Where Hearts Run Wild Read online

Bobby’s expression soared. He was way over his head, and he knew it.

  “You sound just like…” Bobby said with his words fading off with no platform to stand on.

  “Like who?” asked Nina.

  “Like everybody!” Bobby grumbled.

  Nina looked about into the night, knowing Bobby had a short fuse when cornered and so she would tread lightly with him.

  “Bobby, I’m only trying to help you. And I’m not trying to sound like a mother to you.”

  “Don’t talk about my mother!” Bobby snapped and turned away, facing the open plains.

  Nina gazed at Bobby with sympathy. “I’m sorry, Bobby. Look, if you do want to talk about things, and it’s obvious to me you do, my door is always open. I’m not your enemy. And neither are Sam or Armos. You don’t have to pick a fight to solve a problem. Not around here, not around anywhere, really.”

  Bobby shuffled his feet in the sand, at a loss for words. He knew Nina had his number. And he knew she was two steps ahead of him no matter which way the conversation would go.

  Nina grinned. “It doesn’t work that way for anybody. And it only causes hard feelings and divides us.”

  Bobby turned back to face Nina. “Guess you’re right,” he said with a soft voice. Although he appeared on the surface to have some feelings of angst about Nina, he really didn’t, and Nina knew it.

  “It just seems like I’m not part of the world sometimes,” said Bobby.

  Nina placed a hand on Bobby’s shoulder and with a gentle voice said, “Oh, you’re very much a part of the world. You just haven’t found your place yet. Growing up can be a bumpy road and sometimes a confusing one.”

  Bobby nodded slightly, he knew Nina was right. And he was heartfelt by her concern for him and her understanding.

  Suddenly, the sound of running horse hooves could be heard approaching in the distance. Nina and Bobby turned in the direction of the sound to see Sam, who rode up and out of the darkness with Rebel roped to his saddle.

  Rebel’s nostrils flared, his eyes were on fire with hostility. Both horse and man were covered with dust. Armos approached hurriedly having heard the arrival of Sam.

  “I knew it!” Armos announced. “He’s just going to keep on trying to win over Rebel no matter if it costs him his saddle!”

  Sam rode up to the corral and came to a halt. He dismounted his horse and removed the lasso rope that held Rebel. Sam held the rope in a firm grip.

  Bobby was awestruck, being close to Rebel, impressed by his actual size and stature. Gazing at Rebel, he could hardly believe this was the horse who came to say hello his first night at the ranch. This fantastic and wild creature that ruled the plains and was the leader of hundreds of other untamed horses took a few moments out of his adventurous life to greet Bobby. Bobby Shortino, a nobody, Bobby thought. Someone who had no power, someone who had little to say about really anything in his life and had little to offer anyone. Bobby pondered the idea again that maybe, just maybe, someday he and Rebel could become friends. The friend Bobby always dreamed of but never could find anywhere in his dark memories of the city.

  Nina moved to Sam with the corral separating them.

  “Welcome home, stranger,” Nina said with a scolding grin.

  Sam smiled as he eyed Rebel with some pride. He then faced Nina with an expression that asked for forgiveness. “Just one more time.”

  Nina smirked and said with a hint of disbelief in her voice, “That’s what you said last time.”

  “He can be broken,” said Sam, “he’s been around people enough, he just needs to get used to the idea that maybe he can’t be the boss all the time.”

  “That’s what you said last time,” said Nina.

  Without warning, Rebel reared, screaming out in protest as if he had understood Sam’s words. The horse bolted forward with his front legs pawing wildly in the air like a boxer’s flying fists, waiting to pound anything in their way. And in their way was Sam. Sam stepped back and stumbled to the ground as Rebel moved dangerously close making it obvious Sam was the target of his rage. Nina, Bobby, and Armos stared on with frightened expressions, alarmed and totally taken off guard by Rebel’s actions.

  Bobby moved forward and climbed over the corral fence, then ran toward Rebel. Sam remained on the ground with his back against the corral fence, unable to escape the threatening Rebel. Where Bobby’s courage was coming from Bobby didn’t know. But without a second thought, he moved in quickly toward Rebel and grabbed hold of the lasso rope Sam had now let go in the scuffle. Bobby pulled hard on the rope as he attempted to pull Rebel away from Sam.

