2 Years Later

Caisson blows hot air through her slightly parted lips and rests the sharp single blade ax at her side. She has been cutting and chopping wood for the past hour, to prepare for the snow storm blowing through the community of Eagle Crossing, Montana. Her little twenty acres are just North of the small town. Her back aches, her feet are sore, and her fingers cramping, but the knowledge of what is to come drives her on.

She swings sticking the shining blade in the middle of the large stump. The stump busts in half revealing nice hard wood ready for burning. She smiles and picks up the smaller short handled ax and the large heavy hammer. Placing the blade in the middle of the half piece of wood and begins to drive the blade into the wood until it splits in half. "Finally," she mutters tossing the pieces to the side and picking up a new one. She repeats the process over several more stumps before taking a breather.

"Finish this pile and I'll go find some other back breaking work to do." She sticks the blade in the stump and bends to drive it through with the hammer. Aim, swing, pound, "Ouch! Dang it I should have paid attention." She rubs just above her knee where an obvious knot is already beginning to form the wince that escapes her is just one thing to show how sore she will be tomorrow. She finishes the stump she is working on and puts her tools away.

Stacking wood outside the back door she watches two of her kittens roll around in good spirits. The grey rolls the orange one in a ball with a swat just before the orange kitten hops up and pounces on the grey's back. When one does a back flip she bursts into laughter and tosses the plastic mouse in front of the two. They toss it in the air and bat it around. A gust of cold air against her back reminds her of the snow storm coming. She gets back to stacking wood in a perfect triangle shape to maximize the amount on each pallet while still keeping it from falling.

By the time all the wood is stacked and ready for burning it is nearing time to feed. She grabs three large chips of hay and throws them to her three horses, Joe, Dandy and Lobster. Adding oats to their troughs she rubs each one in their favorite spots. Then she moves to the forty hens red and three grey rosters she has. Three scoops of milo, four scoops of cracked corn and one bundle of cut grass.

Caisson pours out a cup of kitten food, in the silver pan just outside the back door, before entering the house. She adds another log to the fire place and puts a pot of coffee on to make before going to her room to strip from the dap clothes.

Staring into the warm glow of the orange and yellow flames of the fire has always comforted Caisson. Now, as the wind swirls and howls outside, is no different. Taking a sip of warm coffee she smiles. Refreshing, especially after all the cold wind. The stack of special orders catches her eye reminding her of the tasks that will fill the long hours while the snow swirls around outside. "Maybe I can get all of the orders done by the time the weather is nice enough to visit Colton and Tiffany."

***
Lord keep me humble and give me the strength I need for this ride, In Jesus name, amen.

Gunner checks his safety vest and climbs into the bucking chute. He is now standing over and staring at the raging bull's back. Once the black mammal has calmed a bit he settles each leg on a side of the mound of muscle. When his right hand is secure he nods awaiting the rough eight seconds ahead. His heart rate picks up as the gate swings open and the bull makes a sharp spin to the left before cutting back to the right. A violent and powerful kick explodes as the bull twists his body in effort to throw Gunner.

Everything happens in slow motion, for Gunner, as the bull twists, turns and kicks. The sound of the crowd cheering spurs him on until the sound every bull rider waits for blares through out the arena. He smiles and rides out the last spin before jumping into the soft arena dirt. Looking to the crowd he throws his hat before scurrying to the fence. I made it once again. Thank you Lord Jesus!

Gazing down at his long horn hide leggings her face flashes through his mind. Where's she at now? How's she doing? The last question that runs through his mind shocks him. Does she have a guy? He shakes himself from his trance and glances toward the score board, 78 points. Second place isn't bad.

As he was the last rider and bull riding is always the last event the announcer begins the process of getting the crowds attention for the awards part of the night. When his name is called he enters the ring and receives his check, all the while thinking about Caisson Beck. As he starts towards his pickup a reporter catches sight of him.

"Gunner, this was is your first time riding Mr. Fire Pants, what did you think?"

He smiles a small and fake smile. The one thing about reporters that he can't stand is they never know when to quit. "He was easy to predict, but had quick and sharp moves."

The guy nods and scribbles on his pad. Without looking up he spits out another question, "You have been on the circuit for a couple months straight now, does that effect your performance?"

