by Lynn Collins
JR regarded his mom, confusion on his face. “I thought he’d move in with us and I’d see him all the time.”
Lizzie blanched. This was the one thing that hadn’t occurred to her to imagine JR would want. What could she say? “Where would he sleep? I’m sure James has his own house. And you know he travels with Uncle Jess and the rodeo. He can’t be around Shawnee all the time.”
“You aren’t coming back for five more years?” Forlornly JR stuck his chin out.
James reached over and put his hand on JR’s back. “I promise I’ll be around a lot sooner than that. There are things I have to take care of like your Uncle Jesse’s rodeo schedule. Maybe one weekend you and your mom could meet us at a rodeo. Would you like that?”
JR twisted his lips, clearly thinking. “I would like that. You have to promise me something.”
Lizzie’s stomach tightened. What could her son want of the father he’d just met?
“Anything,” James promised before he even heard the request.
This didn’t bode well. Fear gripped Lizzie as she prayed her son wouldn’t be disappointed.
“You have to watch me ride tonight. I want to know if I’m as good as Uncle Jesse.” JR waved at someone over on the other side of the park. “Mom, there’s Sandy. Can I tell him about my dad? And how he’s not in prison?”
Lizzie winced then sighed. What could it hurt after the whole town had seen the three of them together today? Church tomorrow morning would be gossip heaven. “Fine,” she said. “But stay away from the river and come right back here as soon as I yell.”
“Thanks, Mom.” JR jumped up, took five steps then stopped and turned around. “Bye, Dad.”
James waved back with a choked, “Bye.”
Lizzie saw him wipe his eyes. “Yeah, big man. Dad.” She wasn’t sure how she felt about the quickness with which JR had accepted him.
“I can’t believe he’s mine.” James grinned over at Lizzie. “Although I’m still mad as hell you kept this from me.”
“Yeah, yeah, I’m sorry.” Lizzie saw disbelief on his craggy face. “No, really, I am. Sorry. There were lots of nights I wanted to call, but…” She looked away. If she’d tried hard enough, she could have gotten his number from someone. Barb, maybe.
“I would have been there for you, Liz.” His voice was husky.
“But you weren’t. You were there for Jesse.” She held her hand up when James started to respond. “Don’t. We don’t need to fight this fight again. I want one thing from you now.”
“Anything.”
Lizzie shook her head. There he went, promising the moon again before he knew if he could deliver.
“You make a promise to JR, you better keep your word. I won’t have you breaking his heart.”
“Lizzie, I’m not going to be an absentee dad. Not anymore. I’ll keep my promises.” James’s cell rang and he glanced at her, a non-verbal request.
“Go ahead. Make sure you’re there for this mutton busting thing tonight. I could kill my dad for signing him up this year.”
James grinned. “I’ll be there. And he’ll be the best cowboy out there. I know it.” He stood, taking the call, as he walked. “This is James.”
Uneasily, Lizzie watched him walk around talking to whoever was on the other end of the phone. What had she done? She hadn’t seen James in five years. Was he still the upstanding, honest, caring man she’d fallen for in high school? For JR’s sake, she hoped so.
James came back toward the table and sat beside her. “Listen, I hate to leave, but Jesse hasn’t shown up for the pre-ride meeting. They’re threatening to disqualify him if I can’t get him there in an hour.”
Typical Jesse, the only man who never thought the rules meant him. “Go ahead. We’re going to check on dad then we’ll be heading to the rodeo grounds.”
He rubbed her cheek. “Thanks, Lizzie. He’s a great kid.”
“You’re welcome. Mutton busting is the first thing on the schedule. Make sure you’re there by five. He’ll be looking for you.”
“Come hell or high water,” James affirmed.
Torn between a sense of hope and one of impending disaster, Lizzie looked after him. Hurricane Jesse better not cause flooding tonight, mister.
The hotel room was empty. Jesse’s truck sat parked outside the room in the same spot where they’d left it after lunch at Daisy’s café. When James left for the parade, Jesse stayed on the bed, watching the sports channel. James should have known something was up by his brother’s casual response.
