"Sure, they can jump over the bulls," Peter explained. "They can do barrel tricks, and get all the touches on them for bullfighting points. What they can't do is keep them off a rider, and I'm not sure they care. It's like they think this is their moment to shine. Like it's either y'all or them in the spotlight. I swear they're convinced they're going to become the next hot name in the PBR or something, but no one gives a shit about the bullfighters!"
"And the PBR only cares about the money," Ty said. "Yeah, I know. But I'm going to bet your dad won't be enough. Peter, we need all the stock contractors to start complaining. If they're threatening to pull the bulls, the PBR will have to listen to us."
"Maybe," Peter said. "See, there's a lot more farms than contracts, Ty. A boycott from the bull owners is a big risk. If they lose their deal, they might never get it again, and that's an entire herd of prime breeding stock that just became useless."
"They'll be just as useless without riders," I countered. "And we've already thought about how long we can last. If the men onthis tour stop riding, it'll be Anaheim before the lowest rookie is out pointed by anyone from Touring Pro. Finals is the next weekend, and only the top twenty-five ride there anyway."
"Shit," Peter breathed. "Yeah, I'll convince Dad to play ball. I'll also tell him I agree with y'all. This shit is fucked." But he paused, looking between us. "I just have one question."
Ty sighed, sounding like he already knew what Peter was going to ask. I grabbed his arm, stopping him from doing anything stupid. Yeah, Peter saw, but it made him smile instead of glare.
"What happens if Tanner is gay? Have any of y'all thought about that yet?"
"We've thought about it," Ty said. "Seems most of these men care more about staying in one piece than poking their noses into anyone else's bedroom."
"What about the fallout that will cause with the fans?" Peter pressed. "Because Dad's gonna ask me about it. If the PBR gets cancelled for being too woke, he'll be just as fucked as he is now."
"Fuck woke," I said before Ty could fuck this up. "Look, I don't want people judging who I go home with. Neither do you, I bet."
"Hell no," Peter agreed.
"So how about we worry about our sport and let the gay guys - or girls - worry about that part. If the fans cancel them, then so be it. Our job is to ride the bulls and live through it. Your job is to keep us safe. Your dad's job is to breed the best fucking bulls we've seen in decades. The PBR gets to figure out how to handle the media spin, and they're damned good at it. They also have the money to make it all go away."
"And that," Peter said, "is a good point. I'll convince Dad. He should know who else will have animals at Nashville. If they all push?"
"But will he?" Ty asked.
Peter nodded. "Yeah, because I know something you don't, Ty. The stock contractors don't want their bulls hurt any more than you riders want to get run over. This shit? It's a mess all the way around, and it's what feeds my family. So yeah, he'll pushhard."
Chapter 37
I'd borrowedmy little sister's laptop while she went off to school. Isabella said she didn't mind, and I needed something with a bit bigger screen than my phone. As I scrolled through the listings, I tried to imagine what I'd want in a home.
"Whatcha doing?" Tanner asked, coming up behind me to wrap his arms around my shoulders. But when he saw the screen, he gave me a confused look. "J.D.?"
"Just checkin' prices," I assured him.
"On houses?"
"Farms," I corrected. "Figure we want a few acres, right? I dunno, do you think five hundred would be enough?"
Which made Tanner turn toward the living room. "Cody? How much land does it take to raise cows?"
"Depends," she said, muting the TV as she peeled herself off the couch where Blue had her cornered. "Why?"
"J.D.'s looking at what's out there."
I grunted, because that was true in the vaguest sense. "We're gonna need a barn, and prolly some chutes. I wanna have some spare rooms too. You know, in case friends come to hang."
"Or kids," Tanner said softly.
I just cast him a knowing look. "Or that, yeah. Fenced yard, too. For the dog."
Because Cody was damned cute with Mom's dog. Blue loved her, so she kept following her around. Cody didn't mind at all. She'd spent quite a few hours outside throwing the ball for her, playing tug, and every time Blue could, she was on the couch beside my girl.
A dog would come before a kid, though. We hadn't even talked about if she'd even want them. I wouldn't mind, and Tanner was giving all the signs he wouldn't either, but that was a long ways away. Cody was still young, and she had a whole lot of years to focus on riding before we started picking out baby names and shit. But a dog? Yeah, that was safe enough to think about.
"Is that land?" Cody asked as she came over to join us.
