“He does have some good looks,” Billy says from my other side. “You’ll back me, right, ma’am?”
“Totally agree with West,” I say automatically.
The boys roar their laughter.
“And Billy—please, drop thema’am. I feel ancient.”
“Sure, Lanie.” He grips my hand too tight, and I squeeze back.
Kenny Loggins’s “Danger Zone” silences the restless crowd, their attention funneling back to the chute as Levi runs through Cord’s life achievements, glamming his bio up. I can’t appreciate a word of his showmanship. Cord looks up as he hovers over the black behemoth lined up beneath him that bumps about just enough to give me a glimpse of why I need to be twice as terrified as I thought I should be.
Wrecking Ball has to be twice the size of the bull that threw Coyote Falls’ younger rider minutes before. My stomach relocates to a much higher point in my anatomy.
“He can’t ride that thing,” I whisper. “It’s a giant compared to what Jesse drew!”
“To be fair, Jesse fell off his bull.” Billy snorts.
West nods his agreement. “It’s the smaller ones you need to watch. They’re downright mean.”
The world closes in around me as Cord drops onto his bull. Helooks up, holding my gaze for one long moment, and winks as the chute opens. I hold my breath, but there’s no need.
It’s over in eight seconds.
NINETEEN
CORD
Let It Ride
I stand next to the bull I have a long history with and wonder what future the next hour will bring for us both. I’ll find Lanie and West and the rest of the Coyote crew in a minute, but right now, I need this time with Wreck. The last time I rode this animal, he was brand-new to the circuit from a top-end breeder, and his first ride was very nearly his last. After what happened to me, no one would touch him for a while. Then time passed, and fact merged into legend.
Some hotshot decided he wanted a piece of history and he survived. Then came the next rider, and the next. While I was lingering in a wheelchair, this bull was out becoming infamous on the national circuit. Even though his home pasture was at Coyote, I couldn’t stand to see the bull that did near-permanent damage to both my body and my mind.
Soon, the only curse in our industry was my own.
Which is why I stand beside him, getting reacquainted before our ride tonight. I’m not supposed to be out here, but just like everything in my world, the rules others hold to don’t apply to me. They haven’t for a long damn time and I like that just fine.Levi and Slade both know where I am, and they leave me alone for the time I need to make my peace with this decade-old nemesis.
Tonight, we both need it.
If an animal can stare at a human with hatred in his eyes, this one has it down. Wrecking Ball watches me with the sort of intent I’d associate with a homicidal person. More than someone to be wary of.
“We have a moment coming up,” I say softly, leaning my back to the rail, not looking at my bull.
Wrecking Ball rakes the ground and snorts his derision.
“Yeah, I know. No bridge and no water. Nothing beneath it. But tonight’s gonna run smoothly. Just you and me, Wreck. Then we can both retire. Let the world pass us by and forget everything.” I close my eyes and inhale deeply. His scent and mine mingle, the crowd’s calls muted back here. Soon I’ll find Lanie, but right now this moment is for me and him. “Tonight, we’re just gonna ride, nice and smooth, right ’til the bell.”
I reach back a hand. Warm breath brushes my fingers. No fear ripples through me as the bull presses his snout to my skin.
“Just gonna ride.”
I open my eyes and walk away without looking back.
Tripp chatters away in my ear, gripping my shoulder, as I try to settle my ass against the chute. Jesse takes my hat, planting it on top of his own for safekeeping. I nod my thanks, searching the crowd when I shouldn’t, picking out familiar faces. Levi is in his element, dressed in a bright yellow shirt covered in fringes and silver studs. I block out the exhibition spiel he must have practiced out loud a hundred times in the homestead’s kitchen over the last week.
I have no doubt that his ad-libbing ability will allow him to entertain any crowd and have them eating out of his hand should the need arise. People mill toward the fence line as he reels them in with his siren song, even if this one is a little dusty.
They aren’t supposed to be that close, but hell, why bother telling them to get back? This show will end in spectacular fashion one way or another, and everyone wants to see that outcome.
