He gave me a look and then smiled.
“Help him take the horse back to the barn,” he told me. “I think I’m done for the day.”
“Yes, sir.”
I took the reins of Cody’s horse and went back to the barn. The hands wanted to check the horses for injury. Devin’s SUV came tearing up the road and stopped at the barn when he saw me.
“I heard wolves attacked the horses.”
One of the hands assured him that the horses were okay. Everyone from the shoot location started to pull up. Mom ran up and almost knocked me down as she put me in a bear hug. She let go of me, did a visual inspection, and then punched my arm.
“OW! That hurt.”
“You crazy kid, were you trying to get yourself killed?”
She looked like she was going to hit me again. I put my hands up and backed up as I talked.
“I was afraid Cody was hurt, and he was in danger when the pack turned. I was just trying to help.”
“Ma’am, I’m sure happy that the boy did what he did.”
Mom twirled around and was face-to-face with Cody. Her eyes softened when she saw he was still bleeding. She looked at the assembled people that were watching our little drama unfold, and gave them a scowl.
“Don’t you have a first aid kit?”
One of the hands took off running and came back with one. Mom cleaned Cody’s wound with an alcohol pad and he flinched.
“Hold still, you big baby.”
How many times had I heard that?
“Get over here and help me,” she told me.
Cody had a four-inch cut that was deep. I held the skin together as Mom put on butterfly bandages to close the wound.
“You need to get some stitches in that.”
Cody nodded.
“Much obliged, ma’am.”
Chapter 22 – You’re Fired
Saturday December 7
IT BECAME OBVIOUS THAT today’s shoot was over. Everyone was shaken up, including the horses. I had learned to ride the summer before at my uncle’s place, but being chased by a pack of wolves wasn’t in my experience. They called a vet to come check the horses. The ranch hands thought they were okay, but everyone wanted to be sure. A long discussion was had over what to do about the wolves. Devin finally stepped in and said he felt everything was okay. They were more scared of us then we were of them.
Cody was taken into town to get his head checked. Both Clare and Kendal pulled up with Sandy driving. They looked concerned, and Kendal worked her way through the crowd to come stand by me.
“What’s going on?” she whispered.
My mom had had enough. She glared at Clare and Kendal, and then fixed her gaze on me.
“When you get done, come get me and we’ll go to dinner.”
I have to say I was expecting her to chew them out, but I watched her stomp off.
“We got attacked by wolves.”
Clare and Kendal didn’t know whether to believe me or if I was pulling their legs. I just shrugged, not giving them a clue, but with all the somber faces, they started to look concerned.
Sandy was talking to Devin.
“What!” she barked.
She ran over to me and hugged me.
“Are you okay?”
Jim chose that moment to distract everyone.
“You all have to see this.”
We crowded into the tent by the barn, and on the monitor, it showed me giving a war cry. The wolves were on the run.
“I pointed and prayed, and several shots are fantastic.”
He pointed at the monitor. He had Devin’s attention.
“This one is priceless. Everything had to come together for this shot to work. I can’t do anything better than this. This is the shot for western wear and tack ads.”
Devin thought about it for a moment, and then a big grin went across his face.
“I think you’re right. We can also feature it in our web marketing. I knew the four stooges were worth keeping.”
Devin came over to me and shook my hand.
“That was quick thinking out there. This could have ended badly. Next week we’re going to have to catch and relocate them. If they aren’t scared of people on horses, we may end up having a problem down the road. I think you shook them up enough that they’ll lay low for the short term.”
“I have to tell you, they scared me to death. The only warning I had was a growl just before they sprang their trap,” I said, shaking my head.
It could have been a disaster. A wolf, be it a pup or not, is not something you want to play with. A pack of four could tear a man up in seconds. If they’d gotten to Cody, he could very well be seriously hurt or even dead. I wasn’t sure I agreed with Devin. I would recommend they put the wolves down.
“Hey, while I have you here, can we borrow a car? I want to take Mom into town for dinner.”
He thought for a second, and then tossed me his keys for his SUV.
“I just need it by noon tomorrow, but I know you have an eight a.m. shoot, so you’ll be back by then,” Devin said, and he waved to dismiss me so he could look at the photos.
Kendal and Clare cut me off from leaving. I guess it was time to talk to them.
“What’s up, ladies?”
“I want to know why I’m not allowed to sign off and do your releases. Range Sports and the photographers told me this has to go through Chicago,” Clare said, as she put her hands on her hips.
I could see we were going to have a confrontation. I grabbed her arm with a short comment.
“Not here.”
I led them to the barn and let loose.
“Where’ve you been all day?”
They looked at each other and didn’t say anything.
“I’ll tell you where you weren’t, that was with me at the shoot. My contract stipulates that I’ll have a chaperone with me at all sessions.”
I let that sink in for a moment.
“This morning I had to stop a session for fifteen minutes to get something to eat and drink. This meant that the photographer and her crew were being paid while I left the set. If either one of you had been there, we wouldn’t have wasted their valuable time or money.
“I tried three times to let people know that there was an issue that I needed help with. I called Clare first, and all I got was attitude.”
Clare just glared at me.
“I then call you, and you’re at brunch with Clare and Devin.”
Kendal started to realize she wasn’t doing her job.
“Then I called Deb in Chicago. I gave her fifteen minutes to get someone to bring me some food and water. When the time expired, I walked out.”
“What, the poor baby can’t go without food?”
Kendal’s eyes got big after hearing Clare’s snarky comment. I looked at Kendal.
“Call Tom and get me out of this contract. They’re in breach, and I’m not paying 35% of my income to people that don’t even respect me. Deb will be here shortly. I leave it to you and Tom to get this done. If not, I’ll walk, and you can explain to Devin why I’m not finishing the shoot,” I said as I turned to leave.
Clare grabbed my arm and screamed in my face.
“I knew hiring someone so young was a mistake. I’ll save you the trouble, you’re fired.”
Kendal stepped between us, trying to defuse the situation.
“You crazy bitch,” Kendal said, taking another tack.
I won’t repeat what Kendal told Clare. I was chuckling as I left the barn to go get Mom. The two of them were still going at it. My only parting comment to Kendal was to get it in writing that I was fired.
I FOUND MOM AND WE headed to town. My cell phone rang and it was Kendal.
“David, I’m sorry.”
“Kendal, it was Clare’s job to be on site. Mom originally came as Clare’s backup, and then Devin arranged for you to be here. With Mom being sick, I wanted her to just be able to relax and take her mind off her illness. As Ford’s representative, Clare was supposed to be there, so there’s nothing to be sorry about.”
She tried to cut me off, but I continued.
“When I needed you, you were there. Hold off calling Tom. Deb Thomas should be here soon, and I’ll work it out with her. You know me; I don’t stay mad. I also know that your law firm and Ford are working on some joint ventures.”