Bullheaded

was behind the boys where they couldn’t see, but Johnny was standing right beside Cody, so he had to work to keep his thoughts from showing on his face. The hostile, sneaky glances from Bobby Blue were something he was used to, and Travis probably was too. It aggravated him and he had to hand it to Cody for keeping it so businesslike.
    “Tomorrow morning after breakfast, we’ll meet up at that ring.” Cody pointed it out. “We’ll see what you got and what you need to learn. Then we’ll go to work. Two hours in the morning, four in the afternoon. After supper if you want to ask about anything, well, me and my men will be around.”
    The sneer on Bobby Blue’s face said he’d never heard of anyone but Cody and he didn’t care what any of them might have to say to him, especially Travis or Johnny. Actually, Johnny wouldn’t have put a cent on the chances of Bobby Blue even listening to Cody. He seemed to think he knew it all already. He wondered how Sam had managed to strong-arm Bobby Blue into coming.
    “So it’s your opinion we got to listen to,” Bobby Blue said.
    Aubrey punched him in the arm. “Shut up and get your bag, cowgirl.”
    “Fuck you! I ain’t no girl. And I ain’t paying if I don’t get my money’s worth.”
    “Great, they’re off again,” Tommy observed.
    Quietly, Zane picked up his duffle without commenting and went to the bunkhouse.
    Travis was there to open the door for him. “That one’s the best bed,” he said, pointing at the last room.
    “Thanks.” Zane went inside.
    Tommy disappeared inside before Bobby Blue and Aubrey jammed into the doorway, jostling for position.
    Cody was shaking with laughter as the boys vanished. Travis shut the door behind them and dusted off his hands.
    “I bet he’s ornery enough to squat on his spurs if you told him not to,” Johnny said.
    “I don’t know. He reminds me of me when I was younger.” Cody grinned.
    “That Bobby Blue is all hat and no cows,” Travis said. “Too slow to catch worms.”
    “Don’t spoil his fun yet,” Cody said. “He’ll be singing a different tune when he’s saddle-sore and banged up some.”
    “He’s probably a city boy, studying up on that-there cowboy lingo. Ain’t we gonna laugh when he lands on his back in the dust,” Travis replied. “Well, which one would you slap a saddle on? I’m taking Tommy.”
    “Bobby Blue’s my baby,” Cody said. “If he can get over himself and ride, I think he’s tough enough.”
    “My money’s on Zane. He may be quiet but he’s taking it all in. Plus he got first pick of the bunks while the rest of them were arguing. Good strategy,” Johnny said, quelling his irritation at Cody’s amusement about Bobby Blue. The kid was probably good-looking enough, but it was overshadowed by his being a prick.
    “That leaves Aubrey for my man RJ,” Travis said. “Gentlemen, the bets are down. May the best cowboy win.”
    “Let’s go wash up for supper,” Cody said. “And keep a straight face in front of them.”
    “Straight face, eh?”
    “You know what I mean.”
    Johnny followed him into the big house, where they took turns at the kitchen sink. Cody’s limp came back as soon as the boys were out of sight, and Johnny found it secretly entertaining that he’d tried to hide it. But a couple days off from riding had already helped, and Johnny intended to try to keep Cody off a bull’s back as long as he could. He knew Cody would have to show off for his students at some point, but hopefully it would come later in the week.
    Cody’s dad set a pitcher of milk on the table while Val went out to ring the triangle. “What do you think of this lot, son?”
    “It’s going to be a fun week,” Cody said. “Here they come. Hope Ma made enough.”
    “You know your mother, son. She either made too much or way too much, as usual. I don’t think anyone is going to starve.”

    RJ SAT on the top rail of the fence, chewing on his toothpick and looking bored. Travis leaned against the gate, his arms crossed and his hat pulled low over his eyes. Johnny had his elbows hooked onto the rail, casually leaning back against the fence, looking mighty tasty to Cody.
    He had lined up the four boys so they were looking into the sun while he had it on his back. It was all strategy, to see if any of them would shift around so they weren’t squinting into the light.
    “So, you wanna be a bull rider.”
    “I am a bull rider already.” Bobby Blue thumped his chest.