Sorry it took so long on this one...and thank you for your patience. This chapter got a bit lengthy so I split it into two and will be posting both at the same time. I hope you enjoy this one, and I hope you like rodeos as these next two chapters are just that. But a lot of life happens and a few very important moments happen over this rodeo weekend...so don't skip and miss out. Thanks for reading and thank you for everyone that takes the time to leave a review.
May 22nd, 2015 – Hope Meadows Ranch
"He didn't have to wake up
He'd been up all night
Laying there in bed listening
To his new born baby cry
He makes a pot of coffee
He splashes water on his face
His wife gives him a kiss and says
It is gonna be OK
It won't be like this for long
One day soon we'll look back laughin'
At the week we brought her home
This phase is gonna fly by
So, baby just hold on
It won't be like this for long"
Elizabeth stepped out of the shower with a towel wrapped around her hair and her long white bathrobe. She was standing in front of the sink when she heard someone. Straining to listen, she smiled as she heard Jack's voice singing a Darius Rucker song they both loved and listened to often.
She slowly opened the door, peered through the crack, and saw Jack lying on the bed with Brianna in front of him. She was awake, her eyes locked on his, listening intently as her daddy sang to her.
"Four years later bout four thirty
She's crawling in their bed
And when he drops her off at preschool
She's clinging to his leg
The teacher peels her off of him
He says what can I do
She says now don't you worry
This will only last a week or two
It won't be like this for long
One day soon we'll look back laughin'
At the week we brought her home
This phase is gonna fly by
So, baby just hold on
It won't be like this for long"
Elizabeth slowly eased the door open the rest of the way and leaned against the doorframe to listen to her husband sing. Brianna wiggled from time to time, reaching towards Jack's face, and he would take her hand and kiss it as he sang.
"One day soon she'll be a teenager
And at times you'll think she hates him
Then he'll walk her down the aisle
And he'll raise her veil
But right now, she's up and crying
And the truth is that he don't mind
As he kisses her good night
And she says her prayers
He lays down there beside her
Till her eyes are finally closed
And just watching her it breaks his heart
Cause he already knows
It won't be like this for long
One day soon that little girl is gonna be
All grown up and gone
Yeah, this phase is gonna fly by
He's trying to hold on
It won't be like this for long"
As the song ended, Jack brushed a finger along the side of Brianna's face, causing the baby girl to smile at her daddy. Her dimples, matching his, pulled deep into her cheeks.
"Did you like that, sweet baby girl?" Jack asked as he smiled back. He leaned down and kissed her forehead as she reached for his face. "So, Bri, what do you want to be when you grow up? What?" Jack asked as he turned his ear toward her face. "You want to do what?"
Elizabeth covered her mouth to hide her laughter, not wanting to disrupt Jack from his conversation with their baby girl.
"Well, I believe that you will do that. You can do anything." Jack's voice was soft and gentle as he spoke to her. He held one of her hands, and her fingers wrapped around his thumb. "Are you going to stay with your daddy forever and never leave? Really? What a good girl."
Elizabeth's laughter quickly began to turn to tears as she eavesdropped on their conversation. She knew, one day, all of their children would be moved out of the house, and her heart began to ache for herself and Jack.
"You can live here forever. We won't care. Your brothers and sister can, too. We'll just run the ranch together and play and make music and paint. I'll teach all of you how to play the guitar, and your mommy will teach you piano and how to paint. We'll ride horses all day. It will be a wonderful life."
As Jack leaned down to kiss Brianna's forehead once more, he heard a faint sniffle from the side of the room. He looked toward the bathroom to find Elizabeth in the doorway, wiping away a tear.
"Hello, Beautiful."
Elizabeth walked toward the bed, lay beside her husband and daughter, and pulled a blanket over her. "That sounded like a very intense conversation."
Jack smiled and looked back at Brianna, who was smiling at her mommy now. "It was...very. It's going to be excruciating when the kids leave."
"That is a very long time from now."
"I know," he said as he gently shook Brianna's hand back and forth. "But it's still going to suck."
"Well, in the meantime, we can do everything you said."
Jack looked at his wife, leaned toward her, and kissed her. "I love our family."
Elizabeth chuckled slightly. "That's good. Because there's no return policy," she teased.
"You've been hanging around Lee way too much," Jack joked.
"Maybe so," she laughed.
Peyton, Colton, and Blake ran into the room, halting at the foot of the bed.
