Molly heard the verifying chatter as they walked around the cabin, arms laden with food.
“Oh, good God, Evelyn. Food? Really?”
Evelyn said, “Might be a few folks stopping by. You and Silas just stay put. Betsy and I will get everything set up.”
Molly and Silas worked on the Jack Daniels while Evelyn and Betsy brought out a cloth for the table with glasses, plates, napkins, and silverware. Pretty soon, Willy and Buck came around the cabin lugging a cooler of ice and beer, setting it down by the table. Evelyn sent them to the shed to retrieve more tables and chairs, and Molly could see a party unfolding.
Mae and Tong brought a big platter of Vietnamese noodles, left them on the table, paid their respects, and left. Pretty soon, workers from the restaurant, store, and stables started filtering in with more food. Willy put a western playlist on a boom box. People poured their own drinks, mixed around, and the party was on. Molly never left her chair, letting others do the work, pay respects, and gather.
After a while, Mack, Lisa, and the three girls arrived with two large pizzas. Mack put a bottle of Scotch on the table, pouring two fingers for himself and grabbing a beer for Lisa. Molly greeted her brother with a long hug, and he pulled a chair up next to her. Mack would understand this day. He’d been thirteen when she was crowned. Molly’s nieces Beth and Christie went immediately to Shadow for play, but Mack’s middle daughter, eight-year-old Bethany, settled in Molly’s lap, Molly wrapping her arms around her niece.
Molly and Bethany had a special relationship. Bethany shared Molly’s love for horses, was growing up in Molly’s former bedroom, and was riding the same trails Molly grew up using. And she looked like Molly, tall, slender, and with the same Scottish coloring. The family joked about the similarity between Bethany and Molly’s childhood photos. Molly already had her pegged as a future Omak Stampede Queen.
Cuddled in Molly’s lap, she said, “I’m sorry about Jo.”
“Thank you, Bethany. She was my best friend, but her time had come. She had a good life, and I have great memories.”
The Summer’s End family ate and drank the afternoon away. Molly was with her people, the way it was supposed to be after losing a loved one.
The Omak Okanogan Chronicle ran an obituary on Jo the next morning, featuring a photo Vivian had taken at the veterinary clinic. Molly had no idea it was coming until Silas handed it to her when she arrived at the stables on Friday morning.
She sat on a stool and read it.
Jo Omak: Passing of a Legend
The Omak Okanogan community lost a legend this week upon the passing of Jo, the longtime racing partner of Molly McGuire. Molly raced as Molly Mack and, later, of course, became widely known in our parts as Molly Omak.
Jo was Molly’s 18thbirthday present from her father, the late Mack McGuire, owner of Mack Livestock Auctions. Molly rode Jo in the qualifiers when she was selected Queen of the Omak Stampede seventeen years ago.
Molly and Jo represented the Omak Stampede at every regional rodeo that next year and continued doing so when they went on the rodeo circuit competing in barrel races.
Molly and Jo won the barrel race at the Omak Stampede an unprecedented nine times. No other contestant at the Omak Stampede has ever equaled that level of dominance in a rodeo event here.
We say Rest in Peace, Jo. We were proud to have you carry our banner and represent the Omak Okanogan community with pride and distinction for the last eighteen years.
And we extend heartfelt condolences today to Molly McGuire for her loss.
Chapter 13
Several days later, Molly had an email from Kitty.
Dear Molly,
Please accept my condolences on the passing of Jo. The barrel racing association circulated the obituary from the Omak newspaper to the membership. The photo of the two of you together is beautiful. I’m so sorry for your loss, but know you have many memories to sustain you.
Thanks for the update on Bart. I’m still planning to come for the Stampede in August, so will look forward to seeing him. I’ve reserved some cabins and an RV site in anticipation that this will be a family event. That’s a work in progress. I’ll keep you posted.
Well, good luck with Shadow and the new pups. We’ll want photos, of course. I’m sure Bart told you that Bear was once my pup, so I feel like Bear and his offspring are members of our family too.
I don’t know what your plans are for replacing Jo. I assume you’ll let some time pass, but I can’t imagine a barrel racer lasting long without a horse. If you’d like for me to help look around, let me know what you’re thinking. I’m inmy last year competing professionally, so am still out and about.
I don’t know what to tell you about Bart’s relationship with the family. There is no estrangement. We love Bart and he loves his family. All I can say is the Bart who came home from Afghanistan is not the Bart we sent into the Army. And something definitely snapped after Megan’s accident.
Right now, the family considers you to be the best thing that’s happened to Bart since he returned. The smile on his face in both photos is the Bart we know and love, and haven’t experienced for a long time. So whatever you’re doing, please keep it up, and keep the photos coming.
Again, my condolences for Jo.
Warmly,
