Well, the last rodeo is this week. It's currently Thursday and this week hasn't been too good. The anniversary of my parents death is tomorrow. They didn't die at the same time. But the same day 6 years apart. My father was four years ago, he passed when I was 17. And my mother was 10 years ago. She passed when I was 11. So I'm a hot mess. It may have been a long time but it doesn't feel like that for me. So I kinda just shut down around the date. I was planning on going for my annual trail ride but..my truck is broke. Well sorta. I'm going to see if I can borrow Kate's truck.
"Hey what's up" Kate said
"Hey. Do you think I can borrow your truck tomorrow?" I asked
"I won't have it. I'm getting maintenance work done. We love check engine lights" She laughed
"Oh. Okay" I replied
"What's wrong with yours?" She asked
"I hit a pot hole now it's riding weird. And I don't feel comfortable driving it two hours tomorrow. So I don't know if I can go" I said
"Oh no. Babe, i'm so sorry. I would tell you to use Tommy's but we need a truck to get to work. Do you want me to see if I can push off the shop?" She said
"No. It's fine. I'm gonna see what the problem is and hey maybe I can find a shop around here to do it today? Probably not" I said
"Well, if you can't go tomorrow, you can take my truck.. Sunday? I know you wouldn't want to wait." Kate said
"Yeah. You know. I love you" I said
"I love you too. And if you need anything, don't hesitate to ask. I will tell my boss I need to leave tomorrow if need be" Kate said
"Okay. Thanks babes. Now get back to work" I laughed
"Bye babe" She replied
Hanging up the phone. I crawled under my truck and looked around. Well the back is leaf springs and they look pretty good. Oh no. Well I know what the problem is. My front shock is currently hanging down. My truck has shocks in the front and leaf springs in the back. It's old truck thing. I'll convert it one day. I heard a truck pull up and crawled out from under mine. It's John.
"Whatcha doing there Ella" He asked
"Nothing" I replied
He just looked at me and walked to the barn. Well it looks like I can't go tomorrow. What the hell. I can feel the tears wanting to come up. I'm not going to cry. I'm going to... I don't know. I don't want to take Gypsy out cause i'm going to be riding for a while tomorrow. I'm just going to take out one of her trail horse. Deb said I can take them on a trail ride if I want. Going into the barn, I grabbed the halter off of Nifty's stall and got my lead rope. Then I went out into the pasture and caught him. He's a bit of a butt head but riding him is fun. This is the horse Deb uses to trail ride. It's not her personal horse, but one she likes to ride when she wants a challenge. She told me I could ride him as well. Bringing him over to the grooming area, when you're not in the barn, I brushed him out and grabbed his saddle. He's not as tall as Gypsy so I can't use mine.
"What are you doing with Nifty?" John asked
"Going on a trail ride. Deb said I could ride him is I don't want to push Gyp" I said, I didn't look at him either. There may be some tears wanting to spill over
"Oh. Good luck" John said
I nodded and walked Nifty around before he took a deep breath so I can tighten the girth. Then I hopped up and we took off towards the woods. Wow, he is crazy. He can't take turns well though, Deb told me that. Or else he'd make a good barrel horse. I slowed down before we went in and we trotted through the woods. I guess I can be vulnerable now. I have never missed their anniversary. I've gone to this park every year and gone on a trail ride. It started with me and my dad going and now that he's gone, and it's the same date. I have to go. I mean going Sunday isn't bad, but it's going to make tomorrow so much worse. Aw man. I like going out into the woods to cry. No one can see me. And hopefully John is gone and Ryan hasn't showed up. Speaking of, I went out with him again. Just me and him, and it was still really awkward. He kissed me too. It wasn't fun. Now it's awkward when I see him. He stays away from me. Whoops. They all came over too. Even Bobby, and guess who tried to join me in my room. Bobby. Guess who almost got punched in the face. Bobby. I can't with this kid. Then he yelled at me because I kissed Ryan, they think i've kissed John. And he asked when it's his turn. Never.
"Alright Nifty. You ready to head back." I said
I was snapchatting Kate during my trail ride since she's the only one who can see my tears. She really is the only person I cry in front of. It's just how it is. Coming back to the barn, my face is wet and my eyes are red. But that's fine. I quickly un tacked Nifty and brushed his back before turning him out in to the field. Then John came back.
"Why are your eyes all red?" He asked
"We've had this conversation before" I said sighing
"What is with you crying now" John laughed hopping off his horse.
"What?" I asked
"I have never seen you cry. Like I said before. But now I've seen you cry twice." John said
"Okay, I wasn't actually crying last time. Some tears just slipped when I yelled at you after I was crying. And i'm not crying anymore right now." I said
"What's wrong" He asked
"Nothing" I said
"Okay. Last time you were lying. I know you are this time too" John said
"It's nothing. I already got my sadness out for right now" I said back
I walked over to the barn and hung Nifty's halter up, then put my lead rope back on Gyp's halter.