"Can we come up there?" Colton asked.
"Of course," Elizabeth answered, holding an arm out.
They climbed onto the bed, and Peyton quickly moved in next to her sister. Colton crawled in behind Jack and rested his arms on his daddy's arm, peering over to see Brianna. Blake lay alongside Elizabeth, propped up on his elbow so he could see the baby as well.
"She's getting big fast," Blake said.
"No, she's not," Peyton piped in. "She's still too tiny. She needs to grow faster so she can play with us."
"She'll be big enough to play before you know it," Jack said as he looked down at his daughter. "We don't need to rush the process."
Peyton touched her finger to Brianna's nose, and the baby girl smiled. "She smiled at me," Peyton exclaimed.
"She sure did," Elizabeth said. "She's a very happy baby. You were all happy babies." Elizabeth looked down at Blake, who had dropped his gaze to the bed. "You, too," she said and squeezed his cheek.
Blake looked up and asked, "How do you know?"
"Because your mom told me. We would sit and talk for hours, and she told me all about you when you were a baby."
"Really?" he asked as a smile slowly grew across his lips.
"Yes. She told me that you started sleeping through the night at only eight weeks old, smiled all the time, and very rarely got sick. You started walking before you were even eleven months old. She shared a lot of things with me."
Blake rolled to his side and wrapped his arms around Elizabeth. "I'm glad she told you. Then it's like you were always there."
Elizabeth tightened her arms around Blake as she looked at her husband. Jack's eyes held pools of tears, as did hers. They spent the remainder of the morning lying in bed together as Jack secretly prayed that time would freeze at this moment.
…..
"Is that everything?" Jack asked as he tossed his duffel bag into the trailer.
"I think so," Elizabeth said, trying to take inventory of everything that had been loaded. "Pack-n-play?"
"Yep."
"Diaper bag?"
"Yep."
"Bottles and formula?"
"Yep, and yep."
"Is my horsie in there, Daddy?" Peyton asked, jumping up and down.
"Jack reached into the trailer and grabbed something from the counter. "You mean this one?"
"Yes!" she shouted, taking the stuffed animal and running to the truck.
"Lawn chairs?" Elizabeth asked.
"Yes."
"Your roping gear?"
"Check."
"Maverick's tack and feed."
"Check, check."
"Wyatt's food?"
"Ye...no," Jack answered, then ran toward the house.
When Jack returned, Elizabeth had Brianna strapped into her car seat, Peyton and Colton in theirs, and was in the process of helping Blake get settled into his booster in the center of the front seat. Wyatt jumped into the truck, taking his spot between Colton and Brianna, and the little boy wrapped his arm around the dog's neck.
"Okay, I think that's everything now. If we forgot anything, I'll just run to the store and get it," Jack stated as he climbed into the truck. As per his ritual, Jack reached across the seat, kissed Elizabeth, then sat down and pulled his seatbelt around.
"Rodeo time!" Blake shouted as Jack put the truck into drive and started toward the highway.
…..
"My hand hurts," Peyton whimpered as they drove down the interstate, two hours into their three-and-a-half-hour drive.
"I'll pull off," Jack said and began watching for a good exit.
"Just a few minutes, Pey. Daddy will stop, and I'll get your medicine."
"Okay, Mommy," the little girl replied.
A large truck stop was only a few miles down the road, and Jack took the exit and eased into the station. Jack refueled the truck while Elizabeth gave Peyton some pain reliever, then unloaded each child. After bathroom breaks, a diaper change, feeding Brianna, and snacks acquired, the Thorntons were on the road once again for the short remainder of their drive.
…..
Will Rogers Stampede – Claremore, Oklahoma
"Look at all the people," Blake exclaimed as Jack pulled onto the rodeo grounds.
"Look at that spotted horse. He's pretty," Peyton said as she pointed out a black and white paint horse.
"Whoa, that trailer is long!" Blake shouted as they passed an eight-horse trailer with living quarters.
"That is a long one," Jack stated, checking out the rig. The entire length was at least fifteen feet longer than Jack's setup, and he scanned the trailer and truck for a ranch name.
"Who is that?" Elizabeth asked.
Finally seeing Solid Rock Ranch printed on the doors of the truck, Jack answered, "That's Bobby Fick's rig."
"Bobby?"
