Where Hearts Run Wild Read online

  Country music played from a portable radio that sat on a snack and soda-covered picnic table.

  Sam and Nina were present and toiling over a large, smoke-bellowing barbeque. Nothing fancy, just hot dogs and hamburgers. But the smell of the red-hot charcoals that simmered the delicious meaty treats filled the air with an aroma that made everyone’s taste buds tingle.

  Mary Lou was present with her father, Henry. Mary Lou sat atop a corral fence, pretty as a picture in western-style jeans and blouse, complete with cowgirl boots.

  Armos stood next to Henry as the two discussed—well, maybe the weather and a few other light topics as the drama they had both experienced with Bobby had slipped away for the time being and was replaced with a sense of peace and orderliness.

  In the center of the corral, Bobby was riding none other than Rebel. Rebel walked in a wide circle, and it appeared as though Bobby was in total control. But of course secretly he knew he wasn’t. And we can be sure that Rebel knew the same. It was obvious Bobby was being a showman to impress Mary Lou as he glanced over at her catching quick glimpses of her to see if she was watching.

  She was.

  And so, Bobby thought, he had better make the best of this golden opportunity. With that, he gave Rebel a couple of mild heel kicks on his sides. Rebel took the command and began to trot. Bobby bent down and placed his mouth near Rebel’s left ear.

  “Okay, big guy. Try to buck me, just a little though. I want to show Mary Lou you can’t throw me. Understand? Just kinda fake it.”

  Rebel whinnied as if to acknowledge Bobby. The two continued to trot along passing Mary Lou on the corral fence. Bobby looked at her with the best manly grin he could muster.

  Mary Lou smiled back and waved. Bobby felt ten feet tall as he rode “high in the saddle” with a puffy chest of pride, even though he was not sure exactly what this girl-boy thing was all about. But Armos was right; it sure was awesome!

  However, Rebel did not attempt to buck. Instead, he continued to walk swiftly around the corral, head held high, with his bushy tail flowing about.

  Once again Bobby bent forward and placed his mouth near Rebel’s left ear.

  “What’s the matter, Rebel? If you don’t do what I told you I’m going to sell you to a Texas rancher for ten bucks!”

  Rebel halted abruptly and turned his head to face Bobby. He snorted and neighed in protest.

  “Just kidding! Just kidding!” Bobby said with a laugh. “Sam said you’re staying here forever if you want to. Now, can you do what I told you to?”

  Rebel continued to trot along, appearing to pay no attention to Bobby.

  Then, suddenly, Rebel stopped. He looked across the corral with great intensity. He whinnied a time or two.

  Across the corral in the direction that Rebel was gawking stood a beautiful brown and white female palomino. The filly looking about unpretentiously.

  And that is all it took for Rebel to rear up on his front legs sounding off with glee. He then lowered his front hooves to the ground and kicked his hind legs into the air.

  It was a fair buck. And Bobby got the brunt of it as he was thrown from Rebel’s back. Bobby became airborne. Then gravity did its duty and pulled him to the ground with a thud.

  Rebel ran off toward the palomino.

  Mary Lou couldn’t help but laugh. She covered her mouth with her hand and attempting to hide her giggles from Bobby. She was only fifteen, but she clearly understood the skin that protects the ego of a young man can be thin at times.

  Armos glanced at Bobby but held back any smiles or laughter. Heaven forbid this incident would not turn out like the earlier tumbles Bobby took, Armos thought.

  Bobby was still sitting on the ground looking after Rebel with a sour look. But his humiliating glare softened to smile as he saw Rebel trot up and stand beside the reserved filly. Rebel gave an excited whinny. The two horses gazed at each other—was it love at first sight? For Rebel it was. But, “not so fast” the young mare indicated as she turned her head away as though Rebel’s presence did not affect her one way or another.

  Rebel did not mind the shun. He simply stood by and basked in the glory of the palomino’s beauty.

  Bobby stood and dusted himself off. Sam and Nina approached him, concerned he may be hurt.

  “You okay, Bobby?” said Nina.

  “I’m fine,” Bobby said.

  “Like I said,” Sam commented. “Rebel’s got a mind of his own.”

  “Yeah, he sure does,” said Bobby. “It’s just a guy thing with Rebel right now. We’re still buds.”

  Sam and Nina were greatly relieved with Bobby’s attitude. They peered at each other and without words, their glance revealed what they were thinking—Bobby had grown up a little. Not a lot, but enough for him to have a change of heart and come to grips with the fact that life is not in perfect order, and is not always fair. He had learned that the whole world was not out to get him and they were not watching his every move awaiting an opportunity to challenge him or put him down for mistakes or mishaps that may befall him in life. Everybody has them, and everybody always will. A mistake can be practice for a retake.

  “Bobby,” said Nina. “Sam and I want to tell you something important.”

  “Did I do something wrong?” Bobby said with slight trepidation in his voice.

  “No,” said Nina. “The fact is you’re doing just about everything right. Bobby, Sam and I are going to get married.”

  Bobby broke into a smile as he looked a Sam, then back to Nina. “Cool! But what’s that got to do with me?”

  “Well,” Sam spoke up, clearing a “frog” from his throat. “With your permission, we would like to adopt you as our son. They’ll be some red tape and all, but Nina and I, why, we’re a little too old to start a family. And so we thought—”

  Before Sam could finish, a joyfully stunned Bobby stepped close to Sam and Nina and put his arms around them. “Does this mean I get to stay here like—forever?”

  “As long as you want to,” said Nina.

  The three embraced and a family was born with some tears of happiness accompanying it.

  Armos and Mary Lou walked up to the threesome. Armos had a camera in his hand.

  “Well, I see you took care of family business,” Armos said with a broad grin.

  Bobby smiled ear to ear at Armos. “You knew?”

  “Course I knew. I’m still third in command around here. That is, maybe until you get a little older.”

  Bobby looked at Mary Lou. “You knew too?”

  “Word travels fast in a small town,” Mary Lou said with a look that told us she was thrilled for Bobby. But even happier he was going to stay here “like—forever!”

  Bobby looked at Sam and Nina. “Well, I guess that settles it then. You have my full permission to adopt me!”

  Everyone laughed as joy overcame them, and their hearts were filled with affection for one another.

  “Now that you’ve approved, it’s time for a picture,” said Armos. “And this one’s gonna be the best one yet for the wall of fame.”

  Armos signaled to one of the cowboy assistants. The young man walked over to Armos who handed him the camera.

  Sam, Nina, Armos, Bobby, and Mary Lou gathered in a cluster and posed for the camera. Just then, Rebel trotted over and stood behind them, peering over their heads, looking at the cowboy assistant and the camera. Everyone gave a bright, sincere smile. Rebel whinnied loudly just as the cowboy clicked the camera that captured the group in this most memorable of moments in a place where hearts run wild.

  The End

  Publisher’s Note

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  About Glen Olson

  Glen Olson graduated from California State University Long Beach with a degree in Theatre Arts. He is a former television series writer with over twenty hours of daytime/primetime productions, including such shows at Haw
aii Five-O. With a writing partner, Rod Baker, he adapted six young adult books which were produced by the ABC as television specials. One of which garnered an Emmy nomination. He is a member of the Writers Guild of American West. Currently he lives in Dallas Texas where he also works as an actor in television, series, movies, and commercials.