Hot Rod Ford

Hot Rod Ford - 21

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Century All-American Boy

Entirely the result of my overstimulated mind, but some settings are inspired by Heartland, a CBC Television series, and I know an athlete and rodeo performer upon whom Rod is very loosely based.

The first and second installments (Living his Fantasies) are done and will be released one after another. The third installment is in progress, so don't get impatient.

Hot Rod Ford

"Ladies and gentlemen! Our next roper is a newcomer to the tour. He got his permit last spring, and last summer he won more than enough to get his PRCA card. He won tiedown and team roping at the Uvalde qualifying rodeo. That is why a raw rookie who just graduated from high school a few weeks ago is entering the box to give it a try here tonight, in the San Antonio Rodeo!

"Although he's new to the tour, you've probably heard the name if you love Texas high school rodeo and football, and here he is - Cowtown's own Hot Rod Ford! Go get' um, big boy!"

Poised in the box, loop extended out from his shoulder, piggin string in his mouth; ignoring the roar, he nodded his hat, the chute door flew open, and Big Blue exploded out of the box after the calf. Like all calves in a PRCA events, this one was big and fast, and catching and throwing him was a daunting task!

But that's the kind of calf he had been practicing on for the past year, getting ready for tonight and the nights to come on the pro rodeo tour.

Blue pushed but didn't break the barrier and quickly put him in position. He threw, the loop settled over the calf's head, and Blue stopped hard, but not so hard as to pull the calf over. By the time the calf was facing the horse, Rod was almost down the rope. Two more strides, and he grabbed, flanked, and threw the 243# calf.

At 6'3.8" tall and 218 pounds he looked slender, but he had hard muscles under those clothes. Just as importantly, he had been taught to use leverage from the moment he got old enough to throw calves in the pen and pasture. The running dismount and dash down the rope to the calf was pure rodeo, but the rest was refined in the pastures and cowpens where cowhands like HR and ranchers like his family made their living.

He quickly threw the calf on his side, slipped the loop of the piggin stream over the front leg, drew the back legs up with his arm, and tied the three legs together with two wraps and a hooey (half-hitch). He threw his hands up, the flagman dropped the flag, and Rod got up and walked back to his horse. He mounted, rode forward enough to loosen the rope, giving the calf a chance to break out if it was a sloppy tie. The calf struggled but couldn't arise in six seconds, so the flagger moved the flag horizontally, signifying a clean run, and rode off.

A couple of kids ran out, removed the rope from around the calf's neck, and then untied him. The red calf jumped up and took off for the open gate while Rod rebuilt his rope, and then took the piggin string offered by the kid. He doffed his hat as he exited the arena at the back, to the cheers of a crowd that included a lot of Cowtown citizens, including many of his friends and family.

The time wasn't stellar, but it was a stellar run on a big, fast calf, and a San Antonio TV crew wanted an interview.

****

It wasn't that uncommon to have a kid graduate from Cowtown High School at mid-term. Usually, it was a superior student who wanted to start college early, an inferior student who wanted to stop wasting time and get into trade school, or an overage student who only wanted the diploma to help get a job.

Until today, such graduates entered the principal's office, received their diploma, got a round of applause from the office staff and their family, and that was that. But today, the gym was packed from wall to wall and chairs were set up all over the floor, to witness the graduation ceremony of this young man.

Why? Because this graduate led the football team to their first state championship last week, was the only first team all-state football player in the school's history, and the 3A Division 2 State Championship Game MVP! Last year, he had also led the Cowhands to their first regional basketball tournament berth, and won five medals at the state track meet: three gold and one silver.

The principal droned on about his academic record, his near-perfect SAT score, and his bright future in college football, or rodeo, whichever he chose. But his early graduation wasn't about getting an early start on college football, like so many do: he was graduating early to pursue his rodeo dreams.

The principal took his seat, the superintendent spoke briefly about this fine young man exemplifying the payoff when talent and hard work come together, and that everyone would continue following his exploits over the months and years ahead. He then introduced the school board president, who stood up, ambled to the mic, grinned, and said, "HR, come up here and stand by me."

