Chapter 3: The Trail Ride

Jesse

Before the first payment to that bitch was due, Cody went on a ride with the Sherriff’s Department. It was a trail ride to raise money for some charity the Sheriff sponsored. There were over 100 riders that morning. After about three hours on the trail, they came to the Wolf River. It was running fast from the recent rains so Cody said for everyone to wait, he would cross first to make sure it was safe.

He was about halfway across the river when it happened. His horse spooked for some reason. Some thought it was a snake swimming in the river. Others said it was a log rushing by. Whatever it was had caused Cody to fall off! He was washed away in the current. The Sheriff said the river got deeper just below the crossing and Cody’s boots probably filled with water and he drowned. His body was never recovered, and it is presumed that he washed downstream to where the river empties into the Missouri River. They searched for three days then gave up and declared him dead.

That brings us up to today.

After the church service everyone gathered at Cody’s house, the house where Sue was living. There was plenty of food, a tradition in our part of the country. All Cody’s friends were there, even some he had rodeoed with back in the day.

One man was very vocal, “I take exception to what that preacher said. Cody ain’t never ‘fell’ off a horse in his life. He might have got thrown but the witnesses said he fell. Bullshit! I bet somebody shot him!”

“Ronnie, that did not happen. I was there along with the Sheriff and two Deputies. Nobody heard a gunshot.” That was said by another of our friends.

“Well, I ain’t ever going to believe it, that guy was the best damn cowboy I ever been around. What a horrible way for him to die. Jesse, were you there? What do you think?”

“Ronnie, I did not make the ride this year. I had something important to take care of that morning. I wish I had been there ... you know maybe I could have...”

The Sheriff spoke up.

“Stop! There was nothing anybody could have done. It happened so fast. We searched for him but ... he was just gone.”

I excused myself and left.

Two days later Sue and her baby’s daddy showed up at the bank.

“What the hell is this? I don’t owe a half million dollars on that ranch, no way!”

I searched through the files and pulled one out. I handed it to the black attorney. He studied them for maybe three minutes.

“Shit Sue this looks all in order. Cody borrowed $500,000 against the ranch a couple of days after the baby was born.””How the hell could he do that? That ranch w
as ours! I did not sign anything.”

“No, Sue. That ranch was willed to Cody by his parents. It was in his name only and that credit line was put on the ranch by his father. He used it to buy and sell cattle.”

“So, where’s the fucking money?” She is pissed!

The attorney takes over the conversation, “Did Cody have an account here at the bank?”