Heart of Texas Volume 3: Nell's Cowboy

“It’ll be fine,” Ellie assured her. “Cal’s no fool.”

“How can you say that?” Jane said, biting her lip. “Only a fool would risk his neck riding an ill-tempered beast who weighs as much as the state of Texas.”

Ellie laughed.

“If...if Cal happened to get hurt, I don’t know if I’d be able to treat him.”

“You love him that much?” Ellie asked.

“Yes, but that’s not the reason. I don’t think I could stop myself from clobbering him for worrying me like this.”

Ellie laughed outright, although she understood.

The grandstand quickly filled to capacity as the competition time neared.

“I heard a wild rumor,” Ellie said, hoping to distract Jane from her worries. “Someone told me Willie Nelson might make a surprise appearance at the dance later this evening.”

“You’re joking!”

She shook her head. “I don’t know if it’s true, but that’s what people are saying.”

“That would be wonderful. What brought it about?”

“I’ve heard he likes surprising people now and then.” She gave a slight shrug. “He knows this is Willie country and he’s never been able to come to our Fourth of July picnics. Maybe that’s why.”

“My parents went to hear him recently,” Jane said. “They said he isn’t going to replace the Beach Boys in their eyes, but the music was entertaining.”

“Give ’em time,” Ellie said.

The calf-roping event was one of the first on the program, and Ellie wasn’t surprised when Glen took first place. She loved the way he raced after the calf, roped him on the first try and maneuvered the animal onto its back. He made it all look so easy. But when he tied the animal’s legs, then tossed his hands in the air and leaped back, his eyes didn’t go to the time. Instead, they zeroed in on Ellie and he’d smiled that secret little smile meant for her alone. Only then did his gaze go to the clock.

When his time was announced, Ellie jumped to her feet and applauded loudly. Pursing her lips around her index finger and thumb, she released a piercing whistle. Jane stood with her and the two of them made several victory punches in the air.

“How long before Cal rides?” Jane asked after they sat back down.

“Pretty soon.”

Jane placed her hands between her knees and took several deep breaths. Ellie gently patted her shoulder. “Hey, it’s only eight seconds.”

“A bull like that could kill him in one.”

Ellie let the comment slide. “Cal knows what he’s doing.”

Jane nodded, but she looked pale. Ellie realized how difficult this was for her. Not having been raised around cattle ranches, Jane must view these competitions as barbaric. Ellie decided she hadn’t given her sister-in-law the credit she was due for marrying into this whole new way of life.

When the competition had begun and Cal’s name was announced, Jane bit her lip and closed her eyes. Cal sat high in the chute on the bull’s back, his concentration intense. The door opened, and man and beast plunged forward. The bull snorted, shaking his massive head, determined to dislodge his rider.

Jane leaped to her feet and covered her mouth with her hand. Ellie had just stood up, too, when Cal went flying off the bull’s back. There was a collective drawing in of breath as the crowd waited for him to jump out of the bull’s way. The clowns diverted the bull’s attention, but Cal remained on the ground.

“Dear God!” Jane cried. “He’s hurt. I knew it, I knew it.” She was already stumbling past everyone in the row, Ellie right behind her. “I swear if that fall didn’t kill him, I will.”

By the time they made it down to the steps, Cal had been carried off the grounds on a stretcher. Just as they reached him, they heard the final contestant’s name being called.

Glen, who was with his brother, took Ellie’s hand. Jane knelt beside her husband, tears in her eyes.

“It’s all right, honey,” Cal said, clutching his ribs. He gave her a smile but was clearly in pain.

“He’s had the wind knocked out of him,” Glen said.

Jane began to unfasten Cal’s shirt.

“Jane—not in front of all these people,” Cal said in a feeble attempt at humor.

“Be quiet,” she snapped.

“Best not to cross her in this frame of mind,” Cal said, then groaned when Jane lightly pressed her fingertips against a rib.

“I’ll need X rays, but my guess is you’ve broken a rib.”

“It won’t be the first.”

“But it’ll be the last one you’ll ever get riding bulls,” Jane said in a voice few would question.

“Whatever you say.”

“You might want to take this with you.” Max Jordan, a local business owner, hurried over to join them.

“Take what?” Glen asked.

Max grinned broadly and handed Cal a blue ribbon. “Congratulations, Cal! You stayed on longer than anyone.”

Despite the pain it must have cost him, Cal let out a loud triumphant cry.

* * *

Travis had been writing for years. He’d researched rodeos and even written about them—but this was the first one he’d actually attended. Jeremy and Emma had volunteered to be his guides, and he welcomed their company. Nell was busy adding the final touches to her chili; judging would take place later in the afternoon. The last time he’d seen Ruth, she’d introduced him to two friends, Edwina and Lily Moorhouse, sisters and retired schoolteachers. One of them had mentioned something about cloves—cloves?—a special cordial, and the next thing he knew, all three women had disappeared. Made no sense to him.

Now that the rodeo was over, Jeremy and Emma decided it was time to show Travis the booths. It seemed everyone in town had something on display. All new to Travis. The closest thing New York had to this was the farmers’ market, in which everything from rip-off brand-name running shoes and “real” French perfume to home-grown vegetables and spicy sausages was sold.

Travis and the kids wandered by the long tables where the chili was being cooked. “Hi, Mom,” Emma called.

At the sound of her daughter’s voice, Nell turned. She wore a pretty blue cotton dress with a white bib apron over it.

“I wondered where you two had wandered off,” she said.

“The kids are playing tour guide,” Travis explained. “They’re doing a good job of showing me the ropes.” He ruffled Jeremy’s hair, and the youngster grinned up at him.

“I hope they aren’t making a nuisance of themselves.”