Chapter 55

'Hey Amy, wait up.'

Amy glanced back at Jessie as the girl ran up the path to meet her, stopping at the gate so she could catch up. 'Yes Jessie?'

'You heading to town?'

'I was. Ty was heading in to grab a couple things for Grandpa and I was going to catch up with Soraya.'

'Is there room in the truck for an extra person?'

'I guess so, as long as it's okay with Jack.'

'I already asked him and he's okay with it.' She grinned. 'He gave me some pocket money for a milkshake too.'

Amy chuckled, walking towards Ty's truck where he was waiting for her. 'You getting excited for the rodeo?'

'Excited and nervous.'

'You'll do great.'

'Everyone keeps saying that.' She chuckled. 'So, will you be going in the rodeo?'

'We'll see.'

'I could give you some tips, I'm pretty handy with a rope.'

'It's not that I'm not handy with a rope it's just that someone doesn't think entering with a girl is a good idea.'

'Oh.' Jessie exclaimed but she had kinda got that idea already. 'Well I'm sure he'll come around. Hey, have you seen Mallory? She's been like a flash of lightning the last couple of days, there one moment and gon the next. I haven't had a chance to speak to her.'

'I heard Jake twisted his ankle riding the mechanical bull that they've got set up out the front of Maggie's, I think she's been over at his place a bit.'

'Hmm. Okay then.' She sighed, opening the door and schooced in beside Ty. 'Hope you don't mind me coming along. Amy said it was okay.'

'It's not a problem.' He assured her as Amy climbed in beside the girl. 'Ready?'

Amy closed the door, nodding. 'Yep.'

'Alright, let's get this show on the road.'

'Hey, can I go have a look at that dress?' Jessie exclaimed as they pulled up a few parking spaces down from Maggies, in front of a clothing store. 'Can I?'

'Come on then.' Amy chuckled, hoping out of the truck after her. 'We'll catch up to you later Ty.'

'Fine by me.'

'Brilliant.' The girl skipped ahead of Amy eagerly, looking at the dress in the window. 'It's a nice dress.'

'It is.' She agreed. The dress was a light purple, above the knee halterneck. 'I'm surprised you like it though, I've never seen you in something like that.'

The girl's smile quickly faded as she remembered the reason behind that. 'Yeah.'

'Why don't you go try it on though? I'm sure it would look good on you.'

'There's no point.' She shook her head. 'I wouldn't wear it anyway.'

'Why?'

'I just can't.' Jessie glanced around, looking for a way out of the conversation. She spied Mrs. Bell in her little pony cart with Sugarfoot stopped outside the diner. 'Hey, there's Mrs. Bell and Sugarfoot! Can we go say hi?'

'Sure-' Amy replied, the girl shooting ahead of her down the sidewalk. She chuckled, following her as Jessie started to talk with her. 'Hi Mrs. Bell.'

'Oh, Amy. So nice to see you.' Sally exclaimed, turning from Jessie to Amy. 'Any chance you'll reconsider running for Queen of the Rodeo? You'd be perfect.'

'My best friend's doing it, I don't want to compete against her.'

'What about you Jessie?'

Jessie chuckled. 'Everyone keeps asking me about entering but my answer still stands at a no.'

'That's a shame Jessie, you'd be a great competitor.' She smiled then looked back at Amy. 'No one wants a repeat of what happened when Lou tried out for Little Miss Rodeo.'

'Lou?' Amy exclaimed in surprise. 'Little Miss Rodeo?'

'Me? Oh no dear. Though I was the very first queen of the Hudson Rodeo.' She clucked to Sugarfoot and the pony stepped forward onto the street. 'That's a boy. Come on.'

Jessie chuckled looking at Amy as the lady drove away. 'Mrs. Bell is interesting.'

'She is.' Amy agreed. 'I'm heading inside, you want to come get your milkshake now?'

'Maybe later.' She nodded in the direction of the mechanical bull. 'I want to have a go on that first.'

'Okay, I'll catch you inside then.'

Jessie stepped up beside Ty as Amy went into the diner, looking up at him. 'You going to have a go?'

'Are you?'

'I'd love to.'

Caleb glanced over at Ty, holding onto the control pad. 'Want to give it a try?'

'It's a kids ride.'

'Maybe when it's on low. But you crank it up, that's what genuine bull riders practice on. Come on.'

'Yeah, it's like you always say. I'm not much of a rider.'

'That's the beauty of the bulls. You don't have to be much of a rider. Just need an inordinate amount of bravery.'

Ty chuckled. 'And a high pain threshold.'

'Pain and bravery. It's a lethal combination. Guaranteed to drive the ladies wild.'

Jessie rolled her eyes. Caleb could be so immature sometimes. 'Go on Ty, have a go. If you get on, I'll have a go to.'

