Blame It on the Rodeo

Cole dropped paperwork into the inbox on the wall as he entered the office. “I’m surprised you didn’t go with everyone else down to the river.”

“Nah.” Shane typed Dylan Fanning into the search engine. “I have some things to finish up.”

“Don’t do it, Shane.” Cole stood behind him, staring down at the words on the screen. “Leave it in the past. You know he has a good life with Tab. Why are you dredging this up now?”

Because all these kids remind me of what might have been.

“Note to self, buy a laptop so I can have some privacy.” If he knew more about Dylan, he’d have some peace and closure. Anything was better than not knowing. At the very least Shane wanted to find out if he was riding in any of the junior rodeos.

“For the little you use the internet, I’d go with an iPad,” Cole said.

“You know you sound just like Dad?” Shane glanced up at his brother, wishing Cole would leave him alone. This wasn’t a moment he wanted to share with anyone.

“Dad would have told you to look it up on your phone. It’s capable of doing the same thing.”

Shane continued to stare at his brother incredulously. Turning back toward the screen, he let his finger hover above the enter key. Shane swore silently, knowing his brother was right. He pressed and held the delete key until all the letters in Dylan’s name disappeared. Annoyed with himself, he stormed from the office and went to check on Siempre, one of their newborn foals. Animals loved you unconditionally, no matter how much of an ass you made of yourself.

* * *

LATER THAT AFTERNOON Mayor Darren Fox stood before a microphone in front of the equine facility, Kay by his side. “Thank you for joining us today for this momentous event. I am pleased to introduce Kay Langtry, CEO of Dance of Hope.”

Applause spread throughout the ranch when Kay took her place at the microphone, the townsfolk gathered before her.

“Thank you.” Pulling a tissue from her pocket, Kay looked into the crowd. “Dance of Hope was my husband’s dream. A year ago, I stood by Joe’s side when he started designing this facility. And though he’s not with us today, I know he’s up there watching.

“No amount of words can describe my gratitude to everyone who’s participated in this venture. Cole, Jesse, Shane and Chase. My four boys carried out their father’s dream, adding the Ride ’em High! Rodeo School to the original plans. Your father would have been so proud of you, as I am today. I love you with all my heart.”

The Langtry brothers surrounded Kay, linking their arms in a protective circle around their mother.

Shane looked skyward. “I love you, Dad. This is for you.”

Each brother made a brief speech of his own, splitting off to stand beside the covered statues on either side of the facility’s entrance.

Jesse and Cole tugged on the cloth, revealing a life-size bronze statue of Ever atop Paco, her hippotherapy horse, with Joe by her side.

“To say our father was smitten with my daughter is an understatement,” Cole said. “She inspired him to help others and I’m grateful she had the opportunity to know her grandfather.” Holding up an enlarged framed copy of the inspiration photograph for the statue, Cole continued.

“My mother took this the first time dad met Ever. The photo sat on his desk and a day didn’t go by that he didn’t look at it. Together, we can look upon his memory as he saw it.”

Shane and Chase pulled away another cloth, uncovering a bucking horse with a younger version of Joe in the saddle, one arm in the air.

“Our father was a rancher by blood,” Shane said, “but a true rodeo cowboy at heart. Back in his day, he outrode the best of them and taught all of us and many of you how to get in that saddle and stay in it.” Holding up a photograph, he said, “This is our father’s last competitive ride. He held on for eight seconds then walked away from the sport. The next day Cole was born and the tradition was handed down to his children.”

The boys joined their mother at the entrance to the facility, the five of them reaching up to unveil the sign above the carriage house doors:

Dance of Hope & Ride ’em High!

In memory of Joseph Langtry

Lifting the oversize silver scissors, Kay cut the white ribbon spanning the facility’s doors. The crowd applauded when the doors swung wide. Leading the way, Kay walked into the stone entryway that divided the two companies and hung both photographs on the awaiting wall hooks.

She turned and opened her arms to the crowd. “Welcome, Ramblewood!”

After the facility tours, the waitstaff bustled in and out of the tent while people milled about the property. Shane swore he shook hands with more people this afternoon than in his entire life.

“You had a great dad,” Hunter said beside him. “I think I would have liked him.”

“He’d have liked you, too.” Shane ruffled the boy’s hair. “Let’s get something to eat.”

Shane had spotted Lexi in the crowd throughout the afternoon, glad to see she felt up to attending the ceremony. Usually composed and in control, she seemed a bit harried and hung near his immediate vicinity, yet still managed to keep her distance. He resisted the urge to check on her, as he was busy with the media. The Ramblewood Gazette took photographs while Nola West interviewed Chase for KWTT’s evening news.

“Allow me to introduce myself.” A man held out his hand to Shane. “I’m Ryan Hammershimer, from Keeping it Reel Pictures, and we’d like to build a reality show around you and your rodeo school.”

