My Blue River (42 page)

********

When Jack wasn’t working odd jobs or farming for his dad, he was spending time with me. We usually found our way to each other every evening, and each moment was a strong reminder of why I had fallen in love with him in the first place. It wasn’t how he would show up with a bouquet of flowers, or how he would surprise me with a picnic basket full of food, whisking me away to the mountains to serenade me by a waterfall. Those things were just icing on the cake. The simple truth was that Jack was a good and pure person. He was honest and real. His compassion for others was immeasurable. He was selfless and when he loved, he loved with all his heart.
I am so lucky to have his love
.

One evening we were lying on a blanket at The Beach. Jack was gently running his fingers up and down my arm, almost lulling me into sleep. “Are you excited about the rodeo?” he asked.

“Actually, funny you should mention it. I have a request,” I replied. I was never excited about Jack riding any kind of animal in a rodeo, but this time was completely different because of my vivid dream.

“And what would that be?”

“Please don’t ride in this rodeo.”

“What?” Jack asked in disbelief.

“I have a really bad feeling you’re going to get hurt. I honestly feel sick to my stomach.”

He looked thoughtful for a moment. “You had a dream about me riding in the rodeo?”

“Yeah. I did. It was more like a nightmare. I’m sure it was you, I mean, who else could it be?”

“What happened in the dream? Did I die?”

“Well, no, but you do get hurt. I think you’re going to get kicked in the chest.”

“Hmm…that really is a possibility, but sorry, babe, I love the rodeo circuit.” He leaned over and kissed my forehead. “It’s in my blood. Besides, I know what I’m doing. Don’t worry.”

“I do worry.”

“Well, don’t,” he insisted.

He began to kiss my cheek, then my neck, then my lips. I tried to pull away and finish my argument, but he slipped his hand ever-so-slightly under the back of my shirt. Feeling his hand on my skin caused a shudder. He pulled my body on top of his and we were locked in a sensual kiss. He had an effective way of changing the subject. I completely forgot what I had been saying.

********

Two days later we were at the rodeo in Middleburg. I remembered I hadn’t finished my pleading and now it was entirely too late.

“I still don’t feel good about this,” I declared.

“About what?” asked Jack.

“About your riding on an animal that doesn’t want to be ridden!”

“Oh, I thought you meant wearing those flip-flips to a rodeo.”

“Very funny.”

“It is, actually and if you get a little poo between those pretty little toes of yours, you’ll need to find your own ride home,” he joked.

“Well, maybe he’ll take me home.” I pointed to a very handsome cowboy who was passing by.

Jack looked at his competition and replied, “Yeah. Okay, never mind. I don’t care if you stink to high heaven, you ride with me.”

“You cave too easy, love.”

“I like that.”

“Like what?”

“I like it when you call me
LOVE
.”

Jack was giving me a quick kiss when we heard a call overhead that he should prepare for his first event—bareback bronco riding. I felt queasy just thinking about it so watching it was going to be unbearable. We had just spent the last hour watching kids participate in something called “mutton bustin’”—an event where little kids wearing helmets ride a sheep, trying to hold on for at least eight seconds, just like a real cowboy. Now it was time for the big cowboys.

We had also seen the women’s events which included breakaway calf roping, tie-down calf roping, team roping, bareback riding, and bull riding not to mention barrel racing. I only admitted it to myself, but I was impressed with the skill of these women. I only admitted it to myself, mostly because I saw two familiar faces participating—Mandy and Karly—the two girls I had overheard talking about me on my first day of school at Blue River High School; the two girls I had once known only by the color of their hair—Red and Brown. Red turned out to be Amanda, otherwise known as Mandy, otherwise known as Jack’s pawn to make me jealous at homecoming. I smiled as I remembered how he had been desperate to make me jealous and invited her to the dance. Brown turned out to be a girl named Karly.

I also couldn’t help but think that one of these rodeo queens would be a better fit for Jack. If I wasn’t careful, this was exactly the type of woman I would lose him to.
I feel queasy again
.

“I’ll need to go to the restroom before I watch your suicide attempt,” I announced.

Jack laughed as if I had just cracked a funny joke but in reality, I was fairly serious. Riding an untamed, barebacked bronco seemed ridiculously dangerous to me.

“I’m glad you find my concern so amusing,” I replied.

He laughed again. I rolled my eyes and stomped away to the restroom.

I had just finished doing my business when I heard those two familiar voices—Mandy and Karly.
This feels like déjà vu
. I couldn’t resist eavesdropping.

Karly asked Mandy, “Did you see who’s here?”

“Oh, yeah. I could have gone all day without seeing Adelaide Davis. Actually. In fact, I could have gone
all year
without seeing her,” replied Mandy. There was a slight slur to her words.

Karly snickered in a way that made me think she sort of enjoyed Mandy’s pain. “I think it may be time for you to give up on Jack,” said Karly.
Finally, the voice of reason!

“Oh, paaaleeez. There’s no way she’s staying. I heard she’s going back to California in August. When she’s gone, I’ll get Jack for myself,” proclaimed Mandy.