"I don't really think that it effects it much. I get to ride regularly and keep up with my workouts," He tells the reporter enjoying the rodeo questions. Just as long as it doesn't get personal.

The reporter once again scribbles on his pad, "Some fans have been wanting to know when you are going to get a woman, you are 26 after all."

He sighs. I knew this was coming. This is when he wishes he has the power to disappear. "When everything works out and God places her in my life. Thanks for the interview I must go now."

After the media finishes taking pictures and interviewing him he gets to his pickup and takes off his riding gear. When he is safely in the cab of his pickup and in the gas station parking lot his muscles finally relax a bit. He texts his parents and lets them know how he did before hitting the road. As he pulls out of the parking lot his phone beeps and Siri reads him the message, "Great job son! Have safe travels and let me know when you get to the rodeo, love mom."

He smiles and instructs Siri how to reply before turning up the radio and singing along softly to the older country tunes coming from the speakers. His head lights shine brightly on the shiny pavement making him glance to the edges of the road for wildlife even though he knows there won't be any in a town this size.

Three hours into the drive his engine begins to stall. Really?! Out in the middle of nowhere when it is starting to snow? He sighs getting out and lifting the hood. Steam fills his vision and the drip of something hitting the road gives him hints as to what it might be. "Well, nothing I can do about it right here. I'll see how far I can make it, town is only twenty miles away."

He gets back in and starts down the road once more. Ten miles pass and the engine sputters, jerks and stops. Grabbing his phone from his pocket he checks for service, non. Sighing he grabs all the jackets he has in his back seat and puts them on. He steps out and grabs his leggings from the backseat as well. Taking a long look at his pickup he locks it and heads in the direction of town.
***

Caisson heaves a breath and lays her leather stamp on the table. Time just needs to stop or else I am never going to get caught up on all theses orders. She lays her head in her hands and tries to relax her aching back. Orders have been pouring in left and right leaving little time to let off steam. Her phone rings jolting her from her trance. A heavy groan escapes her lips as the word 'Dad' reads on the screen. Not again! I just want to have a break from the pressure.

"Hello?" She doesn't try to hide the dread that is laced in her voice. Thank goodness that he can't see her face right now or else she would have a sore rear end with the eye rolling that she just did.

"Hey, Caisson! Your brother just got a big check at Billings," her dad exclaims.

That's great, but when you tell me and pressure me to rodeo too I don't really care when he calls me! Only because you have pounded it into me. She sighs and restrains from throwing her phone across the room, "That's great, but shouldn't he be telling me that?"

"You know you could have too," he says ignoring her question. 

Once again she rolls her eyes. "Yes, I know, but I really need to focus on my business. I have more orders than ever right now so I am going to let you go, bye." With that she hangs up and throws the phone into the chair across from her. Maybe that isn't the way she should have responded to her dad, but in the moment it feels better to simply hang up on him before more disrespectful things could happen. She peeks out the window and spots dusk just beginning to settle. Just perfect for a short ride to calm myself before bed time.

Dressed in her boots, five layers and her felt hat she heads out the door and to the barn. She catches her favorite horse, a bay roan gelding that she raised on a bottle, Jo. She saddles him and checks her cinch one last time before mounting and head down the road not having a destination in mind.

Jo begins to prance in place his neck arched and his heart racing beneath her. She looks ahead while stroking his neck. "Easy boy, what is it?"

Feeling a bit uneasy she steps from the saddle and gazes across the horizon. Not seeing anything she catches the stirrup with her foot and settles back into her saddle. A gust of wind causes her to shiver and turn back home. As she passes the 'CB's Leggings' sign a irregular lump in the snow catches her eye.

"Jo, easy boy," Caisson coos as she pats his neck. The snow was continuing to pile and fill the roads, it was no longer safe to be out regardless of the use of transportation. Before long everything will be crystal white and ready to blind eyes when the sun shines on it in the morning. The wind chill was cutting through her heavy coat and Jo was beginning to become uneasy with the wind and general weather. Taking a breath she debates between taking the chance and seeing what the snow covered lump was or going on home and getting Joe out of the cold.

What do I do?! She sighs and turns her gelding back in the direction of the house. Might as well tend to him and get back to working on orders to prevent falling farther behind.