“We were fearless, that’s for sure.”
“And is Naomi as fearless?” I ask him as she bounces around in her adorable straw cowboy hat, pink button-up shirt with rhinestones on the collar tucked in her jeans and kid size belt buckle and pink cowboy boots.
“Unfortunately, I think she is.”
He grins and kisses my hand. We decided to talk to Naomi first about what’s going on between me and Cooper. Yes, she’s seven, but we want to make it veryclear that she’s not being left behind. The family is getting bigger. But I can’t ignore the bit of fear that she won’t be happy about it, and I don’t know what I’ll do.
“Today will either end in tears, or a ‘I can’t wait to do it again,’” Cooper says.
I snort, and Naomi’s wide green eyes take in all the fair food and rides.
When we get to the arena, I follow behind as he checks her in and gets her number and pins to go on her vest. Then we’re directed to the waiting area while they get everyone organized.
“I can go wait in the stands,” I tell Cooper.
“Nonsense, I want you here.”
“You’re not going to cheer me on?” Naomi asks.
“Of course I will!”
She stares at me for a minute, then goes back to trying to zip up her vest that protects her chest and ribs.
When I glance at Cooper, I find him watching me, and my cheeks get hot.
“What? Is there something on my face?” I ask wiping my cheeks.
“Nope, just my lips,” he says quietly and pecks me on the cheek.
Naomi huffs, slapping her hands against her thighs. “Daddy, I can’t get my vest, can you please,” she whines.
Cooper chuckles and squats down to zip up her vest and check the Velcro on the sides. “Tight, but not too tight?” he asks her.
She takes a deep breath and puffs it out. “Yes.”
“Alright, killer, let’s go get’em.”
Naomi nods with a serious look on her face, and we wait on the small set of bleachers as the first few kids go. I watch them in simultaneous nervousness and excitement as a little boy holds onto the sheep for so long they have to pull him off. While another little girl hangs on for five seconds and falls off into the dirt.
“Hayes!” an organizer calls.
“Ready, princess?”
Naomi dips her chin once, oddly focused for a seven-year-old, and Cooper takes her cowboy hat off and puts her helmet on.
“Can you hold this?” Cooper asks me, handing me Naomi’s hat. I take it and follow them to the chute where a sheep who looks thoroughly annoyed is locked in.
“Remember what we practiced, arms and thighs. Make sure you squeeze both.”
Naomi glances at me with wide, slightly fearful eyes. “You can do this. You’ve been practicing. You’re ready.”
Her eyes soften, and she looks up at her father. He lifts her onto the sheep and she situates herself before they open the gate.
“Ready?” the gate operator calls.
Naomi gives a thumbs-up to Cooper, and he lets go as the gate operator yanks the rope. The sheep and Naomi go flying out of the gate, and the animal takes off. Naomi hangs on for dear life but falls off in a matter of seconds.
My heart leaps out of my chest, and I swallow down my panic as Cooper hops into the ring and runs out to Naomi in the dirt.