“I’ll meet you there bro. I want to relax for a few minutes.”
Relax my butt. Jesse probably hooked up with some chick and blown off the rodeo. It wouldn’t be the first time, James thought bitterly. Jesse didn’t have a reputation for consistency in the industry. Lately it was affecting the venues that would accept his application to ride. Rodeo sponsors couldn’t highlight riders who didn’t show for their rides even if they were two-time champions. James had been able to calm Jesse’s major sponsors, but it meant putting Jesse on a tight leash—one set to choke him if he started this crap up again.
The rodeo world was too small for Jesse to even blow off a local competition without causing ripples. His sponsors paid for the trips, the clothes, and a salary for both brothers. Not showing up would be a breach of contract, which could mean having to claw their way to Vegas for the championships without sponsorships or money.
James had to find his brother. He only hoped he could find Jesse sober within the hour.
James headed to the lobby. After an exchange of pleasantries with the young, blonde receptionist, he asked about Jesse only to be told he’d left an hour ago.
James grimaced. “Did he say where he was going? Was he with anyone?”
The girl shook her head. “He didn’t say where he was going, but he was with this older lady looked like she thought she was still a rodeo queen. Wore a pink hat with a tiara on the front.”
James ground his teeth. Damn it. “Serena.”
“Yeah, that was her name. She had it plastered on her butt in rhinestones. Do you want to leave a message for him?”
Yeah, just not one I can say in polite company.
“Only if he shows up in the next hour. Tell him he’s missing the rider’s meeting.” James slapped the counter. “Thanks.”
The girl nodded. “I hope you find your brother in time.”
“Me too,” James said as he walked out the door.
So, he took off with Serena.
James jumped into the truck and cranked the engine. He’d need to cover ground fast to check all the bars and restaurants and get back to the rodeo grounds with his wayward brother in time.
Fifty-five minutes later, after walking through the entire town, including the quilt show at the high school and the grocery store, James gave up. He drove to the rodeo grounds and stood at the bull pen, no Jesse in sight. Wherever his brother had gone, he’d hidden his tracks well. And from what the hotel receptionist said, Serena should be easy to spot in that outfit. He took off his hat, running his fingers through his hair.
“Damn it, Jesse.” James threw his hat on the ground. He was done. If Jesse wanted to play these games, he could manage his own career. James had other people to worry about.
A pair of booted feet appeared in James’s range of sight and Jesse picked up James’s hat and brushed it off. “You shouldn’t throw around your hat like that. You’ll break the brim.”
James grabbed the hat. “Where have you been? They’ve disqualified you from riding. All your fees are forfeit and you might as well forget about the country store endorsement. Those sponsors didn’t drive all the way up here from Salt Lake to see the other riders. They came to see you.”
“Calm down. I’ve already made nice with the committee. I’m scheduled to ride tomorrow at two. And yes, I’ll be there.” Jesse slapped his brother on the back. “You worry too much.”
“Jesse, sometimes, you…”
Jesse held out his ha
nd. “Hold up, they’re announcing your competition.”
“What are you talking about?”
“It’s mutton busting time. Aren’t you riding?” Jesse deadpanned.
“It started already? I’ve got to go.” His first promise as a father and he’d already messed up. James took off toward the staging area.
“Hey, I was joshing. I don’t think they’ll let you ride,” Jesse’s voice echoed in the large area.
James pushed through the milling cowboys waiting for the team roping competition. He got to the corral as the sheep and their riders were released. He searched the crowd of kids and sheep for JR. There, there was the straw hat. He was still on the sucker.
“Hold on, JR. You can do this,” he yelled, even though he knew the kid would never hear him over the roar of the crowd. He’d been in the middle of that madhouse. But he yelled just the same.
The sheep had already lost most of their riders, yet still three young boys and a girl were going strong. One by one, the other kids were thrown or slipped off their sheep, leaving JR and the girl. One more spin around the corral. James saw his son’s face, wearing a look of determination and a small smile. The girl’s grip was slipping. All of a sudden JR was the last man standing. A rodeo clown stepped in front of JR and his sheep, pulling the boy off and swinging him up to his shoulder.
