The Lusty Men Page #4

My name's booker Davis.

This here filly here

is my daughter rusty.

Hello, rusty.

I'm Wes merritt, Jeff's partner.

Partner? Man,

sew up your pockets.

You're new, ain't you?

Got 2 bits?

Ok, let him have a look.

You ever see anything

like that before?

Sure is

the worst-looking leg I've ever seen.

20 years rodeoing done that.

Leg busted nine times,

kneecap, five,

and the ankle, four.

Booker's got

the most busted leg in the world.

Nobody'll ever beat it,

'less they jump off

a New York skyscraper.

Last time booker broke it,

doctors wanted to cut it off.

It was up in Denver.

He got some crutches

and headed for new Mexico.

A big blizzard come up.

Had to pull into a motel.

Had no sooner got in bed

than my leg started

hurting pretty bad.

Finally, I pushed my bed

over to the window

and stuck my leg out.

Soon the leg froze up,

and the pain went away.

Next morning, I thawed it out

and drove on to Santa fe.

I won four firsts that day.

Get the griddle hot.

Put some coffee on.

We got to feed these fellers.

Old book used to be

one of the best bronc riders.

What happened?

Punchy. Bronc shook

his brains loose.

He's head wrangler

for Dawson now.

Who pulled in?

I don't know, but

they've been through a lot of mud.

Sure have.

Nice-looking filly.

Yeah. Well

quartered up.

Looks fast.

Depends on the track.

It depends on the jockey, too.

Get lost.

Howdy.

Morning, ma'am.

Is there a ladies' room around?

Honey, there ain't

no ladies' room around here.

In fact, there ain't no ladies.

If you want

to wash up, right there.

All the comforts.

How much did you lose?

Ain't none of your business.

Last time out, you won $45

and lost 52 that night

playing poker.

Now look at you...

Drunk, dirty, and scared.

Scared?

Scared of what?

Nothing.

Don't you ever

tell me I'm scared.

Come on back to the trailer

and get me some coffee.

Your husband going to rodeo?

Bull riding?

Well, don't let him.

don't let him ever start.

If he rides one,

he'll keep on riding.

The day will come

when a bull will

stomp and Gore him.

Then he'll have to

show he ain't scared,

but he is.

He'll start drinking

to hide it...

A pint of whiskey, two pints,

play cards, craps, anything...

To hide how frightened he is.

Every time you hear

that loudspeaker

announcing they're coming out,

you know

he's going to be there drunk and scared.

Your heart will stop inside you.

So don't let him.

You just get in?

Yeah. Drove all night.

Husband's bedding down

his horse, I guess.

This spigot's

closest I've been to water for 24 hours.

Come to my trailer.

Have a hot cup of coffee.

I'm Rosemary Maddox.

I do trick riding.

Louise merritt.

Coffee sounds like a good idea.

Merritt... Don't think

I know any rider named merritt.

This is our first time up.

Oh. Know any

rodeo people?

Just one...

Jeff McCloud.

McCloud? You don't

look like somebody

who'd know Jeff McCloud.

Thanks for the compliment.

He's my husband's partner.

We're traveling together.

Hey, is this yours?

The man said so

when he signed the receipt.

Do you like it?

Looks like a hotel.

It is a hotel.

Where'd you pick up Jeff?

Texas. Only

you might say he picked us up.

Married long?

Two years.

Recommend it?

It's what I always wanted.

Don't you get

bored stiff keeping house?

No. I like

keeping house.

Cooking's all right,

if you got to cook.

Me, I like

fried shrimp somebody else fried.

The shower's

working... real hot water.

Have one while the coffee perks.

Thanks a lot.

I sure could use one.

There's a robe

hanging up there somewhere.

Do you like Jeff?

No more than

any other sidewinder.

Anybody up?

I didn't know you had company.

Louise merritt, Ginny Logan.

Hi. You drove in

with Jeff McCloud, didn't you?

He's darling,

isn't he, Rosemary?

Red thinks the sun

rises and sets on Jeff McCloud.

Red's my husband.

He's the craziest man I know.

My husband.

Ain't he

the craziest man you ever met?

I wanted something, but what?

Sugar.

Sugar?

Ain't it crazy

the way I forget things?

Are you going

to sit with us in the grandstand?

Us wives always sit together.

I suppose so.

Why, when red's

on a bull or bronc,

I get so excited, I scream.

I just scream.

I'm three trailers down

toward the stables.

Uh, just follow the horses.

Well, see y'all later.

Jeff ever make a pass at you?

Don't get mad, honey.

I only asked.

You're pretty.

That's enough to make him try.

For three years,

all Jeff McCloud

had to do was whistle,

and I'd come running.

What happened?

He stopped whistling,

and I stopped running.

Well, make yourself at home.

I'll be back.

Thanks a lot.

If you're looking

for Rosemary, she's gone out.

I wasn't looking for Rosemary.

I was looking for al Dawson.

He's the stock contractor

on this show.

Booker tells me he takes

his morning coffee here.

Must be an expensive brand.

Maybe it works in reverse.

How do you want it, hot or cold?

As long as it's clean.

Hot this way, cold that way.

Anytime your plumbing

don't work,

just call McCloud.

Is Wes all right?

He's over at booker's, resting.

Got a big day coming up.

Hey, you're real little

with your shoes off.

You're real little

with your shoes on.

Rosemary's tall.

She's more your type.

Rosemary's nice,

but little's nice, too.

Outside.

Hasta luego.

That's Spanish for

"if the shower don't work,

call McCloud."

You need any help?

This ain't the first time

I've been away from home.

I haven't been run over yet.

Well, if you need me, I'm here.

I'll whistle.

Good morning.

Well, good morning.

Howdy, al.

Hi, Jeff.

What you doing here?

Oh, just having a little coffee.

Thought you quit rodeoing.

No. I changed my mind.

Coffee, al?

No. I had mine.

I understand, uh,

Rosemary's

trick riding with you.

I plan to follow

your circuit myself this season, al.

I'm hazing for Wes merritt.

Oh, yeah. He rode for me

down in San Angelo.

I'll need a horse.

I'll sell you one.

Who's in the shower?

Lady.

McCloud!

Yeah?

Throw me a towel.

I'll get it.

Over there.

What on...

Hey! Hey!

That ain't Rosemary!

No, that ain't Rosemary.

Not a good horse in the bunch.

They wouldn't do to cut a steer.

That's what I mean.

Bunch of hammerheads

and stiff-legs,

but they pay off with a crowd.

How about these brahmas?

They're monsters.

They sure look mean.

How about something to eat?

I ain't hungry.

No, neither was I on

my first big-time rodeo.

I ain't scared.

I don't know what it is.

You've seen people,

you've seen horses,

and you've seen a calf.

Maybe it's just you're scared

of making like

a fool in front of the crowd,

even though you

know you'll never see them again.

What you signing up for?

Saddle broncs, bareback,

calf roping, and bulldogging.

The toughest broncs

is always them

you rode some other place.

Cowboys ain't tough

like they used to be.

Two years ago in Phoenix,

a steer kicked me in the eye.

I covered my face with my hands.

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