"Yes. His family has been supplying roping horses to the rodeos for years. Many of the teams you see riding the same horses over and over come from Bobby's ranch. They pay to use their horses for steer wrestling, team roping, and calf tying because they are so well-trained and consistent. They must have gotten a new truck and trailer."
"That seems like a pretty good deal for the horse owners," Elizabeth stated.
"It is. Lee and I have talked about it a little. But...I don't know. Maybe later on down the road when we aren't busy competing."
"That sounds like a great idea for the two of you."
Jack continued to drive through the rows and rows of trailers until he passed the arena. On the back side of the rodeo grounds was a small campground with electric hookups that Jack and his family had reserved months in advance to secure them. Jack found their site and backed the trailer into it, constantly checking both mirrors to avoid hitting anything.
"Here we are, kiddos," Jack said as he put the truck in park.
"Yea!" came from all three of their mouths as they began to unbuckle themselves.
Wyatt started to whine, letting his owners know that he needed out to relieve himself. Jack opened the door, and the dog darted out into the grass. Jack lowered Colton to the ground, then reached in and unsnapped Brianna's carrier from the cradle. He carried her around to Elizabeth, who was helping Peyton out and set it on the ground.
After kissing his wife's cheek, he asked, "Do you have the kids? I need to unload Maverick."
"Yes, we'll be fine. They can help me start getting everything unloaded and set up."
Within an hour, Maverick was settled in, fed, and watered, the trailer was set up, and the lawn chairs were out. Jack had a fire started and was in the process of getting the grill ready when Tom and his family pulled in.
"They're here!" Blake shouted when he saw the familiar truck and trailer pass by and begin to back in. "Austin! Luke! Savannah!" he shouted as he waved his arms back and forth, high above his head.
As soon as the truck was backed in and parked, the kids filled out and swiftly ran to Blake and the twins to greet them with hugs. Nitro darted from the truck, searching for Wyatt. When the two dogs found each other, they began barking and running in circles in excitement.
"Savannah and Luke," Sam called out, pointing at Luke.
Luke tapped his sister's shoulder, then pointed at their mother.
"Unload, feed, and water the horses before you do anything else," Sam signed to her children.
"Okay," Savannah signed, then ran to the back of the trailer.
A few minutes later, Savannah passed by her parents with Cash and Jake in tow, as Luke followed behind her with the water buckets and hay bags.
Not long after, Lee and Rosemary pulled in, parked, and set up. With Charlotte and Frank coming the following day and everyone else settled in, the group got busy fixing dinner while the children and dogs played on the lawn.
As dusk crept in and the lightning bugs appeared, the kids began chasing them around the campsites. Jack retrieved a jar from the trailer and helped his children capture a few of the insects, then placed the lid on top. Blake, the twins, Austin, Luke, and Savannah sat around the jar on the picnic table, watching the bugs as their lights flashed on and off. Once they grew tired of the activity, Savannah opened the lid, and they watched as the insects returned to freedom.
"Bye-bye, buggies," Peyton called out as she danced around with her good hand toward the sky.
Jack was leaning back into his reclining camping chair with Brianna asleep on his chest, Elizabeth by his side, and her hand in his. Music was playing over the built-in stereo of Jack's trailer, and Blake walked up to Elizabeth with his hands out.
"Want to dance, Mommy?"
Elizabeth laid her hands in her son's. "I would love to."
Blake led her out to the grass, turned to face her, and held his arm up like he'd seen his daddy do.
"Oh, my gosh," Samantha stated as she laid her hand over her heart. "Isn't that just the sweetest thing?"
"Mom," Luke said, standing before Sam with his hand out. "May I have this dance?"
"Oh, my goodness," she said as her eyes began to well.
Sam and Luke joined Blake and Elizabeth, and they danced across the grass.
"I want to dance, Daddy," Noel stated as she climbed onto Lee's lap.
"Well, then we shall dance," Lee said. He stood and tossed his daughter into the air, catching her as her scream echoed through the campground.
Austin, Peyton, Colton, and Autumn joined the group as they danced around to a different tune that only they could hear. Savannah pulled her dad to his feet, then, standing on top of them, she danced with her father as he swayed to the melody. Rosemary had joined them now with Stetson snuggled into her neck, and the entire family laughed and sang as they danced with their children.
