Jake stared at the man who was trying to tend to his arm and tried to keep the hate contained, but a smile flitted across his face and the demons within him took over as he said, “Fuck it.” He yanked his arm away from the doctor and immediately swung as hard as he could, planting a left hook squarely on the black man’s jaw. Jake was surprised the man did not go down.
Dr. Black staggered back toward the urinals behind them, then looked at Jake in disbelief as he asked, “What the hell was that for?”
“That’s for free,” answered Jake, fury sparking from his eyes.
Suddenly Dr. Black charged Jake and deftly landed a right hand directly on Jake’s nose. Blood now flew not only from Jake’s arm; it was splattering the room from his nose as well.
Fists flew from both sides. Trey tried to get Jake to back off but, as soon as he pulled his brother-in-law away from the doctor for a second, Jake lunged at Trey and swung as hard as he could. Jake’s punch missed Trey because he was able to dodge the blow, but Persia, who was standing directly behind Trey, was not so lucky. All three men heard the bones crack in her face as Jake’s fist connected. She slumped down in a heap.
Dr. Black immediately went to tend to Persia, but Jake attacked him from behind. Once again, Jake was surprised to see the man get back up after he landed a massive blow to the back of his head.
“What the hell’s the matter with you?” yelled the doctor as Trey pressed Jake into a corner so he could talk some sense into him.
The doctor grabbed a handful of paper towels out of the dispenser, then knelt back down next to Persia and started cleaning her face. Shortly afterward, the bathroom door opened and one of the night managers walked in. His eyes went wide as he saw blood everywhere and only nodded as the doctor looked at him and added, “We need an ambulance, now.”
The bathroom door swung open when the manager raced out to make the call. Trey saw a handful of dancers and a bartender outside in the hallway, trying to look inside to see what the commotion was.
Soon, the door opened again and the night doorman walked in. Everyone called him Pauli. He had worked the front door and cabstand for Club Royale for ten years, and not only was he friendly to everyone who came or went, he was six foot ten, weighed an impressive two-hundred seventy-five lean pounds, and was also the unofficial bouncer of the establishment. He walked up to Jake who, because of Trey, had by now regained a semblance of sanity.
“You did this?” Pauli stared down at Persia, who was still out cold.
The blood dripping from Jake’s nose now had the top of his shirt soaked red, and Jake’s right hand was covered in blood as the cut on his arm continued to flow. Even though Trey only had Jake pinned in the corner for a couple of minutes, there was a sizable pool of blood gathering on the floor.
“It was an accident,” said Jake through heavy breaths. He added as he pointed at the doctor. “He started it.”
“No, he didn’t!” yelled Trey. He still had Jake pinned in the corner and shook him as hard as he could, adding, “You son of a bitch, you started this; it was you and nobody else.”
Jake looked at Pauli and pleaded with him, “Pauli, you know me. I always take care of you, don’t I?”
Pauli looked back and forth between Jake and Persia a couple of times before he shook his head slowly. “Mr. Jake, you’re right. You’ve always taken care of me, and I’ve always liked you, but that’s gone now.” Without warning, and with amazing speed, Pauli swung a right fist over Trey’s shoulder and hit Jake squarely on the jaw. The blow itself most likely knocked Jake out cold, but when the back of his head hit the tile wall behind him, he went down like a sack of potatoes.
Trey let go of Jake and watched him fall, then turned to Pauli and the doctor as he said, “I want you two to know, this here’s my brother-in-law, but right now I don’t think I’ve ever met a sorrier son of a bitch in my entire life.”
Fifteen minutes later, Jake was being led out of the building in handcuffs to flashing police car and ambulance lights. Two assault charges and a possession of a controlled substance charge were brought up against him, along with resisting arrest. The first officers to arrive on the scene brought Jake back to consciousness by throwing a glass of ice water in his face. Shortly thereafter, they found themselves face to face with a madman.