'I thought you were planning on having a go anyway.'

'Nevermind that.'

'Alright, alright.' He finally gave in as the kid that was on it finished his ride. 'I'll give it a go.'

'Great.'

'Good on you man.' Caleb encouraged as Ty stepped up, hopping onto the machine. 'Here we go.' He turned it on, watching him as the bull started up. 'Use your right hand for balance. There we go.'

'All right I got it.' He replied, using his arm to balance himself like Caleb had told him to. 'Crank it up one more.'

'You going to have a go?' Jessie asked Amy as she walked out of the diner, stopping beside her. 'Doesn't it look like fun?'

'Fun isn't exactly the word I would pick.' She replied, watching Ty as he started to lose his balance.

Caleb laughed. 'Hang on brother.'

Ty was holding on but he could feel he was starting to slip. 'Woah!' He exclaimed as the bull finally chucked him off onto the air pillows.

'Are you okay?' Amy asked, chuckling as she walked over to him as he got up. 'That was quite the dismount.'

'Well, I've been practicing on the little plastic pony at Safeway, so-'

'Have you?' She asked in amusement.

'You know me.'

'Amy, you ready to go roping with me this afternoon?' Caleb interrupted.

'Yeah, sure.' She nodded then turned back to Ty. 'I'm going to finish my conversation with Soraya.'

'Okay.'

Caleb glanced at Jessie as Amy headed inside. 'You want a go now Jessie?'

'You bet!' She replied, clambering onto the air pillows and climbed onto the bull.

'You ready?'

Jessie nodded, grabbing firm hold of the rope handle. 'Yep.'

'Alright, let's go.'

The bull started again, moving up and down, around and around. The girl laughed, her arm in the air for balance as she clasped her legs tight around the bull's sides. 'Can we go faster?'

'Faster?' He repeated and the girl nodded. 'Okay, let's go.'

'Woohoo!' She laughed, holding on as tight as she could as the bull began to buck harder. The bull began to spin again, bucking and spinning, bucking and spinning. Her legs were clasped around its sides like a vice grip, holding onto the bull for dear life. Back, forward, spin, forward, back, up, down. Suddenly the machine combined a spin and a buck and she felt her hold starting to give. It bucked again then she fell onto the safety pillows with a laugh. 'That was awesome!' She laughed, sitting up as the small crowd gathered began to clap and another person came forward to have a go. Ty walked over, giving him his hand to help her down. 'Thanks Ty.'

'Nice ride Jessie.' Caleb complimented. 'You had one heck of a ride.'

'Thanks.' Her cheeks were flushed and her hair had worked loose but her eyes were sparkling with excitement. 'That was great.' She glanced around as another person hopped onto the bull for their turn then turned back to Ty. 'I'm going to go get my milkshake. You better pick that stuff up for Jack.'

'Yep. We'll meet back here in half an hour?'

'Sure. That's more then enough.' She replied, heading into the diner. Amy glanced around as she jumped up onto a stool beside her and grabbed her money from her pocket. 'Can I have a milkshake please Soraya?'

'Let me guess. Large strawberry?'

'Yep. Thanks Soraya.'

'One milkshake coming up.'

'You had quite the ride on that bull.' Amy commented to her. 'Good job.'

'You should have a go Amy.'

'It's not my kind of thing.'

'I had fun.'

'I'm glad.'

Jessie glanced around, waiting for her order to be filled. 'I'm going to go have a quick look in the shop.' She nodded and the girl hopped off her seat, heading to the store. Heading past the boots she went to the rack where the model horses were displayed.

'Hi.'

She almost dropped the box she'd been holding, spinning around at the voice. 'Lisa!' She chuckled, throwing her arms around her. 'You scared me. What are you doing here?'

'Had to pick up an order for some things for one of the horses.' She replied, her hand on the girl's shoulder. 'Thought I'd come say a quick hello to you.'

'I'm glad you did.'

'Nice horse you're looking at.' Lisa nodded at the box the girl was holding.

'Yeah. I was hoping to get it for Cindy but I don't have enough for it.' She sighed, placing the box back on the shelf. 'It'll just have to wait.'

'I could-'

'Lisa.' Jesie interrupted, trying to sound authoritative and mature. 'I know you like buying Cindy and I things but I really want to earn the money to get this for Cindy if I were to get it for her. I've got a couple other ideas anyway.'

'Alright.' She knew there was no point pushing the matter further. Jessie could be rather stubborn when the mood struck her. 'Well then, I guess that I should see if there's some things I can get you to do for me sometime.'

'Mmmhmm. That'll work. That, or if I win a place in the barrel racing.' She glanced back towards the diner. 'I'm waiting on a milkshake, do you want to come join me?'

