“You rode the heck out of that buckin’ big boy. I was a little nervous for ya’ there at the end,” Tex chuckled, patted his baby brother on the back, picked up a rope, and from elbow to hand, wrapped it around. He put it back on the barn’s shelf. All the other riders had cleared out and the only horse left in the stable was Roger.
“I sure wish she could’ve been here. I miss her, buddy,” Junior sat down, took off his cowboy boots and rubbed his feet.
“There’ll be many more like her.” Tex stopped, solemnly gazing at the young man. Quickly, he changed the subject, “He stepped on ya’! I seen him. Roger’s a beast when it comes to terrorizing his riders. Let me go get you an ice pack,”
“Nah, don’t worry about it. I just need a few minutes alone, bro.”
“I’ll be out back if you need me,” Tex wasn’t gone long before an awkward feeling shot through his soul. He ran back in.
“Junior – No!” He screamed. Junior sat on the horse with the rope tied around his neck, the other end to the ceiling beam.
“I don’t want to live if I can’t be with her!” He cried.
Tex wrapped his arms around his brother, pulled him from the horse, and held him tight. “It don’t end here for you!”
Roger, who had never had two calm minutes, leaned down and brushed his nose over Junior’s face then loudly snorted.
Both men, with tear stained faces, laughed. Tex would do everything in his power to keep his brother safe.
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