Now I’m pissed!

I flung the door open causing Karly to jump a foot in the air. Mandy just looked at me nearly expressionless. I recognized the look. It was the look Aaron often wore which meant she had two things I didn’t have—muscles and liquid courage and I was about to provoke her.
I must be insane!

“So ladies…do we really need to keep meeting like this?” I asked as I calmly walked to the sink and washed my hands. I looked at each of them with a fake smile through the mirror.

“Let’s go.” Karly pulled at Mandy’s sleeve.

“Oh, hell, no. It’s time we had this out.” Mandy protested and pulled her arm away from Karly’s grasp.

“Have
what
out, Mandy? Is there really anything to
have out
?” I asked. I tried to keep my voice calm and confident, but inside I was shaking like a leaf.

Mandy stepped closer to me. “You’re no good for Jack.” She spat the words in my face. I swiped at the flecks of spit that had found my cheek.

I took a step closer to her. I hated to rat Jack out, but I had to. He wouldn’t care anyway.

“Did you ever piece it together that Jack only asked you to homecoming last year to make me jealous? Chew on that a while.” I glowered at her. I really hated the implication that I wasn’t good enough for Jack, especially coming from these two half-wits.

I couldn’t believe I was being so brazen
. Hadn’t I just two hours ago watched Mandy chase down a calf with a rope, flip it on its back and tie it up in a neat little package?
In all honesty, she scared the crap out of me, especially since I knew she’d been drinking. But I held my place, even after she closed the gap between us. We were so close I smelled Peppermint Schnapps on her breath.

“Whew!” I waved my hand in front of my nose. “Celebrate your event with a little liquor, did ya?” I made a disgusted face to emphasize my point.

“You—little—bitch. I don’t like you. I have
never
liked you and I swear to God, you’d better watch your step or I’ll swoop in and steal Jack away from you before you even say
San Diego
.” She swayed a bit as the alcohol hit her brain.

My blood started to boil. I tried to control my quivering voice. “No.
You
understand
me
. Jack loves me. You get anywhere near him, and I’ll tear every limb from your little, country bumpkin body.
Got it?”
My finger shook as I waved it in her face. I was scared to death these very fit cowgirls were about to kick my ass and I shook with fear and rage.

Thankfully, Karly was still the voice of reason.

“Let’s go,” suggested Karly. She lowered her voice as she moved near Mandy’s ear, but I could still hear her say, “I told you he loves her.” Once again, Karly tried to pull Mandy away by the sleeve of her plaid blouse and once again she resisted.

“Don’t bother, Karly. I’ll leave instead. Why don’t you go sleep it off,
Candy
.” I deliberately butchered her name and since her senses had slowed it took her a minute to realize it.

I was already leaving the restroom when I heard her exclaim, “Damn it!
MANDY
! My name is
MANDY
!”

I walked as fast as my flip-flops would allow, nearly tripping twice. I prayed I still had time to see Jack before his ride, but I had taken too long in dealing with Mandy and Karly. It was too late. He was already into position. My heart sunk. I still had the feeling of dread about Jack riding a bucking bronco. I found Jack’s mom and sat by her in the bleachers. Sharon tried to reassure me he would be fine.

“He’s done this hundreds of times. He’s a skilled rider, Addy,” she assured. Despite her attempt to comfort me, I was still fearful this ride was going to somehow go horribly wrong.

When I heard the loud speakers announce that Jack was about to exit gate five, I sat straight up. My pulse quickened as the gate flew open and out came a bucking bronco with Jack’s body on top looking like a rag doll but he managed an eight second hold. I released the breath I had been holding, but not until the rodeo clowns ran out to distract the bronco after Jack dismounted.

“See, I told you he’d be fine.” Sharon patted my back.

Two hours later, Jack attempted to ride a bull and this time, it was a totally different story. He was thrown before he would have liked. It was nowhere near eight seconds. He was hit in the side by the bull’s horn. He also caught a thump on the head from a flailing hoof. He slumped to the ground and didn’t move. It looked like he wasn’t breathing. The rodeo clowns were doing their job, but I still wasn’t comfortable with the danger Jack was still in. The bull seemed really interested in finishing him off.

I ran to the railing. “Get up, Jack!” I yelled. “Get up! GET OUT OF THERE!” I pounded on the railing and jumped up and down.

Sharon jumped to my side and tried to make me return to my seat, but the anguish on her face told me she was every bit as concerned as I was. It felt like an eternity before Jack rose to his feet. Everyone began to clap and cheer as he stood. He needed help out of the arena and he was holding his side, then his head, then back to his side. He was clearly in pain but alive.

“I have to go, Sharon!” I exclaimed.

“I’ll go, too.”

Sharon tried to keep up as I ran to the other side of the arena, nearly tripping
. I swear, one of these days, I will trip on my own two feet trying to run in flip-flops.
When I found Jack, a female paramedic was wrapping a very large bandage around his chiseled abs. I knew she had to be enjoying her work because aside from the wound, the view was great.