“We have a winner. JR Hudson, a local boy, is this year’s mutton bustin’ champion. This kid held on with determination. His folks might have an up and coming bull rider on their hands. As soon as we get all the sheep penned up, we’ll start up the team roping.” The announcer turned off his microphone with a blare of feedback.
James took off at a run to find JR and Lizzie. He found them as they were leaving the staging area, a small trophy gripped in the little boy’s hands. JR saw him first.
“James! I mean, Dad. Did you see me ride? I held on like Gramps said. And they gave me this.” He shoved the trophy into James hands.
“I saw you, buddy. Did you hear me cheering for you?” James crouched in front of JR. Emotions swept him. How could he be so attached already? He grinned at Lizzie, surprised to see dark clouds circling on her face.
What had he done now?
“—and the announcer said I could be a bull rider,” JR continued excitedly. “Do you think Uncle Jesse would teach me? Maybe tomorrow after he rides?” JR looked up at James, his face alight with happiness.
“Maybe. First, we have to introduce you to your uncle. He’s going to be surprised. This is nice. You’ll have to take it for show and tell for school.” James handed the trophy back. Standing up he nodded to Lizzie. “You okay?”
“Fine. I wish you would have been here like you said.” Accusation filled her voice.
Confused, James shot back, “I am here.”
“Now. Now that the hand holding and hard part is done.” She leaned closer, whispering so JR wouldn’t hear, “He needed you before the ride, too. That’s when he was scared and wanting a man to tell him it would be all right. But both you and my father were somewhere else. That left JR alone when he needed you.”
Anger seethed through James. “He wasn’t alone. He had you.”
She shook her head. “No. I’m not the father he just met who promised to be here then broke that promise to chase his grownup brother. I’m not the grandfather who taught him to ride the damn sheep in the first place when I wanted him to wait another year then deserted him to be who knows where when the time actually came to ride. I’m not a man, and that’s what he needed. No, James, I told you. You make a promise to my son, you keep it. Period.”
“That’s not fair.” James glanced over at JR, intently watching the team ropers. Or at least pretending to watch. James figured JR was listening to the exchange between him and Lizzie. And trying not to take sides. “I didn’t get the memo on my being a dad until what, five hours ago? And now you’re rating my performance on timing?”
“Not getting the memo didn’t stop you from making a promise you shouldn’t have made if you weren’t going to keep it, James.” Lizzie puffed out an angry breath. “I should have known when you had to make a choice it wouldn’t go in our favor. Jesse has always been top on your list. I was a fool to tell you anything.”
“The only mistake you made was not telling me sooner. You never let me make a choice. You made it for me.”
Before Lizzie could retort, a male voice from behind them said, “JR, hey buddy, was that you out there?”
“Cash!” JR jumped towards the new man. “Did you see me? I was the best, the clown even said.”
“If I’d known you were riding, I would have been down here earlier, getting you pumped up.” Cash hugged the little boy.
Lizzie shot a look at James.
La-tee-dah, James thought grumpily. Cash would have been the perfect parent. Then, because he couldn’t help it, but not on my watch.
“That’s okay, Mom was here. Gramps was stuck talking to Mr. Davis.” JR kicked the dirt with the toe of his boot.
“I think this calls for a celebration,” Cash told him. “I have a gallon of vanilla ice cream over at the restaurant for special occasions. And this seems like a special occasion if I ever saw one. Maybe a huckleberry sundae? Or are you a shake man?”
“Sundae. No, shake.” JR looked up at his mother. “Can I have both?”
“You can have one and only after you eat something for dinner.” Lizzie pulled down the cowboy hat over JR’s eyes.
Cash nodded at James. “You’re welcome, of course. And Jesse, too.”
“I’d like that. But Jesse’s a little preoccupied.” No way in heck was Cash going to win over his son with a little ice cream. The man needed to know James was serious about claiming his territory.
