The Rodeo Rider

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In fact, as Tanner moved to walk beside her, she realized she didn’t do much of anything in the city. Oh, there was an occasional trip to the symphony, but that was only when a colleague gave her tickets. And once or twice a year, she took in a community theater production. But those were inside activities. She couldn’t remember the last time she’d been to the zoo or taken the time to simply enjoy being outdoors. Beth had been right. She kept herself cooped up in her Wichita law office too much.

“Beautiful day,” Tanner said, echoing her thoughts.

“It certainly is. I was just thinking how glad I am that I decided to walk.”

“So what do you think of our little town?”

Most of the downtown business area was spread out ahead of them and stretched almost two blocks. Buildings, mostly one-story, some two-story, lined both sides of the street. Quaint and unique were the words that came to mind, as each connected building had a design and character of its own.

“It’s a very nice town. Pretty and charming. But I’m wondering…” She hesitated.

“About what?”

When she turned to smile at him, her knees weakened at the smile he flashed her in return. Shaking off the reaction, she focused on what she was saying, not on the man. “I’m wondering where the name came from. ‘Desperation’ is a little odd.”

“Odder than Monkey’s Eyebrow, Arizona?”

“Not quite,” she said, laughing.

“How about Hygiene, Colorado?”

Still laughing, she shook her head.

“Yeehaw Junction? Krypton? Mudlick?”

“Okay, you’ve got me. Those are odd. But why Desperation?”

Before he could answer, they were forced to stop when a man and woman stepped out onto the sidewalk from the Chick-a-Lick Café.

“Excuse me,” the man said, realizing they had stepped into someone’s path, and then recognition lit his eyes. “Hey, Tanner.”

“Hello, Cal,” Tanner greeted the man, before turning to the woman and touching the brim of his hat. “Wilma. Have you two met Jules Vandeveer, Dr. Beth’s friend?”

The woman directed a friendly smile at Jules. “I haven’t had the pleasure. I heard Beth had a friend visiting. You’ll be at her wedding?”

“Yes,” Jules replied. “In her wedding, making sure all the arrangements are made, setting it up…” She laughed, thinking of all the things on her list. “The date is quickly approaching and there’s so much to do yet.”

“That’s the way it is with weddings,” Wilma said with a knowing nod. “It’s good to know Beth has a friend who can help.”

“We’ll see you Friday?” Cal asked Tanner.

“Wouldn’t miss it,” he replied.

Cal took his wife’s arm. “Wilma’s playing bridge this afternoon, so we’d better get going. Don’t want her to miss it or be late. Nice to meet you, miss.”

When the couple crossed the street, Tanner turned to Jules. “You asked about Desperation.”

She nodded, waiting to hear what he had to say.

“Well, the story goes that people began moving into the area during the land rush in the late 1800s, but the town was really settled after oil was found in these parts a few years later. Those were wild times, before Oklahoma became a state. People swarmed here in droves, desperate to find their own little patch of black gold. As it turned out, the pool of oil in this area was only a small one and didn’t last very long. Eventually people either left the area, disillusioned, or they stayed and homesteaded.”

She thought about it and nodded. “‘Desperation’ makes a lot of sense, then.”

They walked in silence for a few minutes, until Jules noticed the large building across the street near the end of the first block. She stopped to point at it. “What’s that building?”

Tanner stopped, too, and looked to where she indicated. “The old Opera House. It’s closed right now, but a committee is working on restoring it.”

Admiring the Victorian structure, she turned to look at him. “That’s wonderful. What will they use it for?”

He shrugged, his gaze still on the building. “They haven’t decided. Maybe several things. A soda shop or ice-cream parlor was suggested, space for a youth center and conference rooms, maybe some small offices.” He turned to look at her. “They’re taking private donations, if you’re interested.”

“I just might be.” Her parents had taught her that those who have should help the have-nots, whether it was one person, a group or even a town. Because of them, she had always given to worthy causes and had a soft spot for restorations of old buildings and homes.

He watched her for a moment, as if he thought she was joking, but he didn’t say anything else until they’d walked on.