The young man grinned in return, unwound his lanky frame from the chair, and strolled to the podium to a roaring cheer from the crowd. He put his arm around his grandfather's broad shoulders and stood beside the man he loved as much as his father. Herbert Ford spoke directly to his grandson, but the mic picked up every word.

"As these folk today, and a lot of other folks are going to tell you, you've a helluva kid. All these sports and academic acc-o-lades, are nice - heck, they're great! But what I'm proud of, what your family is proud of, is your character. God made you big, strong, fast, and quick, but you've worked hard your whole life: not to develop your God-given abilities and talent, but to contribute to your family, to your school, to your teammates, and to be a good friend.

"You chose to graduate early to go on the tour, but you spent the last year making sure you had the backing to leave home and travel all over North America without bankrupting your family. You had a couple of older cowboys and a younger cowgirl you could listen to, and you were wise enough to do that. Personally, I don't care if we're watching you in the NFR finals next year, or if you're in college preparing to play football after the July 4 rodeo's, or if you're at home licking your wounds by April!

"I'll still be proud of you, your grandmother will be proud of you, and your family will still be proud of you, because we know you'll have given it your best - and a man can't do more!"

He put his arm around his grandson's waist, gave him a side hug, and then picked up the diploma from the podium. "Herbert Rodney Ford, upon recommendation of the faculty and administration of Cowtown High School, and with the approval of Superintendent Ratliff, I declare that you have met all requirements for graduation, and are hereby awarded this diploma, which includes the Summa Cum Laude seal. Congratulations, HR!"

The din of applause and cheering lasted several minutes, until the Board President stepped aside and gestured for his grandson to say a few words. HR took the mic, put it back in its stand, and adjusted it to better fit his height, while continuing to smile at the standing, cheering crowd. After a few minutes, he gestured for everyone to take a seat, and leaned toward the mic.

"Well, that wasn't quite up to the standards you guys set last week at AT&T Stadium, but then again, I don't have my thirty-five tough and courageous teammates beside me, or our six fantastic coaches!"

That drew another rousing round of applause, extended by several minutes when HR gestured for the state champs to stand. When they were again seated, he looked solemn for a moment, looked down, shook his head, and quietly spoke into the mic. "I don't have any words of wisdom to impart, or any sudden insight into the world us seniors will enter over the next six months. You know me! You know what I stand for and what I won't tolerate. You know I love you, and appreciate you and your friendship.

"You are all invited to our implement shed tonight for a little get together celebrating our friendship, and I do hope you'll be there. Tomorrow is the start of the school holidays, so you don't really have an excuse not to, and why would you want to miss it anyway?

"We've got your favorite local band lined up to play from 7:30 until 11:30, and fajitas with all the trimmings will be served from 6 until 7:30, so come on out before dark. As always, the ranch is an alcohol, tobacco, and drug-free zone, so please don't come if you need those things to have a good time.

"The rest of you, I look forward to seeing and visiting with you tonight. Thanks for being you, and Vaya con Dios, mis amigos!"

****

Rod rode the big blue roan through the passageway leading outside, put him in his stall, took off his saddle and tack, and rubbed him down while he enjoyed his evening helping of feed. After carefully chaining and locking the stall, he walked next door to give his team roping horse some hay and check on him.

As big as Blue was, the line back dun he called Suds was a hand larger and heavier. He needed to be, to turn and pull the big team roping steers, but he also needed to be fast to catch them, and people shook their collective heads when he came charging out of the box. Nothing that big and thick should be that fast, but Suds was!

Kind of like Rod.

The handle "Hot Rod" Ford was given to him by the announcer at a playoff football game when he was a junior. At that time he was 6'2", 200 pounds, but he burned off four touchdowns of more than fifty yards against a team known for its speed, and the excited announcer said the 'HR' must be because he accelerated like a Hot Rod! The moniker was picked up by a San Antonio TV station there to film a few highlights, and by reporters from the Laredo Times, Victoria Advocate, and Corpus Christi Caller-Times.

The KSAT evening sports report and several morning sports pages featured "Hot Rod Ford" burning past defenders for touchdowns, and the name stuck. Texas rodeo and football crowds aren't exclusive from one another, and "Hot Rod" soon replaced Rod or HR when he roped or rode saddle broncs.

