Blame It on the Rodeo. Amanda Renee

he finally understood why this project was so dear to his father. It might be too late to apologize for trying to block the facility from being built, but it didn’t mean he couldn’t do everything in his power to make his family proud of him. He not only wanted their approval, but he also wanted Lexi’s.

      With all the children on the ranch, thoughts of Dylan had hit him harder than they had in a decade. Shane wondered if the teen ever sat in the stands during his rodeo events. There were times he caught himself checking the rider roster for Tab’s name even though Shane knew he’d long since retired.

      Plodding toward the small stand-alone office behind the main stables, Shane entered the air-conditioned building. A built-in table wrapped around the entire room and the computers were connected to the main office inside the barn, saving people from traipsing across the courtyard. Shane logged on to the system and opened the web browser.

      Cole dropped paperwork into the inbox on the wall as he entered the office. “I’m surprised you didn’t go with everyone else down to the river.”

      “Nah.” Shane typed Dylan Fanning into the search engine. “I have some things to finish up.”

      “Don’t do it, Shane.” Cole stood behind him, staring down at the words on the screen. “Leave it in the past. You know he has a good life with Tab. Why are you dredging this up now?”

      Because all these kids remind me of what might have been.

      “Note to self, buy a laptop so I can have some privacy.” If he knew more about Dylan, he’d have some peace and closure. Anything was better than not knowing. At the very least Shane wanted to find out if he was riding in any of the junior rodeos.

      “For the little you use the internet, I’d go with an iPad,” Cole said.

      “You know you sound just like Dad?” Shane glanced up at his brother, wishing Cole would leave him alone. This wasn’t a moment he wanted to share with anyone.

      “Dad would have told you to look it up on your phone. It’s capable of doing the same thing.”

      Shane continued to stare at his brother incredulously. Turning back toward the screen, he let his finger hover above the enter key. Shane swore silently, knowing his brother was right. He pressed and held the delete key until all the letters in Dylan’s name disappeared. Annoyed with himself, he stormed from the office and went to check on Siempre, one of their newborn foals. Animals loved you unconditionally, no matter how much of an ass you made of yourself.

      * * *

      LATER THAT AFTERNOON Mayor Darren Fox stood before a microphone in front of the equine facility, Kay by his side. “Thank you for joining us today for this momentous event. I am pleased to introduce Kay Langtry, CEO of Dance of Hope.”

      Applause spread throughout the ranch when Kay took her place at the microphone, the townsfolk gathered before her.

      “Thank you.” Pulling a tissue from her pocket, Kay looked into the crowd. “Dance of Hope was my husband’s dream. A year ago, I stood by Joe’s side when he started designing this facility. And though he’s not with us today, I know he’s up there watching.

      “No amount of words can describe my gratitude to everyone who’s participated in this venture. Cole, Jesse, Shane and Chase. My four boys carried out their father’s dream, adding the Ride ’em High! Rodeo School to the original plans. Your father would have been so proud of you, as I am today. I love you with all my heart.”

      The Langtry brothers surrounded Kay, linking their arms in a protective circle around their mother.

      Shane looked skyward. “I love you, Dad. This is for you.”

      Each brother made a brief speech of his own, splitting off to stand beside the covered statues on either side of the facility’s entrance.

      Jesse and Cole tugged on the cloth, revealing a life-size bronze statue of Ever atop Paco, her hippotherapy horse, with Joe by her side.

      “To say our father was smitten with my daughter is an understatement,” Cole said. “She inspired him to help others and I’m grateful she had the opportunity to know her grandfather.” Holding up an enlarged framed copy of the inspiration photograph for the statue, Cole continued.

      “My mother took this the first time dad met Ever. The photo sat on his desk and a day didn’t go by that he didn’t look at it. Together, we can look upon his memory as he saw it.”

      Shane and Chase pulled away another cloth, uncovering a bucking horse with a younger version of Joe in the saddle, one arm in the air.

      “Our father was a rancher by blood,” Shane said, “but a true rodeo cowboy at heart. Back in his day, he outrode the best of them and taught all of us and many of you how to get in that saddle and stay in it.” Holding up a photograph, he said, “This is our father’s last competitive ride. He held on for eight seconds then walked away from the sport. The next day Cole was born and the tradition was handed down to his children.”

      The boys joined their mother at the entrance to the facility, the five of them reaching up to unveil the sign above the carriage house doors:

      

      

      Dance of Hope & Ride ’em High!

      In memory of Joseph Langtry

      

      

      Lifting the oversize silver scissors, Kay cut the white ribbon spanning the facility’s doors. The crowd applauded when the doors swung wide. Leading the way, Kay walked into the stone entryway that divided the two companies and hung both photographs on the awaiting wall hooks.

      She turned and opened her arms to the crowd. “Welcome, Ramblewood!”

      After the facility tours, the waitstaff bustled in and out of the tent while people milled about the property. Shane swore he shook hands with more people this afternoon than in his entire life.

      “You had a great dad,” Hunter said beside him. “I think I would have liked him.”

      “He’d have liked you, too.” Shane ruffled the boy’s hair. “Let’s get something to eat.”

      Shane had spotted Lexi in the crowd throughout the afternoon, glad to see she felt up to attending the ceremony. Usually composed and in control, she seemed a bit harried and hung near his immediate vicinity, yet still managed to keep her distance. He resisted the urge to check on her, as he was busy with the media. The Ramblewood Gazette took photographs while Nola West interviewed Chase for KWTT’s evening news.

      “Allow me to introduce myself.” A man held out his hand to Shane. “I’m Ryan Hammershimer, from Keeping it Reel Pictures, and we’d like to build a reality show around you and your rodeo school.”

      Shane laughed. “You want to give me a television show?” Wait until his brothers heard about this.

      * * *

      “WHAT ARE YOU doing?” Mazie peered over Lexi’s shoulder. “Are you taking pictures of that kid?”

      “What kid?” Startled, Lexi quickly saved the photo of Hunter to her phone. “I—I’m trying to get a shot of those statues. They’re truly a work of art. I can’t believe they were commissioned this quickly.”

      “What are you hiding?” Mazie insisted. “That was no picture of a statue. What’s up?”

      “I’m not hiding anything, and even if I were, why would I tell you?” Lexi snapped.

      “Well, thanks a lot.” Mazie turned her back on Lexi and started to walk away.

      “I’m sorry Mazie, I didn’t mean that.” Lexi caught up to her sister and grabbed her arm. “I have a foal on my mind. I truly am sorry.”

      “You need a vacation, sis,” Mazie said. “You can’t worry about work all the time.”

      “This