  “No, Rebel! No!” Bobby cried out. “Stop it! Stop it now!”

  No sooner did the words leave Bobby’s mouth, and in a mysterious second, Rebel dropped his front legs to the ground and backed one easy step at a time away from Sam. Rebel stood still, quiet, with his anger seemingly drained from his system.

  Sam glanced at Bobby and then Rebel in total disbelief. This was something Sam had never witnessed before in all his years of wrangling.

  Nina and Armos were stunned with silence over Bobby’s total command of Rebel.

  Rebel continued to stand still and quiet. He made eye contact with no one as if to swallow his pride. It appeared he had accepted the fact that a boy had cooled his jets of fury. However, Bobby stood and eyed Rebel, a bit mortified as he wondered what to do next. He didn’t believe what had taken place. Was Rebel really in his command? Impossible, he thought. Rebel was the greatest horse ever. The wildest of the wild. Tough and smart, just like Armos said. In any event—what was next?

  Sam stood as he kept a cautious eye on Rebel. “Way to go, Bobby,” Sam said, his words coming from his heart.

  Bobby looked on nervously. He was a tad shy being in the spotlight of something this good. He had never had a feeling like that in his life. But again—what was next?

  “It’s past my curfew,” said Bobby, “I gotta get inside.” With that, Bobby tossed the lasso rope to Sam and scampered to the corral fence, climbed over it, and disappeared into the darkness. Sam, Nina, and Armos exchanged curious looks.

  “I ain’t never seen anything like this in my whole cowboy life,” Armos said as he scratched his head in wonder.

  “That makes two of us,” said Sam.

  “Three of us,” Nina chimed in.

  Sam stepped up to Rebel who looked after the departed Bobby. “Well, Rebel, it looks like your friend Bobby has got your attention. It’s just short of amazing—and lucky for me, I guess.”

  “Something tells me Rebel was not going to hurt you, Sam,” said Nina.

  “I got the same feelin’,” said Armos. “He’s wild, but he’s not evil. I think he was just showin’ off his stuff, that’s all. Wantin’ to get his two cents in to let you know, ‘yes, you got me today, but there’s always tomorrow’.”

  Rebel stood quietly as he looked in the direction that Bobby had gone. Sam, Nina, and Armos continued to look at Rebel with certain admiration and respect.

  * * * *

  The logs in the fireplace crackled as they burned with soft red and yellow flickering flames that bobbed about in every direction, lighting up Sam’s rustic yet comfortable living room. The fireplace was made of natural, rounded stones one could assume were collected from a nearby riverbed. The living room was wood paneled in brown with western pictures on the walls and leather furniture resting on a blue throw rug.

  Nina and Sam sat close to each other on the couch as they thoughtfully watched the fire.

  “He’s quite a bit different than most of the others, isn’t he?” said Nina.

  “Rebel or Bobby?” Sam replied with a smile.

  “Both, but I meant Bobby,” said Nina.

  Nina looked at Sam with a curious glance. “How do explain the way Rebel magically obeyed Bobby?”

  “Well,” said Sam, “it’s not unusual for a horse to take a liking to certain people. Something they sense in the person that gi
ves them an inner feeling of peace—a non-threatening feeling maybe. It’s hard to tell. But I admit, it’s got me a little baffled. I do know one thing though, that wasn’t the first time Bobby and Rebel have met, it just couldn’t be.”

  “I thought the same thing,” said Nina. “But I also think the two are a lot alike in many ways—both sort of alone in the world, strong-willed, and at heart, there’s something special about both of them.”

  “Yep,” Sam said thoughtfully. “Like Armos said, they both can come off like tough guys, but they’re really not. I guess there’s a connection there somewhere, and I think it’s for the better. I’d say that underneath all that fake cowhide and rough-and-tumble act, the two of them are pretty good eggs.”

  Nina smiled, leaned to Sam, and gave him a peck on the cheek. “Spoken like a good cowhand. And speaking of good men, are we going to have that barbecue you promised?”

  “As soon as we have time,” Sam said, feeling a bit regretful he had not made the time.

