Reunited with the Bull Rider

by Christine Wenger

  Callie sat and looked out the window. The benches were being tidied for the third graders. Down the road came the white food van. It was early, but it came nonetheless.

  Everything was taking place just as it had yesterday. But she was different. Reed and she had given themselves to each other, free and without holding back. It was a beautiful night and in the wee hours of the morning, they’d clung together and dozed on and off until they made love again.

  She didn’t have to imagine them together and wonder...

  Now she knew.

  And even before they’d made love, she’d known she loved him.

  She’d always loved Reed Beaumont.

  * * *

  CALLIE DRAINED HER COFFEE. She’d probably drunk a whole pot since breakfast.

  Callie couldn’t stop thinking about her night with Reed. It was like the years had melted away, but their lovemaking was just as exciting and tender as it had been before. Reed remembered what she liked, and didn’t hesitate to use it. He had her swooning.

  And she knew exactly what he wanted. Her hands and fingers worked their magic on him, and she loved when he moaned and groaned under her ministrations.

  But she really ought to be thinking about her job rather than Reed Beaumont.

  She dived into gathering together individual paperwork pertaining to each Beaumont brother and entering whatever she had on their specific spreadsheets. She’d contact their banks and fill in what was missing and what she needed.

  She’d saved Reed’s for last. Luke’s and Jessie’s were pretty much straightforward.

  But Reed’s important papers were stuffed into three huge bubble mailers marked Important Papers.

  In spite of being miffed at him, she had to grin.

  Shaking out the contents, bank statements and receipts piled onto the desk, Callie saw money orders and investment statements totally hundreds of thousands of dollars. There were several computer printouts, statements from something called JFW Investments and handwritten notes that looked like some kind of stock tips, she guessed.

  It was a mishmash of... What?

  She read, stared and sorted for over an hour. A pattern began to develop and she sat back in her chair, dumbstruck.

  What was Reed doing?

  Then the answer came to her loud and clear: he was buying, selling and trading in stocks—a lot.

  Callie felt nauseous. No. He couldn’t be. It was like gambling to her. He was bandying about extra cash, while she had to work for every penny. She knew it triggered her insecurities about her dad, but she couldn’t help it.

  There was gambling like her father loved—cards, wheels, slot machines, horses, sports parlays—but whatever Reed was doing was different, but she considered it gambling, absolutely.

  She saw one receipt totaling over fifteen thousand dollars. What she could do with that money! She’d pay it on some of the twins’ medical bills...or those of her mother’s that insurance didn’t pay. What a waste! Callie put her head down on the desk. She thought she knew Reed, but this had come out of the blue.

  She had to talk to him, find out about this and what other secrets he was keeping.

  * * *

  THE THIRD GRADERS were just as cute as the first graders. Their questions were spot-on, and Big Dan was more relaxed than he’d been yesterday.

  As Reed listened to the Cowhand Band, he wondered what Callie was doing. He thought she’d join him for the music and picnic, but she was clearly miffed at his cheerful demeanor this morning.

  Thinking of Callie, he grinned. He’d been waiting for her to realize that they belonged together and that they’d wasted too many years.

  He loved her.

  That’s what had really sunk in this morning. That’s why he was just so damn happy. He wanted to shout it to the world.

  She might have shared his happiness, if she wasn’t so embarrassed. He understood how she felt now. He got it.

  It had been a long time since he felt like this. Ten years, to be exact. It was lonely on the road, he had to admit. Sure, he had his friends and his fellow riders, but a special person eluded him.

  He really should walk up to the big house and apologize to Callie. Checking his watch, he saw that he had a window of opportunity to talk to her.

  He took his father aside and told him where he was going. Making the trek up the slight hill, he walked to the patio doors and peeked in. He saw her pouring over a desk full of documents.

  “Hi, Callie.”

  She looked up from her work, a fistful of papers in her hand.

  “What’s all that?”

  “This is your stuff. You tell me.”

  He noticed that the sparkle had left her eyes and her cheeks were a bright pink.

  What happened?

  He crutched over to the desk, and glanced at what she’d been doing.

  “That’s all my investment stuff, huh?” He shrugged. “Is there a problem?”

  “Maybe.” She sighed. “It’s probably none of my business, but can I ask you a question?”

  “Sure. And, Callie, my business is your business, so ask away.”

  “What’s all this, Reed? Are you doing online stock gambling?”

  He laughed. “I call it an investment. I buy and sell. I play online with stocks in my spare time. You know, day trading. It gives me something to do when I’m waiting for a PBR event to start, or when I’m in a hotel room, bored.”

  She wanted to cry. “You’re gambling with thousands of dollars.”

  He shrugged. “I am investing in various projects. I’m not gambling.”

  “Do you make any money doing it? Or shouldn’t I ask?”

  “I do well.” He smiled. “I’m paying for all the remodeling and construction going on right now from my stocks. It’s really my play money.”

  “It’s big money,” she insisted. “From what I can tell.”

  “So? Why is this bothering you, Callie?”

  “I didn’t know you gambled.”

  “I don’t consider it gambling. It’s just... I don’t know...investing. I don’t know why you keep calling it gambling. It’s just fun to do.”

