"Heading out for a ride?"
"Yeah," Drake answered. "Figured I'd give this guy a little exercise before the crazy comes to town."
"I'd go with you, but I have to run into town for Ma. I just wanted to talk to you for a minute about this circus you referred to."
"Why?"
"I've heard a few things about the guy that runs it. His name is Percy Western, and people have some not so pleasant opinions of him. Apparently, he's ass-deep in a bunch of stuff, and he doesn't treat his people or animals very well."
"Great. So this is going to be more of a babysitting job than I thought."
"Not necessarily, but Ma won't listen to me. She sees an answer to taxes getting paid, and I can't blame her there. But just keep your eyes and ears open with this guy."
As they walked along, Drake's heart sank further and further. All he needed was trouble being invited to the ranch. The Hale Family had already had their fair share, and no amount of paid taxes was worth bringing more their way.
"What do you think, buddy? Should I make some calls and check this guy out? At least be forewarned a little more?"
The stallion tossed his head as if to agree. Drake laughed. "Okay then. Phone calls it is."
Once they got back to the barn, a quick look atWestern Rider's Rodeogave Drake a list of all the venues where they had held events. The first three gave quick, mostly positive reviews for the contestants, but neither had anything good to say about the management. The forth, and last venue that he was calling, went off on a rampage about how the management treated the animals and performers.
"That bastard Percy Western just riles my goat. If I didn't make so much money off their weekends, I'd tell him to go screw himself." A woman named Sally didn't take a breath. "I caught him beating one of the horses, and I don't even think it was his animal. I told that mangy coyote that if he ever came back here and pulled that shit again, I'd whip him bloody myself. I have never seen anyone who runs a rodeo that could be so cruel or heartless."
Drake's heart fell. He really didn't want this man on his property. "But you've hosted them more than once?"
"Oh, yes, sugar. They're an annual event, twice a year if I get lucky. Percy and his henchmen ruin it for me, but the competitors are amazing. Joey Jet Engine makes up for his shortcomings, even though it isn't quite fair to carry the weight for the assholes making the money."
"Joey Jet Engine." Drake said the name that he had heard from the others. "Everyone seems really fond of him. You're not the first to mention his name in a really positive way."
"If it wasn't for Joey smoothing everything over, I don't think that asshole would even have a rodeo. But Joey isn't..." He could hear her turn away from the phone. "NO, don't unload right there," she hollered. "You need to be over at the barn." Pause. "No, the other barn."
Drake waited. "Joey isn't what?"
Sally came back on the line. "I'm sorry to cut you short, sugar, but I have to go deal with business." With a click, she was gone.
Drake hung up the phone and sighed.This is going to be more trouble than it's worth.At least whoever this Joey was would keep things running smoothly. From all the negatives he had heard about the owner, Drake made a mental note to shake this Joey guy's hand for holding it together for the rest of them.
He headed over to the house where he found his mother baking cheesecakes. He reached for a strawberry, but Vinia slapped his hand. "Those are for the topping. Leave them alone."
"One strawberry is going to make a difference?" he teased.
"It's never one, and you know it. You'd eat the whole flat of them if I left you alone long enough."
He didn't bother denying it as he took a seat on one of the kitchen stools. "I'm not getting very good reviews on this little rodeo shindig of yours."
"Your brother told me."
"Yeah, maybe he told you part of it. But I talked to four other venues. They have nothing good to say about the owner, and he mistreats his animals."
"They'll be safe here on the farm."
"Yeah, if I dump the guy on the top of the mountain and let him freeze to death."
She cut her eyes at him. "Just make sure we've been paid first."
"How can you be so calm about it? Nothing but trouble is going to come of this."
Vinia wiped her hands. "Drake, it's happening. I know you're not happy about it, and it's not the best thing that could happen, but I agreed and I'm not stepping back now. If you see him hurt an animal, deal with it."
