Page 3 of Rocky Ride

Billy was like our second dad, so as we were heading north towards the ranch, he told me to wheel into the roadhouse and we’d drink a pitcher before going home.

Jack Johnson, Billy’s cousin who owned the roadhouse, was already back from the reception, and he gave us a nod when we walked in and sent a pitcher over to our booth.

Billy gave Jack a wave to thank him and then filled our glasses for us. We were underage drinkers, but Jack overlooked it as long as he didn’t get any complaints from other customers.

We hung around a little longer and drank one more pitcher after that, then Billy said it was time to drag our asses home and see if we could sort Travis out.

Wild Stallion Ranch.

Travis wasn’t in the house, and neither were the dogs when we got there. Dad’s truck was here, so he had to be in the barn. We changed our clothes while Billy turned on the stove and started making us something for dinner.

None of us were too hungry after all the food we ate at the reception. Susan, the manager, packed up a container of leftover sandwiches and dessert squares and sent it home with us.

The first big snowfall was pretty much gone, and the weather hadn’t been too cold for the middle of October. We’d had the horses out in the corral a few times and they loved getting out of the barn.

I opened the barn door and Virge went in first. He gave a shout out to Travis, “Hey, Dad, you in here?”

“Yep.”

He was sitting on a straw bale in Outlaw’s stall. Just sitting there staring at his horse.

“I can’t take Outlaw to the mountains.”

“We’ll take care of him while you’re gone, Dad.”

He walked out of the stall and headed for the door. “I don’t deserve good boys like y’all.”

Chapter Two

Monday, October 14th.

Wild Stallion Ranch.

Travis seemed a little better at breakfast. He made pancakes for us and gave us a talk about helping Billy while he was gone, and not letting the reports get behind for Molly…and shit like that.

“Me and Harlan want to go to the mountains with you, Dad,” said Virgie. “I don’t have a good feeling about you going up there alone. Bears and wolves and too much fuckin snow.” He made a face. “Remember how you hated all the fuckin snow when we were in Canada? Be better if we went with you and did the hardship thing...like all together.”

Billy smiled.

“Appreciate the offer, boys, but I wouldn’t be able to go at all if it wasn’t for Billy and you boys running the station and protecting the county while I’m gone.”

“We’ve got it covered,” said Billy. “No open cases at the moment. Should be easy peasy until you get back.”

“How long you figure to be up there, Dad?” Virge was dreading being without Travis. He’d told me more than once he wasn’t feeling good about it.

Travis shrugged. “Can’t say what the weather conditions are going to be like in the mountains. If there’s a lot of snow, it will slow me down and take longer to get to the spot where I’m going to toss the ashes.”

“How do you know the right spot if you’ve never been to that cabin before, Dad?” asked Virge.

“I’ll pick the right spot, Virgie. I’ll know it when I see it. Likethat.”

Virge didn’t look convinced, but he used all the rest of the syrup and didn’t ask anything else.

As soon as he said goodbye to Billy and the boys and they left for the station, Travis loaded the truck with everything he thought he’d need, put the dogs in the back seat and took off for the funeral home to pick up the ashes.

Coyote Creek Funeral Home.

Doing his best to keep it together, Travis parked behind the funeral home next to the small crematorium and went inside.

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