  “Reed, my father is a gambler. My life was ruined by gambling. I despise it with a passion and everything that has to do with it.”

  He looked at her as if she had two heads. “You have to be kidding. Is this a deal breaker between you and me?”

  Tears stung her eyes and she turned away. “I don’t know if we had a deal, Reed. Maybe we just had a great night of sex and nothing more.”

  “Do you really believe that?”

  “I don’t know what I believe anymore. I’m so confused. I’m going to leave now, maybe go home.” She tried not to cry, but the tears fell down her cheeks and onto her blouse. “I need to get away for a while and do something else.”

  Grabbing her purse, she left the Beaumont Ranch.

  * * *

  “WHAT THE HELL?” Reed mumbled. He felt like he’d been slammed to the dirt and run over by Cowabunga again.

  All this drama was because he invested online?

  This was the second time that Callie had blown up this morning.

  He never remembered her as being so adamant about what she believed.

  The phone rang and he answered it. “Moved up? When...?Okay... I’ll be there.”

  His orthopedic surgeon had to change his schedule, so Reed’s appointment had been moved up to tomorrow morning. It was an important visit, in that Reed would find out if he had to have an operation or if the meniscus had healed on its own.

  It didn’t appear that Callie would be thrilled to see him so soon, nut he didn’t want to disturb his father, who’d be lecturing grade five tomorrow, and all of his ranch hands were busy cooking or singing.

  He racked his brain to find someone that he cou
ld bum a ride to and from his doctor’s officer, but he drew a blank. Taxi and bus service hadn’t reached this far north yet, and it was too far to hitch to the doctor. He just had to pay a visit to Callie and ask her for a ride to his surgeon. Maybe they could talk, too, and iron some things out.

  He’d hitchhike over to her house on Elm. It probably wasn’t a smart idea, but he was sure someone would pick him up.

  He crossed his fingers and looked up at the ceiling. “Please, let me get rid of these crutches, so I can drive,” he said to no one. “And let the doc find my knee is okay, so I don’t need an operation.”

  Should he call Callie before he left the house?

  He decided not to. She’d only hang up on him. If he showed up in person, she’d have to talk to him, right?

  Before he left for Callie’s, he looked up his stock accounts. They were all doing great, except for one. But he decided to keep it instead of selling it after looking at its past performance.

  He wasn’t gambling. He was making good business decisions. He’d have to point that out to Callie.

  Leaving a note on the kitchen table, he went out to the main road and stuck his thumb out. It was a bad idea. Just the walk to the main drag tired him out and made his arms sore. But once he was there, he got a ride right away.

  The driver knew who Reed was, and that was why he’d stopped. “C’mon in. I’m Bill Waterson. Put your crutches in the backseat.”

  “You’re just the man I’ve been wanting to talk to,” Reed said, getting into the front seat. “I am a personal friend of your son.”

  Bill shook his hand, “Pleased to finally meet you in person, Reed. Billy hasn’t quit talking about you. Where’re you going?”

  “Into town. Elm Street to be exact, but I don’t want you to go out of your way.”

  “No problem. How often do I pick up a hitchhiker who’s a star bull rider?” He laughed. “What do you want to talk to me about?” Bill asked.

  “I’d like to buy some hay from you if you have any extra, and then I’d like to talk to you about renting some of your land for a hay lot. If you plant the hay and harvest it, there will be more money for you, of course.”

  “You—you... Um, yeah...s-sure!” he said.

  “We’ll talk money and the details later over a couple of cold ones.”

  “You got it. And thanks, Reed.” He held out his hand and they shook. “Thanks for helping me out.”

  Reed pointed to Callie’s house. “Just drop me off here.”

  “Sure.”

  “Oh, and, Bill, if you’re selling any animals or have any rodeo stock, I’d appreciate it if you’d give me first look.”

  “Sure...sure...and thanks, Reed. You don’t know how much this means—” His voice choked.

  Reed put his hand on Bill’s shoulder. “I’ll be great doing business with you, and getting to know you. And thanks for the ride.”

  Reed got his crutches and watched as Bill Waterman drove away. Feeling good about their transaction, he wished he felt just as good about facing Callie.

  He went over to her front door and rang the bell. When it swung open, he saw Callie’s mom.

  “Hi, Mrs. Wainright, is Callie at home?”

  “Reed, come in.” She stepped aside to let him pass. “How did you get here? I don’t see a car.”

  “I hitched. I got a ride from Bill Waterson.”

  “Oh, I know Bill and his wife. Fine people. They bought the ranch near yours a couple of years ago.”

  Reed nodded. He didn’t want to be rude, but he was in a hurry to talk to Callie. He might have to hitch back.

  “Callie apparently has a headache. She’s lying down.”

  “I think I’m the cause of that headache.”

  “Have a seat, Reed.”

  “Mrs. Wainright, please tell Callie that I’d just like to talk to her.”

  “I’ll do that. Let me see if she’s awake.”

  Reed waited in the living room for what seemed like an eternity. Maybe Callie wouldn’t see him, after all.

