"Hoo!" Cletus said. "Cover the kids' ears! There's some temper down here!"
But Austin didn't care about that. Realizing Tanner had just made him look like a fool, he did the only thing his tiny little brain could manage. He shoved Tanner as hard as he could.
"You let me get hit!" he roared, still audible. "You think this is funny?" He shoved again, but stayed close, right up there in Tanner's face as if he couldn't figure out that was how he was being overheard. "I will make youpayfor this, Tanner! I will fuck you up, you hear me?"
Which was when Jorge thrust Austin's rope between them, shifting his body after it to force some space. "Rope!" Jorge said, his voice carrying as well as Austin's. "He took a hit for you. He got that bull off you, so take your rope, take your pride, and go lick your wounds behind the chutes."
"We didn't ask for a - "
Tanner's mic went dead and a chicken's clucks played like it was some kind of bleeps for the profanity. Down there on the dirt, Austin flapped his hand like he was done with this andfinallyleft.
"Well, some of these boys got a real temper," Cletus said. "They also need to get their mouths washed out with soap. But don't you think bad of our Deviant Rescue Squad. They know exactly how to handle a little country tongue-lashing!"
Tanner turned, giving Cletus a double take. I could see Jorge and Isaac laughing hard, but Cletus just shrugged like the idiot he played, acting like he didn't get what else that could mean.
But the fans? They were all yelling. Oddly, most of them sounded like they were on Tanner's side. Granted, I coulda been wrong about that shit, since it was real hard to tell when a couple thousand people had a shit fit. But it did sorta feel like that.
Soon enough, the next rider came out. Beside me, Cody pushed out a heavy breath. "You think Tanner meant to do that?" she asked.
It was Jake who answered, shifting over to join the conversation. "I think Tanner's done with being ashamed of his sexuality. He's also smart enough to know Austin's sponsors won't like any of that."
"And," I said, "he came off looking like the hero there, Cody. He made the save. He took a hit, and where Jaxon thanked him, Austin ripped him a new one and called him a fag?"
"Fucking asshole," Ty said, moving in as well. "J.D.,that'swhy you can't have any more concussions. It'll turn you stupid."
"Hell, then I'm gonna wear my helmet all the time," I joked.
Cody rolled her eyes. "Makes a few things hard. Especially with that mouth guard."
"Naw, I'm good with leaning back and takin' it." And I winked.
But Ty nudged Jake. "Hey, you rodeoing this up today?"
"Riding unwrapped?" Jake asked. "I mean, makes it easier to get out."
"Then I'll make you a bet," Ty said. "Winner is the one with the highest time, but still under eight. Hitting eight is immediate loss. The loser?" Ty shifted his weight back and crossed his arms smugly. "He pays for gas for one of these lower ranked-riders."
"Oh, I'm in on that," Jake agreed, offering his hand.
The pair shook, but Cody just grunted. "Or you couldbothpay gas," she said. "I mean, J.D. and I will be splitting our prize money among them."
"Among the ones who ain't rich," I clarified.
"I'll get a list of who needs it," Jake said. "And Cody? This makes it more fun. Winning also doesn't mean we get out of helping. Just gives us something to brag about."
"Then let's do this," Ty said.
"Wait!" Wes called over, realizing we were up to something. "What are we doing?"
"Not you," Ty told him. "We're betting to pay gas for someone who needs it."
"Yeah, I'm out," Wes said. "I am rodeoing this up."
"Got someone to impress?" Ty teased. "Where is Wyatt? Also, this is a safe space."
Wes sighed heavily. "Myhusband," he said, sounding a bit annoyed, "is over there. White hat, green shirt."
"Wait." I shook my head, sure I'd heard him wrong. "Say what?"
