The simple ceremony completed, Deanna notices that Jamie doesn’t place anything on the casket. He stands alone, supporting Tanner, who appears frail for the first time, since she has met him. He bends over and places a small gold locket, upon the coffin. He falters as he tries to rise and Jamie catches him to help him stand erect. After the ceremony, everyone heads back toward the ranch, except for Jamie and Tanner. She turns to watch them lower the casket into the grave and begin to fill it with earth. Deanna knows the two of them won’t return until they have seen to Irene’s resting place.
Before Deanna leaves to head back to the house with the others she notices a small headstone at the other end of the little plot. She considers going over to see who else is buried there as she thought Mary was the only one. As she turns to go and look a strange feeling comes over her and a sudden chill. She feels strange being there and hurries to catch up with the others. It is almost like she felt a presence there, but not of this world. Maybe it was because Mary was there. Knowing how much Jamie loved her, and it being a private place for what he considers for his family. The chill and eerie feeling doesn’t leave her until she leaves the burial ground and heads back toward the ranch.
Rosa has prepared a lunch for all of those who came to the funeral. There were almost a hundred people there, most from the mission and many from around the ranch who were neighbors and whose children have became friends with T. J. and the other girls. It is a somber day, one that many just sit and give solace where they can.
Jamie arrived later and was quiet, distracted and very distant. Deanna feels it’s best to leave him by himself, reckoning each person handles grief in their own way. Jamie soon leaves without a word, riding out on Storm heading out west of the ranch. Something seemed to change that day between the two of them something she feels may never be the same again.
Jonah, Katy and Deanna left later that day for home each of them lost in their own thoughts……
CHAPTER 17
“The Impersonation”
Deanna sits and watches as Jonah cleans and oils his saddle, lovingly caressing it. Of all the things he owns, it’s his prize possession, because Jamie gave it to him. Jonah respects him more than anyone he’s ever known, and they are becoming closer all the time. Jamie has started working with him on his barrel racing, teaching him the tricks of the trade as far as rodeo competition and training Buck as well. She hopes that Jamie will remember his promise to her about Jonah going on to school next fall.
Katy too, is doing well under his training methods. She will be out of court ordered therapy soon because of him. She has noticed how much he cares for all these young people that surround him in his life, but she can’t get rid of this feeling that there is something that he has still hidden from her, a secret that she’s yet to discover.
Since Irene’s passing, Deanna and Jamie’s relationship had been strained. He’s the same with Jonah and Katy, but there is now remoteness between her and him now that she feels.
“Mom I wonder how old Jamie was when he won this saddle at Calgary, he couldn’t have been more than fourteen or fifteen, he must have been the youngest rider ever in National Rodeo Finals.
“I don’t know, what does the plaque say again?”
“It reads, wait while I remove the polish, All Around Cowboy, Calgary Stampede 1974,” Jonah replies to her.
“Your right, he couldn’t have been that old, I wonder what the age is for that level of competition.” Deanna begins to get a bad feeling about this, How could he have won something that he could not have been of age to qualify? Suddenly, she begins to put together all the pieces that have been bothering her.
“Jonah I have to go to the office, please feed and water everyone for me, and I will leave some money for you and Katy to have dinner. I may be late coming back I have some research that I have to look into.”
“Sure Mom, is there anything wrong? I mean this is kind of sudden.” He looks concerned.
“No I just want to tie up some loose ends before the story goes to press next week.” She grabs a coat and her bag, running out the door and jumping into the car and then speeding off. Her heart is racing now; this could be what she’s been afraid of all along.
Driving over to the office her heart is in her throat, this thing about Calgary could be a huge hurdle; Jamie has lied to her and deceived her children. She can’t believe that he would create a story like that and let her believe that he is something he’s not. Her own feelings for him are turning Deanna inside out, just when she was starting to believe that there might be someone out there for her that she could count on for the truth and grow old with.
She can’t believe that he could have deceived her about doing something that he didn’t. It just makes her wonder what else he may not have been truthful about, not only with her but all the people that think he’s something he’s not.
Deanna must get to Ellsworth and tell him what she suspects; he may have the means to find the truth. This is the first thing that precedes Jamie’s history in Mexico all those years ago. Why didn’t she see it before? So far, his past came up a zero no school, military, nothing, why didn’t they check out the rodeo angle before now, and she should have checked about the song writing also? Deanna has to know the truth, the only person that could have the power to hide someone’s past that much, has to have been Ed Haskell. He had the connections to bury or create an identity. Why would he need a new name or life, what’s he hiding?
Deanna pulls into the parking lot of the magazine and rushes inside. “Is Mr. Ellsworth still here?” She demands of the security guard at the main desk.
“Yes Ms. Gaynor, he’s in a meeting with production on the third floor. Do you want me to page him, is anything wrong?” He inquires of her.
“No I’ll just go up and talk to him, if I happen to miss him, please tell him that I have to talk with him right away. It’s very urgent.” He nods and immediately buzzes her in.