  Looking around, he liked what he saw. The room was cozy, but not cramped. The decorations were very personal, things that meant things to a family. Sports trophies were on display along with pictures taken around Beaumont: the court house, the high school, Main Street and the before-and-after pictures of Callie’s house. There were family pictures of the four of them together, and individual photos.

  He studied the before and after images of the house. “What a difference a little paint makes,” he mumbled. “And a lot of lace.”

  He heard voices coming from the rear of the house.

  “I’m just tired, Mother, that’s all. I have a lot of balls in the air that I’m juggling.”

  “The man hitchhiked over here to see you. Go and talk to him.”

  “Okay, Mom.”

  After a few moments more, Callie walked into the living room.

  Reed struggled to stand.

  “Don’t get up, Reed. Please sit,” Callie said as she took a seat on the love seat opposite him. “What’s on your mind?”

  “Are you feeling okay?”

  “Headache. That’s all.”

  “I was wondering if you’d be coming back to work tomorrow.”

  “I think so. Why?”

  “I’m going to need a ride to the doctor’s, if you don’t mind. They changed my appointment and my dad and the hands will be busy with the kids, and so will my singing cowboys. I have no one to ask but—”

  “But me,” she finished.

  “It doesn’t sound right, but...yes. I was hoping that you’d drive me. I’m sorry to have to ask you because of the way we parted, but I had to.”

  “Yes. I’ll drive you, Reed,” she said, not meeting his eyes. “What time?”

  “I need to be there at nine o’clock, so how about if you pick me up a half hour earlier?”

  “Okay. Anything else?”

  Oh. He had to remind her. “Don’t forget we have a committee meeting tomorrow. It’s at Al’s again.”

  “I remember,” she said.

  “Will you be going?” he asked.

  She crossed her arms. “Of course. It was our idea, wasn’t it? I’m going to see it through.”

  “Good.

  “Anything else, Reed?”

  Boy howdy, he was sure getting the icy treatment.

  He put a hand on each knee and leaned forward. “Is there a chance we could talk about my...my...”

  “Gambling?”

  “My stock investing,” he said.

  “No.” Callie sighed. “You’re not investing, Reed. You’re not leaving your money alone and letting it work for you. You’re playing with it as if you were playing poker.”

  “Okay, Callie. It’s too bad that you can’t see my position. I know that your father’s gambling problem has tainted your opinion of my investing, but for heaven’s sake, all I ask you to do is to keep an open mind.”

  “I’ll try, but just one thing, Reed.”

  “Sure. What’s that?”

  “Business and pleasure doesn’t mix. From now on, it’s strictly business between us.” Her usual spring-green eyes became a stormy emerald. “Strictly business.”

  “What? Last night, wasn’t it special?”

  “I slept with a client. That’s not how I operate my business,” she said.

  “Oh, c’mon, Callie. I’m not just a client, and you know it. You have to come up with a better excuse than that if you want to stay mad at me.”

  She held up her hand like a traffic cop. That’s all she was going to say. “I’ll drive you home now.”

  * * *

  IN THE PASSENGER seat of her SUV, Reed was fuming. Callie just clammed up when he wanted to talk.

  He thought he could connect with her, but the investing thing h
ad shut her down.

  For heaven’s sake. If she usually shut down when something important happened, then it would be a struggle communicating with her.

  Actually, they had the same problem ten years ago. When Callie got something in her mind, it was like pushing a mountain to change it.

  They drove in silence.

  He sighed. “So you’re not going to talk to me, huh? Our relationship, such as it is, is done. Over.”

  “We’ll still be friends.”

  Steam was shooting out of his ears. “I have enough friends, Callie.”

  She pulled into the long drive to the ranch house and let him off in front of the house.

  “Thanks. See you tomorrow,” was all he said. He didn’t need this kind of aggravation.

  Instead of going inside, he crutched behind the ranch house, past Slim’s house that was still being remodeled, until he came to the fence that surrounded the corral. He leaned on a railing, and the horses that were out came toward him, nudging his shirt pockets for treats.

  “Sorry, boys and girls, I came unprepared. I don’t have any carrots or apples right now.” Most of the horses left, uninterested in him, but his favorite, a big black gelding, stood in front of him.

  “Hello, Onyx.” The horse walked closer toward Reed.

  “I’m going to ride you, Onyx. When I don’t have to use these crutches anymore, that’s one of the first things I’m going to do.”

  It was getting dark. “I’ll see you tomorrow, boy.”

  Reed always felt better when he was around horses, and did his best thinking on the back of one.

  And Reed had a lot of thinking to do.

  * * *

  THE NEXT MORNING Callie sat in the waiting room of Reed’s orthopedist. She couldn’t stop thinking about what he called “investing.”

  She wasn’t going to budge. Lovemaking was great with Reed, but her knight in shining armor had fallen off his bucking bull.

  Maybe she was being difficult. Maybe stubborn. But she had deeply negative feelings about gambling.

  She knew what Reed had wanted. Another debate on gambling versus investing.

  No, thanks.

  Finding out that Reed played around with money after making love with him had sent her into a downward spiral from the peak of happiness to the depths of despair.