Walk for Christmas

Chapter 7

Vincent POV

We had loaded the bulls into the truck, and I headed home. The drive was uneventful, and I was in a good mood. Having not gone celebrating meant I had a clear head for a change. I had no sooner started to remove the bulls from the truck when Mr. Dickson came rushing over.

'Can you stay and look after the ranch? Roxy is awake; I need to head back and see her. I do not know how long I will be gone and finishing those ramps?' He was so excited, and I am sure Mrs D had bags already packed. This week at the rodeo had been hard for him, waiting for news for nearly a month now since the accident. It seemed so much longer.

'Go, I got it.' He shook my hand, pulled me into a hug, and rushed back to the ranch house. I watched him go, and Mrs D came out with bags, and he did the same, loading up the car.

By the time I got the last bull out of the truck, I turned in time to see the car disappear down the driveway and out of sight. I hope all goes well.

The rest of the day was filled with getting the bulls back into their paddocks and feeding them, organizing the ranch hands with chores for a week, and then heading to the area Mr D needed me to fix up for Roxy. I personally could not see her here any time soon, maybe another month, but who knows what Mr D might be able to pull off? He can make things happen when he puts his mind to it.

Another week had gone by so fast that it felt like I had just settled all the bulls. I was getting organized for the next one, grooming them, getting vet checks, and making sure the committee had the bulls on the list for the event. Vehicles to transport them are checked and refueled, feed loaded, and harnesses cleaned and stored in vehicles ready to go. There is so much to do; the further the town is away from us, the longer it takes to get there, and the less time we have to prepare the bulls for the next rodeo. They need to rest between the rodeos to be at their best, and those rodeos take nearly a week to arrive. It is a killer. One is okay. We have friends we can stay at and let the animals rest, and luckily, that is at the end of the season, so they get a chance to have a good rest before the big final. That is when the bulls need to shine the most.

So here I am, thinking about what I need to do for the bulls and, at the same time, worrying if my brothers have done what was needed back home. I brought my horse here to use on the ranch. It also means I know it will be in top condition when I get to the next rodeo. I have bull rides, but I have a few fun ones, like the calf lasso. Those fun ones help me keep my mind clear and focused on why I am here and not on the girls that throw themselves at us; they like to be seen in the arms of us bull riders. I'm not sure why, but you can see them at each event.

Mr. D, after rushing to the city when they got the news that Roxy had woken, had returned, leaving Mrs D in town with Roxy, and returned to help me. The vet gave the all-clear on Daizy's leg and agreed that she should have a year, which would rest her leg well and get him back into competition form.

That would be a good distraction for Roxy; she is so good with cows and their calves, and new ones coming soon would be good for the ranch.

'Morning.' I greeted Mr D, who looked much better than yesterday. He must have got some sleep, and all that driving could not be good for an older person; he should be relaxing thinking of his retirement. Instead, he is running the ranch after the son does not want it, and neither of the grandsons looks like they are interested either. That just leaves Roxy, and now even that might be difficult.

'Morning. My wife called this morning; Roxy is coming in two weeks' time. The physio team will be ready for her and is excited to be able to work with her. They know her rodeo records and are proud to be the ones working on her. Thank you for all the changes you have made in the house and yard, such as laying concrete ramps and grab rails in the bathrooms and other places. It is so thoughtful. Your father said you have agreed to live here for a while and help us with the ranch while we focus on Roxy.' he said in a rush. I guess he would do both if he had to. Still, I could not let him do all that hard work, and then we needed to take the bulls to the next town, which was a day's drive away, including breaks to let the bulls out for a while and then put them back in. That takes time. We are going for ten days. He would not concentrate on his work if his mind were on Roxy.

'Yes, Mr. D, I am happy to look after the ranch and the basics. There are more rodeos, one each month for the season, and we need to get those bulls onto the circuit; I would be going anyway to compete, so I may as well help out here. I am okay with taking them to the events and leaving you to be there with Roxy. That kid has gone through a lot. She needs Mrs. D's loving care.' I meant every word I said. That kid has gone through the wringer if what I hear is true.