  “Sam, you’re very dedicated, and I love you for it. But we need a break now and then. And we need to give these kids a little taste of family life. I know it's only one day, but it's better than nothing.”

  Sam gave Nina a look of fond appreciation. “What would I do without you telling me what to do.”

  “I’m not sure, but don’t try to do anything without me,” Nina said as she gave Sam a tender kiss. He responded in kind as the glow of the fire added a little more warmth to their already loving relationship.

  * * * *

  Bobby lay on his bed in his dimly lit room with a piece of white paper atop a book. With a pencil in hand, he wrote thoughtfully and slowly.

  Deer Mary Lou.

  Just thought I would write you to say your chocolate shakes are the best I ever had. Your hamburgers are good too. Maybe I could stop by again and see you sometime. Just maybe now, no promises. I guess you must know pretty much about this place I’m in, living so close. I didn’t do anything too terribly bad, but I guess bad enough to wind up here. Seems I just keep screwing up and I can’t seem to stop. I know I have to. The people here, the ones who run the ranch, are okay. I thought they would just be a bunch of dumb cowboys, but actually, they are pretty cool. You probably know them, so don’t tell them I said so. I’m just going to bide my time and try to stay out of trouble and get out of here.

  Hope you don’t mind me writing all this private stuff. I just felt like telling someone and you seem real nice and would understand, at least a little. Well, I’ve got to go now as I’m very busy…

  Bobby stopped writing, looking about his room with confused frustration. He let out a breath of despair, crumpled the letter into a ball and threw it on the floor. He then pushed the book aside and buried his head in his pillow, attempting to shut out the world—at least for the time being.

  Chapter 10

  The corral was alive with nervous horses and the young inmates as well as a training session was about to begin. The horses jostled about as their hooves kicked up the dust around the young men. The boys were paired up, two to a horse. The animals had ropes tied loosely around their necks with one of the young men holding the rope.

  The other stood by with a bridle in hand. Sam was present along with Armos and an assistant wrangler. They had saddled the horses before any of the boys were present.

  Sam and Armos moved about the corral and checked the boys’ readiness for training.

  To Bobby’s disdain, he and J. R. were paired up again.

  J. R. held the rope that was attached to none other than Rebel’s neck. Bobby could not help but think what a trio that made. Himself, mean-spirited J. R., and the most stubborn horse on the planet were supposed to work like a team. Fat chance of that happening.

  J. R. gave Bobby a sneer. “I hear you and Rebel are getting to be real buds?” said J. R. “Rumor’s goin’ around you saved cowboy Sam’s butt, is that true?”

  “It was just a—I don’t know, nothin,” Bobby said as he attempted to brush J. R. off.

  “Kinda stupid helpin’ out the enemy, and it ain’t gonna make you the most popular guy around here,” J. R. said with a threatening voice. “Get the bridle on Mr. Rebel here, and I’ll give you a joint.”

  “Lysaker, you are an idiot!” Bobby spurted out.

  “You got junk in here?”

  “How do you think half of us get through the day, meatball?” said J. R. “And don’t call me an idiot, punk! Besides, I’m makin’ bank.”

  “You’re pushin’ it,” said Bobby.

  “Hey, 'pushin'’ it!” J. R. laughed. “That’s good, man. You’ll be a customer, just give it a little time.”

  “I don’t think so,” Bobby said with assurance in his voice.

  “I do,” J. R. said with a confident slice of a grin.

  Sam walked to the middle of the corral and stopped.

  “Okay, boys, you know the routine. If you start losing the game, back off and let the horse have its way. Give it a minute to settle down and try it again. Just keep it up, your horse will get the message and finally give in and see things your way. Go for it!”

  The youths turned to their assigned horses and attempted to bridle them. Success was limited as some of the horses reared and gave a loud neigh of resistance. Some of the boys climbed aboard their horse only to be rejected by the animal and thrown to the ground. But the youths had taken Sam’s advice and were persistent and patient in their undertaking.

