The orange flame of the fire flickered against the dark night. Bobbie dug her spoon into a can of cold pork and beans. She put some on the grass for Wolf. The orange flame of the fire flickered against the dark night. Bobbie dug her spoon into a can of cold pork and beans. She put some on the grass for Wolf.
Alex studied Bobbie’s wrapped ankle in silence. Then she lay back on her bedroll and closed her eyes. “My dad didn’t tell me being a cowboy was so much fun.”
“Your dad?” Bobbie put down the spoon. “I thought he was some kind of bank executive.”
“He is, but he used to work this ranch when he was a kid—along with your dad. That’s the real reason I’m here. He’s always had this big guilt thing about not being around for Gramps when your dad died and he has this stupid idea that somehow I’ll suddenly turn into Annie Oakley and make up for it.”
“He doesn’t need to worry. You’re no Annie Oakley, and me and Grandpa do just fine without anybody’s help.”
“I said it was stupid. Besides, my dad looked into the ranch records. He thinks the Rocking W is about to go under.”
Bobbie stared at the fire in silence, then sighed. “Sometimes it gets awful close. That’s why I come up and get these strays every year. The money they bring always seems to keep us out of hot water. This year, though, I have to admit, things are a little closer than usual.”
“What are you going to do now?”
“What I came up here for.”
“How? That ankle is bruised so bad you can’t even walk. You’re lucky it’s not broken. You wouldn’t even be over here if I hadn’t dragged you.”
Bobbie’s jaw thrust out. She sat up. “You didn’t drag me, you only helped me. I could outwalk you any day of the week.” She stopped, then smiled sheepishly, looking at her ankle. “Although you did a good job wrapping up my foot.”
Alex shrugged. “You’re welcome.”
Bobbie used her pocket knife to open a can of peaches. “So, what’s it like in Los Angeles?”
“It’s great. There’s always something going on.”
“Like what?”
“Stuff. You know, hanging out.”
“Hanging out? Of what, a window?”
Alex frowned. “Are you serious?”
Bobbie stuffed peaches in her mouth. “If you don’t want to tell me, just forget it.”
“Hanging out is … being with your friends. Sometimes we go to down to the mall and just sort of stand around.”
Bobbie rubbed Wolf behind the ears. “And you think that’s fun?”
“We do other stuff. Sometimes we get into a good game of asphalt football, no rules.”
Bobbie stared at her.
Alex stared back. “What? You thought all I did was sit around and paint my nails?” She threw a stick into the fire. “What do you do with your friends, besides all this cowpoke junk?”
“The only kids who live around here are from the Bledsoe place. You passed it coming in.”
“You mean that fancy ranch with the two-story house and the white pipe fences?”
“That’s the one. They have two boys close to my age but they’re both jerks. I keep to myself most of the time. In the summer, I usually break a colt or two, that keeps me busy. Sometimes on Saturday, Grandpa and I go see a movie.”
“Sounds kinda tame.”
Bobbie eased her ankle up on the swells of her saddle. “We’ll see how tame you think it is this time tomorrow.”