Jack remained in his seat with his daughter still sleeping against his chest. He watched his wife and son as they began jumping around to the faster tune that was now playing. Jack scanned the group, watching each child and parent as they took turns dancing with each other. A smile graced his lips as he watched his family enjoying this moment, wishing once again that time would freeze as it was.
…..
May 23rd, 2015 – Will Rogers Stampede – Claremore, Oklahoma
A leisurely morning was spent around the campground. The adults relaxed in their camping chairs while watching the kids as they made up games to play with the dogs. At four months old, Nitro was very active and gave Wyatt a run for his money. But the older dog was patient and let the pup know when he went too far.
While the family was preparing their lunch, Frank and Charlotte pulled in with their trailer. Once backed in and set up, they joined everyone for burgers and chips. When they came into view, Colton spotted them, and the four-year-old ran towards them, his arms open wide.
"Gramma! Grampa!" he shouted as he jumped into Charlotte's arms.
He was closely followed by Blake, Peyton, Autumn, and Noel, as the children encircled the adults, passing out their customary hugs and kisses.
"I hurt my hand," Peyton said as she held it up for Frank to see.
"I heard that. How's it feeling?" he asked as he picked up the little girl.
"It's okay, but it hurts sometimes and then doesn't hurt sometimes and then hurts again sometimes."
"Does it hurt right now?" Frank asked as he inspected her gauze-wrapped hand.
"No. Mommy gave me medicine."
"That's good." Frank kept the little girl in his arms as he sat beside Elizabeth.
"Hi, Mommy. Grampa and gramma are here," Peyton said excitedly.
"I see that. Hello, Pops," she said as she leaned in to hug him.
"Hi, Beth. This is a very nice place."
"Yes, it is. I was pleasantly surprised," Elizabeth stated.
Everyone circled a picnic table covered in a bounty of food. Among the choices were burgers, chips, potato salad, a veggie tray, and cookies. With filled plates, the children sat around a second picnic table while the adults took their seats in their camping chairs.
Bandit made the trip with them this time, and the older dog kept vigil at his owner's side, spending most of his time sleeping. Nitro attempted to get Bandit to play, but Wyatt would ward him off each time, protecting the aging dog.
Later that afternoon, as the opening ceremonies of the rodeo approached, everyone moved to the bleachers to secure their places. As a rider entered the arena carrying the American flag, everyone stood and removed their hats. A local woman sang the anthem as the horse and rider ran along the outside of the arena, speeding up as the song progressed. As the song ended, cheering and clapping filled the air from the hundreds of spectators. After the prayer, the horses for the bareback riding were loaded into the chutes, and the youth riders lined the platform to wait for their turns.
…..
"How long have you been barrel racing?" a young gal asked Savannah.
Savannah pulled a small notebook from her pocket, wrote down her answer, and held it up for the girl to see.
"This is your second year?" she asked. "This is my fifth."
Writing again, Savannah replied, "I saw you practicing earlier. I love your horse."
"Thanks. Her name is Lady. What's your horse's name?"
"Cash."
"That's cool. Oh, my name is Lisa."
"Savannah," she wrote in the notebook.
The pair visited for a while, eventually swapping phone numbers so they could message each other. Lisa was friends with the group that Savannah had become close with, but having missed the past few rodeos due to her horse being injured, she was anxious to meet Savannah when she saw her sitting with the other teens.
Dakota returned to his seat beside Savannah after putting his riding gear away. Having felt his leg brush against hers, Savannah turned to face him.
"Your ride was great," she signed.
"Thanks. It was just okay. I lost my seat a few seconds in and couldn't get recentered. It's a wonder I stayed on."
"Well, I thought it was great," Savannah signed as she smiled.
"Thanks," he signed back, his smile growing.
The group of teens had already become accustomed to Savannah, making sure she was facing them as they spoke slower. Several had learned a few signs and used them when they could. Dakota seemed to have studied a lot since the last time they'd seen each other and was able to sign most of their conversations. What he didn't know, she would show him.
Dakota was sitting on the edge of the bleacher as he watched a bareback rider leave the chute. After the buzzer sounded, he pumped his arms into the air and shouted for his friend. Dakota felt Savannah's hand slip into his as he slid back on the seat. He quickly turned to face her, a smile forming on his lips as he curled his fingers between hers. They sat, hand in hand, while they watched the final bareback riders take their tries for their eight-second rides.
…..
