“Well,” Dad said when Tyrell and Danny got back. He was in the barn with Mandingo. “Where’d you two run off to so early this morning?”
“Black Butte,” Danny said, a bit too fast. “Tyrell drove me halfway up, then I fast-climbed to the top on foot. I thought it would help me get warmed up for…for Saturday’s rodeo…you know?”
That was pretty thin.
Dad nodded.
“I got to get ready for work,” Tyrell said, and headed for the house.
Dad bent over, reached around the back of Mandingo’s leg, and ran his hand down the inside. “Come on.” He tugged lightly for Mandingo to lift his foot.
He cupped his hand around the hoof wall. “You could’ve just run down to Redmond and back.”
“I thought working in a higher altitude would be better.”
The lies just keep pouring out.
Dad picked out a clod of dirt from around the shoe and dropped Mandingo’s leg.
“I…I need to build up my endurance,” Danny added.
Dad moved to the hind leg.
Danny avoided his eyes. He knows something’s not right.
He was just about to back away and leave when Dad said, “You think the dog will affect your roping?”
“N-no. I can do it.”
“Two horns this time?”
“Two or I quit.” In their last event Danny had only roped one, and that had cost them points.
“Been practicing on the dummy?”
“Every day…almost.”
“If you want to be a winner, you got to get rid of the almost part.”
Danny nodded and started to leave.
“Did you put rocks over the grave so’s he won’t get dug up?”
Danny winced, his eyes darting from Dad to the ground. “Yeah.”
“Something more on your mind?”
Danny glanced over, then quickly away. “No.”
“You can talk to me, son. You know that. When you keep things inside, they tend to get worse.”
“Yes, sir.”
Dad looked at Danny, waiting for more.
When nothing came, he put a hand on Mandingo’s shoulder and said, “There’s one good thing come out of all of this. It’s taught you how to be brave when things get tough.”
Danny winced and peeked back at Dad. He thought he looked tired, or sad.
“Dad, I…I gotta go. Tyrell said I could, you know…hang out with him today.”