"Where is Ty?" I asked.
Jake pointed across the room. "He's making sure all of this is going to work. We also don't want anyone getting hurt, so the bulls with a temper?"
"You know those?" Rhaven asked.
Both Jake and I nodded, but I answered before he could. "The bulls have patterns, habits, and personalities. We research them before riding, and we see a few of them often enough to know when we need to run fast."
"Like the one that took out J.D.," Jake said.
"There's a few," J.D. told her. "Most of themcancome for you, but somealwayswill. Those fuckers just wanna make us pay for darin' to sit on 'em."
Braden chuckled. "I mean, can't really blame - "
"Listen up!"
Donald Merrill's voice cut through the room, making me spin to see him. The man was glaring around like he thought that would intimidate us, but to his chagrin, the guys all looked pretty happy. And while we all did turn to see what he wanted, no one stopped working on their ropes.
"I hope you all learned a lesson from yesterday!" he snapped. "I was dead serious when I said you will be fined again, and more, if you refuse to ride. This is not the place for your protests, do you hear me?"
No one bothered to respond.
"This mess has gone on long enough. You are here to ride! Not tell the PBR what rules to make. Not stop the show toget your fifteen minutes of fame. You will ride, or you will be penalized - and even suspended."
"Maybe go yell at your judges about it, then!" Kaleb yelled from the far side of the room.
"Don't tempt me, boy! I can fine you for that attitude."
"And I will pay that one too," Rhaven said, stepping forward.
Mr. Merrill's eyes snapped over to her, and his body slowly turned to face her. "Oh, is that what they were talking about? You were the one who paid all the fines?"
"My company," Rhaven said. "The same one who sponsors the PBR, Donald."
"Damn," one of the guys breathed. "She's not even scared of him."
"He!" Mr. Merrill roared, hearing it too. "This?" He stabbed a finger at Rhaven. "This is aman, boys.Thiswill be the result of all your bullshit. This sickmanis what the PBR's going to become if you keep going, and I will not let the sport I love be corrupted with this filth!"
"I am a woman!" Rhaven insisted. "And I expect you to respect that, Donald, just like I expect you to respect the PBR's ongoing contract with Deviant Games. We paid enough to make sure theleastyou can do is smile and fake it!"
He turned to her and pushed forward. "Really? Really! As you undermine my authority with these riders? As you thwart the official punishment and encourage them to destroy the very sport I have spent my life making into a household name?Youwant me to pretend like your sick and disgusting - " He got right up in her face, still screaming. "- crossdressing, mentally twisted presence here isn't -"
"No!" Braden roared, shouldering past Jake and between me and J.D.
He didn't stop until he pushed Mr. Merrill back, making it very clear which man was the larger of the two, and it wasn't Mr.Merrill. The tendons in Braden's neck were standing out with rage as he bent down to point in Mr. Merrill's face the same way that man had been doing to Rhaven.
"You are out of line. You and your sick, bigoted views are not the official stance of the PBR, and I don't give a shit if you like it. I do, however, expect you to read that damned contract. I also expect you to treat Rhaven with the respect her position deserves..." Then he smiled in a way that was clearly a threat. "Because not only could I snap you like a dry twig, old man, but I will if you ever talk about her, to her, or around her in that way again!"
The entire room had gone silent. There wasn't even the sound of people shifting to get a better view. It felt like each and every one of these men were holding their breath, and all of them had just seen the president of the PBR get put in his place.
Rhaven gently reached up to clasp Braden's arm, easing him back. "Donald, bull riding is a sport based on American history. It's filled with tradition and heritage. Believe it or not, we do understand that. We also know that hate is not good for anyone. Not the riders, the fans, or the companies hoping to make a profit."
But Mr. Merrill was still watching Braden. "I don't ever want to see you at another PBR event, young man."
"No?" Braden asked. "Well, read your contract, bud. You agreed to it. Rhaven will represent Deviant Games at any and all events she chooses to attend. She will also bring an assistant from the company to aid her in her endeavors." And he smiled. "Yeah, that means me, because I'm not letting you push around my girlfriend. My bosses won't either. My being here?Theiridea, because you called her a fucking 'tranny.'"
"And I still have the freedom to say what I want," Mr. Merrill shot back. "You can't stop that."
"Nope," Braden said. "But I can make your life a living hell. And if you so much as touch her? I will put your ass in the ground. It's called self-defense, Donny boy. In most of these states you go to, the law's even on my side. Trust me, I fucking checked."
