A Cowboy's Claim

by Marin Thomas

  “Are you tired of all the rodeos, Alex?” He checked over his shoulder—his nephew was fast asleep. By now he’d expected to hear from Renee that they’d located a home for Alex. Twice he’d dialed her number, but something had stopped him from completing the call. Even though Alex never engaged in conversation, he was showing more facial expressions and nodding yes or shaking his head no when asked a question. And the vacant stares were becoming few and far between, which made Vic believe the boy wasn’t thinking about the past as often. He gave most of the credit to Tanya’s upbeat attitude with Alex, and her non-stop efforts to engage him in conversation.

  In all the years Vic had rodeoed, this was the first time he’d traveled with anyone. Giving up his privacy hadn’t been as difficult as he’d expected. He enjoyed having company when he drove and someone to eat with at the end of the day. He’d focused on his goal for so long that he’d shut himself off from feeling any emotion. Then a pint-size kid and a stubborn barrel racer showed up in his life and thawed the chunk of ice in his chest. Thinking about saying goodbye to them felt...uncomfortable.

  Vic’s phone beeped and he checked the number—Judge Hamel. If she was reaching out to him it must be important. “This is Vic.”

  “Victor, this is Judge Hamel. There’s been a development in Alex’s case.”

  He held his breath, anticipating the news that they’d found his nephew a foster home.

  “Natalia’s being paroled early from prison and she’s asked the courts to give her custody of Alex.”

  He had a tough time believing his sister was that eager to be a mother again. “How can she take care of him when she doesn’t have a job or a place to live?”

  “I don’t know all the details, but Alex’s social worker would like you to bring him to Albuquerque, where they’ll evaluate the situation. When can Renee expect you?”

  He couldn’t think straight. “Why haven’t they found a foster home for Alex?”

  “Too many kids and not enough homes. For the time being Natalia may be Alex’s best bet.”

  Natalia wasn’t anyone’s best bet.

  “I’ve been following the rodeo standings. You moved up to eighth place. Maybe this will be the year you win in Vegas.”

  “I hope so.”

  “Don’t forget to call Renee and let her know when you’re coming to town.”

  “I will. Thanks.” He disconnected the call. A lot of people hoped he’d make it to Vegas, but no one more than himself. Everyone wanted the poor kid from the barrio to succeed. Most people assumed he was riding for fame and glory, not because he needed to make things right with Cruz. Once he did that, only then could he get on with his life.

  He glanced at his sleeping copilot. The little bugger had wormed his way into Vic’s heart and he wanted to protect the boy from being hurt again. If Natalia believed she was ready to be a mother, she was delusional. His sister had dropped out of high school and had no formal training of any kind, which meant a minimum-paying job for her at best, and then who’d take care of Alex while she was working? Where would they live—rather, who would they live with? Natalia wouldn’t make enough money to pay for an apartment on her own. He had a slew of questions he wanted answers to before he left Alex in Albuquerque and drove away.

  He spotted Tanya walking toward the truck, so he turned off the engine and rustled Alex’s shoulder. “Hey, little man. Time to wake up. We’re at the rodeo.”

  Alex yawned, then unsnapped the buckle on his safety seat and climbed out. Vic held the door open and took his nephew’s hand as he jumped to the ground. When Alex saw Tanya, he pulled free and walked toward her. Tanya smiled, her eyes focused on Alex. Her smile was what had caught Vic’s attention the first time he noticed her. She didn’t just smile with her mouth—her eyes sparkled, making a person feel special. Important.

  “Did you have a good rest, Alex?” She hugged him.

  “How did Slingshot do on the road?” Vic asked. They’d driven the final three hours without stopping.

  “Good. He’ll be ready to compete tomorrow.” She looked at Alex. “I bet you have to use the restroom.”

  “I’ll take him.” Vic grasped Alex’s hand. “We’ll meet you at the concession stand.” Fifteen minutes later he and Alex found Tanya sitting at a table. The smell of fried food and popcorn filled the air.

  “I think Alex and I will share a roast beef sandwich.” Tanya looked at Alex. “Want to try a banana-berry fruit smoothie?” He nodded.

  “Coming right up.” Vic purchased their meals and they ate in silence. He figured Tanya was tired from driving. “I made a reservation at the Best Western two miles up the road.”

  “Give me a half hour to make sure Slingshot is settled in.” She rose from the table and then waved Alex back to his seat when he tried to follow her. “You wait with your uncle, Alex. I’ll be back in a little bit.”

  Alex’s gaze followed Tanya until she disappeared in the crowd. “What do you say we take a look at the rabbit barn?” Alex nodded. Vic collected their garbage and dumped it into the trash can. Then they walked to the livestock barns. Twice he’d tried to bring up Alex’s grandmother on the drive to Amarillo, but hadn’t been able to find the right words to start the conversation.

  Before they reached the bunny barn they crossed paths with an ice-cream truck and Vic decided now was the time to have that talk with Alex. “Two cones, one with sprinkles.” After he paid for the treats, they sat on a bench in the shade.

  “I’m real proud of you,” Vic said. “It must have been pretty scary when your grandma left you all alone and didn’t come back.”