After he regained most of his senses, Jake remembered the punch that knocked him out, then sprang to his feet, where fists started flying again. This time, however, the officers won handily as they used tasers to bring Jake to his knees.
At first, the officers wanted to bring Trey in as well, but after Dr. Black came to his defense, they decided to let Trey go if he paid the girls and settled with the club for damages. Trey was shocked the officers made him pay a thousand dollars to Jenny and two thousand more to Persia, but quickly said, “Yes, sir.” He pulled Jake’s billfold out of his back pocket as he stood there, bloodied and bruised with his hands cuffed behind his back.
After giving the money to the manager, Trey took Jake’s truck keys and walked away, never looking back once. He immediately left Dallas and drove back to Childress, only stopping for coffee and gas once, and he never broke the speed limit. Dani came over to his house to get the truck a couple days later after Jake posted bail. She drove it back down to Dallas to get Jake, but Trey never talked to his brother-in-law again and never told Dani what really happened that night. He figured she’d find out all the details soon enough when that poor girl sued the pants off Jake which, in the end, was exactly what happened.
In a way, Jake finally achieved what he had been missing so badly, which was returning to the spotlight. His mug shot appeared in all the major newspapers, and the story was that he had beaten up a stripper with two prostitution convictions, then tried to beat up a well-respected doctor who was known around town as a beloved physician who treated poor patients at no charge.
Jake and Dani both laid low for months after he returned home because he couldn’t go anywhere without bumping into someone who wanted to pick a fight with him, and she couldn’t take the stares of people who pointed her way, whispering God knew what. Even though Jake never did cocaine again after the trip to Dallas with Trey, the first thing he did after Dani got him back home to Childress was crack open a bottle of Jack, which he proceeded to drink until the bottle was empty.
Dani would never forget the sight of Jake snoring loudly after he passed out on the living room sofa later that night. It was then the thought first crossed her mind that she finally had no reason to stay married any longer because her dream of living a life at the pinnacle of the rodeo world was now and forever over. A sickening feeling filled her soul when she realized she’d had multiple opportunities over the years to get off the crazy ride called “Jake O’Brien,” but never did. Looking at Jake, she almost threw up on the living room floor when she realized she had stayed on until he had successfully driven everything they ever needed or wanted straight into the ground.
Epilogue
“Women Marry Men Hoping They Will Change,
Men Marry Women Hoping They Will Not.
So Each Is Inevitably Disappointed”
—Albert Einstein
Decatur, Texas
Dani turned her car onto the exit ramp as she finally reached her destination. She halted at the four-way red light, then turned onto East Main Street in Decatur, Texas. She had left Childress three-and-a-half hours earlier and was now getting nervous because she was on her way to see Jake for the first time in months.
Dani left Jake immediately after the engagement party a year before and, ever since, avoided him at all costs. She refused to take any of his calls after moving back home to the ranch, and even her parents, who idolized Jake for years, now knew all the sordid details of Dani’s marriage to him and would hang up the phone on him in disgust every time he called. They even changed the home phone to an unlisted number.
Dani and Jake sold the ranch to another up-and-coming calf roper and his wife, who couldn’t believe their lu
ck when they found out they could purchase the great Jake O’Brien’s ranch, but Dani looked at the sale a little differently. Immediately after the documents were signed, she went to the restroom at the title company and said a prayer, asking God to please bless the house so the young couple wouldn’t have to endure the curse she had lived through. Afterward, as she walked out to her car, she felt as if a great burden was lifted and she was almost free for the first time in her life and, up until today, it was the last time she had seen or talked to Jake.
For his part, Jake still sent Dani fresh flowers on a regular basis, along with notes begging her to forgive him, but the cards were burned in the fireplace shortly after the roses hit the bottom of the trashcan outside. There were also many thick letters returned to sender.
