The Last Ranch (36 page)

As Kevin attacked the pie, Matt grinned at Mary.

“What?” she demanded.

“Is there a piece of that for me?”

“Only if you promise me that we'll do it.”

“I promise.”

Mary smiled sweetly. “That's better.” She slid a second slice onto a plate and handed it over. “Okay, now let's make a plan,” she said, her eyes dancing with excitement.

Over pie—two wedges for Kevin—they discussed what to do. The cottage would get spruced up and go on the market within a week. Anything they didn't want or need at the ranch would be sold through classified ads in the newspaper. They'd both cash in their retirement pensions and Matt would take his accrued vacation time in a lump-sum payment. They'd sell Mary's car, used
mostly for trips around town, and put the money on a new ranch truck with Matt's old truck as trade. Mary still had money in savings that they'd continue to keep as reserve. Finally, Matt would pay off all the odds-and-ends bills he could while he was still drawing a paycheck, allowing them to make a fresh start with almost a clean slate.

Throughout the discussion, Kevin stayed quiet, watching and listening. What had started as depressing news about his dad's job predicament had become a full-blown, optimistic scheme to return to ranching. If it meant he probably wouldn't have to go to a new school and live in a new town during his senior year, Kevin thought it was a perfect plan. Matt busily wrote stuff down: how much the cottage might sell for, what he expected to earn before he quit his job, how much they had in savings, what a new truck would cost, and how much it would cost to buy more ponies to increase the herd.

They talked about the Rocking J land. As a full partner with Al and Brenda, Matt had used what he'd learned working in the field to improve both the west slope high-country pastures and the predominantly low-lying Jornada desert grasslands. Fully recovered from the drought of the fifties, the land was now in good shape with live water in several canyons and draws, capable of sustaining additional ponies.

Listening, Kevin could hear their growing enthusiasm. Their excitement made him realize that with the loss of the 7-Bar-K there had been a void in their lives.

He decided to pipe up and pitch in. “I can drop out of school if you need me to.”

Harsh looks seared into him from across the kitchen table.

“You'll do no such thing,” Mary said emphatically.

“And forget about asking us to let you join the service,” Matt added ardently. “Your job is to finish high school and go to college.”

“But if you're not working for the Ag Department anymore, I'll have to pay tuition. And then there's books, room, and board,” Kevin countered.

“Keep your grades up and you can qualify for a scholarship,” Mary replied.

“I've been thinking about joining junior ROTC as an elective my senior year,” Kevin said. “They offer scholarships for college students, and according to my guidance counselor I'd stand a good chance to get one if I took the class. But if we're not living in town anymore . . .” He let the potential impediment hang in the air.

Matt sighed. “We'll work it out.”

“The school bus still stops at Engle for the ranch kids from the Jornada,” Mary said. “You and Dale can use Patrick's old truck at the ranch to drive back and forth to the bus stop. On days when you have extracurricular activities, you can either drive to school or we can come fetch you.”

“Can I keep rodeoing?”

Matt pushed the pen and paper aside. “I don't see why not. We're making changes, not eliminating what's important in our lives. Besides, having you compete will be great advertising for our ponies. Especially if you do well at state.”

Kevin grinned. “I'll do my best, promise.”

“Will you miss town?” Mary asked.

Kevin shrugged. “A little bit. Jeannie mostly.”

Dad smiled sympathetically. “That's understandable.”

Mary put a thoughtful finger to her lips. “Gus Merton might be able to help us with information about financial-aid programs at the college.”

“We don't have to jump on that right away,” Matt replied.

Kevin grinned in agreement. “Yeah, Mom, let me at least start my senior year first.”

Studying the calendar on the refrigerator door, Mary wasn't listening. “Erma gets back from France in three weeks. I wonder if she'd consider boarding Kevin during his freshman year.”

Kevin felt a rush of excitement. Erma threw the best parties with the best-looking coeds and dozens of other interesting people. Plus, she was one of the coolest and most popular professors at the university. And living off campus sounded a heck of a lot better than sharing a dorm room with guys he didn't know. Suddenly, maybe it
wasn't
too soon to start making plans for college.

She turned and looked at Kevin. “Unless of course you'd rather stay in a dorm with boys your own age.”

Kevin shrugged nonchalantly and tried to sound impartial. “I don't know. Maybe we should see what Erma says when she gets home.”