"Why were you under your truck earlier" John asked
"My front shock is hanging" I said
"Oh. Get it fixed" He said
"Well no duh. I need to find a shop around here. But I have to go somewhere tomorrow" I said
And here comes the tightness in my chest. Fuck.
"Don't you work Friday's" He asked
"Yeah. But I was going to a park to go on a trail ride. And I can't drive my truck 2 hours on 3 shocks" I said
"Just go Saturday.. Or Sunday. If you won't be back in time for the rodeo. There and get your truck fixed Saturday" John said
"I don't want to wait though. I have to go tomorrow. Kate said I can use her truck Sunday but.. I don't want to wait" I said
"Why? What's so important about going tomorrow" John asked.
I took a deep breath and looked at him. Finally. I've been looking at his horse. Who is a handsome boy.
"It's the anniversary of my parents death. Which was coincidentally on the same day just.. 6 years apart" I said
"Oh. I'm sorry. I forgot your parents passed" John said
"It's fine. But I went every year with my dad, now that he's gone. And it's the same day... I have never missed it." I said
"And you can't get your truck fixed tonight.. Can't you take Kate's. Or Colin''s.. Or his parents cars" John asked
"Colin needs his truck for work. And his parents don't have Trailer hitches" I said
"What about Kate" He said said
"Her truck is getting maintenance work done." I sighed
"Oh. That sucks" John said
I nodded and had a phone call from Deb.
"Hello" I said
"Hey. Can you go grab Jerry. I am getting him looked at tomorrow for a laceration on his leg. Of course the big bull gets hurt. He's the nicest though" Deb said
"He's the one you can walk with a halter right?" I said
"Yup. Can you put him in that open stall I have?" She said
"Yeah no problem. Is there a certain halter I should use?" I asked
"There's a rope one in the storage room. On the wall with the extras. I showed you how to put it on right" She asked
"Yup. I'll bring him down" I said
"Thank you. I'll be back in 3 hours. So finish up and I hope you have a good day tomorrow. Well, as good as you can." She said
"Thank you" I replied
We hung up and I went into the storage room and found the rope halter. There's still a lead connected to it. Walking out, I went past John and jogged down to the steer pasture. Well steer and bulls. There's a few of each in here. They are all pretty nice or just stay away from you. Jerry is the best though. I've walked him around the property before. Walking into the pasture. Some of them ran away and Jerry limped over to me. Poor baby. I took a selfie with Jerry and put the halter on. Then we walked out the gate and he started eating the grass on the other side of the fence. Making sure the gate was locked, I started walking the gigantic bull to the barn and John just stood there and laughed.
"What you bring him down for" He said
"Do you not see the big ass gash on his leg" I replied chuckling a bit
"Oh shit. Well at least it's Jerry and not... what's is name. Oh Rocket" John said
"Oh yeah. He's a jackass" I said
I put Jerry in the stall and hung the halter on the wall. Then I scratched his nose and gave him one of the bulls treats. He's a good boy. Walking out of the barn, I went over to my truck and sighed.
"Hey Ella" John said jogging over
"What?" I asked
"So.. if you want. You can take my truck tomorrow. And I'll drive yours. I just have to go to work and I don't leave there. Then i'll meet you back here tomorrow. Or if you come back late, Saturday" John said
"Really?" I asked
"Yeah. You said you never missed a year. And I feel bad. You patched up the cut on my face a month or so ago and.. Deb loves you, so I guess. I'll be nice" John said smiling at the end.
I hugged the boy and here comes more tears. Big squeeze. Stepping back John laughed and wiped my face.
"Hey, those better be happy tears. And look. Now I see you in the middle of crying" He smiled
"Thank you" I pouted
"Just don't break my truck" He laughed
"Wait.. Small problem" I said
"What?" He asked
"Can you drive a stick?" I asked
"Your truck is stick.. I would have never guessed. But yeah, I can" He said
"Okay" I smiled
"When's the last time you drove an automatic?" He laughed
"Uhm.. 3 years" I said "I drove Kate's truck once"
He shook his head and we traded keys. Well truck keys, I still need my house keys. It was time for me to head home so John watched as I drove his truck away. He backed in so I just drove straight out. Rolling down the window, he looked at me.
"It's so weird" I laughed
He laughed and I headed home. And Colin just so happened to be pulling up.. oh with dinner.
"Wait. Isn't that Johns truck?" Colin asked as we both got out
"Yeah. It's an automatic. I haven't driven an auto in 3 years" I laughed
"Oh my god. But why do you have his truck?" He asked
"My front shock broke. And I go to the park tomorrow" I said
"Oh yeah. Well that was nice of him. Now lets go eat dinner" He smiled
Nodding I followed him inside and we sat down for dinner. Oh.. I just realized, backing up John's truck is going to suck, it's bigger than mine. Whelp we'll get there when we get there.