Jack
I was standing near the bed of the truck.
"Oof! That aftershave will scare the livestock." Gus commented.
"Oh. But the ladies find it reassuring. Yeah. It lets them know I'm sensitive. Not just a... Sexy beast."
We both laughed.
Katy
I walked out the Kitchen door.
"Can we get going?"
I sniffed the air as I passed Jack.
"Oh, Jack, you stink."
"Busted." Gus commented.
"Let's go! Come on!" I called.
"I'm coming!" Howard yelled.
Rob
Katy wanted to ride Flicka to the Rodeo.
Nell told me to let her since she was doing the Barrel Race.
I was letting her despite my better judgment.
Katy got up on Flicka.
I started the engine.
Jack got in the bed of the truck.
Howard got in the backseat.
He shut the door.
Nell got in the passenger seat.
She shut the door.
Jack
I tipped the tip of my Cowboy hat at Gus.
I banged on the side of the truck, signaling it was okay for Rob to drive.
Gus
"Well, what'll it be tonight, boys? Canasta or Crazy Eights?"
Delilah barked twice.
"Crazy Eights it is."
Rob
We arrived at the fairgrounds.
Katy rode off on Flicka.
Miranda joined her on her horse.
"Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the Red Gulch Roundup!"
The crowd cheered.
"Now for those of you that maybe visiting our beautiful State for the first time, welcome to Wyoming!"
We were sitting on the bleachers.
"In our grand entry today, our flags are being carried by Miss. Rodeo America and her lovely assistant. And all of our beauty A horseback."
Miss. Rodeo America had the American flag.
Her assistant had the Wyoming flag.
The beauty a horseback had two American flags.
"Now in the center of the Arena is the world champion trick roper, Mr. Gene McLaughlin!"
Gene was doing tricks with a loop.
"They say in every Cowboy's life, he gets a..."
He had an assistant too.
"Good horse, a good woman, and a good loop."
Nell was sitting next to me.
Howard and Jack were sitting in the row in front of us.
"Alright, folks. It's Rodeo time but it seems that Miss. Rodeo America needs my assistance."
The announcer was helping her.
I was eating pink cotton candy.
"Aw, honey. How would you eat that stuff?" Nell questioned.
"It makes me sweeter."
"You're already sweet."
We bumped shoulders.
"There they are!" Nell said when she saw Katy and Miranda on their horses.
"The Barrel Race!" The announcer announced.
"Alright. Ladies, Cowgirl up."
"Mm, mm, mm." Jack teased Howard.
He bumped into him playfully.
"Introducing our next Barrel Racer, Miranda Koop."
Miranda rode out on her horse.
She was in a bitter mood since Katy had given her one of the Mustangs she trained.
Apparently, it hurt Miranda, so Rick sold it to Norbert.
We all cheered for her.
"Come on, baby!" Howard cheered.
"Here she comes around the first barrel."
Miranda got her horse around the first barrel.
"Quick."
She rode to the second barrel.
Miranda got her horse around the second barrel.
"Another great run."
She rode to the third barrel.
"Coming to the third barrel..."
The crowd groaned as Miranda knocked the third barrel down.
I placed my hand on Howard's shoulder.
"Out she goes."
"That's okay."
10 other girls went.
They had only made it to the second or third barrel.
"Introducing our last barrel racer, Katy McLaughlin!"
Katy rode out on Flicka.
We all cheered for her.
"Come on, Katy!" Howard cheered.
"Here she comes around the first barrel."
Katy got Flicka around the first barrel.
"Quick."
She rode her to the second barrel.
Katy got Flicka around the second barrel.
"Another great run."
She rode her to the third barrel.
"Coming to the third barrel..."
Katy got Flicka around the third barrel.
"Quick."
She rode her to the last barrel.
"Coming to the last barrel..."
Katy got Flicka around the last barrel.
The crowd was shocked.
Katy
I rode Flicka into the trailer.
I got off her.
I walked out of the trailer.
I shut it.
I put the lock combo into the lock, locking it.
"You be a good girl."
Flicka huffed, laying down.
Rob
Nell and Katy were line-dancing with other people.
I cheered.
I licked my finger.
I pointed at her.
"She's mine, boys!"
Nell squealed as I pinched her ass.
I laughed, sitting back down.
The song ended.
She cheered for the other dancers.
Nell threw her arms around my neck.
"You're so bad."
We kissed.
Katy was sitting there.
She had her nose in her book.
