Silver Wings
845 Words
Oakland sighed as her alarm went off. She got dressed and went out to help feed the horses. “Morning boys,” she said to the ranch hands as she brushed passed them with a load of hay. “Morning,” they replied.
“What y’all doing today?” She asked.
“Weaning some calves,” one of the boys,Michael Miller said.
“Oh,” Oakland replied.
“Wanna help?”
“Can’t, gotta practice after school,” Oakland sighed.
“Hey, you love barrel racing.”
“Yeah—it’s just not fun anymore,” she sighed. “Ever since we won All Around Champion last year it’s all competition, mom’s taking this way too seriously.”
“Why don’t you tell her that?”
Oakland scoffed. “You kidding?”
“Yeah, I guess that’s not the best idea.”
“Well,see ya boys.”
“Have a good day,” Michael said.
“I’ll try,” Oakland replied. Stetson was going out the door when his father stopped him.
“I got a call from your sister’s lawyer yesterday..” Mr. Roberts said. Stetson’s heart raced.
“Why the hell is your sister filing for custody?” Mr. Roberts asked.
“Well, the thing is...” Stetson began.
“Did you tell her that I wasn’t a good dad?”
“No!”
“What did you say to her?!” Mr. Roberts yelled.
“She knows that I got a drinking problem .”
“You have a drinking problem?” Mr. Roberts asked.
Stetson scoffed. “I get drunk every night,dad.”
Mr. Roberts walked up to him pushed him again the wall. Stetson tried to get free,but couldn’t. Mr. Roberts put his hand on Stetson neck and squeezed. Stetson was shaking.
“There ain’t nothing wrong with having a drink at the end of a long day,” Mr. Roberts said and let Stetson go. Stetson ran out the door. Tears stung his eyes. He called his sister. “Can I stay with you now?” He asked.
“Stets,you know I don’t have custody yet,” Leanne said.
“Please,I’m scared,” Stetson sobbed.
“I’ll pick you up after school,” Leanne said.
“Thanks.”
“And I’ll deal with dad.”
“Okay.”
Stetson drew Oakland one last drawing despite his teachers’ complaints. He had drawn a portrait of her in one of the classes they had together. He took a picture of it with his phone before he slipped it in her locker. He walked around the corner and heard Oakland commenting on the drawing.
“Look at this,I mean this guy has real talent! I just wish I knew who he was,” she said. Stetson smiled. He walked outside to meet his sister.
“Let’s go get your stuff,” she said, “Hey don’t worry.”
Stetson nodded. Leanne walked into the house and he followed her.
“What are you doing?” Mr. Roberts asked.
“Get your stuff,” Leanne told Stetson.
“What are you doing?” Mr. Roberts demanded.
“I’m doing the right thing,dad,” Leanne said.
“You’re not taking my kid from me,” Mr. Roberts said. He stood in front of Leanne. Stetson came out with a laundry basket of clothes. Mr. Roberts turned around and looked at Stetson.
“Dad, look at him,he’s shaking! Look what we’re doing to him!” Leanne said.
“Don’t tell me how to raise my kid!” Mr. Roberts yelled.
“If you don’t let him come with me right now I will turn your into the police!” She snapped.
“Fine.”
Stetson walked passed Mr. Roberts. He sighed when they got outside. Oakland sighed.
“Take him through one more time,” Mrs. Conway said.
“Mom, it’s ninety degrees outside,” Oakland said.
“Last time I promise.”
Oakland sighed and ran through the barrels one last time.
“You’re a second off,” Mrs. Conway said.
“We’ll pick it back up tomorrow,but I’m gonna hose him off,” Oakland said. She got off her horse and started tacking her saddle off.
“Good work today,” Mrs. Conway said as she walked away. Michael walked up to her.
“How’d it go?” He asked.
“She’s driving new crazy,” Oakland grumbled.
“Well,me and the boys are playing poker tonight if you wanna blow off some steam with us.”
“Okay thanks!”
“Are you sure you got everything you need?” Leanne asked Stetson.
“Yeah,” he said.
“Okay.” A couple hours later they had reached Leanne’s apartment in Jackson.
“That room’s all yours,” she pointed.
“Thanks sis,” Stetson replied. He threw his bag on the floor and lay down on the bed. A few minutes later he was asleep. Leanne opened the door to talk to him and found him to be asleep she closed the door gently and sighed. Oakland took a sip from the bottle of whiskey that was being passed around. She was winning the poker game when her mother called.
“Oakland Grace where are you?” She asked.
“Playing poker with the boys,” Oakland replied.
“We have a rodeo tomorrow.”
“I know mom.”
“It’s late,come home and get to bed.”
“Yes ma’am.”
“Well, I gotta go,” Oakland told the boys.
“Damn, I was hoping to win some of my money back,” Michael said.
“Too bad,” Oakland took the cash with a giggle. “Good night boys.”
“Night,” they all replied. Oakland walked out of the bunkhouse and drove up to her house. She thought about her night and smiled. Michael had been teasing her all night. Could it be possible that he liked her? He was two years older than her,but that wasn’t much difference. She shook her head,not letting herself believe it and went inside.
- Writer