Deanna waits for the elevator to come down from the upper floors, as she tries hard to compose herself before she meets with Ellsworth. The door opens and takes her to the third floor. Ellsworth is standing waiting for her as she steps out. “Deanna are you all right, Sam just called me and said you seemed distraught. What’s wrong, are the kids ok?
“I’m Ok, I just need to talk to you about the story and something that came up today we need to check out!” She says, raising her voice as she steps out. “
“Come into my office and calm down, then you can tell me what’s got you so upset, whatever it is we’ll figure it out, just calm down and tell me all about it.” He opens the door to his office and pushes the button on his intercom for his secretary.
“Yes Mr. Ellsworth,” the intercom answers.
“Would you get me, a scotch and water and some white wine please?”
Then turning toward Deanna, he asks, “Now tell me what has you so worked up and why were you crying?”
“Mr. Ellsworth I believe that Jamie has been lying about certain facts in his past, what little there is of a past. He gave Jonah a saddle that he claimed to have won at the Calgary Stampede in Canada.”
“Well what’s wrong with that, I would think that is a very magnanimous thing to do.” He says with a puzzled look on his face.
“No, you don’t understand, he would’ve had to have been around fifteen years old. You can’t be on the National Rodeo circuit at that age you had to be at least twenty one. Why would he lie about that? We need to find out who won that saddle and why he wants us to believe he did. Who do you know that might know who did personally? I guess I could have Googled it, but I panicked and came right over here, it just really shattered me. Have you gotten back that background check from Washington yet?”
Ellsworth appears to be thinking for a moment; suddenly he goes through his rolodex looking for something.
“There is one person who might be able to button that down, and he lives locally. His name is Jake Clayton; he lives out by the lake. He’s the PRA p
ast president and in his younger days he was a top contender on the national circuit, and he also sits on the board of the National Rodeo Museum. I have his number here somewhere.” Thumbing through his rolodex, he says. “Got it, I’ll write it down for you, if anyone will know the answers to your questions, he will. Let me ask this, do you want to have the answer or would you be better off letting this go? Your story is really done, we can run it with what you’ve got, and it’s good. Are you sure it’s about the truth, or that he might have deceived you personally? John asks her.”
Ellsworth sits back waiting and watching for a reaction to this question from her, not sure himself which it will be.
“I won’t kid you that I am not interested in him as a man, but I have already married one phony, I don’t need another one. I have to think of my children as well and those other girls too. We need to have that background check, if someone buried his past there has to be a trail somewhere and a reason why. I need you to find that for me Mr. Ellsworth.”
“Alright Deanna, I’ll have the report by tomorrow, unless he’s under a presidential seal. I’ll find out all there is about him, I promise you that.” He swears to me.
“I’ll try to call this Clayton guy tonight and drive out there sometime tomorrow if he can see me. I will touch base with you after I speak with him. We may have to do a rewrite on the story if Jamie comes up a fraud… Mr. Ellsworth, thank you for being a great boss--- and a friend.” Deanna says to him as he hands her a tissue.
“Melody and I hope that you find nothing that will change your story, but if what you think is true I hope you will be strong enough to handle it.” He gets up and walks her to the door and pats her on the shoulder as she leaves his office.
Driving home Deanna feels terrible about this new development, she really believed he wouldn’t lie to her. Why would he make up something like that? He didn’t have to impress her or Jonah; it seems out of character for him, Jamie’s so talented in so many ways. It just doesn’t make sense, but if he’s lied, she can’t forgive that. What she needed from him most of all at this stage of her life was honesty, that was the most important factor of all.
Pulling into the driveway she notices the truck gone, Jonah must have taken Katy to dinner. She can’t help but think what this will do to her, if Jamie is less than what she thinks he is.
Angel greets her at the door and she proceeds to her study to dial Jake Clayton.
“Hello Clayton here,” Deanna hears a strong but deep voice with a western drawl to it.
“Hello Mr. Clayton, My name is Deanna Gaynor, I work for John Ellsworth. He’s asked me to give you a call. It’s about Rodeo Champions. He said if anyone would know the answers to what we need, it would be you.”
“Old John said that, did he, and how is the ancient news hound anyway?”
“He’s good would it be possible if I came out to see you sometime tomorrow if you have the time?”
“Sure thing Mame, I will be at the Grill tomorrow, just come out to Okeechobee City my place is right on the main drag, center of town. It’s called Jake’s Place you can’t miss it.”
“Thank you Mr. Clayton, see you tomorrow afternoon around twelve thirty.”
“Looking forward to it Mame,” Jake says and hangs up.
CHAPTER 18
“Jake Clayton”
Parking her truck in the parking lot next to a saloon styled structure in the town of Okeechobee, the large sign stating “Jake’s Place” tells her she’s at the right location. The smell of ribs and country cooking pervades the air and walking in you can tell it is a special place. Proceeding over to the bar she asks for Jake, the bartender tells her to have a seat, and he’ll get him for her.
Looking around the room there are hundreds of pictures on the walls of cowboys and cowgirls taken at rodeos in black and white and color. Over in the corner surrounded by a padded fence stands a mechanical bull. Up front is a large stage with instruments on it and a substantial dance floor. There is a sign behind the bar that reads “Lady’s Night, Thursday, Drinks For Free” and Line Dancing Saturday Night.