We were dancing to a slow Country song.
I wrapped my arms around her.
We kissed.
We were dancing the right way.
"Dance with me?" It was a guy.
Katy looked up.
"Wow. I have never been looked at with such disgust before."
"I have to go do something."
She walked out.
Katy
I was in the trailer with Miranda.
"Miranda, I'm scared."
"I'm not. Not even a little."
She walked out of the trailer.
I followed Miranda out.
"What do you think?" She asked for Howard's opinion.
"I think I should be the voice of reason." He gave his opinion.
"We're running out of time." Miranda pointed out to Howard.
He looked behind him.
"Hold on."
Howard pulled the lid off a grill.
He got some grease off the lid.
Howard placed the lid back on the grill.
He made it look like dirt on her face.
"You need gum." I told Miranda.
I pulled my stick of gum out.
I handed her a piece of it.
"Yeah, okay."
Miranda put it in her mouth.
She pulled the collar of the shirt up and pulled the black Cowboy hat down.
We walked with Howard to to the Rodeo office.
"Wait here." He told us.
Howard
I walked into the Rodeo office.
"Here's your receipt. Good luck to you, partner." Wagner told a guy in front of me.
"Thank you, sir."
"You bet."
He walked out.
I rested my arm on the counter in a casual way.
"How you doing, Norbert?"
I glanced over my shoulder.
It was Norbert.
I turned my face the other way, so he didn't recognize me.
"Oh. What you say, Wagner?"
"Hey, Sweetheart." Norbert greeted the girl.
"Hiya, Norbert."
"Can I help you?"
I made sure he had walked away.
"Yeah. Uh... I want to register. For an event."
I chuckled.
"You gonna tell me which one or do I have to read your mind?"
"The Wild Horse Race."
"Wild Horse Race."
"Yes, sir."
"That takes a team of two."
"Mm-hmm. That's my partner. Outside."
I pointed at Miranda, who was standing with Katy.
She tipped the tip of her black Cowboy hat as a greeting.
Miranda repositioned it on her head.
"That little bitty feller?"
I nodded my head.
Wagner chuckled.
He looked down.
"Good luck." Wagner told me, looking back up.
"I need 50."
"Yes, sir."
I brought my wallet out.
I counted out 50.
"Fifty." I said, placing it on the counter.
"Gotta sign this waiver."
I grabbed a pen.
"Right there."
I signed the waiver.
"Report to the corral. Pick yourself out a hoss."
"Thank you."
"The event rolls at 5:00 PM sharp."
I handed the waiver to the girl.
"Here's your receipt."
"Thank you."
I was walking out.
"And if you come to your senses and want to back out... You lose every penny."
Wagner yanked the money away.
I chuckled.
"Good luck."
I walked out of the Rodeo office.
Miranda
Howard walked out of the Rodeo office.
We walked to the corral.
The horses were whining.
I stood up on the corral gate bars to try and find Fifi.
I spotted a black horse neighing with their hooves in the air.
I gasped, realizing it's Fifi.
"It's okay, Fifi."
I climbed in the corral through the second to last Bar.
"Wait!" Howard called, trying to grab my leg.
"Doggone, Billy!" A man yelled.
"Hey, get outta there, you lunatic!" "Billy" yelled.
I climbed up the corral bars to the top.
"You choose your horse like everybody else,"
Howard helped me onto the ground.
"Or you can take a hike!"
"Do the rules say you can put a baby cradle on a horse?" One of the Cowboys teased.
He had his hand on my shoulder.
All of the Cowboys except Howard were laughing.
"Quiet down! Alright, gather around, boys."
We were all standing together.
"Shout them out!"
They were shouting over each other.
I pushed him forward.
"Fourth team takes the black filly." Howard told him.
"Son, you just lose a race. That horse is truly loco."
He glanced over at me.
"Boys, next time you see your horse, it'll be in the ring trying to run you over."
"Alright now." One of the Cowboys replied.
"Good luck!"
I glanced over into the corral at Fifi.
She neighed.
Katy
"Ladies and gentlemen and Cowboys... The Wild Horse Race is about to start."
We had walked away from the corral.
"Now, if you got a weak heart..."
"Hey!" I called.
Miranda turned around.
"Kick some Cowboy ass." I tried to motivate her.
"Thanks."
"Or you just ate a big meal, I suggest you..."
"Don't you dare get hurt."
I pulled Howard in for a hug.