The family watched from the edge of their seats when Luke entered the arena on Jake. Tom could be seen from the gate, not letting his eyes off his son. Luke moved his horse into the box, turned the gelding, and backed the horse into the padded corner. The horse stood perfectly still, his ear forward in alertness, his eyes locked on the calf in the chute. When Luke felt ready, he gave a minuscule nod, and the calf was released.
A few seconds in, he landed the rope around the calf's neck and was stepping down from his horse. At a dead run, he ran to the small animal, gripped around the flank, and finally got the calf on his side after a couple of tries. Luke grabbed his piggin' string from his mouth, did the standard two wraps and a hooey, and threw his arms into the air.
"11.9 seconds from young Thornton," the announcer called out. "That moves him into third place."
"Woo!" Jack called out with his hands cupping his mouth. Turning to Sam, he added, "When he gets older, he'll be hard to beat. That calf is almost bigger than he is," Jack laughed.
"Yes, he's complained about that many times," Sam chuckled.
"Hey, Jacko, ready to go get our steeds ready?" Lee asked from a few rows down.
"Sure am, Brother," Jack said as he stood. He bent down and kissed Elizabeth, then was off the bleachers before Lee had even gotten to his feet.
…..
"Hey, Jack," a deep voice boomed.
Jack spun around to find Martie standing in front of him. His initial reaction was still to be on the edge of defensiveness when he saw the man, but then their conversation flooded in, and Jack relaxed his shoulders. "Hey, Martie. Good to see you again."
"I was just wondering if we could get together again?"
"Of course. The guys and I already have a lesson planned."
"That's great. Thank you, Jack. The group might be...a bit bigger this weekend."
"Not a problem. Everyone is welcome."
Martie laid his hand on Jack's shoulder and briefly looked at the ground. "I know that you and I haven't always gotten along, but I want you to know how much I appreciate what you're doing."
Much to Martie's surprise, Jack wrapped his arms around the man and embraced him in the love of God. "You are a good man, Martie, and I'll do whatever I can to help you."
Martie returned the hug, smacking Jack on the back, then turned and walked away. Jack could see the man lift a hand to his face and assumed he was wiping away a tear.
"I never thought I would see that man shed a tear in my lifetime," Lee said as he walked up beside Jack.
"Nothing can match the handiwork of God," Jack stated and laid his hand on Lee's shoulder.
"Ain't that the truth, Jacko. Well, are you ready to get this show started?"
"Absolutely, Brother."
…..
Cisco was feeling antsier than usual, and Lee was trying his hardest to keep control of the horse. The animal's anxiety was even beginning to affect Maverick as he began to prance around as they entered the arena.
"Easy, boy," Jack said softly in an attempt to calm the horse. He eased Maverick into the pen, turned him around, and backed him into the padded corner.
Lee was still fighting with Cisco, trying to get the horse to remain still with his back end into the corner, but each time Lee maneuvered the animal into place, the horse would leap forward. Spinning Cisco around once more, Lee moved him back into the corner and kept a firm hold on the reins. Not giving the horse a chance to move too early, Lee nodded, and the steer was released.
As soon as he felt Lee's legs squeeze into his sides, Cisco jumped forward and burst out of the pen. Maverick, mimicking the other, leaped forward as well, and both horses were throwing a cloud of dirt up behind them.
Lee released and landed his rope perfectly around the steer's horns, followed by Jack swiftly securing the back legs. They stopped, looked at the timer, and read 4.8 seconds.
"Oh, what bad luck. Coulter broke the barrier, giving them a ten-second penalty and a time of 14.8. That moves them into eighth place," the announcer informed the crowd.
"Damn it," Lee said as he followed the steer down the arena for someone to remove his lariat. When he rejoined Jack, and the duo rode through the gate, Jack heard Lee mumbling under his breath.
"It's all good, Brother," Jack said. "We still have tomorrow."
"I don't know what was wrong with Cisco. He would not settle down and listen."
"It just wasn't his day," Jack replied. "Could be as simple as the wind."
"I guess. I'm just so sorry, Jacko."
"Lee, don't. Next time it might be Mav here," Jack said as he patted his horse's neck.
"I highly doubt that."
"You never know."
….
Savannah pulled back on Cash as they entered the alley that led into the arena. The horse had begun his usual high-stepping prancing as his heart raced faster, matching the rapid beating of Savannah's. She turned the gelding once, then again, then let him go as he tore down the path between a line of gate panels.
