Hand high in the air, I spur his flank on the left, hoping to send him right. He buries his head, tossing me off my seat as he kicks out high.
I crash back down. The force jolts all the way up my spine, sending tingles in places they shouldn’t go.
Grunting, I bear down and send him forward, spurring him on, left leg.
He tosses to the right.
It’s all I can do to hold the fuck on and lean back, praying I make the eight.
The crowd spins as Fizzer takes up a pattern on my weaker side. My body starts sliding to the right, spinning me out like yesterday’s laundry.
The clock over the chutes comes and goes in a red blur.
Still not eight.
I lean forward and press in with my left leg, hauling my weight across.
Fizzer is too quick. My seat leaves the beast’s back as the buzzer sounds, and I’m off over his shoulder. My ass slams into the dirt, spittle and froth hitting my face.
Fuck.
Hot snorting breath hits my back.
FUCK.
I’m practically under the fucker.
I crawl away, scrambling to my feet, stumbling before sprinting for the rail. Climbing it, I dare a glance back. He’s right on me, his horn brushing past my thigh as he rushes past. Loganand his posse are goading him, coaxing him away from the rail and toward the return gate.
I hang my head.
“What a ride! Folks, this cowboy is well on his way to a solid comeback.” The announcer waves his hand toward the score screen.
The clock made eight.
Hell yes!
The score shows an 83.5.
With a whoop, I toss my hat off and into the air.
It’s not the greatest score, nowhere near my best. But damn, considering the draw I was dealt... not too bad.
The crowd cheers and I stand tall on the second to last rung, waving with both arms. The beat of a country song has them all standing in the stands. They clap their hands to the beat as I climb back down the rail.
It’s then I see Maggie, camera held up.
Pointing right at me.
She lowers it, her face alive with a pretty smile that drops like a stone in stagnant water when our gazes meet.
“Jonesy, you good?” A hand slaps my back.
Logan runs past.
“Yeah, bud.” I climb through the rails and walk past the crowd, heading for Maggie.
She sets her shoulders as I approach.