Dad pushed back from the kitchen table. “Let's take a break from all this figuring.” He dug for his car keys and tossed them to Kevin. “Since we've already had apple pie for dessert, I suggest we all go to Larry's Drive-In for cheeseburgers and fries. You're driving.”

***

L
arry's Drive-In sat on a bend in Main Street just before the entrance to the Carrie Tingley Hospital. Drivers parked under a long metal canopy, where carhops took their orders from large printed menus mounted on posts in each parking space. Off to one side was additional, uncovered parking next to several picnic tables with umbrellas, where folks who didn't want to sit in their hot cars
could dine. Inside was a small, air-conditioned dining room with a long counter where carhops picked up orders for delivery. Still early enough to not be packed with customers eager to avoid the heat, Matt snagged an empty table near the front window. He ordered double cheeseburgers, fries, and soda pop for everyone.

While they waited for their food, he told them he'd been granted two weeks of administrative leave to move the family before starting the job at Fort Stanton, but instead of taking the leave he would simply resign, and give Nicolls two weeks' notice instead.

“Why did you ask for the administrative leave in the first place if you knew you weren't going to use it?” Mary inquired.

“I wasn't about to simply cave in to Nicolls and quit on the spot,” Matt explained, glancing from Mary to Kevin. “Plus, I wanted to make sure that we were all in this together.”

“Are we keeping this a big secret until the day you quit?” Kevin asked.

“I'd like to,” Matt replied.

“What else are you up to?” Mary prodded, convinced Matt was plotting something a little more cagey than figuratively thumbing his nose at Nicolls.

Matt smiled. “Nicolls loves to trumpet his latest efforts to professionalize the department. He'll probably issue a press release announcing my transfer weeks before I'm due to report to Fort Stanton. Quitting unexpectedly will leave him with some explaining to do.”

“Don't you have to give a reason?”

“Nope. But if I'm asked officially I'll say it's for personal reasons.”

Mary clapped her hands. “I love it.”

“It might not cause Nicolls any grief, but I can privately rub his nose in it.”

Mary laughed. “Oh, for heaven's sake, please do it.”

“Can I tell Jeannie?” Kevin asked.

“On the day I resign,” Matt answered. “Keep it under wraps until then.”

Jeannie was visiting with her aunt, uncle, and cousins in Albuquerque for two weeks, so until she returned staying mum wouldn't be a problem. “What about telling Al, Brenda, and Dale?” he asked.

“We'll let them in on it,” Matt said.

“Cool,” he said, accepting his mom's barely touched bag of French fries.

***

B
y the time Jeannie returned home in early August, rumors had already spread across the region that Matt was being transferred to Fort Stanton. The fact that their house was on the market and they were planning to hold a garage sale was proof enough that the rumors were true. Matt's staff began asking about his job change, and in early August he confirmed it. The news broke in the local paper causing Nicolls to officially announce Matt's transfer and the appointment of his successor. His comment that Mr. Kerney would do a great job at the Fort Stanton Experimental Ranch made Matt chuckle.

During Jeannie's visit with relatives in Albuquerque, she'd attended several teach-ins at the university and participated in campus peace vigils organized by students. She returned excited about the growing antiwar sentiment in the country. Because she
was one of the youngest activists to have been arrested, she'd been treated as some kind of celebrity. Her head swirling with newfound popularity, she was seriously thinking about dropping out of school, leaving T or C, and joining the antiwar movement full-time.

“You can't be serious,” Kevin replied as they sat in their favorite drugstore booth waiting for the waitress to come and take their order.

“Why not?” Jeannie replied, her voice filled with resolve. “You're moving to Fort Stanton with your parents, so there's little to hold me here.”

Kevin leaned across the table. “It's a secret, but my dad's not taking the job. He's going to resign and we're moving to the ranch instead. So I'll still be around.”

The waitress approached. Jeannie ordered a Coke and onion rings to share. Kevin asked for a ginger ale.

“Why all the secrecy?” Jeannie didn't sound very excited that he wasn't moving away.

“I better not say any more.”

Jeannie scowled at him. “I'm your girlfriend and you can't tell me?”

“I promised my dad.”

Jeannie eyed him warily. “You don't trust me?”

“I didn't say that.”

“That's what it sounds like to me.”

Kevin sighed. “Okay, he's being pushed out of his job and told to go to Fort Stanton. He doesn't like the way it's being done so he's keeping his resignation secret from his boss until the last minute.”

Jeannie shrugged indifferently. “That wasn't so hard. But I don't see what the big deal is.”