The path opened into the large arena. The dirt was soft and flew up in a cloud behind them as they neared the first barrel. Savannah preferred going to the left barrel when most went right. The duo turned around the large metal can as she lifted her gaze to focus on the next target. Cash dug in, and Savannah could feel the gelding's muscles tighten beneath her as he neared number two.
Savannah felt her leg graze against the metal as they turned the second barrel. She looked under her arm and saw it rock but settle back into place. Savannah let the horse go, kicking him into a faster pace as they neared the final turn. Knowing what times she had to beat, Savannah pulled the horse around a fraction sooner than she normally would, and as they rounded the barrel, Cash's shoulder caught it and knocked it over.
Savannah could feel her heart sink as the horse flew across the length of the arena. The five-second penalty put Savannah in tenth place with 19.8. As soon as they were in the alley, she pulled back, bringing Cash to a stop near the end. Unable to hide the disappointment on her face, she guided her horse to the area where Tom and Rosemary were waiting.
"What happened?" Rosie asked when Savannah was in sight.
"I tried to take time off and turned him too tight." She dropped her hands and her gaze as she reprimanded herself in her mind. A tap on her leg brought her attention back to Rosie.
"It's fine, S. We've all done it."
"You don't."
"I have many, many, many times. You'll figure it out over time. We all knock over a barrel now and again."
Savannah nodded and looked at her dad.
"You were great, baby. You still have tomorrow."
"Okay, Dad." She looked back at Rosemary and asked, "When do you ride?"
"Five more, then me."
…..
"Look. It's Mommy!" Noel shouted when she saw Rosie and Delilah run into the arena. The little girl ran to the fence to get a closer view and was soon joined by her little sister.
Rosemary and Delilah rounded the first two barrels perfectly. She kicked the horse to move faster as they headed to the third. Slowing the mare, they made a tight turn around it, just narrowly missing the barrel. Urging the horse to move faster, Rosie leaned forward and squeezed her legs.
As they passed through the alley, Rosemary listened closely for her time.
"The time for Rosemary to beat was 13.7. Her time was 13.1, putting her in first place," the announcer called out.
Rosemary patted Delilah's neck as they walked toward where Tom and Savannah were waiting.
"Great ride," Tom said when she reached them.
"Thanks."
With her usual smile returning to her lips, Savannah congratulated her aunt. "That was awesome," she signed.
"Thanks, sweetie." Rosemary petted the horse's neck once more, then added, "This ole girl really knows her job."
"You did get quite the deal with her," Tom said and signed. "Jack and you worked wonders with her."
"I think she knows I saved her, and that's why she works so hard for me," Rosie said, still petting the mare's neck.
"I have heard about instances like that before," Tom replied. "Animals just know."
They returned to their trailers, untacked the horses, then moved them to the hitching posts. Once they had fresh water and filled hay bags, they headed back to the rodeo.
"Can I go sit with my friends?" Savannah asked her dad.
"Sure." Tom pulled his wallet out, removed a twenty-dollar bill, and handed it to his daughter. "For your supper. Make sure you get something to eat."
"Okay, Daddy. Thanks," she signed, then kissed his cheek before running off.
Tom released a huge sigh as he watched her jog away.
"You're handling this way better than Lee will," Rosemary said as they began walking again.
"Maybe on the outside. On the inside, I'm screaming and ripping everything apart."
Laughing, Rosemary put her arm through Tom's, and the pair joined the family at their seats.
…..
"Hey, Cowboy. Brianna is getting fussy, and Peyton's hand is starting to hurt. We're going to turn in."
"Okay, I can go with you," Jack said and began to stand.
"No, you stay here and watch the bulls. I know you want to," she said with a smile and kissed his cheek. "The boys can stay here, and I'll take the girls."
"Okay," Jack said. He picked up the diaper bag, slipped it onto his wife's shoulder, and helped Peyton down the bleachers. "We have our Bible study with the men tonight after the rodeo."
"Okay. I'll see you when you're done," she said, then kissed him.
He watched until they were out of sight, then checked on the boys. Austin, Colton, and Blake were all sitting along the bottom bleacher, their eyes locked on the bullfighter as he waited for the next bull to be released.
"I'm going, too," Rosemary said. She shifted Stetson to the other hip and picked up her bag.
"Girls, do you want to stay with me or go with Mommy and go to bed?" Lee asked.
"I'm tired," Autumn replied as she rubbed her eyes.
