Jake opened the fridge and plucked out three bottles of Coors light. He tossed one over to Ike, the other he handed off to Mandy, as he sat down at the table. The trio were huddled around a black and white 13 inch TV in Jake's trailer waiting for "This Week in the PRCA" on RFDTV to come on. Jake had not planned on watching, but Ike and Mandy had been insistent when they showed up.

"Well bless my stars! A superstar, and still so modest." Mandy had teased as she pushed past Jake into the trailer, bringing Ike with her.

Jake sighed as he watched them set up the TV and make themselves at home.

"Ya'll want a beer or something?" Jake asked, being hospitable as he dumped some pretzels in a old cool whip container he used as a bowl. He had no idea why anyone would want to watch themselves on TV. Heck, he had been there when they filmed the interview; he knew what he had said.

When the show came on and showed a preview of the segment with Jake, Mandy let out a squeal and grabbed at Jake's arm excitedly.

"Hell, she don't even get that excited when I make the bonus round." Ike commented through a swallow of beer; a naughty wink tossed at Mandy at his innuendo. The comment earned him a slap on his shoulder from Mandy as Jake simply shook his head as he idly listened to the program.

Once the segment was over Ike and Mandy headed back to their own trailer, leaving Jake alone. Grabbing the empty bottles, Jake tossed them in the trash as he lit up a cigarette, the noise of the TV still buzzing in the background.

"There's just two weeks left until the National Finals in Las Vegas. One thing everyone is going to be keeping their eye on is the chance to possibly see history made this year. Jake Duncan, the young man we profiled on tonight's broadcast, leads the points standings in both the Bareback and the Saddle Bronc events. He is currently sitting back in second place in the Bull riding. If somehow Duncan could sweep all three events, it would be the first time anyone has ever taken all three rough stock events in the same year.

Clearly, in a otherwise down year, Duncan is the class of the field in both the horse events. With the bulls, Duncan is facing an up hill battle with another young cowboy, Kyle Persing, who is looking to reach the pinnacle after several close calls the past three years. Katie bar the door when these two cowboys get down to it in Vegas! It'll be Jake Duncan looking to make history with a clean sweep versus Kyle Persing trying for his first World Championship. I think we are going to see quite the battle between these two men."

Jake took one last drag from the cigarette before crushing it out. Flipping off the TV's power, Jake yawned and headed for bed.

Jake sat down slowly on the edge of the bed, his head bowed as he stared down at his stained hands that were shaking uncontrollably. At his feet there was a broken and battered body, that by keeping his eyes focused on his hands Jake was able to ignore. As the adrenaline began to wear off, Jake forced himself to look at the motionless body on the floor. The sight made him sick. The entire right side of Kyle's head was caved in from where Jake had hit him with the tire thumper.

Jake's body convulsed, and unable to control himself he fell to his knees in a puddle of crimson and retched. He vomited over and over again until there was nothing left within him to expel. Breaking down, the tears came as he sobbed in a way he had not done since he was a child crying over the grave of his mother. It took the better part of a hour for him to get it all out and then compose himself. He washed his hands and face at the sink in Kyle's kitchen. All the while Kyle's dead body was mocking him.

Jake moved through the shadows of the RV lot back to his own trailer, where he unhitched the trailer from his pick-up. He undressed quickly, and kicked the bloodied clothes under his trailer. The heading inside he got dressed, and packed up a few things.

Rooster tails of gravel flew from under Jake's truck tires, as he pulled out of the contestants parking area. Reaching over back to grab his old carhartt jacket off the back seat, and then spreading it over her shoulders as she slept on the front seat, her head resting on his thigh. She snuggled into the coat, pulling it up tight under her chin. Looking at her made his heart hurt in a way that seemed to intense to be real. He had to turn away to stare out the windshield. Dawn was still hours away, and in the darkness memories played out just beyond the reach of his high beams like a movie.

Five years ago was the last time he had been the last time he been to Little Bear, Montana. Ike had been riding with him that time, had been there to help load that cherry wood box in the bed of the truck that had been the reason for the trip. It had been just like this then as well, with questions of what if, and memories that haunted him like a ghost.

