by Hall, Roni
He needed Lola to vacate, and fast. Jamie wouldn’t stay at the ranch for long, especially under these conditions. She was upset with Lola’s presence and in a way, this flattered him. He hoped that it meant she cared for him more than a friend, but how long would she put up with this? He needed to get Lola out of here.
Knowing her time at the ranch was now on the downswing, Jamie wanted as much Jack time as possible. She outfitted him and led him out the back of the barn.
“Let’s go.” They trotted off along a hilly trail for a half hour before stopping at a stream. The water looked inviting so she took off her boots and waded in.
“Whoa! I forgot how cold this water can be.” Picking up stones from the stream floor, she tried her hand at making them skip across the calm areas where the water pooled. “I never could get the hang of that. Kevin’s good at it.” Speaking his name out loud revived her ache. “Oh, Jack, I know I have to go home but . . .” Her voice caught as she heard herself say the words. The horse kept his eyes on her the whole time as if listening. Jamie looked down at her feet, bent over and reached into the water to retrieve a heart-shaped rock. She studied it carefully. Is this an omen? Believing in signs, she deposited the keepsake into her pocket.
“Time to go, even though I could stay here forever with you. It’s so hard to think about leaving.” She stroked Jack and he nuzzled up to her. Jamie grabbed his reins, put her foot in the stirrup, and mounted him. Jack was a tall boy but she loved him. She analyzed this emotion in her mind and heart. I’ve never loved an animal before. I’ve never even had a pet other than a goldfish. I’ve heard about it, I’ve read about it, but I thought people that talked about their love of animals were nutty. Now I know what they were talking about. Jamie had to ponder this for a while. They rode back slowly, not wanting their time together to end.
“Jack, I don’t know what to do. I need to go home but I don’t want to. But with Lola being here, and things changing with Kevin, I can’t stay. The tough part is that I’ve made so many friends, good friends, like you and Ben, Rick and Tommy, Consuelo and Hector, it’s going to be tough to leave. And this land, it gets into your blood. I love New York City but this, this just feels right for me. And I won’t even get into my feelings about Kevin, despite what my common sense tells me. And what about you? It’s going to be very tough to leave you. I’m going to have to pull my Scarlett routine and not think about it now. I’ll think about all that tomorrow.” Rambling on she had to deliberately lift her mood so she could enjoy this time with Jack. The ride back was slow and peaceful but sad at the same time.
Once Jamie and Jack returned to the barn, she brushed him down, fed and watered him, and hugged her best friend good night. She retreated out of the barn, but stopped to bid Hector good-night and voice more words of appreciation.
“I don’t know what it is about that horse, Hector, but he’s special to me. I was born and raised in the city. I never knew one could have such feelings for an animal,” Jamie confided.
“We are all God’s creatures. And I don’t necessarily think humans are on a higher level than other animals.”
“You’re so right, Hector. Good night.”
Some major shifting was going on in the barn today so Hector warned her that Jack would be in the main corral in front of the barn. Jamie thanked him for the heads-up and would have to plan how she would steal Jack from that corral so she could ride him in the afternoon.
She sat next to Ben at lunch and he was pumped for his show tonight. Excitement filled the air as the ranch hands were committed to seeing Ben at his finest. A lot of joking and wagering was going on. Some bet that Ben would chicken out because the show had gotten more advertisement than ever imagined. Pledges for the shelter had exceeded their goal. In fact, there had been a little airtime about it on one of the local radio stations.
“Are you ready?” Jamie asked Ben at lunch.
“Yeah, I’m ready. Did you hear how much money they raised for the shelter? That makes me feel good. That alone is reason to go through with this. Hey, who cares if I ruin my reputation and get laughed out of town, as long as I make money for the shelter? That’s what’s important, right, Jamie? Please tell me yes!”