"Me, too," Noel said.
"Come with me, girls," Rosemary said as she stepped down.
"Do you need help?" Lee asked as he helped his daughters down.
"No, you and Jack stay here and watch the bulls. I'll see you after your group."
"Okay, Babe," he responded and kissed her goodbye.
Sam and Charlotte remained with the men as they watched one rider after another get thrown from the backs of the enormous bulls. Jack and Lee watched with intense focus as only a few riders remained on until the buzzer.
"They miss this," Tom said to his mother, motioning toward his brother.
Charlotte and Frank watched the two men as the next bull launched from the chute. They talked to each other, commenting on different moments throughout the ride.
"Yes, they do," she agreed. "But they seem okay without it."
"Oh, they are." Tom leaned in closer and added, "And I'm pretty sure they do not miss the pain."
Tom, Sam, Charlotte, and Frank chuckled at the thought and watched the two men as they cheered on a friend that had just ridden the eight seconds.
…..
Jack, Lee, and Tom were seated on a lawn at the edge of the campground. Their Bibles were on their laps as they discussed tonight's lesson. Jack leaned forward and rested his elbows on his knees, holding his Bible in his hand. He silently read the verses of Ephesians 6 when he heard footsteps coming toward them. The men shifted their gazes in the direction of the sound to find what had to be nearly thirty men carrying chairs. They moved around them, forming a circle, and set up their chairs.
Jack scanned the faces, seeing many he knew, some he'd competed against, and a few he'd never seen before. Martie had been at the front of the group, directing the men into the circle in a calm, easy voice.
Once everyone was in place, Jack stood and thanked them all for being there. He opened the session in prayer, then took a seat and nodded at his brother.
Tom started the lesson by reading the verses. They had planned their lesson around putting on the armor of God so as to stand against the devil. Lee and Tom took turns speaking, giving their take on the verse from experiences in their own lives, affecting different men from the group.
When it was Jack's turn, he stood, his Bible still opened in the palm of his hand, and he scanned the faces of the men.
"Ephesians 6:11 says, 'Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes.' What is the armor of God? It is His truth, righteousness, faith, and salvation. God's armor is his protection for us against worldly sins. Lust, greed, jealousy, we have all, in our own ways, experienced this. All of us here, I'm sure, have responded to some of these situations in a way that we wish we could take back. But we can't. We ask God for his forgiveness, forgive ourselves, and learn from our mistakes. Moving forward, we have the tool," Jack said as he held his Bible in the air. "God's instructions are right in here. God's mercy, His peace, His guidance, His armor are all explained in this book. He teaches us how to ward off the devil. He teaches us what is right and what is wrong. Everything we need to survive the attack of the world against us is right in here." Jack slowly walked inside the circle, making eye contact with each cowboy. "And the Lord knows that we need help. So, the first action of picking up the armor of God is to pick up this book. Read it. Study it. Arm yourself with the knowledge of God's unconditional and eternal love."
"I'm sure most of you here know me. You know my past, you know some of the things that I've done. I can't change that. I can't take back the sins that plagued my existence for many years. But what I can do, and what I did, was ask for forgiveness. From God. From my family and friends. Myself. It was a struggle; I will not lie or sugarcoat it. It wasn't easy. But I put in the work, invited the Lord into my heart, and have never been happier. I have the weapon to fight now," he said, raising the Bible into the air once more. "This is the most powerful and important weapon you can ever own. It's more powerful than any fist, any drug, and any harsh word that comes from your mouth. This weapon can save not only you but those around you. Can everyone here that knows me from my PBR days attest to the changes in my life?" Jack looked around to almost every man nodding their head. "This is why," he held out the Bible. "God's love and forgiveness. He gave me protection, His armor, so that I could fight against Satan and everything he threw at me...and he has thrown a lot at me," Jack said with a mild chuckle. "But with God's armor, I was protected. I am protected. I can tell Satan, 'Not today, sir. You don't own me anymore.' Before picking up that armor, I could have never said that. I could not turn away from temptation. I couldn't turn away from a fight," Jack looked at Martie and smiled. The man smiled back. "I was miserable, full of hate and anger, and lost in this world. But no more. Satan's grip on me is gone, and he will never have his clutches on me again."