Dani’s reason for being in Decatur today was to finally sign their divorce papers, but she figured that, once she got there, Jake would say, “Come back home, darling, I’ve missed you so, you’re so beautiful, blah, blah, blah,” and she didn’t want to hear any of it. All she wanted to do was to sign the damned papers and get the hell out of there without saying too much in the process.
She came to a stop sign and glanced at the piece of paper she had written the directions on, then crossed the railroad tracks and turned right onto Old Denton Highway. Taking a deep breath, she started scanning the right side of the road, knowing Jake’s house was less than a mile away. She turned right onto the bumpy dirt driveway, and a small cloud of dust followed her to the trailer while a knot formed in her stomach, something that hadn’t happened since the last time she saw Jake.
Putting the car in park, she stared for a moment at the trailer in front of her. It was a white single-wide that had an eight-foot-wide wooden deck, lined with a wooden rail starting at the steps that led to a door in the middle of the trailer. The deck got much wider as it went beyond and wrapped around the side of the home to where an above ground Jacuzzi was installed. The house appeared to be well kept, was shaded by large oak trees, and had a small roping arena with a barn behind it. Dani saw movement behind a curtain as she said to herself, “Well, here goes.”
She took a deep breath, then opened the door to her car and got out. As she walked the short distance to the stairs, Jake stepped out onto the deck. He didn’t have his hat on and it was the first time Dani noticed that his hair was getting grey and thin. Otherwise, he appeared to be in good physical shape.
“Hey, Dani, it’s nice to see you,” he said, smiling.
“You, too, Jake,” answered Dani, trying to hide her nervousness. She climbed the steps to get on the deck, walked up to him and gave him a one-armed hug before adding, “You like it here in Decatur?”
“Yeah, I do,” answered Jake. He pointed into the distance and added, “Adam and Christy live right down the road about a mile or so. They moved in about six months ago, right after Jason’s wedding. It’s a shame you didn’t make it.”
“Well, you know, I really would have loved to,” said Dani as she uneasily rubbed her hands together. “But Momma was sick and all, and…and I just couldn’t get down here.”
Jake only nodded as if he really didn’t want to call her out on the lie, then continued, “It’s nice being so close that I can go down and watch the best calf roper alive practice every day. He’s been a big help with the boys, too.”
“How are they?” asked Dani quickly as she took her eyes off Jake to look around at her surroundings.
“Great,” answered Jake enthusiastically. “Jason and Amanda live over on the other side of town, but they’re still close, only about ten minutes away.”
“Is he roping?” asked Dani.
“Yeah, practicing mostly. He’s still good, but not like we thought he might be,” answered Jake. He chuckled a bit as if he recalled a fond memory, then added, “He could be as good as anybody out there if he wanted it bad enough, but he just don’t have the heart. I think nowadays all he wants to do is keep a real job so he can go home and see Amanda every night.”
“He’s working?” asked Dani as a small breeze blew a strand of blonde hair across her face.
“Yeah,” said Jake, nodding. “He got a job at some construction company. Say’s maybe next year he’s going to start building his own houses.”
“That’s nice.” Dani looked back at Jake. “How about Chris? How’s he doing?”
“Unbelievable,” said Jake proudly. “That boy wants to do nothing but rope calves. All day, every day. He’s damned good at it, too.” He beamed proudly as he added, “Adam’s helped him a lot and, I swear, all you have to do is tell that boy something once and he’s got it. He keeps telling me he wants to turn pro right out of high school.”
“What about college?” asked Dani.
“What about it?” echoed Jake. “Adam didn’t go to college.” He held his hands wide and shrugged as he added, “And wait until you get a load of his place. It’s huge. He’s signed enough contracts over the last year or so that his grandkids should be set.” He shook his head for a moment before finishing, “Yep, things are sure different nowadays. I was just born about twenty-five years too early, that’s all.”
