Tell Me the Story
Darla walked out of the barn and across the lawn, stopping to scratch Diesels on the head. Diesel was an old rodeo bull Darla had owned since she was seven. “How are you doing old man?” she asked affectionately Then continued towards the house. “Dad, have you seen Gunner, it's bedtime.”
Waylon struggled to get out of his chair on the porch. The rodeo life hadn't been kind to his body. It was the broken back that finally forced him to retire and was the reason for most of his pain now. “If he is anything like his mother, I'm pretty sure I know where he is.” He teased as he stepped off the porch and shuffled across the lawn to the spot his daughter had just left.
The large bull on the other side of the fence snorted and pawed the ground. “Settle down you old devil.” Waylon snorted back. Then stepped closer to the gnarled old pear tree next to the fence. He looked up into the branches, heavy with fruit. “What are you doing up there son?” he asked holding his arms out to the boy.
“I don't feel so well Grandpa.” Gunner mumbled
“Come on down here then.” Waylon lifted the boy off the branch and pressed his cheek to his head. “ He has a fever.”
Darla placed her hand on Gunner’s forehead “He had the sniffles this morning when he woke up. I was hoping it was just allergies.”
After a warm bath some chicken soup and some fever medication, Gunner climbed onto his Grandfathers lap. Darla covered him with a blanket “I'll get you some juice.”
Cuddled up in his Grandfathers lap like a baby, Gunner looked up into his face, his tiny warm finger traced the deep scar that extended in a jagged line from just above his left eye to the tip of his chin. “Tell me the story.”
“Again?” Waylon chuckled “You must know it by heart now.”
Gunner smiled and nodded “Please”
“Okay,” Waylon agreed then waited until the boy had tucked himself under the blanket.
“It was a long time ago when your mother was only a couple of years older than you are.
Most girl's her age were into horses and riding, not your Mom. No, Your Mom was all about the cows. She started helping with the chores as soon as she could walk. It all just came naturally to her. She loved those animals and they loved her. Those cows would follow her from the pasture right into the barn. They trusted her.”
“They still do.” Gunners eyes were closed but he smiled
“Yes, they all trust her. She always knew when something was off with one of them if they were sick or uncomfortable in some way. She would always insist they get a vet check or just a break if that's what she thought they needed and do you know what, those cows would stand quiet for anything the vet did as long as your Mom was there.” Waylon stopped and adjust the pillow behind his back. He took a sip from the tea Darla had brought him. Then waited for Gunner to finish his juice and tuck back under the blanket.
“Are you cold? Maybe you should come inside and get warm.”
Gunner shook his head “Grandpa is telling me the story.”
“Aren't you two tired of that story yet?”
“Nope,” Gunner giggled “My Moms a hero” he teased
“Yes, she is.” Waylon agreed and squeezed Darla's hand gently.
Darla rolled her eye. “I'm not a hero.” she said modestly “A few more minutes and then it's bedtime for sick cowboys.”
“Grandpa, Why didn't you like to take Mom to the rodeo?”
“It always made her sad.”
“Why?”
“Well, I guess because of how sensitive she is to the animal’s feelings. She has very strict ideas of how they should be treated. Your Mom could always tell which animals enjoyed the rodeo and which ones didn't. She knew which ones were reacting badly because they were scared or hurt. She didn't like that the animals that didn't want to participate were being forced to do it anyway.”
“Why are they?” Gunner asked reminding Waylon of his Daughter.
“I guess because most people don't know or don't pay enough attention to when their animal is sick or scared and they don't really believe that your Mom or any other person can know either. Plus most animals would be happier grazing in a quiet pasture instead of being at the rodeo where everything is loud and they are forced to do work.
On this day your Grandma was sick in bed with the flu. I had a show I didn't want to miss so we took your Mom with us. Uncle Seth was going to keep her busy with other things until I was done, then we were going to pick out one of the long-eared cows she had always wanted.”
“Sugar?”
“Yes, but we didn't get Sugar that day.” Waylon said “Uncle Seth did a great job keeping her busy but by evening time your Mom was starting to get tired and bored. She was cranky and stopped listening to Seth. She took off on him and he found her by the bull-riding ring,”
“You weren't finished though.” Gunner said knowing what was coming next
“I should have been but some guy showed up with a bull he claimed no one could ride. He put a huge prize up for the person who could stay on him for eight seconds.
Back then Your old Grandfather was the one to beat and everyone expected me to give the bull a try. I said no at first but the guy doubled the prize… and I couldn't resist.
If I had known your Mom was at the gate I would have bailed on the ride to spare her feelings.
This bull was angry before they even put him in the chute. I have learned enough from your Mother that I should have suspected something was up with him before I got on...
He was the devil though and I wanted to prove how good I was.”
Gunner looked at his Grandfather doubtfully.
“Don't look at me like that. That damn bull almost killed me before we even got started. He bucked me off right there inside the chute and tried to trample me”
Gunner opened his eyes long enough to roll them. Then snuggled deeper into the blanket
“Are you cold?” Waylon asked, Gunner, shook his head so he went on “If I was smart I would have stopped right then but I'm not smart I guess.” Gunner giggled “The M.C. announce me and the bull and they opened the gate., He shot out of that chute like a rocket. He bucked and crow hopped, then took off straight for the wall. He stopped short of hitting it and almost threw me over his head onto his massive horns… I managed to stay on… I may have stayed on the whole eight seconds but I heard your mom yell “No, Daddy! His back is so sore, your making it worse! ... Stop!”
The crowd laughed, they thought she was cute. I knew she was crying. I turned to look at her and lost my concentration… The bull got the better of me.
He gave one good buck and I flew over his head, he caught my face with his horn before I landed.” Waylon lightly touched the deep scar on his face. “ I dropped to the ground, the bull snorted shook his head, and ran in the other direction. I thought it was done but he came back, madder than before. He ignored the decoys and came right for me. All I saw for a minute was his feet coming down on me. I rolled over and tried to protect my head. His feet came down on me again… Then something weird happened. The ring went silent. You literally could have heard a pin drop. I had no idea what was happening until I saw your Mom standing over me, face to face with that damn devil bull. I wanted to yell for her to get out of the ring, I wanted to grab her and get her away from that beast but I couldn't move. I have never felt so helpless. I was sure she was going to be hurt… or worse.” Waylon couldn't stop the smile that came with the memory “I should have known better… Your Mother Looked that devil in the eyes and yelled “Stop it! He didn't know.” then she grabbed that bull by the ring in his nose and walked him past his owner. “You don't deserve him,” she said and walked that bull right onto our trailer…. That animal hasn't put a foot out of line since that day.”
“Diesel is a good old boy,” Gunner said fondly
Waylon grunted and looked across the yard to the bull that ended his career. Diesel still hasn't forgiven him for riding that day and Waylon still hasn't forgiven him for breaking his back. They have come to a mutual understanding though. To allow the other to live out their lives in peace.
“ Okay cowboy, It's bedtime.”
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