Miranda
I spotted Norbert walking down a flight of white stairs.
"Dang! Norbert."
Howard broke their hug.
"You know what we say to our first group of riders..."
We both turned around.
We stared directly at Norbert.
We turned back around.
"Welcome to our spike fair."
"Do you think he recognized us?" I questioned.
"I don't know."
"Let's bring them in!" The announcer ordered.
"Come on."
"Now, direct your attention to the chutes."
You heard their loud hooves hitting the ground.
"That ain't no Earthquake beneath your feet. That's wild horses coming at you."
They were nearing the chutes.
"Look at those crazy devils."
We were standing above the fourth chute.
"They've never been saddled, never haltered."
Fifi was standing in the fourth chute.
"Angrier than a Cowboy who just totaled his pickup."
The first team was trying to rile their horse up.
"Here's how it works. In a few moments, the horses..."
"No way." Howard told me.
"What?"
"Are you fucking crazy?!" He yelled.
"Just try and stop me."
Howard grabbed my arm.
"The boys have got to grab them, saddle them, then ride them between a pair of barrels."
I wretched it out of his grasp.
"And any rider who stays on that long..."
A guy placed his hand on Howard's shoulder.
He got spooked, thinking it was Rob.
"Your group's up next."
"Wins 8,000."
"I'm giving my number back." Howard threatened.
"Go ahead."
"So, let's bring in the first set of victims."
The announcer chuckled.
"I mean, Cowboys."
"Team number one, this is Jimmy Miles and John Bull."
Howard picked our saddle up.
Jimmy and John walked into the Arena.
"Team number two, the Eggan boys. Second generation. Wade and Trace Eggan."
Wade and Trace walked into the Arena.
"Team number three-- Chris Fadey and Big John Slim."
Chris and John walked into the Arena.
"And this next team of kids, they are so green, they've got moss oozing out of their pores. This is the McLaughlin brothers. Howard and Micah McLaughlin. Team number 14."
Rob
We had joined Rick and Esther on the way back to the bleachers.
"Hi, Norbert. How are you?" I greeted.
"Well, well, well."
"Hi, how are you?" Nell greeted.
"Guess you changed your mind about Mustangs, didn't you?"
Norbert chuckled.
"Come again?"
"Well, you're here to see your boy ride that wild horse, aren't you?"
"My boy?" I questioned.
"Howard?" Nell inquired.
"Yeah."
"What are you talking about?"
"Well, he's up now."
"Where is he? I'm gonna kill him." She questioned.
"Follow me."
"Where's Katy?"
"I don't believe this." Nell commented.
"Let's get ready to watch the first four teams."
Miranda
"Riders, get ready." A man ordered.
"Here we go." Howard said as we headed over to the chute.
"Don't let anybody back out, boys. Your life's on the line. Let's go for it."
We were holding onto the rope connected to Fifi.
They did the countdown from 10.
We opened the chute.
She came running out.
"Aw, let her rip, boys! Get back, Loretta. Here they come. Four of the toughest broncs you're ever gonna see."
Fifi was acting like the Mustang he is.
Howard didn't let go of the rope.
"Remember: One man's gonna give chase; One's gonna try to get him saddled."
"You see this black filly, number 12-- She is out of control."
"Get her! Get her!" I yelled at him.
"That's a bad old girl to have to deal with in this dance."
Howard tripped over our saddle.
"Them boys got more than they bargained for, taking that horse."
Fifi was running around the Arena.
Loretta jumped in another man's arms because he was afraid of her.
"Now, this is the height of insanity--"
I was watching Fifi.
"We've got s man on right here. Almost on."
The Cowboy groaned as the horse sent him into the side of the Arena.
Miss. Rodeo America put her hand over her heart.
"Oh, my Lord. My mother could've rode better than that." The announcer gave his opinion.
"Two riders up, one still unsaddled."
His partner was looking down.
"Heads up, boys!"
The other one grunted as his partner landed on his back.
A person responsible for dismounting wild horses was swinging a rope.
"Oh, that is not the recommended way to dismount a wild horse."
Rob
We were led into the VIP section by Norbert.
Katy had joined us.
"This is insane." Nell commented.
Miranda
"There it is, on the far side. Take a chance. Put your life on the line."
The horse knocked the Cowboy off him.
"Dropped him like a two-ton rock, split him like a 2 suitcase."
Fifi was running around the Arena in circles.
I realized she didn't recognize me.
"He's wide open and he is all done."
