CARTER LEGEND
Iinhaled the THC as my dad, Mythic, and Epic watched me. It was the last night of the NFR. We’d been here for almost two weeks. I was barely holding second place. I had to get at least ninety points tonight to be in the running for first place. I got bucked off the first night before getting my eight seconds. That was a rare occurrence.
Seeing Bali break down over something I’d done killed me inside. Deep down, I knew the woman I loved. She resorted to a level of desperation to avenge her niece’s death . . . our niece’s death. I knew that as soon as I got back home from Vegas, I was going to her. There was no way I could live, let alone function without her. I left her ring on her dresser, because it belonged to her. I wouldn’t buy a ring for anyone else. She was meant to be mine, and I was meant to be hers.
In my head, I felt like she didn’t consider how her actions would affect anyone . . . not even herself. It was like she’d made a hasty decision without evaluating the possible consequences. I needed her.Fuck all that other shit.No matter how uneasy I felt about what she did, once the anger wore off, I realized it didn’t tarnish my love for her. I’d put us through all this bullshit unnecessarily.
Red Squared had wrestled the fuck out of those steers these ten days and had placed first, tying his dad’s record. Karima placed first in barrel racing. Milana had placed second in barebacking, and Rylan was first in calf roping. Seeing them only reminded me that Bali wasn’t here. Noni had stayed out of sight. I knew that was so she didn’t fuck up my mental. It didn’t matter, though. My mental was already fucked up.
I passed the blunt to my dad and stood to get ready. I wore the same shit that my dad wore back in the day, from the cross around my neck to the spurs on my boots. His name was on his vest, so I just added Carter right above it. Uncle Red and Squared walked into the trailer, and Unc came straight to me and started praying. Uncle Zay had even come in for support.
Still . . . while he was praying, my mind went back to Bali. I hadn’t spoken to her since I made love to her in the shower. The NFR lasted ten days. We took the drive on Wednesday and finished up Thursday. We had Friday to chill and do whatever we wanted to do. Then, the competition started on Saturday.
Today was Monday night, day ten of the finals and almost two weeks since I last saw my baby. We would be hitting the road tomorrow and expected to get home by Wednesday. It was Tuesday before last that I left her an emotional mess. We were both a mess. I kept reiterating how long we’d been apart, because I couldn’t believe the shit myself. I missed her like crazy.
When Uncle Red was done praying, I slid my boots on, my spurs already attached, and grabbed my Stetson. I stretched my neck by tilting my head side-to-side, then did a partial back bend, making sure I was as loose as possible. I grabbed my helmet, and we left the trailer, headed for the chute. Once we got there, I would take off my Stetson and put the helmet on to protect my head, mainly my face.
On our way there, I saw Noni, Milana, Karima, and Rylan’s wife, Angel, heading to the concessions. I stared at Noni for thelongest, not even realizing I’d stopped walking. In my mind, I imagined she was Bali . . . that she was here, enjoying herself, and rooting for me to win. When my dad squeezed my shoulder, I started walking again.
“I need you to focus on why you’re here, son. Immediately after, you can go to wherever you need to go to in your mind. Just, right now, I need you to focus, so you don’t get hurt.”
Squared squeezed my other shoulder as I closed my eyes and nodded. I was here to win this fucking thing. I refused to come all the way to fucking Las Vegas and walk away with less than a first-place ranking. Like Joe Jackson said onThe Jacksons: An American Dream, second place was still losing. I didn’t come here to lose. I nodded repeatedly and mentally retreated to that compartment in my mind that only contained me riding the fuck out of that bull.
When we got in the tunnel, close to the chute, I handed my Stetson to Squared and put on my helmet while Uncle Red quoted scriptures. This one was talking about putting on the whole armor of God. I appreciated him for always making sure we were at our best spiritually before competing.
Squared and I climbed up the back of the chute, and I prepared to slide down onto the back of the bull they named,Total Loss. Those names were supposed to be intimidating, but I wasn’t intimidated in the least. His ass had better be intimidated by these spurs that were going to be slicing his shoulders and body up.
I never went down without a fight, but that was exactly what happened on Monday. I wasn’t fighting. As Uncle Red talked about the devil being defeated, I kissed the cross around my neck and said quietly, “Ridin’ on faith.”