“That’s not true, Jake,” said Dani with a soft smile. “If it wasn’t for you, Adam and Chris…hell, for that matter, anybody…none of those kids today would have the chances they do now.” Without thinking, she rubbed Jake’s arm and added sincerely, “You’re the one who originally brought the big money to the shows. In fact, just about everybody in rodeo right now owes you a debt of gratitude.”
“Damn,” Jake said, smiling at her, “that’s a nice thing to say.”
“It’s true,” answered Dani.
An awkward moment of silence followed with each not knowing what to say, then finally Jake changed the subject and gazed around his property. “The house is a little small, but it’ll do for now.” He rubbed his hands together. “I’m about to ink a new boot deal with Roper that’ll kind of help me get back on top. Hopefully, I’ll have it closed in a couple months, then after Chris moves out, me and Beth will move into something bigger.”
“Beth?” asked Dani with surprise.
“Yeah, she’s inside,” said Jake. “She wants to meet you, but thought it would be best to let us have a moment or two. What do you say?”
Dani quickly wiped her eye before a small tear could appear, then smiled at Jake. “Sure, I don’t see why not.”
Jake turned and opened the door behind him, then leaned inside and said, “It’s okay; come on out.”
A slim, attractive, middle-aged brunette woman with eyeglasses stepped out onto the deck wearing sandals and a long white flowery dress. She walked straight to Dani and, taking Dani’s hands into hers, she said, “It is such a pleasure to finally meet you.”
“Nice to meet you, too,” said Dani with a tentative smile. Up until a few seconds ago, Dani didn’t know this woman existed and, at first, she was taken aback with the whole idea, but the warm smile on the woman’s kind face began to melt any reservations.
“Jake has told me so much about you.” Beth let go of Dani’s hands, then nodded toward the inside of the house as she asked, “I hope you can stay a while. Would you like a cup of coffee, maybe a glass of tea?”
“Oh, no, but thank you,” said Dani with a smile, trying her best to hide the uncomfortable feeling in her stomach. “I just came to take care of a couple things with Jake, then I should be on my way.”
“Maybe some other time then?” asked Beth.
“I’ll definitely take a raincheck,” said Dani.
“Fine. I’ll just step back inside and let you and Jake tend to whatever you need to.” She turned to go back inside but, before she closed the door behind her, she added, “I really would enjoy the opportunity to get to see you again, maybe get to know you a little better.”
“I’d like that,” answered Dani.
After the door shut behind Beth, Dani looked at Jake and asked, “So you have a girlfriend. Does she live here? With Chris?”
�
��Oh, no, slow down there,” said Jake, waving the thought away. “She lives in town, but knew you were coming out today and wanted the chance to introduce herself.” He looked at Dani as if he wanted to see her reaction to the news and added, “We plan on getting married in a year or so.”
“Really?” asked Dani.
Jake stepped close to Dani and leaned in to whisper in her ear, “That is, unless you’re willing to come home and give it another try.”
Dani started laughing as she stepped away. “You can’t be serious,” she said. “After all we’ve been through?”
“The highs were highs,” answered Jake. “We had some really good times.”
“Yeah,” she agreed, “but the lows were really low. I still remember mostly bad times.”
“Aw, I wish you wouldn’t say that. I remember plenty of good times.” Jake stared off into the distance. He shook his head as he added, “But I guess there wasn’t much in between toward the end, was there?”
“No, I guess there wasn’t,” answered Dani, turning her attention to a small car passing in front of the house.
Jake’s eyes followed the car as well as he said, “Well, I want you to know that, even though I knew what the answer would be, I’d probably give myself hell the rest of my life if I didn’t ask.”
Dani looked at Jake as she replied, “Damn, that was a nice thing to say.”
“I guess we’re even, then,” said Jake. He took a good look at the red, four-door sedan Dani drove up in and said, “That a Mercedes?”
Dani glanced at the car briefly before turning back to Jake. She brushed the hair out of her face as she said, “Yeah, I like it.”
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