“There isn't one, I guess,” Kevin said. He paused while the waitress delivered the sodas and onion rings. “It's sure not as important as stopping the war in Vietnam.”

Jeannie reached for an onion ring. “No, it's not. Let's not get started on that subject, okay?”

“What do you want to talk about?”

“I don't care.”

Kevin sipped his soda. He'd thought he knew her well, but now wasn't so sure.

***

T
he day Matt drove to Las Cruces to personally tender his resignation and put in his paperwork to cash in his retirement account, an offer at almost full asking price was made on the cottage. The buyers wanted to close by mid-September.

His resignation caused a short-lived stir among the ranchers, farmers, and community organizations he'd worked with over the years. According to old friends in the department, Dr. Nicolls appeared unaffected by his abrupt departure and the slight embarrassment it may have caused him. Matt didn't care; he'd made his point.

Two days after registering for his senior-year fall classes, which included signing up for Junior ROTC, Kevin got a note in the mail from Jeannie breaking up with him. She blamed it, as she put it, on his decision to “support a militaristic government.” A week later he learned from one of her friends the real reason was a college student at UNM she'd met and fallen for during one of the teach-ins. He thought to ask her directly to tell him the truth, but her chilly attitude dissuaded him.

By the middle of September, the family was settled on the
Rocking J and into a good daily routine. It surprised Kevin how quickly he seemed to be getting over Jeannie and how much he enjoyed being back in the country. Maybe, when it came to girls, he was getting the hang of not letting his feelings get the best of him.

Since he'd been cut loose by Jeannie, several other girls were showing interest, but with the start of the new school year, Kevin didn't have time to mope about losing a girlfriend or find a new one. His days, including the weekends, were filled. Each school day morning he drove with Dale in Patrick's old pickup either to the bus stop in Engle or on to town because of their after-school activities. Sometimes it was Spanish Club or Junior ROTC drills for Kevin, and for weeks Dale had football practice that kept them in town late. Kevin used the time at the town library to study and do his homework. When they did take the school bus, the frequent stops between Engle and school took over an hour each way.

At the ranch, he had daily chores helping his dad with the ponies and his mom around the house. In what free time he had, he practiced team roping with Dale and worked hard at getting better at steer wrestling and calf roping. It got so that Al jokingly made him rotate the critters he practiced on so as not to wear them out. When he could, Matt gave him tips on saddle-bronc
riding. Sometimes late at night he'd fall asleep on the small desk in his bedroom and wake up with his head on an open textbook. Some days, staying awake in his last afternoon class was barely possible.

Dale and his parents lived in the original Rocking J ranch house that had been expanded over the years into a long, L-shaped, low-slung, pitched-roof home snugly nestled behind a grove of tall pine trees and surrounded by a split-rail fence. It sat facing a meadow about seventy-five yards away from Kevin's front door. Having started out as a small cabin used by Al and Brenda when they first married, from the front the Kerney house looked much as it did the day it had been built. But over the last few years Matt had expanded it out the back and more than tripled the size. It now had a large eat-in kitchen, a sizable bathroom, two roomy bedrooms, and a small mudroom off a deep screened-in porch, which gave a nice view of the San Andres to the east rising above. The renovated front room served as the living room. Windows bracketing the front door gave an unimpeded view of the ranch road winding up from the Jornada to the entry gate, where both the Rocking J and 7-Bar-K brands were prominently displayed under a sign that read:
J & K LAND AND CA
TTLE COMPANY.

Some evenings, sitting on the back porch, Kevin could clearly visualize the 7-Bar-K ranch on the other side of the mountains and the sweet ranch house that sat perfectly situated on the shelf overlooking the Tularosa. He missed the old place and held close the memories of the good times he had there with his gramps. He and Dale still snuck onto the missile range whenever they could, ostensibly to scout for strays—that was their agreed-upon story in case they got caught—but mostly to poke around the 7-Bar-K homestead and watch what the army was doing at the rocket launch pads and tracking stations that peppered the basin.
Occasionally Matt and Al went with them. It was great fun to outfox the roaming MP patrols, hide from the choppers, and search for the various electronic gadgets installed on the fringes of the missile range that the army used to detect interlopers. The loss of the ranch to the army still remained an unspoken hurt to all of them, Al, Brenda, and Dale included.

Although the days were long and work was often hard, there was a sense of contentment to ranch life that wasn't easy to find within the confines of town. His parents never left the ranch unless they had to, and the only time Kevin truly missed living in T or C was when he got to longing for a girlfriend.