“Howdy Mame, I’m Jake. You must be Miz Gaynor, pleasure to meet you.” And he shakes her hand wearing a handsome smile.
He’s a substantial man, but not fat, well over six feet tall and looks to be around three hundred pounds, with huge hands.
“Howdy yourself Mr. Clayton, you have a great place here real authentic.”
“Just call me Jake everyone does, won’t you follow me into my office? Would you like something to eat or drink? Just let Slim there take your order.”
“Some ice water would be great,” she answers him.
“I’ll get it Slim.” Drawing Deanna a bottle of water from the cooler and handing it to her, he gestures for her to follow him to his office.
“Now what favor can I do my old friend John, seeing as he is living with the rich and socially accepted,” he asks me with a huge smile.
Deanna asks him if it’s alright to turn on her recorder, he nods. She then asks him her first question. “We were wondering if you knew who might have won the Nineteen Seventy Four Calgary Stampede for All around Cowboy.”
“Let me see Seventy Four Stampede you said, yeah, I remember him alright, that was J.D. Thompson. He was top cowboy of the year. He won every event that whole year.
“Are you sure that was his name, did you know him personally?” She asks Jake.
“That boy was a story all by himself, knew him about ten years, we come from the same area of the country. I heard tell; he got himself killed down in California about a year after Wade Davis was killed by a bull. Why, is old John gonna do a western story for a change instead of his highfaluting high brow stuff?”
“As a matter of fact, your Mr. Thompson may very well figure into a story we’re doing. Can you tell me all you know about him?”
“Sure thing, he came from the Texas Big Bend area originally, moved to Wyoming when he was around ten.”
“Do you remember exactly what year that was Jake?”
“That would have been, let’s see, about sixty one or sixty two. Clarksville, Wyoming was a sleepy little cattle town then, not much to brag on. He moved into a little place just outside of town, with his parents and baby sister. His Pa was a drinker and beat up on them pretty often, I remember my Ma talking with the parson about it and how it was a shame, what with them young’uns having to watch and all.
J. D. was a big kid even then. One day his Pa come home roaring drunk and started to hit his Ma, well he up and grabs the old man by the collar and throws him off the porch into the street. Standing there with his fists clenched up tight, waiting for him to try to come in again. The old man got up, fire in his eyes, and he came a boring in. Well, he walloped him upside his head, and his Pa went down like he was pole axed. It cracked his head, J.D. he got scared, and took off before the sheriff arrived, he never know’d that his old man was arrested and sent away. His Ma died shortly after that and I don’t recollect what happened to his sister. I think there was some kind scandal; back then folks didn’t talk about certain things. Any way I don’t remember what it was. His sister went to one of those State run foster care places for unwed girls. He never showed for her funeral. It was a some years later that he was making a name for himself on the local rodeo circuit.
“What year was that Jake, do you recall,” Deanna asks him?
“It was nineteen seventy two, I remember because my son was born that year, and I needed to make money and that boy beat the hell out of me in every event. I started to look for rodeos that he wouldn’t enter, because he just couldn’t be beat. I was doing pretty well and in a couple of years I was ranked third in the standings and my agent thought I should go to Calgary and try for the really big purses up there.
J. D. and Wade showed up to, along with an old rodeo clown that I can’t recollect his name, but the three of them rode together. Wade always said J. D. thought the old clown was for luck, but the three was friends. Actually Wade was more
like an older brother to him than a friend. Well Old J. D. cleaned our clocks up there, he won everything there was. He made a pile of money and a name for himself, it was some kind of party I’ll tell you that. He would light up any place he walked into, handsome guy and could sing the birds right out of the trees.
“Was J.D. a singer and songwriter,” I interrupt him to ask.
“Sure was, had himself a bunch of big hits, but the way he was living I knew it would wind up a bad end.”
“A bad end, what do you mean by that Jake?” Deanna asks him to explain further.
“He was involved with a barrel racer by the name of Trinity Lopez prettiest little thing that ever was and spirited too. She used to get him all worked up and make him jealous by flirting with all the rodeo guys until he was battling with just about everyone. Of course it didn’t help that they all thought he was drawing the easiest rides.”
“You me like setups?”
“Yeah, that’s what they was saying, but some of us knew he wasn’t and the promoters weren’t doping his animals either. You see he had this way with the bronc’s and bulls, he always went over just before he was about to get on and talked to them and he would stroke them, I swore he could almost talk to them. He would then get up on them and they would like calm down and he’d have himself an almost perfect ride.
“Then he was very successful, but you said something about a bad end. What about that?”
“He and Wade were arguing all the time about his drinking and driving and using pills. The night before Wade got killed, they had them a showdown and J.D. told him he wasn’t going to carry the old man anymore, and they got into it, right in the bar slugging it out until J. D. knocked Wade out and he and Trinity walked out.
The next day was the main event and Wade was waiting for him to show, but he didn’t. They made the last call and when J.D. failed to answer the roll call for the bull he had drawn, Wade moved up in line for that bull that J.D. was supposed to ride.
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