Shane laughed. “You want to give me a television show?” Wait until his brothers heard about this.

* * *

“WHAT ARE YOU doing?” Mazie peered over Lexi’s shoulder. “Are you taking pictures of that kid?”

“What kid?” Startled, Lexi quickly saved the photo of Hunter to her phone. “I—I’m trying to get a shot of those statues. They’re truly a work of art. I can’t believe they were commissioned this quickly.”

“What are you hiding?” Mazie insisted. “That was no picture of a statue. What’s up?”

“I’m not hiding anything, and even if I were, why would I tell you?” Lexi snapped.

“Well, thanks a lot.” Mazie turned her back on Lexi and started to walk away.

“I’m sorry Mazie, I didn’t mean that.” Lexi caught up to her sister and grabbed her arm. “I have a foal on my mind. I truly am sorry.”

“You need a vacation, sis,” Mazie said. “You can’t worry about work all the time.”

“This coming from someone who eats, sleeps and breathes the Bed & Biscuit.”

“That’s different and you know it. I happen to live there. You don’t live in a stable.” She turned to leave. “I’m going to get you something to eat, you look like you need some sustenance.”

Angling away from her sister, Lexi tried to move closer to Hunter without him noticing. When he laughed, her breath caught in her throat. He has my laugh. A mother dreamed of the day she heard her child’s laughter for the first time. Today she heard hers.

Lexi watched Shane and Hunter pose for a series of photos for a man she’d never seen before. The stranger looked out of place in perfectly creased jeans and a snap-front shirt that was probably fresh out of the package. Side by side, Hunter looked almost identical to Shane at that age. How could someone not question this child’s paternity, especially after knowing Shane’s reputation when it came to women?

Lexi had lived wondering about her son for too long. She wanted proof the boy in front of her was hers, but swore it wouldn’t change anything. She needed the confirmation for her own peace of mind and sanity. Nobody else needed to know. She turned and stumbled over one of the folding chairs as she tried to escape the confines of the crowd.

“Lexi?” A strong male hand lightly touched her shoulder. “Are you all right?”

Clay Tanner. It had to be fate, Lexi thought. “If I retain your services it’s illegal for you to disclose my case to anyone, right?”

“Private investigators don’t have that privilege in this state, but you wouldn’t have to worry.” Clay ushered Lexi outside the tent and away from prying ears. “You don’t have to hire me, Lex. Just tell me what you need and I assure you it will remain confidential.”

“Promise me, Clay,” Lexi pleaded. Her heart beat wildly in her chest. Her throat began to close, tears threatening to spill with one more blink of her eyes. “I need your help.”

“You have it. Sit down before you pass out and then you’ll really have some explaining to do.”

Lexi looked toward the facility and the people gathered around the Langtry family, Hunter still by Shane’s side.

“Tell me what you need.” Clay said.

Lexi breathlessly gripped her friend’s arm. “I need you to find out if Hunter’s my son.”

Chapter Four

“You think that boy is your son?” Clay led Lexi away from the crowd. “I think you better start from the beginning.”

“I can’t.” Lexi frantically looked over her shoulder to double-check no one was listening. “Not here. I can’t risk someone overhearing. Can we go to your place?”

Leaning into him for support, Clay protectively wrapped an arm around her and guided Lexi to her car. This was not the norm for her, Lexi thought. She prided herself on strength and perseverance no matter the obstacle. Yet twice in one day, she had found herself relying on someone else to walk her to her car. After reassuring him she was able to drive on her own, Lexi pulled out of the parking lot behind Clay’s pickup.

The twenty-minute drive to Clay’s gave Lexi far too much time to second-guess asking him for help. She figured shouting “Happy belated April Fool’s” wouldn’t fly with the detective. After keeping her secret hidden for the past thirteen years, she found the idea of unburdening it both terrifying and a relief.

Stopping behind Clay in the gravel driveway, Lexi death-gripped the steering wheel, uncertain she wanted to turn off the engine. A quick shift into Reverse seemed like a wiser option. Not giving her much of a choice, Clay strode to her car, reached across her and removed the keys from the ignition. Damn convertibles.

“I’m keeping these until I know you’re okay.” Clay sauntered to the porch. “Take your time, I’ll be up here.”

You can do this. Clay’s the only one who can help you.

Lexi put all her trust and faith in her longtime friend, reasoning the former Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms agent turned private investigator was a better choice than some stranger she found in the yellow pages. Trust and faith. A foreign concept that left a bad taste in her mouth. She trusted no one and the only thing she had faith in was her animals.

Blindly reaching for the handle, she swung the door wide, testing her footing for fear the earth would give way beneath her and swallow her whole. A part of her actually relished the idea of disappearing and not having to face the past. Slogging up the stairs, she joined Clay and slumped into one of the porch rockers.

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