The ranch kids on the surrounding Jornada spreads, some of which were twenty or more miles distant from the Rocking J, were all a lot younger than he was, and while there were some really cute girls around his age involved in FFA and 4-H, he simply didn't have the time to participate. He looked ahead to the future thinking surely he'd someday get lucky, but that didn't cure what ailed him.

At school, he enjoyed JROTC, especially studying military history and learning proper military etiquette. He was particularly keen about orienteering and marksmanship training. The instructor, James Bingham, a retired army major who'd fought in Africa and Italy during World War II, soon had the class of eighteen students marching like regular soldiers and passing his spit-and-polish uniform inspections. By the middle of the term, they'd twice been to the Sheriff's Posse shooting range, practicing for the rifle qualification test. So far, Kevin had posted the highest scores in the class, which would have qualified him as an expert marksman in the regular army.

Along with his other classmates, he was required to wear his uniform once a week, sometimes more, and no one at school
dared make fun of them about it. Principal Becker made it clear at the first assembly of the year that any ridicule directed toward JROTC students would be dealt with harshly. Barred from open demonstrations of scorn, Jeannie and her tight circle of antiwar protesters would turn away in silence whenever anyone wearing the JROTC uniform passed by. Kevin always made it a point to give her a cheerful hello when it was his turn to be shunned by her and her pals in the school corridors.

Since the start of school he'd gained another pound of muscle, added a half inch in height, and healed up nicely from his cracked ribs. The upcoming fall rodeo was to be held on the university campus in Las Cruces, and he was raring to go. Excused from classes early by Principal Becker on the Friday before the weekend rodeo, Kevin and Dale caravanned with their parents to Las Cruces towing horse trailers filled with ponies and equipment. Both boys got to drive the whole way, which added to their excitement and enthusiasm for the weekend ahead. No longer were they being treated like kids.

After arriving, they registered with rodeo officials, paid their entry fees, unloaded and took care of the ponies, unhitched and parked the horse trailers, and found a motel on the west end of Main Street that offered reduced room rates to rodeo contestants and their families.

Erma had asked everyone over for drinks and an early dinner after their arrival in town, so they unpacked in a hurry and made the short drive to her house, where she greeted them at the front door with hugs and kisses all around.

Because they'd be competing in the morning, Kevin and Dale were served soft drinks, while Matt and Al opted for beer. They gathered in the living room, the women on a large couch with
glasses of red wine and the guys on easy chairs clustered near a long coffee table that fronted the couch.

“I can't wait to watch you two compete,” Erma said, raising her glass in salute to Kevin and Dale.

“We'll do good,” Dale said, tipping his pop bottle in reply. “Promise.”

“Well, you'd better. I told all my friends to come out and root for you.”

“That will sure help,” Kevin said, remaining cautious. Rodeo was a sport with too many unknown variables, especially when it came to the horse, the rider, the livestock, and the luck of the draw.

“Of course it will.” Erma beamed agreeably, turning her attention to Mary. “I'm building a new house.”

“You're what?”

“In the hills east of the university. It will have wonderful views of the valley and the Organ Mountains.”

“Are you selling this place?” Mary asked, somewhat amazed by the news.

Erma looked shocked at the mere suggestion. “Heavens no. It's too valuable as a rental property.”

Matt grinned and slapped his leg. “That's the way to do it. I swear, you remind me of my mother. In her day I believe she owned more property than any other woman in Las Cruces.”

“That's my kind of gal.” Erma stood. “Would you like to see the plans?”

An affirmative chorus greeted her. She went upstairs, returned quickly, and spread architectural drawings on the coffee table. Everyone gathered close as Erma guided them through the drawings. The house would have a deep living room with a
wall of windows facing southwest and a spacious detached studio on the north side tied into the house by an enclosed courtyard with entry gained from a large kitchen and dining area. To the rear of the living room through a long hallway there would be two bedrooms, each with a full bath. Bedroom windows would look out on the Organ Mountains to the east. A curved driveway would lead to the attached garage on the south side of the house, above which would be a small one-bedroom apartment that Erma planned to rent out. The builder would break ground in a week.

Finished with her explanation, she turned to Kevin. “I expect you to be my first tenant when you start at the university.”

Kevin's eyes widened. “Me?” he idiotically replied.

Erma laughed and poked him in the side. “Yes, you. It's already been arranged with your parents. They just didn't know you'd be living in a different house.”

“Lucky stiff,” Dale grumbled.