Jack sat down and closed his Bible. He bowed his head and began to pray. Jack prayed for every man that was there tonight and the ones that weren't. He prayed that God's word touched them, reached into their hearts, and gave them the ability to begin to fight against the devil. When he finished, and a wave of "Amens" washed through the campground, many of the men approached Jack, Lee, and Tom. They were full of questions, begging for more knowledge – armor – to have and use in their lives. Jack, Tom, and Lee each took some of the men, answering them the best they could. Feeling a few of them really needing answers that evening that Jack did not feel equipped to answer, he hurried to the trailers to retrieve Frank.
Many men had left, but a few stayed behind, including Martie. Frank sat with them, answering their questions with ease. Jack, Tom, and Lee stood behind the group, listening and learning how to answer the curious men next time. They were always impressed with Frank's ability to break the word down and make it understandable to anyone.
Martie was a sponge, soaking in everything he could. He wanted a change in his life, and the more he learned, the more he was positive that this was what he needed. When they were finished, he approached Jack and held out his hand.
"Thank you again, Jack." Martie's entire face lit up when he smiled now. "I have never felt so...free in my life. It's like a ten-ton weight has been lifted from my shoulders. Thank you for being the example of what a real man should be."
Jack firmly shook the man's hand and laid his free hand on Martie's shoulder. "You are setting that example now."
The look that washed over Martie's face told Jack that the thought had never crossed the man's mind. "I am...aren't I?" His smile grew even more prominent.
"Brother," Jack laughed, "yes, you are. God has touched you. He's leading you. You're a beacon of His love now. Did you see how many men were here tonight? That's because of you. Did we reach all of them? I hope so, but I don't know. But the ones that we did reach will have you to thank. And those men will bring other men. Your actions are endless."
"Wow, I never thought of that," Martie said with absolute shock on his face. The smile returned, and he looked at Jack. "Thank you. I'm running into town to purchase a Bible right now."
Jack laughed at the man's enthusiasm. "I think it's a bit late, and the stores are closed."
"Wal-Mart is open twenty-four hours a day, and they sell books," Martie responded with a grin.
"Yes, they do, Brother."
Jack shook his hand and watched as Martie jogged off to his truck. Lee, Tom, and Frank moved in beside Jack, seeing a lightness in Martie's step that no one had ever seen before.
"That man is God's miracle," Lee stated.
"Yes, he is," Jack replied.
"Just like you," Tom added, laying his hand on his brother's shoulder.
…..
May 24th, 2015 – Will Rogers Stampede – Claremore, Oklahoma
The second day of the rodeo fared better for everyone, sending each to the finals that would take place on the third. Dakota, Luke, and Savannah each placed first in their respective youth events. Jack and Lee took first in the team roping. Rosemary placed second in barrels.
The campsite was buzzing with excitement from everyone talking about their events and what the next day might bring. Savannah's friends, Dakota and some of their families had joined them, and multiple conversations were spinning through camp.
Brianna was down for the night in her playpen in the trailer, and Elizabeth held the baby monitor in her hand in case she woke up. Peyton climbed on her mommy's lap, and once settled against her chest, she began rubbing her eye with her good hand.
"Are you feeling sleepy?" Elizabeth asked her daughter.
"Uh-huh."
"How's your hand?"
"It itches," she whined.
Reaching for Jack, Elizabeth laid her hand on his thigh. "I'm taking Pey in to change her bandage and put her down. I think I'll stay in with them."
"Okay, Beautiful," Jack replied, then leaned in to kiss her. "I'll keep the boys quiet when we come in."
Elizabeth stood, keeping Peyton in her arms, and the monitor slipped down into the chair. She carried her daughter into the trailer and began removing the bandage.
…..
As Jack leaned forward in his chair, his arms resting on his knees, he listened as several men around him discussed how they thought the cattle market would be that year. As he sat, silently listening, he heard the faint sound of a woman's voice singing. Jack looked around, trying to find the source of the voice when he dropped his gaze to Elizabeth's chair. He reached for the monitor, held it to his ear, and listened as his wife sang a lullaby to their daughters.
Charlotte was crossing the campsite when she looked at Jack and saw a smile take residence on his lips. She took a seat in Elizabeth's chair and watched her son.
"What are you listening to?" she finally asked.
Jack handed the monitor to his mother, and she held it to her ear.
"Oh, my goodness," she said as she listened. She handed the monitor back to her son and added, "These are memories you will never forget."
Jack smiled and nodded, "I know, Ma. And I have so many of them."
