I watched her closely, waiting for some kind of reaction to his insensitive words, but she never showed them. Instead, she just stood there in the warm breeze, stoic and strong, tucking her wild hair behind her ear while she played with her layered necklaces. She had on an old black cowboy hat and was wearing an oversized, faded band tee of some kind, tucked in her all lace sheer black pants, aside from what looked like a pair of black shorts underneath, and the legs flaring at her feet. I noticed her wearing those same old and weathered cowboy boots she had on first thing this morning while riding.
Looks like someone’s slowly settling back into things.
Her eyes flicked to me, and I quickly looked away.
“Instead of sitting here worrying about my feelings, you boys should be more focused on that bull.”
I looked back at her. “Not much to focus on. Reaper shouldn't be an issue, and it’s a basic cattle sale. Everything should move just fine.”
Lucille grinned. “I wasn’t talking about the sale.” I looked from her to Cooper, confused.
“What the hell does that mean?” I asked.
The old man just sighed and shook his head. “Lucille has asked to take Reaper for a spin before we get him ready. I told her as long as she thinks she can handle it, she can get a few minutes in the corral.”
My eyes nearly jumped out of my skull. “Like hell! She’s not going near that bull!” I looked at her with a furrowed brow. “You’re not doing it!”
Lucille frowned. “Yes I am!”
“No, you’re not,” I growled. “You’ve never even ridden Reaper. You have no idea how to control him or handle his temperament.”
She stomped her foot. “I can ride just fine,” she snarled.
“I bet the only bull you’ve ridden in the last ten years is that damn mechanical one last night.” She gritted her teeth, exposing her canines to me. “Well? Am I wrong?”
Lucille’s nostrils flared as her temper grew. “You might own Bone Ridge, but you don’t own me. I can do whatever the fu?—”
“Hey, easy.” Cooper tried to calm us. “Why don’t we all just take a breath and calm down.” I looked at Lucille, noticing the resentment she always had for me returned to her eyes.
Torchy and Dallas came busting out of the barn with Reaper, desperately trying to move him into the corral. He was bucking and huffing, his large body fighting their hold as they led him, and I noticed he had a bull rope and was wearing the flank strap around his belly. In other words, they all knew she wanted to ride him and worked together to get him ready. Without telling me.
Son of a bitch.
With a loud groan, I pinched the skin between my eyes and took a deep breath. “You get five seconds.” My body turned as I looked at Lucille. “No more, no less.”
She scoffed, crossing her arms. “It takes a minimum of eight to even qualify in rodeos. I want eight.”
“Five,” I growled. “Or I tell Ms. Nellie what you were really doing this morning.”
The color in her face drained. And I knew she couldn’t argue. “Fine.” She stomped past me towards the two men with the temperamental bull.
Cooper joined me. I shot him a look. “I don’t even wanna know.” He chuckled as we both joined the rest to help ready the bull.
Lucille climbed up on the metal railing of the corral fence and waited as we held Reaper as still as possible. I looked up at her from the opposite side and saw a look I hadn’t seen since she was a kid. It wasn’t the look of someone kidding around or scared. No, her face was that of someone who had something to prove. Something big.
What’s going on in that fiery head of yours, little viper?
Cooper was standing next to her on the inside of the corral, holding the bull rope as she carefully lowered herself onto Reaper’s back and adjusted her position. He kicked his leg and huffed, fighting our hold. “Alright now, remember your technique.” She nodded, listening intensely. “You just need to keep yourself steady for a few seconds. Reaper hasn’t been out for a ride in a while, so he should grow tired pretty easily. And if you happen to fall off, don’t fight it. Just let go and we’ll take care of the rest. Alright?”
Lucille nodded and he handed her the rope. She tightened it around her gloved hand and prepared herself, resembling a real bull rider. Just like her daddy.
“Alright.” Her eyes met mine and I could see the excitement bursting within them.
“Now!”
As soon as the word shouted from my throat, we all let go and ran out of the way. The monstrous bull kicked and bucked, hopping all around, whipping Lucille’s body. I felt sick watching,refusing to take my eyes off of her as they quickly moved around the corral. The seconds felt like hours, and all I could do was stare at her, searching for any sign of a struggle.
Watch your leg, Lucille.