'I'd love to honey but I've really got to keep moving.'

'Okay then, another time maybe.'

'How about we go for milkshakes on Friday after we pick Cindy up?'

'That sounds great.'

'Alright then.' Lisa gave the girl a hug. 'See you Friday morning.'

'Bright and early.' She agreed, returning the hug then Lisa headed out the door and she glanced back at the box. While she really did want to get that horse for Cindy, an idea was coming to mind that was better then trying to save the money for it. Make it. She grabbed her phone from her pocket, snapping a photo of it then went back to join Amy at the counter. She had a plan to put into motion.

'So I need something light and easy to carve.' Jessie explained her idea to Jack later that morning. 'Have you got something lying around that I could use?'

'I've got some wood that might work.' He agreed, checking the office in the barn for some papers he was looking for. 'Once I've taken care of this rodeo business we'll go take a look, okay?'

'Sure.' She took a seat on the table, waiting for him to finish. 'I ran into Lisa when I was in town.'

'What was she doing?'

'Grabbing some stuff for a horse or something. Why?'

'Oh, just wondering.' Jack replied. 'Finally. Found it.'

The girl chuckled. 'I'm going to be glad once this rodeo is over.'

'You and me both Jessie.'

'Poor Soraya is getting torn to strips by Lou, she's being so over the top about this whole Queen of the Rodeo thing.' She looked at him as he looked over the paper he'd found. 'You even listening?'

'Yep.'

'You should enter for the Queen of the Rodeo.'

'Yep.' He replied, then paused for a moment and looked up at her. 'Oh you!'

'Gotcha.' She teased. 'See, you weren't even listening.'

'Yeah yeah.' Jack rolled his eyes, lightly tapping her on the head with the papers. 'Go on, I'm sure there's something out there that needs your attention.'

'Aren't we going to go find that wood now?'

'I'm waiting for Tim to drop by, he should be here soon then we'll go find that wood.'

'Alright alright.' She sighed, jumping down off the table and headed into the barn. Glancing around she looked for something to do then settled down on a haybale to clean her bridle. The sound of a truck pulling up a little while later caught her attention and she placed her cleaned bridle aside, heading out to go see who had arrived.

'So you'll be on site when the truck arrives with the rough stock at six.'

'Yeah.' Tim agreed then thought about it for a moment. 'Six? In the morning?'

'I could reschedule it for 5 if you've got something else going on.' Jack replied with a hint of annoyance and slight amusement.

'No, I just didn't realise this rodeo thing was a full-time obligation.'

'You're the one who elbowed your way onto this committee. Now, I see you still got Caleb Odell in team roping. Who's his partner?'

'How the hell should I know?'

'Cause you're in charge of entries.'

'You're a little grumpy, Jack. Rodeo thing getting to you?'

Jack looked at Tim as he drove off, rolling his eyes. 'Little grumpy. Bah.'

'Your not grumpy.' Jessie replied sweetly, taking hold of his hand as she looked up at him. 'I like you just the way you are.'

He chuckled, his annoyance at Tim melting away as he looked at her innocent face. He placed his arm around her, the girl leaning against him. 'You crawling for something Jessie?'

'Maybe.' She smiled. 'The wood.'

'Yes, the wood. Alright, let's go see what we can find.'

Jessie hummed quietly as she sat on a stump next to Mallory later that afternoon, working on carving the piece of wood into a horse. 'You want to have a go Mallory?'

'No thanks. Looks too complicated for me.'

She chuckled, turning the piece over as she started on the left side of the model. 'It's pretty easy once you know how.'

'I'm more enjoying watching the show here.'

'Yeah.' She glanced up at Caleb and Amy as they practiced their roping. 'They look like they're having fun.'

'A boy. A girl. A rope. Sorry I'm gonna miss the rodeo.'

Ty split another log then looked back at them. 'What are you talking about, Mallory?'

'Well, it was all my fault Jake twisted his ankle. So we're going to spend the day playing kung fu cowboys.'

'That sounds awesome.'

'Yeah, well, compared to these guys.' Amy laughed again as Caleb roped her, trying to get away from him. 'I mean, who knew you could have so much fun roping.'

'Probably not the best thing to say Mallory.' Jessie remarked as Ty headed back to the barn. 'Good one.'

'Well it's the truth.' She looked around. 'I'll leave you to your carving.'

'Mmhmm.' The girl mumbled, her attention back on her work as Mallory left. Wood carving was a hobby of hers that she'd taught herself on lonely nights in the high country. She'd been bored one night and had started carving a piece of wood she'd found. It was just something she liked to do when she had a chance, something that she enjoyed. She smiled, turning it over again and started carving on the other side. When she was finished, Cindy would have a model she could be proud of.

'It's time to come in Jessie, it's getting late.'

