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On the long ride home, we stopped for a quick drive-thru meal and cold Cokes loaded with caffeine to keep us awake.

Tammy asked lots of questions about the horses and the barrel racing course and I had to tell her about Marilyn getting hurt.

Harlan was quiet riding in the shotgun seat. Tammy had insisted on riding in the back with the dogs, and she cuddled up holding onto both of them. They whined and licked her face; they were so happy to see her.

“Annie say anything about when you had to go back to Texas?” I asked her.

“No. She said to stay and start the training and she’d send Lucy up a week ahead of when we were starting.”

“Things will have to dry up before y’all can start,” I said. “All we’ve got up here is mud.”

“Mama is getting the horses ready. They’re being picked up tomorrow morning.”

“Good. A couple of days and we’ll have them. She remember our saddles?”

Tammy laughed. “Mama wouldn’t forget something like that, Travis. She’s too familiar with the horse business.”

“Yeah, I guess she is.”

“You got a horse, Harlan?” asked Tammy.

“Nope. Never had me a horse.”

“Travis bought me a horse for my sixteenth birthday, and I love her so much. Her name is Bonnie Grace, and she is so beautiful.”

“Got a picture?”

“Yep. You got a phone? I can send it to you.”

“Just show me. I ain’t got a phone.”

“Never thought of it,” I said. “I’ll get you one tomorrow, Harlan. You and Tammy will want to text.”

“I never had a phone before Mama got me one,” said Tammy, “but I like having one a lot.” She leaned forward over the console to show Harlan a picture of Bonnie Grace.

“Pretty horse.”

“Blue roan mare,” said Tammy. “She’s an Appaloosa. All Mama’s horses are Appaloosas.”

Wild Stallion Ranch.

Billy was asleep on the sofa and woke up when the dogs ran in barking with Tammy, Harlan, and me right behind them.

Tammy squealed and ran into the living room and hugged Billy. “I missed you so much, Billy. I’m gonna take care of you now. Mama sent stuff to heal your leg too. It’s in my suitcase.”

“Great. I want to get back to work.” Billy yawned.

“How about one beer and we call it a night?” I asked. “Me and Harlan had a particularly rough day up a muddy mountain.”

“I drink Coors,” said Tammy when I handed her a can of Miller.

“Of course, you do.”

Just like Annie.

Chapter Eleven

Friday, April 29th.