Her knees tucked against his side, her hands on his shoulders, leaning forward, she took her stallion on a couple spins around the track before making the final turn and giving it everything she had down the stretch.
It didn’t break off, but it got the workout of its life.
Chapter 22
They rose early Saturday morning. It was a big day. Pig roast. Parade. Kitty’s farewell ride. Afternoon rodeo. And, if the family desired, the world famous Omak Stampede Suicide Race late in the afternoon.
Mainly they wanted to be up when Willie and Buck brought the pig. They rolled in at 8:30 with a huge 100 pound pig, followed a few minutes later by Brett. Brett and Bart had volunteered to help with the pig roast. Molly approved the location for the pit and turned her attention to getting dressed for the parade and Queen’s Ride.
The plan was for Willie and Buck to dig the pit, set up the spit, mount the pig, and start the fire. Brett and Bart agreed to monitor the operation so Willie and Buck could head down to the festivities. A high school stable worker had been hired to monitor the pig all day. That involved keeping the fire going, turning the spit every fifteen minutes, regularly basting with an olive oil and herb concoction, and keeping predators away. Smells of a fresh pig roasting all day could drift for miles. If someone was on guard, animals might creep up in the woods to check it out, but wouldn’t approach. If left unattended, the pig was fair game.
Brett and Bart would attend the parade, but planned to check on the pig between the parade and rodeo. The stable worker would stay with the pig all day.
The Omak Stampede parade was at 10:00 Saturday morning down the main drag of Omak. Molly had ridden in the parade every year since she first rode a pony at age eight in the children’s division. The parade was led by the newly crowned Stampede queen and followed by a couple dozen former queens. Molly liked the pomp and circumstance of the event. She was part of the history of the Stampede. It had been an important part of her life.
Mack annually reserved a VIP seating area near the judging station to entertain his best auction clients. The VIP area included thirty cushioned seats with coffee and concession service. It cost $1,000, but Molly agreed to split that with him this year in exchange for fourteen seats. The location by the judging station was great because floats, bands, and horse groups stopped to perform for the judges.
Molly dressed in the same outfit she’d worn when she’d been crowned eighteen years ago, the same outfit she wore on Jo’s last ride.
When Molly rode past Mack’s VIP section, the McKinnons rose to clap and cheer. Molly broke ranks and rode over to visit with her special guests. She could easily catch up. She got off Ginger and let Cheyenne’s kids admire her fancy rodeo outfit. She was pleased to see that Mack was sitting with Bart’s family. She was getting to know Bart’s family. They might as well meet hers.
Mack had circulated the story from the morning paper and handed it to Molly. The lead headline on the sports page was, “Molly Omak Leads Team Mack to Victory in Ladies Unlimited.” The accompanying posed photo showed Team Mack in their matching outfits on horses in the infield. The story described the exciting race and included a paragraph about Molly Mack’s new quarter horse, Ginger, a striking chestnut mare.
Molly participated in the Queen’s Ride to officially open the Omak Stampede Rodeo. The newly crowned queen was first introduced, then one by one the visiting queens from other rodeos, and finally former Stampede queens. The queens rode in a fast gallop around the arena waving at the fans and carrying banners from the rodeo they represented. The Queen’s Ride is consistently a crowd favorite at every rodeo featuring the best young female riders in the region dressed in their cowgirl finest. She got an especially loud welcome when her name was announced.
After the Queen’s Ride, Molly joined the family in the stands to watch Kitty’s farewell ride.
The McKinnons were on their feet screaming for Kitty in her final competitive race. She did well, earning $1500 for placing third, a respectable finish given that the field consisted of twenty of the top racers in the region.
The family watched most of the afternoon rodeo but decided against the Suicide Race. They were anxious to get home for thepig roast and didn’t like the idea of horses getting hurt in the dangerous ride.
Molly and Bart stopped at the training center to pick up Shadow, Bear, and the pups. Cheyenne’s kids had been clamoring to see them.
When they arrived at the cabin, Brett had a loud Shania Twain playlist on, the pig was roasted a beautiful brown, Cheyenne’s kids were swimming in the lake, everyone had a drink, and folks were still rolling in for the party. The smells from the freshly roasted pig were intoxicating. Molly and Bart opened cold beers and set the pups near the pig so all the action was in one place. Cheyenne’s kids came bounding out of the lake to pamper the pups.
Molly and Bart retired to the kitchen. Every time Molly went into the kitchen, the McKinnon ladies followed. They were determined that she not be working alone while they were partying by the lake. Molly was serving coleslaw, pesto pasta, and French bread with the pork. She had fresh pasta that would boil up in two minutes and a pesto sauce she’d gotten from the diner. That would be a simple toss and serve in a big bowl.
Molly put the ladies to work, sending Bart to entertain the men. Cheyenne grated a huge pile of cabbage for the slaw. Cassie mixed the coleslaw dressing to Molly’s recipe. Darcy sliced baguettes of French bread. Kitty whipped up two bowls of soft butter with herbs. Molly worked on the pesto sauce. Dinner would easily fall together when folks were ready to eat. Chet and Brad were setting the table. Brett and Bart were preparing the pig.
The prep work done, the party turned into a late afternoon happy hour until it was time to carve. Brett and Bart had let the fire burn down. On Molly’s signal, everyone assembled around the pig. Brett put on a McKinnon Ranch apron and brought out a large, ornate carving knife. He explained he’d made the knifein his metal shop and that Darcy had inserted stones into the carved bone handle. He then did a stylish sharpening ceremony using his own whetstone, his audience applauding.
With a captive audience, the carving was a work of art. Wearing heavy leather gloves, Brett and Bart slid the pig off the spit onto a large carving board resting on saw horses. At Brett’s request, Molly brought three large platters. He started by carefully slicing off the shoulders and legs, setting them aside. He then cut the pork loins and back meat, stopping to slice smooth, even pieces. He carefully placed those to one end of the first platter. He next removed the spare ribs, cutting them into individual pieces, and placing them nicely next to the slices of pork loin, filling the first platter.
From the shoulders, he cut long, even slices and placed them on the second platter. Then he did the same with the legs, and setting the bones aside, announcing they were for Bear and Shadow. That finished the second platter. Finally, wearing plastic gloves, he pulled long strips of moist, white pork roast that he carefully positioned on the third platter until it was heaping.
With all three platters beautifully arranged, he stepped back to applause and took a bow.
It was one of Molly’s favorite meals ever. A feast of fresh roasted pig, pesto pasta, coleslaw, and fresh bread with whipped butter. Loud western music outdoors by the lake on a hot summer day. The gathering of a Montana ranch family for a festive western meal.
Clint and Cassie were at one end of the long table, Bart and Molly at the other. In the middle of dinner, Clint rose and raised his glass.
“It appears that this will be our final meal in one of the nicest weekends this family has ever spent. I’d like everyone to raise your glass to our hostess, Molly Omak.”
Everyone raised their glass and awaited the toast.
“Molly, we’ve enjoyed every moment of this beautiful weekend. The cabins on the lake are perfect. You provided space in your stables and gathered horses for us. You led the ladies to victory in the Stampede Relay Races. You astonished us with three fantastic meals at your perfect cabin on the lake. For your wonderful hospitality, we thank you. To Molly Omak.”
Voices cheered and glasses clinked.