  At first, Rebel would have no part of the exercise. He reared defiantly, standing on his hind legs, towering over J. R. and Bobby. J. R. pulled with all his might in an attempt to bring Rebel down on all four legs. But it was to no avail. And J. R.’s strength was no match for the herculean Rebel. Bobby stared, waiting for Rebel to “return to earth.” After a scuffling, Rebel finally came to rest on his front legs, settling down a bit—at least for now.

  Bobby walked up to Rebel and ever so carefully slipped the bridle over the horse’s head. Bobby looked on with great apprehension. J. R. watched as well with a bit of awe. Bobby then moved slowly around to Rebel’s side and began to make the courageous climb onto Rebel’s back.

  Suddenly, however, Rebel had a change of heart and decided he was not ready to welcome a rider. And with that, he flung his head in a violent move in an attempt to shake off the bridle. In doing so, Rebel’s head struck Bobby and knocked him to the ground, sending him head over heels.

  Many of the youths had witnessed Bobby’s encounter with Rebel and were laughing it up over the incident—including J. R. who enjoyed Bobby’s humiliation. Bobby crawled to his feet and eyed Rebel with a scowling expression.

  Sam approached Bobby, having seen the fall. “I guess Rebel had a little change of mind. But don’t let it get to you, he’ll come around.”

  “I don’t need anybody to tell me that! He’ll listen to me,” said Bobby. He then gave J. R. an angry look. “He just picked up some bad vibes.”

  J. R. took offense to Bobby’s remark. “You’re full of it, Shortino! You just can’t handle him!”

  “Okay, enough here!” Sam commanded. “You two knock it off and go clean the stalls!”

  Bobby gave J. R. a bitter look, and J. R. fired it back with equal intensity. And if Sam was not present, there surely would have been fisticuffs between the two young men. Bobby shrugged it off, turned and walked away. J. R. handed the rope that was still attached to Rebel to Sam. He then walked off in Bobby’s direction. Sam looked after the twosome with suspicious concern as to their relationship.

  He too, like Armos, sensed in his gut Bobby and J. R. had known each other before coming to the ranch. Sam had seen it before, and he knew the level of their animosity for each other came with a history of some sort. A history he was sure he would learn in due time.

  * * * *

  The man in the moon gazed down on the trees and buildings causing them to illuminate and cast their shadows over the quiet wild horse ranch. An occasional coyote
could be heard crying out its calling of the wild. The crickets chirped with their natural and unrehearsed rhythm. Nature offered its peace and serenity to all and anyone who possessed the calm in their soul to drink its cool and fulfilling waters. Unfortunately, the ranch did not offer much calm. Nor was it a place where hearts and minds were at peace very often.

  Bobby sat on his bunk looking out the window of his room. The emotional wounds of his humbling experience of being knocked to the ground by Rebel was still in play. Rebel, Bobby wondered, how could he have done that?

  The two were friends—sort of. Rebel had obeyed his command not to hurt Sam! He had come to visit Bobby, probably more than once? Rebel knew Bobby thought he was an awesome creature and that he admired the horse from the first time he laid eyes on him.

  Suddenly there was a knock on the door that snapped Bobby to attention. Another knock. It couldn’t be J. R., Bobby thought, because that jerk does not knock, he just pushes his way in welcome or not.

  “Yes?” Bobby said reluctantly.

  The door opened, revealing Armos. Armos stood in the threshold for a moment. “Can I come in?” Armos said calmly.

  A few seconds passed. “Sure,” Bobby said as he continued to gaze out the window.

  Armos moved into the room and stopped. “Mind if I sit.”

  Bobby nodded.

  Armos walked to and sat on Bobby’s one and only chair. “Nice evening.”

  Bobby did not respond as he continued to look out the window.

  “Bobby, I guess part of being here and learning something is communicating with each other. And I wanted to tell you a little something about Sam.”

  “Go ahead,” Bobby said as he turned to face Armos. “But what good is that gonna do me to know about Sam?”

  “Well,” said Armos, “after I tell you, you’re going to find out you’re not the Lone Ranger in this world. And others can hurt inside too. You see, Sam’s father was a big rodeo star. Everyone thought he was the greatest. But privately he used to get drunk and push Sam around some. Even beat him sometimes for no reason. And just like you, Sam had no one to really protect him.”