Molly managed a chuckled. She knew Vivian was trying to help her stay composed. “Jo and I just took our final lap down at the arena. Had to wear the same outfit that started it all seventeen years ago.”
“You’re both beautiful.”
Molly walked around and backed Jo out of her stall, still wearing the rodeo sash and garland of flowers.
Molly said, “Jo dressed up too for the occasion.”
“She’s nevernotbeen the most beautiful horse in the valley. Ever.”
Molly posed with Jo for a series of photos Vivian took with Molly’s cell phone, and several she took with her own.
“Do you want a few more minutes with Jo?”
“No, we’re ready. We’ve had our words and ride, haven’t we, girl.”
Jo gave a little nod as she’d been trained by Molly to do when asked a question that required a yes answer.
Molly knew the drill only too well. She led Jo into Carson’s trailer and let Carson fasten the sling that would keep Jo from falling after the lethal injection. The sling in place, Vivian looked to Molly for the confirmation. Molly wrapped her arms around Jo’s neck for an emotional hug before giving Vivian the go ahead.
Vivian moved the syringe in place and gently administered the shot. Molly held tight until Jo’s legs gave way. Giving her a final hug, she backed away as Carson lowered the sling to the floor. Molly arranged Jo’s head and legs on the floor as Vivian checked Jo’s pulse and stepped away, nodding that it was over, Shadow snugged tight against Molly’s leg.
Molly drove the Jeep and trailer into Omak and parked at her favorite Mexican food truck. She hadn’t eaten much for a week. She wasn’t hungry, but she’d emptied last night’s attempteddinner in the toilet that morning and knew she needed something. She ordered two carnitas street tacos and sat at a picnic table under the trees, awaiting her order.
She was serenely calm. It was over. The stress of the anticipation had been nearly debilitating. But she’d done right by her partner. Jo’s time had come. Carson would now be driving her to the crematorium where she’d be converted to ashes. Molly could pick up the urn in a couple days and dispose of them as she wished. Her plan was to spread them in the arena where Jo had her greatest moments.
Her tacos came up and she ate them alone with a diet coke. She needed to get something in her stomach. There was nothing more to say or do. But she couldn’t go back to work. She hadn’t thought about this. What to do after? She at least needed to go back to the cabin and change her clothes. She couldn’t wear her Omak Stampede queen regalia around all day.
She walked into the cabin, went straight to the bedroom, took off her rodeo outfit and carefully hung it back in the plastic bag. It wouldn’t come out again until the Stampede in August when she’d ride with past queens in the parade.
She put on jeans, western shirt, leather vest, and moccasins, and collapsed on the bed in a fetal ball, her arms around her legs, her thighs against her chest. She was cried out. There were no more tears. But there was an emptiness that she didn’t know how to manage. Fingering the leather vest, she wished Bart were there.
She didn’t look forward to her morning visit to Silas at the stables knowing that Jo would not be in her stall. She didn’t look forward to the late afternoon when she and Jo took theirafternoon ride. There were other horses at the stables, but Molly wasn’t ready for another horse. She knew she would be, but right now there was only Jo.
She heard a knock at the door. That could only be Silas checking on her. She rolled out of bed and walked to the door. Her grizzled stables manager was standing in his cowboy hat and boots holding a bottle of Jack Daniels. She moved into his arms and gave him a long hug before inviting him in. They moved to the kitchen where she pulled two glasses out of the cupboard and led him outside, pulling her leather cowgirl hat on to complete her post-Bart look.
She poured shots of bourbon and held them up. “To Jo.”
Glasses clinked and the shots became history. Molly poured two fingers for each and they settled back in the Adirondacks. It was early afternoon on a late spring day. The sun was warm. They were sitting in the shade. The sky was blue, the lake calm, and the mountains beautiful. Molly was comfortable with her cowboy friend during these moments. Silas had helped her through this.
“Might be a few more folks stopping by.”
“That’s fine. I was trying to figure out how I was going to get through this day.”
“Jack Daniels and friends are all you need for a day like this. You shouldn’t be alone.”
“Thank you, Silas, for everything. Taking care of Jo. Taking care of me. I’ve been a mess this week, but I’m at peace now. We did right by Jo. I’ve got the memories. That’s all I need.”
“How’d it go at the arena?”
“We took our victory lap. Jo rallied for a little closing trot. We had our final words on our final ride. It was just how I wanted it. I’ll spread her ashes down there later in the week.” She paused, taking a long, deep breath. “Time for me to move on.”
“I don’t reckon you’ll be looking for a horse any time soon, but keep me posted. You know I might be able to help.”
“You’ll be the first to know when I’m ready. Not sure when that will be.”
Molly heard a car pull up her driveway. She looked at Silas.
“Probably Evelyn and Betsy.”