It was a name respected in Texas high school rodeo and on football fields, but on the tour, it was applied derisively. He didn't care; he introduced himself as Rod Ford and answered to Rod, HR, or Ford but not Hot Rod. He was a raw rookie, he hadn't done anything on the tour, and he knew his place.

Still, those watching tonight's rodeo saw a 5.0 run in team roping, a 6.2 run in tiedown calf roping, and an 84 ride on a bronc wondered. That was a dang good run on the steer they drew, an excellent run on that particular calf, and he used everything the bronc had to offer.

Rod's team roping partner, a two-time National Finals Rodeo (NFR) heeler who was twice his age, wasn't one of those who wondered. When Carl's partner hung up his spurs to raise and train horses full time, he went looking. There were lots of possible partners, but a phone call from a man who had helped him when he was a beginner stopped his selection process cold.

He had a ticket to San Antonio waiting at the Calgary airport, and Rodney Ford was at the airport to pick him up. They renewed acquaintances on the drive down to the ranch, had a memorable 'meet and greet' with the Ford family he loved and appreciated, and enjoyed a delicious evening meal.

The quiet young man his mom and dad called Rod, and his grandparents called HR, stayed up until midnight with them, listening, smiling, and laughing as they shared three generations of rodeo, ranch, and livestock stories. Sarah, his mom, told some of the best stories, and had some funny, and raunchy, stories told about her. She blushed at being outed in front of her son, but his loving smile lacked judgment, so she just enjoyed the night and stories.

Carl's only regret was that he hadn't brought Gina and his three kids, and he forced a Ford family vow that they would fly up to the High Ridge Ranch south of Calgary and stay for a couple of weeks to make up for his failure.

By the time they had run the first pen of steers the next morning, Carl knew he had his new partner. That should not have been such an easy decision: his family relied on his Team Roping and Steer Roping winnings to supplement the growth of their horse raising and training operation, and picking an eighteen year-old rookie over more established candidates was a big gamble.

But sometimes you just know, and he knew after three runs. The rest of the pen and the next pen were just to begin developing the coordination necessary for a team.

Not that they hadn't already figured it out, but he made his announcement sitting at the lunch table.

"Rod, as you know from last night, if you didn't already, your dad took a gamble on me when I was just getting started, and that worked out pretty darn well. I don't think I'm really taking a gamble on you, you having been trained by Herbert and Rodney, and riding horses trained by the very best in the business, Ms. Sarah, but Son, if you'll have me, I'd be honored to be your partner next season."

Carl's decision startled the pro rodeo community, and raised a question as to whether this was payback for the favors Rodney James Ford did the young Carl Anderson, or the kid was all he was cracked up to be in high school. Carl just grinned when asked, which only increased speculation.

He spent a week in Texas practicing with Rod, and a week later the entire Ford family, save Rod and Rodney, flew to Canada for a two-week vacation. Rodney and his eldest broke in the truck and trailer Rod's major sponsors - the Greater Texas Ford Dealers and Valero Petroleum - were providing for his debut in the tour next winter.

They had stopped, watered, and stretched the horses every few hours on the long drive from south Texas to Alberta, Canada, and spent nights where they could board the horses and exercise them that night and the next morning. Rod still had a lot of friends scattered across the country from his rodeo days, and all were more than happy to board them and their horses. The chatter and reminiscing slowed their travel time, but it was well worth it, and Rod came to know more about his mom and dad's rodeo history.

Grandad, however, was the one who had an old rodeo friend who owned a place in 'horse country,' an hour drive north of the Montana border, and he had made a reservation for them to spend the final night there.

They got there early enough to meet Jack and some of the Hart family, exercise the horses, and park next to the guest cabin they would be staying in. Not that the living quarters in the trailer weren't nice, but having two bedrooms with showers, a living room, and a kitchen with a real table sure felt good.

The weather was chilly by Texas standards, clear and brisk, so they built a fire in the ring. The fire attracted Jack, his wife Analisa (Lisa), a daughter, Angie, and a granddaughter named Hailey. Angie was a few years older than Rod, Hailey around his age or a little younger, but both were 'horse people' and, though they looked nothing alike, he found both highly attractive.

