Logan nodded and dropped down onto the broad-backed bull. The chute, narrow for the bull’s safety, kept Tornado from making any radical movements. It didn’t stop him from trying, though. Logan fought to find his balance long enough to secure the rope around his right hand.
Tornado was never going to make a ride easy for him. If he did, Logan would feel cheated.
The bull jerked and kicked at the back of the chute. Everyone around him went into motion, ensuring both he and the bull were safe. The crowd noise filtered its way back; like radio interference, he forced it back out.
Keep it simple.When he felt as ready and balanced as he was going to be, he nodded.
The gate opened.
Logan’s arm broke the plane of the chute, starting the clock.
Tornado jumped. Logan leaned forward at the hips, lifting himself, following the animal’s momentum.
He anticipated the kick, transferred his balance to sit into it.
Tornado threw a spin into the next jump and he nearly flew off. His grip on his rope was fierce, though. He found a millisecond to right himself.
Aggravated that he had yet to buck the rider, Tornado picked up speed both with his jumps and his spins. The sporadic kicking jolted Logan. He felt himself slide.
The buzzer. Where is the buzzer?
He draped his leg over the bull. His hand remained wrapped in a rope he had to drop soon or risk a seriously hard fall . . . and severe injury.
He dug in his heel but was losing his grip.
The buzzer sounded. He dropped to the ground and rolled.
Tornado was quicker than any bull he’d ridden. Meaner. He was far from safe.
The image of Abbie at his hospital bedside, her eyes filled with terror of the unknown, propelled him forward in a dead sprint. He’d not let this bull send him back there. Not even for a scratch.
Feet from the fence, the bull’s hot breath warmed the back of his neck.
He leaped, anticipating the blow to come. Praying for a sprain or something that only required stiches.
“And that’s eight seconds, everybody!” the announcer shouted. The crowd screamed and cheered. “Give it up for your hometown rodeo star! Loooogaaaan Attwood!”
On the other side of the fence, he finally let himself look over his shoulder. Tornado had been roped by one of the pickup men. And though he fought it, the bull relented and went through the gate they opened for him.
He did it. He bested the beast.
“Eighty-nine points, ladies and gentlemen!” the announcer continued. “How fantastic is that? That puts Logan in first place.”
The crowd erupted.
For three years, his life had been dictated by the bull that nearly cost him everything. The weight he’d carried lifted. The only thing he wanted to do now was run to the woman he loved and lift her into his arms to celebrate this victory together.
Chapter 20
Abbie
Abbie’d held her breath so long she was having a hard time now that it was over. Standing was impossible with her uncooperative legs, so instead she leaned back in her seat.
Over. It was really over.
“He did it! He did it!” Izzy cheered. “Aunty Abbie, he did it!”
She scooped her niece into her lap and wrapped her in a hug. “He sure did, Peanut!”
