Previous Challenge Entry (Level 4 – Masters)
Topic: Write CONTEMPORARY FICTION (10/30/14)
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TITLE: Slack | Previous Challenge Entry
By Rachel Barrett
11/06/14 -
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He wondered what time it was. Near noon, probably. Weariness had set in and his feet ached.
Ahead he saw the broken body of an ancient chest cooler. He'd thought the rodeo grounds had been dirty, until he started hitchhiking. This highway was the boneyard for every litterbug's refuse from here to Austin.
Carefully, he tried sitting on the cooler. It crumbled under him. He caught himself, scrambled up, and booted it hard. Plastic shards flew everywhere.
He started walking again. Had to do something to unleash the tension. Hitting things didn't seem to help, lately.
A truck horn yelped, and he wheeled around, startled. How had that giant rig crept up behind him like that?
The driver leaned out the passenger window. “Hey! Need a ride?”
Jared backed off, ashamed that his blowup had been witnessed.
The driver eased his vehicle closer. “Sure looks like you could use it!”
The saddle on his shoulder was getting heavy. And the hangover hadn't quite gone. Reluctant, but exhausted, he approached the truck and climbed up.
The driver reached out a brawny arm and plucked the saddle from Jared's grasp. “Lemme get that.” He plopped it on the broad seat between them. “Bronc rider, are ya?”
Jared nodded, and winced as his head complained. Maybe taciturnity would convince his benefactor to leave him alone.
“I'm Gideon,” said the big man, shifting gears and moving the mammoth out onto the highway again.
“Jared.” Some people didn't take hints.
“Where you ride last?”
“Abilene. Yesterday.”
“Don't say? I was there. Didn't see you ride, though.”
“No,” said Jared. “I rode the slack. Lucky ones compete in the evening show. Rest of us get our turn after everybody leaves.”
“Still counts, though,” Gideon said. “How'd you do?”
Jared snorted. An instant's lapse in concentration and that bronc had flung him into the dirt. Maybe better that it happened in a lonely arena instead of before a couple thousand spectators.
“Where you headed?”
“Anywhere but Alpine.” Jared leaned back and closed his eyes, shutting out Gideon's answer. He wasn't ready to go back yet. Maybe Brittany didn't even want him. By morning, when he realized his friends had left him behind at Abilene's wildest bar, he'd lost his cell phone somewhere. He didn't want to call her anyway.
Perfect time to quarrel, right before he left for a competition. One rocky year of marriage and their fights and his rodeo and his drinking came right out of a country song. Losing his temper was as natural as breathing, but he never thought he would...
He hadn't meant to push her, ever. Her shocked eyes looking up at him from the floor cut his heart open, and he ran out, appalled at himself. It ate at him, through the disastrous ride and the unfortunate night of partying. He'd messed up everything for real this time.
Tires humming on asphalt dulled the sharp edge of unhappiness, and he fell asleep.
~~~~~~~
When clashing gears shook him awake, he peered out the window. Unpleasant surprise cleared the mental cobwebs as a familiar junction came into view.
“Son, I'll mind my own business,” said Gideon, “but if I'm not mistaken, you got somebody you need to go see.” He poked at the ring on Jared's finger.
The kind but pointed words laid open Jared's soul, and he felt trapped. He jerked off his seatbelt. “Let me out here.” Walking was lonely, but at least he'd have privacy.
Gideon braked obligingly. Before they fairly stopped, Jared slid off the high seat, dragging his saddle.
“Take care.” Gideon looked down at him, holding the gear stick like the reins of a metal warhorse.
“Thanks for the ride.” Jared turned away. The truck lumbered past him, gained speed, and melted into the stream of traffic.
As the wind gusted around him, he wondered if he could patch up his sorry excuse of a life. Maybe he should thumb another ride.
Or he could turn left down that long ranch road back to his home, and to her – and a lot of broken pieces to pick up.
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Well done.
God bless~
God bless~