'I appreciate that. Please stay in Roxy's old room until she can go up the stairs; I do not want you out in the bunk house,'' Mr D said as he helped me load up some hay on the back of the trolley.

'I am cool staying in the loft above the barn; keep out of your way.' I tried to argue, but I could tell by his face and stance that this was one argument I was not going to win.

'Nonsense, you are family. You stay in the house. My wife would have my hide if I left you there in the loft. It's okay for a short term, but I figure you are staying the whole rodeo season.' Yeah, I thought he would want me to hang around that long.

'Yes, sir, if that is how long you need me. Dad said my brothers can handle the workload at our place; it does not hurt them to do a little extra work; the ranch is just as much their responsibility as it is mine.' I hope they can; it was common for the work to be left to me, a habit that grew over the years because my brothers were still at school, and that habit never got broken. Now they are getting older, there is no excuse not to do their share again.

We headed off for another rodeo. It was a short drive. Just the next town over, the bulls settled quickly, and I managed to give my dad some time before the ride to catch up on what was happening at home and how things were in Mr. D's ranch.

Dad offered to give me a hand when we do the longer drives to the rodeo, but for now, I am managing okay on my own, and with the ranch hands, they have accepted me as a boss, and I no longer have to fight them to get them to do work around the place. Moving into the main house may have been the change that made them smarten up and do what they were paid to do. I even had a few nights around the bonfire cooking steaks and having a beer, a break from the norm, which seemed to go down well.

The bulls gave extra to the rides. It was like we had given them an energy drink or something. I was the only one who could do the countdown on the clock, making the full eight seconds on the bull before I jumped off safely. Another win for me. I am at the top of the ladder and just need three more wins to secure the top place and be champion again.

Dad and my brothers helped Mr. D and me load up the bulls, and we headed home.

We must have been halfway home when Mr. D got the call that Mrs. D was on her way home; we would arrive an hour or so before her. So I called Dad on the CB.

'Dad,' I called. It was a private line, one for our ranch. Most of the ranches had one to talk to each other, as it was a huge spread.

'Vincent?' I heard one of my brothers reply.

'Roxy and Mrs. D will arrive not long after we get home. Do you want to be here for her arrival?'

'Sure, son, we will unload the horses and come over. I will ask your mother to grab a pot roast and prepare dinner so she can rest after the long trip.' Sounds like a good idea to me. Mum makes a good pot roast.

I had just walked the last bull into his stall and heard the car coming up the driveway. I quickly washed my hands and rushed out the door to greet them; the car was already by the front door, and Mr. D was helping Mrs. D out of the car.

'Vincent, can you pick Roxy up out of the car and carry her into the lounge?' I headed to her car door and pulled it open, and I almost stopped to stare.

There was not the kid Roxy that I adored and tussled her hair, but a fully grown, beautiful woman who nearly blew my mind. When did she go from being this kid to such a beautiful adult?

'Hi, Vince.' She said in a soft voice that made my pulse race.

'Hi, Roxy.' I was glad my voice sounded happy to see her and not rough and squeaky as my throat had tightened, and my mouth went dry.

'Are you ready?' I asked with a smile. I leaned in, placed one arm under her legs and one on her back, pulled her out, turned, and walked towards the house.

'How was the trip?' I asked, trying to talk to her like I normally would, and I wondered why I suddenly felt so different about Roxy.

'Put her down here, please, Vincent.' Mrs D pointed to a place on the sofa, and I tried to be as gentle as I could, not knowing what part of her was still in pain.

At that moment, Mum, Dad, and my brothers all entered the house, and all thoughts of the changes in Roxy flew out the window as I was congratulated on my latest win. Then all eyes and conversation went around, Roxy being home, and then dinner. It was a normal everyday meal and conversation with family, but during it all, my eyes kept going over to Roxy and making sure she was okay.