I had to do this for my family. They were all in the stands rooting for me. I slid down onto the bull, only for him to start acting a damn fool. His ass was bucking before the gate evenopened. Squared tightened the rope after I slid my glove-covered hand in the rigging. My mind was clear, but the bull’s mind seemed like it was on fucking me up. It had already pinned my leg against the gate. That was okay, though. He was ready to put on a show. The rankest bulls got the best scores.
I nodded at Squared, letting him know I was good just as the announcer began.
“The rider we have next is no stranger here. He’s been coming here since he was a lil kid, trailing behind his father, the living legend himself, Legend Semien. Now, Carter Legend Semien is making a name for himself, chasing his father’s record of nationals appearances. After this one, he only has two more to go to beat Legend’s record. But enough of that. He’s been here enough on his own merit.”
I looked over at my dad to find him watching me. He saluted me, so I saluted him back. Uncle Red nodded, and Squared and I fist bumped. “Ride that muthafucka,” he said.
“Hell yeah,” I said as I looked at the guy that was ready to swing the gate open.
I took a deep breath and closed my eyes, then nodded. I opened my eyes in time to see him swing the gate open. I began my technique almost immediately as the bull twisted and turned as it hopped in the air. My legs were swiping, hoping to draw blood and force him to submit. My body jerked about as Total Loss kicked up dirt.
The defining moment came when he decided to stop mid-rotation and go in the other direction. My back felt like it was on fire as my body twisted to try to keep my balance. That shit was painful. I could feel myself slipping as I desperately held on, still swiping the fuck out of him with my spurs.I will not be defeated. I will not be defeated.I said that repeatedly in mymind, knowing that I could accomplish whatever I put my mind to.
My arm was struggling, trying to keep myself on top of that bull until I heard the buzzer. It seemed like that shit lasted for hours instead of seconds, and just when I thought I couldn’t take a second longer, the buzzer sounded, indicating I’d made the eight seconds. I would automatically get fifty points. Hopefully, the bull got a good score, too, because that muthafucka was giving me a run for my money.
The buzzer had sounded, but I wasn’t in the best position to dismount. I was still hanging on, hoping that I could adjust myself now that I could lower my other arm. The rodeo clowns were ready to distract him, running in circles around him. After an extra three seconds, I was able to dismount and roll to the dirt.
I was pretty sure my dad was triggered when he saw what almost happened next. That bull advanced me and had lowered his head to knock me off my feet, but one of the clowns dove on me, knocking me out of the way, and the others distracted the bull and led him out of the arena. I took a deep breath, then thanked God for the man on top of me, shielding me from harm.
Once he stood, I did the same and wiped the dirt off my neck, then took the helmet off and wiped my face. I nodded my thanks to him, because that bull could have taken me out. I could finally hear the deafening applause for me. It was like when I was on that bull, the only thing I could hear was my own thoughts. I saluted the crowd, then walked toward the back where my dad, Uncle Red, Uncle Zay, and Red Squared were waiting.
My dad ran to me and picked me up as he spun around.Strong ass.I was six feet three and two hundred fifty-five pounds, taller than him, and he was swinging me like I was a damn woman. He put me down as I winced in pain, then we turned to the scoreboard as the announcer went on and on abouthow legendary my ride was. I closed my eyes because I couldn’t take the anticipation.
Finally, he said,“Ladies and gentlemen, Carter Legend has exceeded my expectations tonight. A ninety-six point seveeeeeen! That’s how you do it! All the way from southeast Texas in a small town called Liberty! Southeast Texas has dominated the NFR this year! Legend Semien has to be proud!”
I stooped to the ground and cried. I wasn’t even thinking about how I had just taken first place and beat my dad’s best score. All I could think about was how Bali wasn’t here to see it. She was my biggest cheerleader and my best friend. Red Squared had taken a back seat to Bali. Because of my insecurities and doubts, I’d deprived her of this moment.
My dad pulled me from the ground and hugged me tightly as people continued to cheer, and the announcer talked about how rare it was to get that high of a score at the finals. When he released me, Red Squared hugged me. He’d won, having an average of three point four seconds for his event. He’d done well every night. It was me that had been struggling. Uncle Red hugged me next, then we made our way to the common area.