Jamie laughed. “Yes. Really, that’s what this is all about. Remember, you’re a bigger person because of the reason behind why you’re doing this.” She tried to convince him but she couldn’t help but add, “However, I’m so glad it’s you and not me that has to make a fool of yourself!” Jamie laughed and hugged him. “Just kidding. It’s going to be great. You’re going to be great. Don’t worry. Hey, do you mind if I catch a ride with you today?”
“Sure, but I’ll be leaving early. I could use your moral support.”
“You have my total, unconditional support.”
“Thanks, that means a lot. I'm planning on leaving about six. Is that okay?”
“Sure. Whatever works for you. I’ll be ready. See you then.” Jamie gave his arm a squeeze and returned to the barn.
As foretold, Jack was in the large corral in the front of the barn, in full view of most of the ranch. How would she sneak him out? Jamie was in and out of the barn all day as her duties had been altered with all the work going on.
Later in the afternoon as she worked in the barn, she heard commotion outside. Jack could be heard snorting loudly and neighing then she heard a woman screaming. Jamie ran out of the barn toward the noise and saw Lola in the corral backed into a corner with Jack rearing at her. The ranch hands were running toward the ruckus too and there were harsh voices yelling at Jack to back down. Their shouts only seemed to excite him more as he ran in a tight circle, rearing up in front of the shrieking Lola.
“Get some ropes. We need to rope him in!”
“He’s out of control. We have to get her out of there!”
“Grab the whip!”
To her horror she even heard someone yell to get a gun! In shock, she couldn’t believe her eyes and ears. This was her beloved, mild-mannered Jack rearing up like a wild animal and the men would do whatever they needed to do to protect Lola.
Without thinking Jamie climbed into the corral, ran through the ranch hands and into the center of the yard, running to Jack. Knowing that their yelling and wild gestures were agitating him even more, she held up her hand authoritatively toward the ranchers.
“Stop! Everybody stop!” She shouted at them and they did so, looking at her in utter surprise with her commanding voice. Now that she’d gotten the hands under control she focused on Jack.
“Jack.” Jamie spoke in a loud but calm voice. Lola was still screaming. A crowd gathered and watched the spectacle.
“Shut up, Lola!” Jamie looked at her with a stern face, “Shut. Up.” Lola stopped screaming and sat on her butt in the dirt, whimpering.
Jamie advanced slowly toward the rearing horse, giving him wide birth but trying to get in his line of vision. He kept circling as she kept moving at a safe distance. Calling his name over and over again she needed him to see her, hoping the sight of a friend would calm him.
“Jack. It’s okay, Jack. It’s okay.” Jamie kept repeating in a soft but firm voice and held out her hand.
“It’s me, boy, it’s okay. Jack. Whoa, boy. It’s okay.” Over and over again she repeated and stepped cautiously toward the flustered stallion. He stopped rearing but was still running circles. He slowed as he seemed to catch sight of Jamie approaching.
“It’s okay. Jack. It’s okay, boy. Come here. It’s okay. Shhhhhh.” She spoke calmly to Jack who slowed to a walk. He eyed her as if to ask, Is that you Jamie? “Yeah, it’s me boy, it’s me. Everything’s gonna be okay.” Slowly he trod over to her, nuzzling her outstretched hand. Lola screamed and Jack was off again, rearing.
“Shut up, Lola!” This time one of the hands quieted her.
“Come on, Jack, she’s done, she
won’t hurt you. C’mon, let’s go in the barn.” Softly she stepped toward the retreated Jack and he slowed again. The horse looked from right to left then strolled toward her.
“That’s a good boy. Yeah. That a way. Shhhh. Everything’s gonna be okay. Shhh . . .” Jamie held out her hand and Jack nuzzled it. Taking hold of his reins, she led Jack toward the gate. One of the hands opened it and as Jamie was walking Jack out, she nodded toward Lola and instructed him to “Get her out of there!” She had suspicions that Lola had deliberately agitated the animal somehow. Jack wouldn’t go off on people like that without cause. Jamie was pissed! So hard she had been trying to convince the ranchers that Jack had a gentle spirit and Lola had managed to set that thought back a few decades. She knew Lola was not innocent in this. What the hell had she been doing in the corral anyways?