"I'm leaving him Jake."

Vickie made no effort to turn away, as Jake looked with sad eyes at the deep bruises on the side of her face. She held her coffee cup with trembling hands, as they sat at the table in Jake's trailer. Jake looked off towards the three year old mirror image of Vickie bouncing on his bed watching cartoons.

"Has Lauren seen it? Does he hit her?"

Jake had to swallow hard so as not to growl when he asked the last question. Tears welled in her eyes as she raised a hand to cover her mouth.

"That son of a bitch!"

Jake was seething as he started to stand. Vickie touched his arm softly trying to calm him.

"Jake please don't. He really hasn't hit her, just yelled at her, maybe grabbed her, and yanked her around, but that's it."

Vickie was breaking down as Jake sat back down shaking his head.

"He makes a point out of doing it in front of her Jake."

Vickie was a mess now unable to control her emotions. Jake sat there numb not having any clue what to say or do at this point. This was so foreign to anyway he knew of how a man was supposed to behave.

"He tells her these horrible things Jake, and she is starting to repeat them. The other day I wouldn't buy her a toy, and there in the middle of Wal-Mart she called me a stupid slut."

Her voice broke, her next words barely understandable through the tears, and choking sobs.

"Can you imagine your baby calling her momma a slut?"

It took awhile to get Vickie composed. Jake had tried the whole time to get her to stay with him, and not go back to her trailer. He even offered to drive her, and Lauren up to her parents place right then. Vickie was stubborn though, and she had it set in her mind to do things her way. She never did explain what she had in mind, but she promised Jake that it would be okay. In a bit of concession Vickie did agree to tell Lauren that if things every got too bad at home or if she was ever scared or hurt she was to run to Jake's trailer.

When Vickie, and Lauren left, Jake stood in the doorway watching them walking through the pasture. Vickie stopped, and turned back to him a natural smile on her face.

"We'll have lunch at JB's tomorrow...12:30"

Jake waved his acceptance before closing his door. Had he know then that would be the last time he would see her Jake would have stood in that doorway until he couldn't have even seen her memory.

Accidental Death is what they said it was, but really how much use was a autopsy when the body has been mangled in a rock slide.

Jake flipped on the light in the bedroom. Lauren had finally cried herself to sleep, and didn't budge as the light came on. Jake felt as if someone had punched him in the gut as he softly made his way over to the bed, and lifted the Cinderella night gown off of Lauren's legs. In his heart he was afraid of what he would find, in fact somehow it seemed sick that he was praying to see deep lash marks across her buttocks and thighs were Kyle had beaten her with a belt. There were no marks there, save for the ugly bruises left by gripping fingers against her thighs. The sight of the blood that stained Lauren's crotch was a sight no one should ever have to witness. Jake dropped the night gown, and threw his hand over his mouth to hold back the rush of breath leaving him.

There was no plan of action that he had come up with, no great design on what he should be doing, so it came as quite some surprise when Jake found himself standing in front of Kyle's trailer. Knocking on the door, Jake stepped back when Kyle answered. His breath was stagnant of stale beer, and cheap whiskey, blowing it Jakes face as he spoke.

"What the hell do you want?"

Jake was quiet for a minute as he looked at Kyle's face. Gone was any distinct human quality to it, rather now it looked to Jake as if Kyle had the yellowed eyes of some serpent, his face all distorted taking on the qualities of a lizard. Jake never knew it till his hand was already in motion, grabbing the door out of Kyle's hand and swinging it open wide. Jake's right hand swung in a wide arc smashing against the jaw of Kyle's startled face. The blow staggered Kyle backwards, his retreat into the trailer pressed on by Jake lowering his shoulder, and ramming it into Kyle's gut. As Kyle sank to the floor of his trailer he looked up to the last thing he would see on earth, backlight in the doorway Jake stood, his shoulders heaving with his deep breaths. Kyle saw the slight move of Jake's right shoulder, felt the air moving as the tire thumper beared in on his skull, and then.............................................. nothing.