“Thank me by breaking that steer’s legs.”
“You got that shit.”
I slapped his hand and pulled him in for a one-armed hug, then kissed Bali on her lips. “I love you, girl.”
“I love you more, Carter Legend. See you after Red’s event.”
“A’ight, baby,” I said as I bit my bottom lip and walked away from her.
“Man, I ain’t never seen Bali that mild. Whatever the fuck Noni did had to be bad for her to be hugging your ass,” Uncle Red said.
I chuckled. “Not too much on my baby, na.” Everyone chuckled. “She also said to make sure you prayed over Squared ‘real’ good.”
He nodded and smiled as Squared slid his hand down his face. My boy was bothered, but I needed him to get himself together. Aunt Shana was already in the stall, waiting for him. When she saw us, she smiled and came toward us. However, when she saw her baby, she went right to him and pulled him in her arms.
That was that nigga problem. She babied his ass. He thought he was supposed to always get his way. Noni taught his ass differently. I hated to admit it, but had Red not fucked up first, we wouldn’t be in this situation. That admission didn’t excuse her behavior, though. She was fucking evil for that shit she pulled.
Had we been home, I wouldn’t have had a word to say. Her doing this at the rodeo . . . man. We all surrounded them and held hands. Dad leaned over to me, and said, “I hate this shit. He’s too heavy to be competing. That’s how niggas get hurt.”
I nodded in agreement, but hopefully, this prayer would cover him. Squared had to want it to cover him, though. It would be for nothing if he didn’t want his mind to be clear. I also knew that we couldn’t speak negatively either. Although Dad wasright, I said, “We have to believe that he will be fine. We can’t allow anything else to leave our lips.”
He released my hand and gripped my shoulder. “You right.”
“Father, we come in Your name, saying thank You. You’ve allowed Squared to get this far, and I know You didn’t allow it, only to leave him here alone. Lord, don’t allow him to check out on himself either. You know his heart. He wants this bad. He wants to go into the finals with a bang. Help his mind and heart to focus on that. Give him strength and help him to focus on the task at hand. Help him to want to let go and let You handle it.”
Like Bali had requested, Uncle Red was praying “real” good. Squared’s face was red, and he was nodding in agreement with Uncle Red.
“Whatever is meant for him to have, Lord, let him have it. Help him to know how to handle Your blessings. Help him to implement those changes. Let him know that he won’t have to chase his blessings after that. They will just fall on him. God, You are good. We love You, and we praise You. Help Squared to execute to the ability You blessed him to. In Your name, amen.”
“Amen,” we all said in unison.
“Let’s do this!” Aunt Shana yelled.
Squared glanced over at her and took a deep breath. “Mama, I love when you haze for me, but can Dad do it this time?”
She gave him a tight smile, then brought her hand to his cheek. “I understand, suga. That’s fine. I’ll be at the back of the chute, rooting you on.”
She hugged him, and he kissed her cheek. Squared proceeded to get on his horse and Uncle Red did the same. Epic, Mythic, and Dad went on to the chute. Once Squared was situated, I said, “Let’s wrap this shit up, gen-two!”
He chuckled. That was what some of the announcers called us, since we both followed in our dads’ footsteps. “Hell yeah. Let’s get it done.”
I walked to the chute as he followed behind me on his horse. I tried to keep my mental in line with Uncle Red’s prayer and also prayed that he didn’t happen to find Noni’s ass in the stands. Brian seemed like he was over it. I had never witnessed him being in drama, so I was pretty sure that was a turn off for him, especially since she was Squared’s ex.
When I got to the chute, I sat on the back of it with my brothers while Squared and Uncle Red got situated in the box. Since that nigga was left-handed, Uncle Red lined up on his left side. I watched him lower his head for a moment, then lifted it as the announcer started his introduction.
“Ladies and gentlemen, Red Squared is here to show y’all how it’s done. He’s all the way from Nome, Texas, the same town Miss Milana Semien-Botley is from and her mother, Tiffany Henderson-Semien. Nome is producing the rodeo athletes. We gon’ have to go out there and drink up some of that water out there. Of course, he is also the son of the best steer wrestler to do it, Red Anderson, and steer undecorating and hazing extraordinaire, Missus Shana Anderson. He can’t help but be amazing. It’s in his genes and his environment. Get readyyyyy for a show!”
I watched my boy give the head nod. The steer was released and that nigga was a millisecond after it. Uncle Red kept that steer tight as Squared slid off his horse and flipped that muthafucka. I nearly fell off the iron fence I was seated on.
“Whooooaaaa! Red Squared Anderson! I told y’all he was here to handle business! If he can execute like that in Vegas, he’ll win it all! Three point five seconds, ladies and gentlemen! Your new front runner!”
Epic, Mythic, and I were jumping up and down as my dad laughed at us. Aunt Shana joined us. That was the best time that nigga had gotten at a rodeo. I looked around the arena and sawmy mama and Bali, jumping excitedly, just as we were. As I was about to walk off to go to the tunnel where he and Uncle Red went, I saw Noni. She looked like she’d lost her best friend. I supposed she was in danger of that very thing.
I hoped she could get her act together. I still felt like she and Red could work things out if they got their tempers and attitudes under control. They were so much alike, and that was why they were constantly bumping heads. Slowly shaking my head, I walked off in search of my boy. He’d done what he came here to do. He made a statement that he was ready to take the nationals championship back to Big City Nome.
CHAPTER 11
RED SQUARED