A hand slapped his back. “James Sullivan? I thought that was you.” A balding man with a beer gut stepped in between him and Lizzie. “We got here a couple hours ago. Long drive from Utah, but pretty.”
James tried to settle as he turned to one of Jesse’s potential new sponsors. They expected him to be professional when all he wanted to do was fight this out with Lizzie. Even if they were on stage in front of the entire town, the rodeo circuit and every shirttail relation who loved a good party and a good fight. “Mr. Cooper. Glad to see you.”
“Where’s that brother of yours? Out cowboying with some pretty cowgirl?” The man leered at Lizzie who pulled JR closer.
James shrugged. “He’s around here somewhere. I just saw him. He doesn’t ride until tomorrow so you have some time to relax and enjoy.” He put his arm around Lizzie. “I’d like to introduce you to my girlfriend, Lizzie.”
Cash flashed a questioning look at Lizzie who slightly shook her head, we’ll talk later.
No, you won’t, James promised them silently.
“Nice to meet you, Lizzie.” Cooper’s gaze roamed her up and down. The only thing he missed was meeting her eyes.
James wanted to punch him. But instead he pulled JR in front of him and stepped in front of Lizzie. “This is my son, JR. He won the mutton busting competition.”
“Talent must run in the family.” Cooper ignored JR. “Listen, can we talk? I want to go over our contract offer with you before you present it to your brother. I think you’ll be pleasantly surprised at a few changes I added since we last spoke.”
Groan.
James glanced at Lizzie. “We were about to grab something to eat.”
She shook her head. “JR and I will go with Cash. Then I’ve got to head home before it gets dark. You go ahead. We’ll finish this later.”
James wasn’t sure what that meant, but it sounded like when she used to say fine and didn’t mean fine.
“Later,” Cash called, walking away, a shit-eating grin plastered over his face.
You might have won this battle buddy, but it’s not over. Not by a long shot.
“So Mr. Cooper, you feel like a good steak and a couple beers?” James headed toward the parking lot with Jesse’s future sponsor. Someday he’d be d
one and Jesse could handle this on his own.
Come hell or high water.
Lizzie moved pieces of the salmon on her plate around the grilled asparagus. She hoped Cash wouldn’t notice her lack of appetite, but the man spoke as soon as she put her fork down.
“Lizzie, look. I know you have lots on your mind.” Cash reached over and laid his hand on hers.
“That obvious?” Lizzie tried to smile.
“That having James and his brother back in town has thrown you into the river a few hundred times this weekend? A little.” Cash smiled. “Look, you’ve told him the big secret. The ball’s in his court. Will he step up and be a man or keep being one of the boys?”
“Jesse’s won’t like the competition.” Lizzie sipped her iced tea.
“Uncle Jesse loves competition. That’s why he’s a bull rider,” JR announced through a mouthful of French fries.
“Honey, you haven’t even met your Uncle Jesse.” Lizzie leaned over with a napkin and wiped ketchup off JR’s lip.
“Yeah, but I know bull riders. I’m going to be one someday.” JR burped. “’Scuse me.”
Lizzie shook her head. Hopefully this newfound occupation would go the way of the astronaut, the doctor, and the garbage man. Out of his thoughts as soon as he found a new hero.
“You ready for your dessert? What did you decide? Sundae or shake?” Cash grinned at the miniature cowboy.
“Shake please. Chocolate?” JR swung his legs. “Did you know my dad from school, too?”
Cash waved over their waitress. “Two chocolate shakes and…?” he focused on Lizzie.
“A small bowl of vanilla ice cream with huckleberry sauce.” Lizzie gave in. For the next few hours she would relax and enjoy and not think coming to some sort of an agreement with James about JR. She’d be a Scarlett tonight; she’d think about hard things tomorrow. “Cash was a year ahead of us. You know he played football though, so he thought he was all that.”
Cash leaned back, pretending to look hurt. “I didn’t think I was all that.” He grinned at JR. “I was all that.”
“Big talk for a small-town restaurant owner,” Lizzie teased.