Jamie escorted Jack out of the corral, into the barn and back into his own stall. He needed to be in familiar surroundings to calm him down. She spoke to him the whole time.
“Now what do you think you were doing there, Jack?” She secured him in his stall and started to brush him down, providing her the opportunity for some hands-on therapy to relax him. Talking soothingly to him, she brushed him with slow deliberate strokes.
“Now, what do you think you were doing out there, huh? I know you might not be crazy about her. I’m not either, but she’s Kevin’s girl and we’re just going to have to accept that. We have to get along with her. I know it’s not easy for either of us, but that’s how it is. Okay? You and me, we are going to have to help each other do this. Yeah, boy, I know.”
Jamie spoke non-stop to Jack and did not hear Kevin approach. To say he looked upset would be an understatement.
“Jamie, what the hell just happened?” he bellowed pointing toward the corral, his face red, and his eyes burning fire.
“What do you mean?” she asked, baffled by his fury.
“Tell me you did not just walk up to a wild, violent horse!” Kevin spelled it out loudly.
“No I didn’t. But I did walk up to Jack, if that’s what you mean.” His blatant exaggeration of Jack’s behavior added to her outrage of the whole scene.
“That’s exactly what I mean!” His anger was palpable. She stopped brushing Jack but kept her hands on his back.
“Well you didn’t want your girlfriend to get hurt, did you?” she shouted back at him, defending her actions.
“She’s NOT my girlfriend! And if you would just listen to me I could explain that.” Kevin’s face softened and his voice calmed. “But more importantly, I don’t want you hurt or killed,” Kevin confessed as he came closer and placed his hand on top of hers on Jack’s back.
“Jack wouldn’t hurt me.” His touch unnerved her and she moved her hands away from his.
“You don’t know that.”
“Yes I do. I knew that if I could get him to see me or hear me, he would calm down. I just needed to get her to stop screaming.” Jamie couldn’t hide her disgust of Lola’s behavior. “And it worked. I needed to get him away from her. I don’t know what she did but she did something to set him off. I know she did.”
Kevin paused for a moment. “How’d you know that Jack would respond to you?”
Jamie looked guilty but said nothing.
“Promise me please, that you will never, ever do anything like that again. People have gotten killed doing less than that.” Kevin pleaded in a quiet voice.
“I couldn’t let them hurt Jack. They were like an angry mob and they were agitating him more.” Jamie knew she was right but he wouldn’t agree with her.
“I don’t want you to get hurt,” he repeated and looked into her eyes.
“Too late.” Jamie blurted out before she could stop her words and tears started to well. Damn, stop that!
Kevin went silent. He reached for her hand again. “Jamie, I . . .”
Suddenly Jack snorted and stirred restlessly in his stall.
“KEVIN! That horse almost killed me! Did you see that! I want him put down. He’s dangerous!” Lola screamed again, looking a bit haggard now, black mascara running down her face mixed with tears as she strode toward them. “He needs to be put down I tell you, before he kills someone!”
Automatically Jamie’s hands fisted and she started toward Lola. Let me at that bitch! Just give me one swing at her, Lord!
“Jesus!” Kevin shot an exasperated look at Jamie and stepped in front of her with his arms stretched out and stared her down. Reluctantly, Jamie halted as she threw a death glare at Lola. Kevin marched over to the wearied blonde, grabbed her arm, and escorted her out of the barn.
Jamie returned to Jack’s side and brushed him as her tears began to flow. This was therapy for her now.
Chapter 16
Jamie stayed with Jack for about an hour. By 5 o’clock the excitement of the day was over and everyone had returned to their posts. Jamie went to her cabin and showered. She wanted to crawl into bed and pull the covers over her head, but tonight was Ben’s night and she would be there for him. Once dressed, she headed over to his truck.