  Alex stared at his cone. Then after a few seconds he nodded before taking another bite.

  “I’m sorry I never came to visit you or your mom and grandma.” Vic waved a hand in front of him. “Rodeo keeps me pretty busy, but that’s no excuse. I promise to visit you more often after you go back to Albuquerque.” Alex’s eyes widened and Vic got the sense that the boy didn’t want to return to Albuquerque.

  “I bet you miss playing with your friends.”

  Alex stopped eating his treat. What if the boy didn’t have any friends? Vic pictured his nephew stuck inside an apartment day in and day out with nothing but a TV to entertain him. Would it be the same with Natalia?

  Vic didn’t ask what activities Alex had done with his mother because even before she’d been arrested she’d take off for months at a time with guys and leave Alex behind with their mother. Alex had never had a normal family life—then again, neither had Vic and his siblings. He wanted different for Alex. The boy deserved a mom who would hug him and put bandages on his scrapes and a dad who would throw a baseball with him in the yard.

  Alex reached up and touched his sticky fingers to the scar on Vic’s face. Their eyes met and Vic saw no fear in the boy’s gaze—just sympathy. His nephew removed his hand, kissed his tiny palm, then patted the scar. Vic’s heart exploded. “Thanks, buddy. It feels a whole lot better.” He hugged Alex close, humbled by his show of affection and awed that a child who’d been neglected most of his life would possess any compassion for others.

  “It hurt real bad when it happened, but that was a long time ago.” Vic closed his eyes and the past flashed through his mind, his body jerking when he recalled the searing pain of the knife blade slicing through his face. He opened his eyes and found Alex watching him. “It was an accident, buddy.” It was easier to stomach the lie than live with the truth—that his mother had intended to hurt him.

  A burst of cold chilled Vic’s blood. He should have asked the social worker if Alex had been abused by his grandmother. “Hey, buddy, I know you’re not ready to talk yet and that’s okay, but I need to ask you something really important. Did your grandmother ever hurt you?” He held his breath. After a moment Alex nodded. And Vic’s heart dropped into his stomach. He lifted Alex onto his lap. “I�
�m sorry, buddy.” Vic didn’t ask what his mother had done to Alex. He knew. When his mother came down off her high, she’d ranted, thrown objects across the room and shoved her children against the wall.

  “There you are.” Tanya stopped in front of them. “I’ve been searching all over for you guys.” She eyed the ice-cream stains on Alex’s mouth. “I see you had dessert without me.” Her smile faded when her gaze connected with Vic’s. “I’m first out of the alley tomorrow.”

  “Okay. Let’s head over to the motel and check in.” Vic helped Alex off the bench and then the three of them walked out to the parking lot. Once Vic secured Alex in the booster seat and shut the door, Tanya spoke.

  “Is something the matter?” she asked.

  “I’ll talk to you about it tonight after Alex falls asleep.”

  * * *

  LATER ENDED UP being eight-thirty that evening. Once Vic was sure Alex was sleeping soundly, he motioned Tanya to follow him outside.

  “Something’s the matter,” she said. “You’ve got that weird expression on your face again.”

  “Again?”

  “The same one you wore when you and Alex were eating ice cream at the fairgrounds earlier.”

  They stood next to his truck parked in front of the motel room.

  “I spoke with Renee when you were helping Alex with his bath.”

  “Have they found a foster home for him?”

  “Not exactly.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “Renee said it might be a while before the right home opens up for Alex.”

  “You can’t keep dragging that poor boy around the country,” she said. “He should be in preschool this fall.”

  Tanya wasn’t telling Vic anything he didn’t already know. He paced next to the pickup. “My sister’s being paroled early.” He released a ragged breath. “She’ll be living in a halfway house with other women and their children. They have room for Alex there.” Vic waited for Tanya to fire off questions, but she remained silent. “Renee wants me to bring Alex to Albuquerque as soon as possible.”

  “What about your next ride in Kansas at the Cowtown Pro Rodeo?”

  “I’ll have to scratch.”

  “When are leaving?”

  “After we compete tomorrow, but...”

  “What?”

  Saying goodbye to Alex would be difficult, and he could use Tanya’s support. “I was hoping you’d come with us.” Before she had a chance to object, he said, “I could show you my old stomping grounds.”

  “What about Slingshot?”

  “Can you find a place between here and Albuquerque to board him? I’ll pay the fee.”

  Her expression softened. “Are you sure you want me to go with you? Your sister may not appreciate me knowing your family business.”

  “I don’t care what Natalia thinks.” He tangled with wild broncs for a living, but he didn’t have the courage to handle a simple goodbye.

  Because you know it’s not going to be simple.

  “Okay. I’ll find a place to board Slingshot.”

  After Tanya went into the room, Vic stood for a long while outside and stared at the night sky. Leaving Alex in Natalia’s care would be difficult, but once he left Albuquerque it would be the end of the road for him and Tanya. He’d asked her to help him care for his nephew, but until now hadn’t realized he needed her healing touch as much as Alex.

