Rodeo

This introduces the setting for the first part of the book. A few minor characters are brought into the picture.

Chapter 1        Rodeo 

 

The rodeo is what kept this town alive.  For all the people in Lone Pine, the yearly rodeo brought much needed activity to the otherwise forsaken town.  The McCruther family hosted the rodeo with monetary prizes.  The town consisted of one hotel and restaurant, one saloon and a jail.  Across the main street sat one small general goods store, the small grain and feed store and the livery at the end of the town which completed the small town.  A church building a couple of miles out of town but it wasn’t near enough to be considered part of Lone Pine town.  Behind the livery stood the large corrals that held much of the action during the week the rodeo was held. 

 

Before the rodeo, Mr. Perkins, who owned the general store, would be seen sweeping the dust out of his store.  The small feed and grain store opened only on Saturday because that was the only time it did any business.  The sheriff could usually be found in the saloon playing a game of checkers with Sam the barkeep.  It was a small dusty town.  The signs creaked when the wind unmercifully blew through the almost ghost town.  Tumbleweed became a welcome site, to break the dullness of the day.

 

When the cowboys rode into town and everything changed.  Banners and streamers covered the street and places of business.  Ranchers and their families would pour into town for a week of fun and excitement away from the monotonous hard life on the range.  Mr. Perkins would do a whole month business in one day.  The hotel and livery stable filled up fast with many of the cowboys sleeping in the latter.  Local boys came into town hoping to earn some of the big money prizes.  Whooping and hollering was heard well into the night and the sheriff did more business that Sam the barkeep.  Country girls dressed up in their finest; glad to be rid of the homely gingham that was the everyday staple.  Every night during the rodeo a dance was held in the center of town where cowboys who rode all day, danced all night and often played cards into the wee hours of the morning.  Yes, it was an exciting time for Lone Pine, why one of these days they might even get on the map.

 

***

 

Sam wiped out one of the glasses on the bar, while the sheriff watched him.

 

“Whut are you doing that?” the sheriff inquired.  “The rodeo don’t start ‘til next week.”  A short burly man, the sheriff showed the hard life that had left its toil on him.  His hair was the color of the snow that never showed itself around these parts, and every time he smiled, his face filled with wrinkles that showed his long years in the sun.

 

“I know, but it doesn’t hurt to be ready,” Sam responded.  A tall thin man, Sam wasn’t young or handsome looking, but his wore his years well, never being required to labor for his living as the sheriff had done.

 

The sheriff laughed.  “You done been ready since them boys left town last year.  I for one have been dreading the upcomin’ week.”

 

Sam shook his head.  “It’s about the only business I get.  It’s just enough to last me through the year.”  Sighing, he put down his rag, “Why don’t I pack up and leave for a more prosperous town?”

 

“Prosperous?” The sheriff laughed, “Why ain’t we the edjucated men.  Wal, I’ll tell you why you kin’t leave.  It’s cause this little wind-blown town has its hold on you.  Jest like it’s got on me.  The onlest way we’ll get out of this town is to die.  Then they’ll be nobody left to carry our bodies out to boot hill.  We’ll jest rot like everything else in this town.”

 

“Why are you complaining?  You never have to do anything near a job.  No hard work, you just sit there and fiddle with the checkerboard all day long.”

 

“Yep, but not next week,” the sheriff grunted pushing checkers around with his fingers. “Them cowpokes seem to think they can shoot up my town iffin they got a mind to.”

 

“Oh so now it’s your town.  I thought you were tired of this dusty excuse for a town.”

 

“I am, but I kin still do my job protectin’ the citizens, can’t I?”  Their conversation stopped for the time being, both men growing as quiet as the town outside the saloon door.  Only the wind made any noise, but that was only when it brushed against a solid object.  “You’re right ‘bout thet, Sam,” the sheriff continued.  “This town has us both.  We’re as old as the wind thet’s blowin’ through the street there.”  A faraway look came to the old man’s eyes as he continued, “I remember the first time I done set foot on thet street.  I was with my father and he had just been made sheriff.  How proudly he wore thet badge. The sun gleamed on it, and it nearly made my eyes smart.”  His countenance changed.  “And them cowboys rode in trying to take over the town; he attempted to hold them off with his gun. One man against ten ruthless outlaws.  No townsfolk would help him.  He never had a chance.”  The sheriff glanced down.  “I picked up the badge thet lay on the ground with him.  I promised to keep this here town safe for him.”

 

“And you have.”

 

“But whar it enough?  Whar this all I could ever have done?  Whar I supposed to do more?”  Again the two men were lost in thought.  One thinking about his father, and the other thinking about the father he never had.

 

“Are you going to just stand there or are we going to play checkers?” Sam asked, coming out of his reverie, “It’ll be the last time before the cowboys ride in.”

 

***

 

Across town, Mr. Perkins and his wife were enjoying the calm before the storm.  The selling storm that was to come.  Sitting on their porch, Mr. Perkins, a tall thin man of 38 years remained busy setting his accounts in order before the next week.  Rocking in a chair next to her husband, Mrs. Perkins, a short well built woman of 35 with brunette hair and brown eyes mended one of her husband’s socks, though not totally concentrating on it.  Instead Mrs. Perkins was counting on enough profit off the rodeo to finance a trip back east to see her parents. 

 

“Do you really think we’ll earn enough to travel back east?” she concernedly asked her husband. 

 

“No, we never do,” he bluntly replied.

 

Suddenly fed up with the life she led, she threw down the sock and rose to her full height.  “I’m sick of this town, the dust and the lack of people.  I want to see my friends and family I left behind when you brought me out here.  I do not ever want to come back.”

 

“But that would mean leaving behind everything we own.  And what about our only child?”

 

“We don’t have anything here that can’t be replaced.  And besides, Susan is almost grown and should see some of the finer things in life.  I won’t have her marrying a simple cowboy who’s no good.”

 

He set aside his work and stood up, “You know we’ve tried to leave before.  The town needs us though, and Susan will make a good choice you can count on that.  You have friends.  What about Mrs. McCruther?  And Susan likes Mercy they are good friends, we have friends here.”

 

“Maryann is dwindling away from the sadness this wilderness brought her, taking away her first four children.  And Mercy isn’t much of a friend to Susan.  Mercy would rather be out on the range, riding some horse instead of focusing on things a young woman should.”

 

“We’ll see about visiting home this year,” her exasperated husband consoled. 

 

“Thank you.  I’m sorry about getting so upset, but I just am tired of this life,” his wife apologized.

 

This scene happened every year.  His wife would become fed up with their small life and want to go home, but after the rodeo she always seemed to be content for another year.  He hoped she would be content again for another year.  Personally, he loved the land and his way of life, and he had a suspicion Susan already had her eye on a young cowboy in the area.  When he first married, he brought his wife out west though she was used to the finer things in life.  He hoped she would settle down and enjoy their life together.  He must say they had it quite easy compared to the ranchers; after all living in town they were protected.  They had a well that never dried up, and the supplies that came to their store were never delayed.  Never did they run short of money and they didn’t have to worry about livestock or their money crop.   But still she had never settled down, always maintaining the hope they would move back to the east. 

 

“It’s alright,” he comforted her, “I understand. I’ll try my best.”

Author's Note

Any critiques would be appreciated

This is a part of the novel that was entered in the First annual Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award.