Erma glanced at Al and Brenda. “Should I make it into a two-bedroom apartment?”

“That's very kind but there's no need,” Brenda replied. “Dale has decided to enlist in the air force when he graduates in June.”

“Oh,” Erma said politely, holding back on her impulse to criticize Dale's decision. “Well, it will be here for him when he gets out and decides to continue his education.”

Dale smiled at the idea. “Cool.”

Erma rolled up the drawings and put them aside. “I've roasted a couple of chickens for dinner and made a chocolate cake for dessert. Who's hungry?”

***

I
n the morning after the opening ceremonies, which included all the contestants cantering around the arena and the playing of the national anthem, the first event of the day was steer wrestling. By the luck of the draw, Kevin was slated to go last. The stands were packed with spectators. Just about every ranching family in the southern part of the state was in attendance, along with a large number of Aggie college students, faculty, and staff. In addition, townspeople, mostly families with children, had come out to watch the show. Over the next two days, two go-rounds for each event would decide the winners, including the all-around title.

Kevin watched his competition anxiously from behind the chutes as they took their turns, assisted by hazers who kept the steer running straight so the contestant could drop from his horse, grab the steer by the horns, and wrestle it to the ground. The clock stopped when the animal went down. Most of the contestants had good times and only one got disqualified. It took coordination, technique, and strength to post a fast time in the event. The cowboy with the best combined times would win. Dale was his hazer and did a great job, but Kevin fell short with a time of 6.1 seconds, which put him in second place. Still, it was a good start for his all-around score.

Barrel racing was next, which gave Kevin a breather before the team-roping event with Dale. After the cowgirls finished their go-round, they were up first. Kevin made a perfect break out of the box, dropped his loop neatly over the steer's horns, and swiftly turned the steer so Dale could rope both hind legs. It was picture perfect and both boys were grinning with pleasure as they doffed their hats and left the arena. They were in first place with a two-second lead that would be hard to beat if they stayed consistent on Sunday.

He took a third in saddle-bronc riding, barely reaching the eight-second mark before tumbling off the pony. He was pleased with the ride, although he thought the judges had scored him a little bit low. He was still in contention, however, and figured he needed at least two wins and maybe two second-place finishes for a shot at the all-around title.

His last event of the day, calf roping, came after bull riding. It was a timed event that required chasing a calf on horseback, roping it, flanking it onto its side, and tying down three legs. Kevin's calf proved uncooperative and he finished the go-round in last place, which dimmed his prospects of winning the all-around buckle. But in rodeo, spills, penalties, disqualifications, and ornery livestock could quickly reverse the standings. Tomorrow would be another day. He stayed encouraged.

On Sunday, Kevin climbed in the all-around standings with a first with Dale in team roping, a first in saddle-bronc riding, and a second in steer wrestling. His only hope to take home the buckle rested with the calf-roping event. He needed a great time to offset the previous day's last-place finish. Kevin did his best and turned in a respectable performance, but he couldn't overcome the deficit from the day before. The title went to Todd Marks, a cowboy from Glenwood. He got the buckle and Kevin got a plaque, presented to them during the closing ceremony by Dr. Julius Nicolls, chair of the Animal Husbandry Department at NMSU. Matt thought that was a hoot.

***

A
t the awards assembly at the end of fall term, Kevin made the scholastic honor roll again and received four JROTC uniform ribbons for physical fitness, academic excellence, orienteering,
and serving on the rifle team. After the cheerleaders got their letters and Coach Bradley passed out varsity letters to all the jocks, Principal Becker took the stage, called Kevin and Dale up, and in a surprise announcement awarded them varsity letters in rodeo.

“Although we don't have a rodeo team or even a club, both Kevin and Dale have represented our school with honor, winning a number of events,” he said, handing them the letters and accompanying certificates of achievement. “They will compete as Hot Springs Tigers at the all-state high school rodeo championships in Deming next spring, and I want you all to wish them well.”

The cheers, whistles, clapping, and foot stomping made both boys blush. The football team, including Joey Stewart, the basketball team, the track team, and the baseball team all gave them a standing ovation. Soon, the entire assembly was on its feet. From the corner of his eye Kevin could see even Jeannie Hollister was standing and applauding.

The editor of the weekly paper took their photograph. It made the front page of the next edition with the caption:
HO
T SPRINGS TIGERS ROD
EO COWBOYS HONORED.
Mary and Brenda got copies of the photograph from the editor and had them framed.