  * * *

  “WHAT’S GOING ON?” Tanya asked as soon as Vic emerged from the supervisor’s office at the downtown Albuquerque CYFD building.

  He grasped her elbow and escorted her outside and across the parking lot to his truck. They’d left her pickup along with Slingshot at Mill Farms, a boarding facility an hour east of Dallas. He held open the passenger door for her, then slid behind the wheel, started the engine and flipped on the air-conditioning.

  “I was hoping for a chance to say goodbye to Alex.” She’d miss Vic’s nephew once he was gone.

  “We’re coming back.” He tapped his fingers against the door rest.

  When he made no move to put the truck into drive, she said, “Talk to me, Vic. What’s going on?”

  “My sister refused to see me.”

  “Why?”

  A harsh laugh burst from his mouth. “Hell if I know. You’d think she’d be grateful that I’ve been taking care of her son.”

  “Let’s go for a drive.” Tanya breathed a sigh of relief when he backed out of the parking spot and turned onto the street.

  “I should have pressed charges against my mother when she attacked me.” He blew out a harsh breath. “Maybe if I had, things would have turned out differently for me and Natalia.”

  “I don’t understand why she’s giving you the cold shoulder.”

  “I think she’s mad I wasn’t around more to protect her from our mother. Instead I chose to avoid home, hang out with my friends and try to pledge a gang.”

  “You don’t seem like the gangbanger type.”

  “When you lose the sense of security that comes with a home and a parent, you turn to anyone willing to look out for you.” He pulled into a Denny’s restaurant. “I don’t want to be too far away when Renee calls.”

  Eating would help pass the time. They went inside and the waitress seated them in a corner booth. They both ordered apple pie and ice cream. “Natalia said that Alex’s father has been asking about him.”

  “What does the man do for a living?”

  “Fixes cars at a collision center.”

  “Do you think he had anything to do with your mother’s disappearance?”

  “No. Hector doesn’t want custody of Alex.”

  “Then why is he asking about his son?”

  “My guess is that he’s testing the waters with Natalia to see if she’ll let him get in her pants again.”

  Poor Alex.

  “After I went on the rodeo circuit, Natalia would call me every few months and ask for money. I offered to help her out, but I insisted she had to find a job. She refused look for work, so I didn’t open my checkbook.” He shrugged. “I figured any money I sent would be confiscated by my mother and used for drugs.”

  They finished their pie, then Vic stared into space. Tanya’s heart ached for him and Alex and the mess they were in. His phone rang and she listened to the one-sided conversation.

  “They’re ready to talk to me,” he said, slipping the phone into his pocket.

  Tanya tossed her napkin aside. “Let’s go.”

  They rode in silence back to the social services offices. When they walked into the building, Vic grasped her hand. “Come with me?”

  “Of course.”

  “Renee, this is Tanya,” Vic said when they entered the private office. “She’s been helping me take care of Alex.”

  “Please, have a seat.” Renee pointed to the chairs in front of the desk, her expression sober.

  “What’s the matter?” he asked.

  “I just got off the phone with Officer Andrews.”

  “And?”

  “I’m sorry, Victor. They found your mother’s body near the fairgrounds. She died of an overdose.”

  Vic felt nothing but relief at the news that his mother was dead. Relief for his mother that she’d finally found peace after a life that had been torturing her for decades. Relief for his nephew; that the boy would never have contact with his grandmother again. Relief for himself. Maybe now he’d stop seeing his mother’s face every time he felt the scar across his cheek.

  “Officer Andrews asked that you call him when we’re finished here.”

  Tanya squeezed his hands but remained silent—she knew not to waste her breath on condolences.

  “Okay, let’s talk about Alex,” Renee said. “We observed Natalia’s vi
sit with Alex in the playroom through a two-way mirror.” She shook her head. “Your sister didn’t pay any attention to him. After a minute or two Alex went off and played with the toys by himself while your sister spent the rest of the time on her cell phone.”

  Not the heartwarming reunion the little boy deserved after being separated from his mother for so long. Tanya curled her fingers into a fist, wishing she could punch something.

  “It’s not surprising Alex didn’t appear distraught when he’d first been found. I believe he’s used to being ignored.” Renee opened a file and scanned the first page. “According to the prison records, your mother never brought Alex to visit Natalia. What concerns me most is Natalia’s lack of maternal instinct.” She nodded to Vic. “And her refusal to visit with you. If we were to place Alex in Natalia’s care, we’d expect you to check up on them, but I doubt she’d cooperate.”

  “What are you saying?” Vic leaned forward in his chair.

  “At this time we don’t believe it’s in your nephew’s best interest to go with his mother.”

  “What happens to Natalia if Alex isn’t placed with her?” Tanya asked. Someone had to voice the question.

  “She’ll remain on probation and receive counseling. Hopefully she just needs time to decompress after being released from prison. We still believe it’s best to reunite a child with their mother, so our goal will be to try again once Natalia has made sufficient progress.”

  “And Alex?”

  “We don’t have a foster family for him yet. While your sister is working on her issues, Alex will have to return to the group home.” Renee narrowed her eyes. “Unless you’re willing to keep him with you awhile longer.”