"Fifi!"
Fifi stopped dead in her tracks.
"Boy, I hope one of these guys wins this thing."
She snorted.
"Nobody needs a martyr."
The announcer's voice faded as I approached Fifi.
"Come on, boys."
"Easy, girl."
"Hey." I whispered.
"Whatever you do, don't get underneath the feet of that horse. He'll kick and he'll scratch you."
Rob
"I see Howard." Katy told us.
She pointed him out in the Arena for Nell, Rick, Esther, Norbert, and me.
Miranda
"This might be the last time we see a horse hold back."
I grabbed Fifi's hackamore.
I sighed, laying my head against her face.
Rob
Howard froze as he saw me.
By the look on his face, we all knew who his partner is.
"It's Miranda. Oh, my God."
I grabbed the pole and the railing.
I jumped into the Arena.
"Rob! Rob!" Nell called.
"Lookee here! Some lunatic just jumped out of the VIP section."
Miranda
Howard approached me.
He didn't have the saddle.
"He's here." Howard informed.
He grabbed Fifi's halter.
"What's he doing in the middle of the Arena?!"
"Look!"
Howard pointed to Rob running in the middle of the Arena.
"I'm an idiot. He's never gonna let me keep her."
"Just win."
"It won't make any difference to him. He doesn't want either of us."
"Let go!" Howard ordered.
Rob
"Look at that crazy fool. This guy is still at it. Where is he going?! What's going on?"
Miranda
I gave Howard pleading eyes.
I got up on Fifi's back.
"Miranda, let go."
"Ya... Come on."
She started moving.
"This is the little McLaughlin kid. Look a-there, jumped on bareback."
Rob was close to me.
"What in the world is going on?"
"I'm gonna set you free, girl." I told Fifi.
"Hyah!" I ordered her.
Fifi started going faster.
"Ladies and gentlemen, number 12... Is gonna be the winner."
Rob
Two guys tried holding me back.
I got them off me.
"Miranda!"
Katy
I had got Flicka out of the trailer.
I had her jump the Arena gate.
Rob
"The game is over!" It was Katy on Flicka.
She was blocking the Arena gates on her.
"I'm not playing a game. Now move."
Flicka had moved aside.
Katy ran after Miranda.
Miranda
"12, folks, is not stopping at the barrels."
I got through the Arena gates on Fifi.
Rob
"I've never seen like this in my life."
Katy skidded to a stop.
"I've been watching this for 40 years."
Jack and me skidded to stops on either side of her.
Nell skidded to a stop next to me.
"So, call the State troopers in Wyoming. He's headed for Cheyenne. I don't think he can stop that black filly."
Rick and Esther were standing next to Nell.
Norbert was standing next to them.
Howard was standing behind Jack.
"You better not touch my horse! Or I'm gonna bang some heads together!"
"I'd listen to her." Jack warned.
"Flicka!"
Flicka walked up behind Katy.
Miranda
I was riding along the Ranch.
It was raining.
The thunder rumbled.
I started sobbing gently.
"I don't know what to do."
I laid my head on Fifi.
"Where do we go, Fifi?"
She started leading me somewhere.
Rob
We had called the State Troopers.
"What'd they say?" Nell questioned.
"Can't get a helicopter here till morning."
"Boys lost the trail. Probably won't be able to pick it up again till daylight." Norbert informed.
Katy was sitting in the bed of the truck with a blanket around her.
"Norbert, gimme a horse." I ordered.
"Two horses." Nell corrected.
Katy had rode off with the State Troopers.
She had went a little longer than them because of how good Flicka's sense of smell is.
"Y'all need to calm down."
"No. We're not gonna calm down till we find our son's girlfriend."
"She'll go home."
We looked over at Katy.
"No, honey. She can't. Not in the Mountains. Not in the dark." Nell told her.
"Not Miranda-- Fifi. Hey, our Mountains are her home too."
I nodded my head.
"You're right. Let's go. When we get back to the Ranch, we're riding out." I ordered.
Howard lifted Katy out of the bed of the truck.
"Weather's coming in." Norbert warned.
I got in the driver's seat.
Nell got in the passenger's seat.
Howard, Katy, and Jack sat across the backseat.
Miranda
The thunder rumbled.
Fifi huffed.
I looked around my surroundings.
They looked vaguely similar to the Creek.
"This is our Creek, isn't it?"
She huffed.
"You brought us back."
I let out a relieved sigh.
