"Ha!" I yelled - and then jumped.
My hand grabbed the bull's ear. My movement turned that into a tug, yanking the animal's face around, and right at me. The next step it made, it was turning, and I knew I'd just spared that asshole's ass.
"Ho!" Jorge called out, darting across my path to steal the bull's attention.
"Yah!" Isaac screamed as he came in from the other side.
Each time we crossed the bull's path, it distracted the animal. Every time it focused on a new ‘threat,’ it lost a little of the need to destroy. Twice more, we darted, tapped, and turned - and then the bull just stopped. With a loud huff, it snorted out the frustration.
"Time to go," I told him, flapping my hands to send him forward.
And he went. I dared to glance back to find Eli slowly making his way to his feet. He paused to dust himself off, then bent at the waist. Clearly, he was feeling that hit.
"I got this," Jorge said, making a straight line to Eli's rope.
I simply turned, scanning for Cody up there behind the chutes. I found her easily. Standing with J.D., their black attire made them into a shadow over by the last chute. Thankfully, they weren't looking this way.
"Thanks," Eli said, pulling my attention back to him.
He patted Jorge's shoulder, accepted his rope, but didn't leave. I thought he might be waiting for his scores, but instead he headed my way. Isaac groaned, knowing this couldn't be good, but well before Eli reached me, he held out his hand, offering to shake.
"Thanks, Tanner," he said.
I accepted his grip cautiously, doing nothing to hide my suspicion. "Uh-huh..."
So Eli shifted just a little closer and ducked his head, hiding his face from the cameras. "Look, what Austin said over there was out of line."
"Didn't seem to bother you before," I countered.
"Kinda did," he said, catching my eye. "I wasn't there when he and Derek beat the shit out of Cody for a reason. And no, itwasn't because I knew about it. It was because he knew I'd stop him."
"Why?" I asked.
"Because hitting girls? That's bullshit!" Eli snarled. "Look, I don't agree with how you're living your life. I think what you do is sick as fuck, and I think this sport is too hard for a woman."
"But Cody's doing just fine," I reminded him.
Which made Eli sigh. "Yeah. So I have to say 'most' women, now. Whatever. Not my fucking problem, right? If she gets hurt, that's not on me. And if you fuck dudes, well, I don't wanna see that shit."
"Didn't invite you into my bedroom," I shot back.
Which made him huff out something like a laugh. It wasn't much, but it proved he was listening to me, and he might even be getting my point through his thick skull. But clearly that wasn't what he was here to talk about.
"Look, all I'm saying is that threatening to rape her? That's fucking bullshit, ok? Austin has convinced himself it's Cody's fault that Casey died, and he's so wrapped up in trying to put that somewhere else, he's a fucking mess. He can't mourn the guy, calls us pussies if we try, and is spiraling bad."
"And losing sponsors," I added.
"That too," Eli agreed. "But he just crossed my line, Tanner. That shit he said? It was a bridge too fucking far, so I'll do you a solid."
"Ok?"
He glanced back, toward the bullpen, then to me again. "Seems gay is worse than woman. Austin's damned sure he has something in the bag. He won't say what, but he keeps saying you and J.D. are going to get a real big surprise. I know he's been whining to Merrill every chance he can get. But here's the thing. I also know Merrill's trying to push the undesirables out. That means you. After that disgusting shit you pulled earlier, itmeans J.D. too. And while Cody just became less of a problem, that doesn't mean they want her sticking around."
"Gotcha," I said. "Judges and directors?"
"I dunno, but sure sounds that way." Eli paused as his score posted. A little smile curled one side of his mouth when he saw what he got, then he looked at me again. "Just know Austin's serious. That wasn't an empty threat. I can say that if I know, I'll stop him - or do my fucking best. I just don't think he trusts me that much."
"Thanks," I told him. "I'd say I owe you - "
