked him in the eye. “I need to you to sit there and not move until I come back for you.” He pointed to the folding chair behind him in the cowboy ready area. A few minutes earlier he’d gotten up the courage to approach two buckle bunnies ogling the cowboys. He’d planned to ask if Alex could sit with them while he rode, but as soon as he made eye contact the women turned and hurried away.

  As a last resort he’d given twenty dollars to an old man named Roy who watched the gear bags for the cowboys. Roy promised to make sure Alex sat in the chair until Vic returned.

  “I’ll be back after my ride.” He walked Alex to the chair and lifted him onto the seat. “If you wait here and don’t move, I’ll buy you a treat before we leave today. Okay?”

  Alex looked at him but didn’t speak. Last night Vic had lain in bed and stared at the ceiling wondering how he was going to find a therapist for Alex when he didn’t stay in one place more than twenty-four hours.

  “Hey, Vicario! You better hurry or you’ll scratch!”

  “Don’t move.” Vic hustled to the chute and climbed the rails, then straddled the bronc. For a split second he’d forgotten the horse’s name. Duster. Worrying about Alex was messing with his concentration. He threaded the rope through his fingers and tried to push everything but him and the horse out of his mind.

  “Let’s see if Duster can live up to his namesake and toss Vicario in the dust,” the announcer said as the fans stomped their feet. “Don’t count on it, folks. This cowboy puts up a good fight. Vicario is looking to fill a spot at the National Finals Rodeo in December and he needs a win this afternoon.”

  Vic nodded to the gateman. Duster sprang from the chute and attempted to dislodge him with a vicious buck but didn’t succeed. Vic counted the seconds in his head and eased up on his grip when he reached eight—only the buzzer didn’t sound until a second later. By then Vic had already slipped in the saddle and the mistake would cost him first place. He dove for the ground, then rolled to his feet and jogged back to the chute.

  His gaze swung to the folding chair in the corner. Empty. His heart dropped to his stomach. He glanced at the stall Roy had been sitting in front of, and the old man was gone, too. Panic held him immobile. He grabbed the shirtsleeve of a passing cowboy. “Have you seen a little boy wandering around here?”

  The man yanked his arm free and scowled.
“No.”

  Vic hurried through the cowboy ready area, keeping his eyes peeled for Roy or Alex. He found them outside by the calf corral. “Alex!” Vic shouted. He joined the pair, his heart slowly inching back into his chest.

  “I told you to stay in the chair, Alex.”

  “Just showin’ the kid the cows,” Roy said.

  Angry that he’d had the crap scared out of him, Vic grabbed Alex’s hand. “C’mon.” They returned to the chute area to retrieve his gear bag and then Vic pulled Alex aside and squatted in front of him. “You have to do what I say or this isn’t going to work. When I tell you to stay—” he sounded as if he were talking to a dog “—you can’t wander off no matter who says it’s okay. Do you understand?” He didn’t want to scare the boy with stranger-danger stories, but damn it, he needed Alex to realize his safety was serious business. “I was worried when I couldn’t find you,” he said. “I thought something bad might have happened to you.” He ruffled the mop of black hair in need of a cut. “Don’t do that again. Okay?”

  Alex nodded, reassuring Vic that he got the warning. “I bet you’re hungry.” They walked to the concession stand, where Vic ordered corn dogs and lemonades. He didn’t know a thing about raising kids, but if Maria didn’t allow her twin sons to drink soda, he figured it was best to keep Alex off the stuff, too.

  They found an out-of-the-way spot to sit and watch the rest of the rodeo. Normally Vic would be on the road to the next town, but today’s scare had forced him to reevaluate his goals. The thought of quitting rodeo—walking away from twelve years of hard work without a title to show for his efforts—didn’t hurt half as bad as not being able to present Cruz with a national-championship buckle. Vic had dedicated his life to winning a buckle for his friend, and coming up short made him feel hollow inside and spitfire angry.

  He blamed the anger on his mother. Hate was a strong word, but that was the first one that came to mind when he thought of her. How could one woman destroy so many lives? His mother had used drugs on and off most of Vic’s life, and it had never been pretty when she came down from her high.