The rodeo clown encourages the sheep away from Naomi, and Cooper stoops down, picking her up. He checks her up and down, and I can’t hear what he’s asking her, but she nods, and he takes her hand, walking back to the exit of the large ring. The crowd claps as I run over to them, and Cooper winks, telling me she’s okay. But I unbuckle the strap of her helmet and pull it off her head. “Are you okay?” I ask her.
She throws herself into my arms, crying on my shoulder. Shock rolls through me, and I pull myself together enough to remember to hug her back and glance at Cooper.
He watches us with soft eyes, and it melts my heart.
“I didn’t hold on long enough. I didn’t make it to the next round,” she cries.
Cooper takes her helmet for me, and I rub her back. “It’s okay, you gave it your all and tried your best. That’s what counts.”
“But … but…” she cries and pulls back her little bottom lip, trembling.
She looks up at Cooper and taps her chest.
“I know, princess, but it’s going to be okay,” he says patting her back.
Naomi turns to me.
Not sure what to make of the exchange, I look her in the eye. “I know it stinks, but we aren’t going to win everything. But that’s okay, did you have fun?” I ask her.
She lifts a shoulder and drops her gaze.
“Did you learn something?” I ask her.
She nods.
“Okay, tell me what you learned?”
She glances at Cooper first. “I learned that I need to squeeze my legs harder.”
“So then, what are you going to do next time?” I ask her.
“Squeeze my legs harder,” she says, as the tears dry up.
“That a girl,” I say and hug her again.
Cooper pats her back and smiles at me.
I set her cowboy hat back on her head, and that seemed to solve the issue, and the sting of losing is a distant memory.
“I’m hungry. How about you? Let’s go get you something to eat.”
“Can I do some of the rides too?” Naomi asks, clasping her hands together.
Cooper puffs out his cheeks. “Okay, but only a couple. You don’t need to puke again. Remember last year?” he asks.
“Yeah,” Naomi sighs.
Cooper shoves her helmet and vest into his backpack and throws it over his shoulder as we follow Naomi out of the arena.
“She did all that work for just a few seconds?” I ask him under my breath.
Cooper chuckles, throwing his arm over my shoulders. “Sometimes a few seconds is all you need. The fall definitely startled her, but something tells me it only hardened her resolve.”
“She’s going to be a handful as she gets older,” I tell him.
Cooper grins. “Don’t I know it. I’m bracing myself for her to ask if she can start barrel racing. I know a few, and they’re crazy.”
“Daddy! Mae! Come on!” Naomi calls.
