The Comeback Cowboy

“I can’t believe I’m actually taking a roping class.” The woman untangled her reins for the third time.

“Me, either.”

When Pop had proposed the idea that Ty participate in the afternoon beginners’ class, he’d balked. Then he learned Adele would be teaching it. That, and the arguments Pop had presented about getting back to basics, convinced Ty to give one—and only one—class a try. He told himself it wasn’t because he found Adele attractive. Rather, he wanted to see if she could teach as well as she roped. His decision to remain at Cowboy College depended on the outcome.

She continued explaining how the wrangler would take off on the ATV, and that the riders should allow their horses to follow the calf head and bale of hay, rather than attempt to direct them. Yeah, yeah. Ty suppressed a yawn.

His cell phone rang a minute later, coming just when he thought he’d reached his boredom threshold. Unclipping the phone from his belt, he checked the screen. A photo of his younger sister appeared with her name above it.

“Sorry, I need to take this call,” he told the students nearest him, and nudged Hamm into a fast walk away from the group. Stopping about twenty feet away, he answered the call. “Hey, Dana.”

From his chosen spot, he could see Adele frowning at him. Too late, Ty realized there was probably something in the rules and regulations he hadn’t yet read about no cell-phone calls during class. Oh, well, he’d already screwed up.

“How’s it going, bro?”

“Not so great.”

“Why?”

“Because I’m sitting here in a beginners’ class.”

“Really! Doing what? Showing the students how it’s done?”

“No, attending. Actually, attending as little as possible.”

“I guess a refresher course never hurts.”

He should have figured Dana would agree with Pop’s suggestion, being it was her idea to come to Cowboy College.

“Right. I could be doing this in my sleep.”

“So prove it.”

“You’re not serious.” He laughed.

“I am, Ty. You need to figure out what’s not working, and fix it. Taking a beginner class might seem ridiculous, but you need a new perspective, and I’m all for trying anything. You should be, too, if you want to win that championship.”

Ty tamped down his rising annoyance. It had been a long time since anyone had lectured him. A long time since he’d felt he deserved a lecture.

A quick glance at Adele confirmed yet another talking-to might be in store for him. She looked about as happy with him as his sister sounded.

“This isn’t easy for me, Dana.” The admission came with an uncomfortable tightening in his gut.

“I know, honey. But I’m one of the people who has your back, remember?”

“And I appreciate it.”

“You couldn’t have two better experts there.”

“I agree with you about Pop Donnelly. And I wouldn’t mind half so much if he was teaching the class.”

“What’s wrong with Adele Donnelly?”

There was nothing wrong with her that Ty could see. It was his ego having the problem. Granted, he’d asked for her help yesterday, but that was in a weak moment. This morning, when he’d faced himself in the bathroom mirror, he wished he’d asked Pop for help instead.

It wasn’t too late. He’d get through this one class and seek out the older man. Maybe then he wouldn’t feel like so much of a loser. Or have an entire group of people witnessing his shame.

“You practice with a woman roper,” Dana prompted.

“It’s different with you.”

“Because I’m not competing against you in the same sport?”

“Yikes.” Ty grimaced. “That smarts.”

“Give Adele a chance before you hightail it out of there.”

How did his sister know he’d been contemplating leaving? “Fine. I promise to stay another couple days.”

“You said a month.” Her tone dared him to defy her.

“Okay, okay. You win.”

“Call me if you need anything.”

“I will.” They disconnected after saying goodbye.

Ty silenced his cell phone and walked Hamm over to the group, smiling apologetically to his classmates and Adele, who blatantly ignored him. All right, he deserved that. Leaning forward and propping a forearm on the saddle horn, he made an effort to really listen to her. After several minutes passed, he had to agree she knew her stuff. She certainly had the attention of all the students.

“Are we ready to try? Who wants to go first?”

Hands shot into the air, none of them Ty’s.

“All right, how about you, Mike?” She picked the husband of the woman Ty’d been talking to earlier.

He sat quietly on Hamm, watching Mike and the others take their turns one by one. He easily and quickly spotted the errors with each student. Adele did, too, and patiently explained it to them in laymen’s terms the students could comprehend. When everyone had done it, Adele’s gaze landed on him.

“You’re up next, Ty.”

He moved into position behind the bale of hay. Hamm pawed the ground, far more eager to get started than his owner.

“Wait. We’re going to do this a little differently with you. Put up your rope.”

“My rope?”

“Then drop your reins and kick your feet out of the stirrups.”

“You’re kidding.”