"Thank you, girl. Let's go home. Come on."
I took over, since I knew where I was going now.
Rob
I continued the drive back to the Ranch.
Miranda
I was riding along the Creek.
Fifi was trying to back away from a tree.
"What is it? What is it, girl?"
She was slowly walking towards the tree.
Fifi snorted.
She backed away.
"What is it, girl? Huh?"
Fifi was neighing at the tree.
"It's okay, girl. It's okay. It's okay, girl."
I was trying to get her to go by the tree.
"Come on. Come on. It's okay."
I bounced on Fifi.
She neighed, bucking her hips.
I yelled as I hit the ground.
I gasped as I heard snarling up in the tree.
It was the Mountain Lion I had warned Katy and Rob about.
Fifi was bolting.
It snarled as it lunged at her.
"No!"
Fifi was neighing and it was snarling.
"No!"
It continued snarling and she continued neighing.
I picked up a big rock.
"Get away from her!"
I threw the rock.
"No!"
It ran off.
Fifi fell on the ground.
I was sobbing as I was running over to her.
"Fifi!" I yelled.
"Oh, my God. Oh, my God." I commented when I saw the scratches on Fifi.
I was sobbing as I kneeled beside her.
"Come on. Let's get up."
Fifi didn't get up.
"Oh, God. Oh, my God. Fifi, get up, please! Get up, please!" I pleaded.
She still didn't get up.
"Somebody help me!" I yelled.
I started sobbing harder.
"Get up! Get up, please!"
Fifi didn't get up.
I laid my head on her.
I lifted it up.
I wrapped my black jacket around Fifi's neck to try and stop the bleeding.
I laid next to her on the ground.
Rob
Howard pushed open the barn doors.
Katy had refused to put one of the coats on.
I wasn't making her.
"Hyah! Hyah!" I ordered my horse.
"Let's go." I ordered.
"Hyah! Hyah!" Jack ordered his horse.
"Hyah! Hyah!" Nell ordered Belle.
"Hyah!" Katy ordered Flicka.
She was right beside me.
The thunder rumbled.
We stopped our horses next to each other.
"I'll search the Ridge." Jack told me.
He rode off in the direction of the Ridge.
"I'll take the South Meadow." Gus told me.
"Miranda!" He called, riding off in the direction of the South Meadow.
"I'm gonna take the North Meadow." I told Katy.
"Miranda!" I called, riding off in the direction of the North Meadow.
Katy
"I'm gonna check the Creek. You should go back." I told Mom.
"Not a chance." Mom told me.
I turned Flicka around.
"Miranda!" I called, riding off in the direction of the Creek.
"Miranda!" She called, riding off in some other direction.
"Miranda!" I called, riding along the Creek.
Flicka started neighing nervously.
"What is it, Flicka?"
She started neighing loudly.
"Hold on!" I ordered Flicka, trying to get a grip on her so I didn't fall off her.
She was making that impossible.
I gasped as Flicka bucked me off her.
I grunted as I hit the ground.
"Flicka!"
She was bolting.
I gasped as I heard snarling up in a tree.
It was the Mountain Lion Flicka had scared off.
I ran after her.
I knocked it off Flicka before it could even break through her fur.
"Go get Dad."
She ran off.
I was fighting against the Mountain Lion as it mauled my head, face, arms, hands, fingers, chest, stomach, legs, feet, and toes.
It ran off.
Rob
I was riding back from the North Meadow.
I almost slammed into Flicka.
She was jumping around like a lune.
Katy wasn't with Flicka.
"Where's Katy?"
She was neighing.
"Take me to her."
Flicka was leading us to the Creek.
"Katy!"
I was riding along the Creek.
"Katy!" I called when I saw a small figure in the mud.
"Aah..." I said when my feet landed in the mud when I got off my horse.
"Oh!" I commented when I saw all the scratches.
I grunted as I slid next to Katy.
"Katy? Oh, baby. It's gonna be okay, baby." I told her.
I easily lifted Katy up into my arms.
"Daddy's got you. Come on."
"Daddy... The Lion got me."
She was shivering in my arms.
"You're gonna be alright, baby."
"It's alright." I whispered to Katy.
Flicka huffed quietly.
"Flicka."
She started crying.
"It's alright. It's okay."
"Ran."
Katy was pointing over to the corner.
I had grabbed Miranda too.
I had them side-saddled on my left leg.
I had an arm around them to make sure they didn't fall off.