Excitement in his eyes, Ben appeared ready to go. “Ready?”
“Are you?” Jamie shot it back at him, smiling, hiding her troubles.
“Hell yeah!” He climbed into the truck and they headed to town.
They drove in silence for a while before Ben spoke.
“Jamie?” He glanced at her while driving, his brow furrowed.
“Yes?”
“I told you I don’t want to get into Kevin and your business, but you need to hear him out.”
“Pardon me?” His words took her by surprise.
“You need to hear him out. Give him a chance.”
“He’s got a woman staying with him and you want me to hear him out? Come on, Ben!”
“That’s just it. She’s not staying with him. She’s in his house, but he’s not.”
“What do you mean?”
“I mean just that. The minute she moved in, he moved out. He’s been staying with me in my cabin.”
“Really?” Jamie whispered in disbelief.
“Yes really.”
“Well, why doesn’t he just stay in one of the empty cabins?”
“Because he wants a witness, an alibi to prove that he’s been with me every night, all night. And trust me, he’s been there. I love the guy and all, but two of us in that little cabin is mighty tight quarters.”
“But why . . .”
“Because of you.” Ben said no more and neither did Jamie. That information needed to be digested. A flicker of hope ignited deep in her heart.
Kevin had escorted the shrieking Lola to her room, lecturing her that if she hadn’t teased Jack with a rider’s crop, she wouldn’t have found herself in that dangerous predicament. After leaving Lola, he walked toward Ben’s cabin, rehashing the craziness in his head. He couldn’t erase the look of betrayal and hurt in Jamie’s eyes when she’d replied ‘too late.’ He’d taken that one to the gut and hadn’t known what to say. Hurting her was the last thing he ever wanted to do; Derrick had done enough of that.
After the excitement of the day, Kevin made his rounds of the ranch, making sure all was back to normal. Stopping at Jack’s stall, Kevin viewed the stallion with new eyes.
“Hey boy, how’re ya doing?” Kevin rubbed the horse’s muscular neck. He had a soft spot for this large steed even though he knew he had a wild side. “How is it that Jamie could talk you down, huh? I didn’t know you knew each other so well.” Kevin stroked his neck again. “G’night boy, get some rest.”
After securing the ranch, Kevin returned to Ben’s cabin to shower and get ready for the big night. As he’d walked around the homestead earlier, he’d discreetly looked for signs of Jamie, hoping he could give her a ride to the bar. The ranch looked deserted now,
like Kevin was the last to leave for the show. As he drove, his mind wandered to Jamie and how he might persuade her to listen to his explanation of the uninvited guest in his home. As if on cue, Lola rose to a sitting position from her hiding spot in the back seat of his cab, almost causing him to veer off the road.
“Jesus, Lola! What the hell?”
“Well, you didn’t think I was going to stay at the ranch by myself while you all go in to town. I know what’s going on tonight, and I knew you wouldn’t invite me.” Primping her hair and her lipstick, she laid a hand on Kevin’s shoulder. “It’ll be fun . . . like old times.”
“No, Lola, it’s not like old times. Since you’re here, you can go but we’re not going as a couple. This is not a date. Do you understand?” He knew he didn’t have time to take her back to the ranch and still make the show, and he would not miss Ben’s moment. But all Kevin could think about was Jamie’s take on him and Lola walking in together. Shit, I can’t catch a break.
Lola made eye contact in his rear view mirror but said nothing.
Ben and Jamie got to the bar early as planned. She helped him make sure the mics and stage were set. He checked the costumes which were still in the back room. Crystal was due to arrive early. Ben had offered to pick her up but she’d declined the ride. She wanted to have her own car so she could leave whenever she wanted.
Even though Ben wasn’t due to go on until 9p.m., the bar started to fill up early. People longed for an excuse to go to the bar and Kenny loved it because many were coming straight from work, so not only were they ordering drinks but burgers too.