Hell's Coming with Me

Blood the Boy

A/N: Happy New Year! I promised that this chapter would be up soon, and I didn't want to disappoint anyone. I will be dedicating time to this story so that I can finish it, hopefully, before my Master's program. I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas, or whatever holiday they celebrate during this period of time. 

Blood the Boy

The day after Travis and the North Texan outfit left, it was the day of the farrier. He was scheduled months in advance, which was great because I noticed some of the horses' shoes were a little loose.

He was out in the barn getting the horses ready for the upcoming harsh months of winter. Lloyd and Jimmy oversaw bringing the horses to the farrier. I think Colby was out in the field catching all the horses that weren't in the barn. Ryan was out patrolling, which was his new normal since the loss of the cows.

I was spending some time on the clients' horses while the farrier was doing his job in the barn. Once I had finished with Wild Heart, a three-year-old Mustang, I put her into the barn. On my way back, I saw Jimmy getting put onto an unbroken horse by Lloyd and Ethan. I sighed and noticed that Rip had seen what was going on.

"What are you doing?" I asked Lloyd, walking over to the men.

"Rip you see that? Eight seconds!" Jimmy called out, excited. I thought the term – kid in a candy store was apt.

"Yeah, Jimmy. I saw," Rip laughed. "Why is he on that rank bastard?" I wondered the same as I watched Ethan attempt to catch the horse.

"He needs to make some extra money," Lloyd said with a meaningful look at Rip.

"By putting him on a bronc?" I asked, incredulous that they thought Jimmy could even bronc ride. Lloyd nodded.

"Gonna have his go at the rodeo," Lloyd smiled, as if he was proud of the fact that they were risking his neck.

"I wanna go!" I interjected. "I want to enter the barrel racing contest. Win some cash."

"He can barely sit on the broken ones, Lloyd," Rip voiced my concerns over allowing Jimmy to join the rodeo. "You're gonna get the fucking kid killed."

"He sit him pretty good," Lloyd mentioned. Which yes, Lloyd might have a point. Rip gave a smirk.

"Hey Jimmy!" Jimmy looked over at Rip. "You know why you never met any old, rodeo cowboys? Cause there ain't any."

"I'm old!" Lloyd stated, shoving at Rip's arm with good mannered teasing.

"You just look old, motherfucker," Rip and Lloyd started to laugh. I had to shake my head at their antics.

"Yeah, I won't die. I promise!" Jimmy promised the foreman of the Ranch, like he had any control over that.

"I'll hold you to that," Rip pointed at Jimmy. "Hey." He clapped Lloyd on the back and spoke to him lowly. "Make sure he don't get hurt now. Nor Lily!"

Lloyd gave Rip a thumbs up. We watched as Rip walked away, apparently satisfied with the happenings of three people on the Ranch tonight. Before the evening, I was certain at least one other cowboy was going to join us to go to the rodeo. I was hoping Ryan might accompany us, but I had a feeling Rip was going to put him to work.

"What's next?" Jimmy looked eager to find out what else Lloyd had in store for him. I raised an eyebrow at his willingness to potentially get himself maimed, permanently scarred, or killed.

"We get you in a bucking chute," Lloyd said, as if that was the first thing that came to mind for anyone. Jake had collected the horse and stood there waiting for whatever harebrained idea that Lloyd came up with.