“I wanted to talk to you,” he began, “because I have a little proposition for you.”

She looked up at him, not sure how to react. “Oh, really? And what kind of proposition would that be?”

When he laughed, she knew she hadn’t covered her surprise very well. “It’s about Shawn,” he explained, his laughter gone. “But now that I’ve mentioned it, I don’t think I’m ready to offer it yet.”

“Why not?”

He shrugged and glanced down to smile at her, releasing a load of butterflies in her stomach. “No reason,” he said. “Maybe the day is too nice to be serious. But I’m sure the right time will come.”

Although tempted to insist he tell her what it was, Jules decided to remain silent. What if it was a proposition she wasn’t interested in? What if it was?

“Rain’s coming,” he said, as if he hadn’t piqued her curiosity.

Jules looked up at the clear sky. “It doesn’t look like rain. How can you tell?”

“You mean you can’t smell it?”

Taking a sniff of the air, she shook her head.

His chuckle came from deep in his chest and seemed to ripple through her body. “Mark my word, we’ll have rain within the next day or two.”

She thought he was crazy, but she kept her opinion to herself.

“Shawn mentioned that you used to ride.”

She suddenly wished she hadn’t told Shawn the truth and had made up a story, instead. But either way, it wouldn’t keep these men whose lives revolved around horses from thinking she should be on one. And she wasn’t ready for that.

“Used to being the operative words,” she finally replied and waited for more questions. When none came, she was surprised.

“Hey, Tanner!”

Jules turned to see two teenagers hurrying across the street toward them.

“Morning, boys,” Tanner greeted them.

The taller of the two appeared to be about sixteen and acknowledged Jules with a nod of his head, then turned to Tanner. “Are you riding this weekend?”

“I wouldn’t miss it.”

“Great! We don’t get to see you much, and we were sure hoping you would be.”

The other boy nodded. “Too much work in the summer and too much school the rest of the time.”

“Both of those are more important than rodeos,” Tanner told them, “but I know what you mean. It’s never easy to do the things you have to do, instead of what you want to, but some things can’t be ignored. School is one of them.”

Both boys nodded, their expressions solemn. “Thanks, Tanner. We’ll see you this weekend. You’ll know it’s us by the whoopin’ and hollerin’ in the stands.”

Tanner chuckled and shook his head as they walked away. Jules was impressed by the way he’d handled the boys. They obviously idolized him, and he’d given them good advice. She suspected they would heed his words much more than they would their parents’.

She hadn’t missed how much people in the small town liked him. It was becoming clear he had a good heart. “They certainly think highly of you here in Desperation.”

“They keep me going. Doesn’t matter to them how good or bad I ride, they’re always behind me, cheering me on.”

“Has it always been that way?” she asked.

“They’re good people. If somebody needs help, there’s always someone or a bunch of someones who are there and ready to lend a helping hand, no matter what it is.”

She admired the way people in a small town pulled together. She’d never been aware of the same in Wichita, but then, it was a large city and she didn’t have a lot of opportunities to socialize. Her career took up the bulk of her time. Why, she didn’t even know her neighbors in the apartment building where she lived!

“I’d better get back to the ranch,” he said, stopping in the middle of the sidewalk. “There’s work to be done before the shindig on Friday. You’ll be there, right?”

She knew he was talking about Desperation’s upcoming Fourth of July celebration. Beth and several other women in the community had talked her into helping the next day to set up for the community barbecue on Friday. “I’m looking forward to it.”

“The rodeo, too?”

His serious expression told her he wasn’t joking, and she wondered if it had anything to do with his proposition. “Well…”

“That’s what I figured,” he said with a curt nod, his mouth turning down in a frown. “Tell Beth hello for me.”

He turned around to walk back the way they’d come, leaving Jules totally baffled. With a sigh of frustration, she continued on her way. She couldn’t help it if her heart lodged in her throat every time she saw someone climb on a horse. She suspected it would be even worse to watch Tanner ride again, now that she was getting to know him.