Page 115 of Worth the Fall
Colton twisted as much as he could to look directly at me. “Is this the final test before they make you the boss?”
“The boss?” Jimmy asked, his surprised eyes catching mine in the rearview mirror.
Before I could shrug it away, Colton nodded enthusiastically and faced Jimmy. “She’s twenty-four, and they want her to run the company!”
This time, I put my hand up to slow this runaway train. “They do not want me to run the company,” I chuckled. “I would just be over some teams, coordinating with external agencies, planning new business opportunities, just stuff like that.”
“So basicallyyou’d berunnin’ the company,” Jimmy confirmed.
I shook my head, butfelt a sense of pride creeping up myspine. Not at all, but gosh, it felt so good to have someone be so proud of me. “Basically,” I said sheepishly.
Billy emailed me another file, and I clicked on it without thinking twice.
It was the last rodeo’s pictures. All the top riders in their Agri-Corp vests.
Boy, it would look fantastic on the website. It didn’t matter that we were selling equipmentanda little rodeo gear. People would see these cowboys and girls in their gear and go running for it.
My heart stopped onthe last picture.
It was Colton. It was right after he had gotten up from his rough ride. His hands were in the air, dirt splattered on the entire right side of his body, and the look on his face.
I zoomed in.
His eyes were lit up, almost sparkling. His smile spread so far across his cheeks that I could nearly count every tooth. It was the happiest I’d ever seen a person.
My heart ached as I looked up to see the man in that picture.
He wasn’t here.
Instead, we had the remains of a cowboy who had pushed himself too hard and was now facing the consequences.
~~~
In my opinion, Stephenville’s excitement for the rodeo put Amarillo’s to shame.
Okay, yes, I did have atinypersonal bias against Amarillo, but regardless.
We had made it just in time for what they called “Rodeo Heritage Week.” It was a week consisting of a parade, historical displays, live music on every corner, Texas barbecue trucks, and, of course, the rodeos.
I had heard about the parade about a week ago and spent most of the drive organizing some of Agri-Corp’s equipment to be driven through it. I even had to have candy delivered to the closest branch so they could be ready.
“Man, I’m so excited for food,” Jimmy said, mostly to himself as we stopped at the intersection. “I’m gonnaget so fat here.”
“You’re a bull rider, you’re supposed to be fat,” Colton said, surprising us both. He had fallen asleep two hours ago and hadn’t moved an inch.
“Well, hey there, Sleepin’ Beaut,” Jimmy greeted.
Colton was rubbing his eyes, still trying to regain his focus. “Are we here?”
“Yes, sir. I’m just tryin’ to find the campground so we can start eatin’.”
Colton blinked hard a few times, and I saw a smile creep onto his face. “Oh yeah, baby, we’re here.” He cranked the lever on his chair and brought himself out of the reclining position.
I waited for the explosion of pain that I’m sure was cascading through his body with that sudden movement, but it never came.
He winced a little, putting his hand on his side, but that was it.
I leaned forward in my seat, trying to see what had magically healed him.