Jessie looked up as Jack walked in, sitting on a haybale next to Warrior's stall working on the present she was making for Cindy. 'What's the time?'

'After dinner.'

'I completely lost track of the time. I'm so sorry Jack.'

'It's okay Jessie, we kept your's aside for you.' He replied with a smile, patting Warrior as the stallion nudged him over the door. He looked down at what the girl was working on, impressed with what she had accomplished. 'Nice job Jessie.'

'Thanks.' She smiled, turning the model horse over as she finished smoothing off the wood carving. 'It's turning out alright, I'm almost finished with it now.'

'Who's it for?'

'Cindy. I'm making it as a little surprise for her.' Slowly she ran her fingers over the wood, feeling for any rough spots that she needed to take care of. 'I hope she likes it.'

'She's going to love it, trust me. It's gorgeous.'

The girl blushed, looking back at her work. She'd carved a yearling in a full gallop, its mane and tail blown back. 'There was a model at Maggie's just like this, I wanted to buy it for her but I didn't have the money. Then I got the idea of carving one myself. I think it turned out okay-' She handed him the model, placing her knife back in its pouch on her belt. 'didn't it?'

'You did a really good job Jessie.' Jack turned it over, tracing the mane with his fingers. 'A really really good job.' He handed it back to her once he'd looked it over, taking a seat on the bale beside her. 'You never cease to amaze me Jessie. Where did you learn to do this?'

'Long, lonesome, boring nights beside the campfire.' She replied, admiring her work. 'You should have seen my first attempts, they were rather interesting.'

He chuckled. 'Before you can be good at anything you've got to practice. That's how you get to be able to do work like that.'

'I know.'

'You ready for some supper now?'

'I think so.' She nodded as she stood up then chuckled. 'I've actually worked up an appetite. I need to feed Warrior first though.'

'I'll give you a hand.'

'That would be great.' Jessie smiled, grabbing a piece of clean rag to wrap the carving in and placed it safely aside. Warrior knickered softly as she grabbed his bucket, Jack going into the stall to grab his haynet. 'Thanks Jack.'

'No problem.'

'Uh, Jack.' She looked into the bin where the oats were stored. 'The bins empty.'

'I told Caleb to fill it today.'

'Obviously he didn't.'

'Here.' Jack grabbed a bag from the pile and got out his pocket knife, opening the bag for her. 'There you go. I'll be having words with Caleb when I see him next.'

Jessie chuckled, filling up the bucket. 'Thanks. I think Caleb probably won't be looking forward to that conversation.' Jack mumbled something underneath his breath as he returned the bag to the pile beside the bin, filling up the stallion's haynet as she took the filled bucket to the stall. Warrior nickered softly, stepping back to let her and Jack in, diving into his oats as soon as she had hung the bucket up on the hook. 'There you go boy.'

'All done?'

'Yep.' She ran her hand over his neck, nodding at Jack as he waited for her at the door. 'Tim wasn't too pleased about his early morning tomorrow I take it.'

'I guess not.' He replied as they walked to the house, the girl taking a slight detour to pick up the horse she'd carved for Cindy. 'But he fought tooth and nail to help with the rodeo this year he can have the fun of being there when they deliver the livestock.'

'Are you going to enter anything at the rodeo?'

'Nope, but I'll be cheering you on.'

She smiled, bumping him with her shoulder as they walked into the house. 'That'll take all your time up.'

'Yeah.'

'Dinner's in the oven for you Jessie.' Amy mentioned, walking into the kitchen to grab a snack. 'Hi Grandpa.'

'Amy.'

'Hey, did you talk to Soraya today?' Lou asked, scrubbing a pan furiously as Jack and Jessie joined her and Amy in the kitchen. I left her like, three messages and I haven't heard back from her.'

'Yeah, she's scared of you.'

'She's scared of me?' She exclaimed, ignoring the look Jessie and Jack exchanged each other. 'Do you know how much it cost me to sponsor her Amy? We're not just talking about flags here. I've got banners, ads. I've updated the website. And she's scared? I'm the one who should be scared.'

'Yeah, that's what I told her.' Amy called back over her shoulder as she headed back to her room.

'Scared.' Lou scoffed, taking the pan back to the sink. 'She needs to learn to deal with pressure.'

'You are certainly giving her some pressure.' Jessie glanced over at her, sitting at the table to eat her dinner. 'Maybe you need to cut her a little slack. I thought it was supposed to be fun.'

'It's not about fun-' She started to reply then threw her hands up and headed out of the kitchen. 'Why do I even bother.'

'Did I mention how glad I would be when this is over? Lou is Lou at the best of times but now she's just over the top. I can't wait for things to go back to normal.'

Jack chuckled at the look on Jessie's face. 'You and me both.'