Angie was a green eyed dirty blonde with a slender 'cowgirl' build and a nice heart-shaped ass, while Hailey had thick chestnut hair, chocolate brown eyes, and a nicely rounded body, visible even in loose jeans and a bulky sweatshirt. They talked a while, Rodney brought up his dad's stories about Jack's band, and they prevailed on him to play and sing a little.

He demurred, but Analisa pulled a guitar out of his truck and brought it to him. Jack had a strong, deep voice, and he sang some of the western and folk songs Grandad Herbert had told them about. Angie and Hailey both had beautiful voices and knew most of his songs, and on this cool, clear summer night, Rod gained appreciation for a time, place, and people he had known nothing about.

Jack broke it up early because they had to move cattle tomorrow and were riding out to the high pastures at 7:30.

When the Harts gathered at the pens, Rodney was mounted on Blue and Rod was riding Cash, a calf roping prospect he brought along for the training. The Texans explained that their 'cowponies' needed to be worked, and asked if they would allow them to ride along. Jack welcomed them, and asked if the big blue roan needed riding. They admitted he did, and Jack signaled a dark haired woman of about 30 to join them.

"This is Claire, my oldest daughter. She wanted to come along, but her mare is hurting a little, so if you don't mind her riding your horse, she can work him too."

Rod hopped off, introduced himself and Blue to Claire, and helped her saddle him up. Jack led them northwest, across a wide expanse of grass and into the forested mountains. The fat, contented cattle were where they were supposed to be, in a wide expanse of grassland. Once they got them moving, they were easy to move down a wide draw, across a mountain stream, and into a higher valley even more plush with grass.

"These are our highest pastures. We move them from the low pastures around the ranch house into slightly higher pastures after the last snowfall, and then up here when summer arrives. In August, we'll move them back to the intermediate pastures, and then to the ranch pastures when it starts getting cold.

"That's not a problem you folks in Texas face, but up here we don't have Spring round up, we have Spring, Summer, and Fall roundups, with cattle drives."

"But you still vaccinate, cut, and brand or mark in the spring?" HR asked.

"We do, a couple of weeks before we take them to the Spring pastures. We also wean then, and cull out the stock we're selling," Jack replied.

They stopped beside a spring to eat lunch, and Angie and Claire broke out picnic baskets with sandwiches, chips, nuts, and drinks from the pack horse.

The ride out and the relaxed meal in the Eden-like setting had given everyone a chance to get better acquainted, and Rod learned a lesson about first impressions. 'Angie the cowgirl' wasn't a barrel racer; she was a renowned horse trainer whose work with troubled horses had been featured on TV.

Rod immediately asked her to switch horses with him so she could give him her opinion on Cash. She agreed with a big smile, and told him she would take Cash by a longer, more challenging route to get a better feel for him and his capabilities. They adjusted the stirrups, and Angie rode east, pushing Cash up the hill and through the forest.

That left Rod riding beside the swimsuit model, who was wearing tight jeans and a loose pullover this morning. The tight jeans fulfilled his supposition from last night, and the loose pullover did nothing to dispel his estimate of C-cup.

When not ogling her, he learned that Hailey was one of the top show jumpers in the country, and that she rode a horse she broke and trained, with Angie's help. He tried to keep from flirting, but she had a glint of challenge in her eyes, and she was too good looking not to try.

She kept swatting his lines off like a bothersome fly, but he could tell she didn't mean it, so he redoubled his efforts, to her amusement and ultimately, her reluctant acceptance of his attempts. She didn't acquiesce, but she certainly began to participate in the flirting, which is all he wanted - right now.

Claire had been riding with Rodney and Jack, but when she noticed the attraction between her adopted daughter and Rod, she drifted back to chaperone.

Rod winked at Hailey, and then turned his considerable charm and patented 'panty-dropper smile' on the married wife and mother (with the absentee husband). She laughed it off at first - after all, even though he was good looking, funny, and charming she was twelve years older! But his relentless teasing, flirting, and complimenting led to her consider possibilities, which sent her scurrying back to her father's side, leaving the two teens to laugh at how easily she was intimidated. Given the opportunity, they explored their differences and similarities all the way back to the ranch headquarters.