Chapter 27
CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN
It was two days later, and Mina discovered that the arena in Tulsa wasn’t anything like the other ones she’d been in when traveling with her Daddies on the circuit.
“This place is huge!” she said. “Like something in Dallas.”
Jackson nodded. “Yeah. This is their big concert venue. We’re smack downtown. It ain’t some rural fairground, that’s for damn sure.”
You wouldn’t know it by looking at it, though, Mina thought. The floor had been covered in dirt. Chutes and gates had been erected. The place was ready to host the big rodeo. Next week, it would probably look like a typical concert arena, with some popular singer hosting a show there.
It was empty now, save for a few other riders who were there, getting their rigging out, along with their teams, and the officials as they put the last-minute touches on. Soon, though, Mina knew it would be packed with nineteen thousand people, all wanting to see her Daddy—and other competitors—ride bulls.
Mina sure didn’t want Slater to go through with it. She’d cheer for him. Nothing could stop her from doing that. But she’d pray for him, too. And hold out hope that he’d pull through unscathed.
But maybe it wouldn’t come to that, she thought. If she could just find something out about Hugo Sparks…
Over the past couple of weeks, she’d pulled on several digital threads, but the mystery hadn’t unraveled yet.
Perhaps it wouldn’t. Because maybe there wasn’t any mystery to solve. What if Hugo Sparks was just who he claimed to be—a cunning, shrewd, unethical, yet totally legal real estate developer out to increase his holdings?
“I brought my computer,” she said, holding up her backpack. “I’m gonna go find a spot to do some work.”
“Everything okay?” Slater asked her.
“Yeah. Just need to work on some paper stuff.”
She wasn’t lying. The danger Big Cedar was facing was huge news! And if she could do a hard-hitting investigative piece on Hugo Sparks, then that would be even better.
She retreated up into the nearly empty stands, got out her computer, connected it to the wi-fi, and got to work.
It only half distracted her, though.
She was a nervous wreck as she worried about Daddy.
* * *
“Mina!”
Mina looked up from her screen to see Daisy headed up the stairs that led to where she sat in the stands. The arena was starting to fill up now, though it was far from at capacity. They still had an hour before the rodeo started.
“Daisy!” she hollered, standing. That’s when she noted the long line of folks behind her friend.
The three firefighters were there, along with Sheriff Quinn and Alyssa, Joe and Mindy, Doc and Janie, Clyde and Belinda, Theo and Grace, Amber and her Daddy, Sawyer. Even Marsha had come!
“What are you all doing here?” Mina asked.
“We came to support y’all. And cheer really loudly,” Daisy said.
“And maybe talk some sense into your Daddy,” Walker added.
“Come on,” Mina said, hugging Daisy and then waving at everyone else since she couldn’t get to them for embraces. “If we go back down the stairs, I’ll lead the way to where he’s at. You can say hi to him before it starts.”
They did just that, and she took the lead once they’d all gotten down from the stands.
Walking down another staircase, they entered the bowels of the massive arena and eventually came to the large, cavernous room where the competitors were all waiting. Mina led the Big Cedar group to where Slater sat at a plastic folding table, his boots up on it as he leaned back in his chair.
Jackson was close by, his hip resting on the table itself, facing Slater, so he didn’t see the group as they approached. But Slater did, slapping his boots down and jumping to his feet.
“What are y’all doing here?”
“You thought we’d let you ride the big one alone?” Walker said.
“No way we’d do that,” Cane added.
“We looked at the lineup,” Quinn said. “There are some beasts in there. Did you draw your bull yet?”
Mina watched as Slater and Jackson looked at each other. She could tell by their facial expressions that it wasn’t good news they were about to share.
Sure enough, Slater said, “Son of Satan.”
“What?” Mina cried. She stepped closer. “I mean, I don’t know anything about these bulls. But that name doesn’t sound good!”
“Hey, maybe it’s like one of those things where everyone calls the huge guy Tiny ,” Alyssa said with a hopeful glean in her eyes, putting a hand on Mina’s shoulder.
But Slater winced. “Not exactly. He’s, uh, one of the worst as far as reputations go.”
“Son of Satan,” Mina repeated softly, speaking more to herself than anyone else.
Slater tried to brush it off. “Hey, I’ve probably ridden worse.”
Mina didn’t think he sounded very convincing.
Quinn stepped forward. “Slater, are you absolutely sure?—”
Slater shrugged the question off. “Guys, I’m fine. I promise.” He laughed, but it seemed forced to Mina. “This bull is just the son of Satan. I’ve ridden Satan himself before, and he couldn’t throw me!”
No one else laughed.
“Well, we’re rooting for you,” Marsha said. “And when you get back to Big Cedar, your first meal is on the house. So you three come on into the café.” She let her eyes fall from Slater to Jackson and then to Mina.
Mina smiled and nodded appreciatively, but it was all she could do to keep from crying. Fear had gripped her, and it wasn’t letting her loose anytime soon.
Not until after Daddy finished that ride.
Assuming he finished it in one piece and alive…
“We’ll be cheering for you really loud,” Mindy said.
“Yep,” Grace agreed. “Yelling your name and everything!”
Belinda spoke up, adding, “Just be careful!”
It felt strange to Mina to see the woman dressed in “big girl” clothes and without her trademark pacifier. But being as how they were out in the “real world,” none of the Littles had on their usual frilly dresses or pink rompers.
The group all shook Slater’s hand, patted him on the back, and then filed away back toward the stands.
“I, uh, better go with them,” Mina said.
She turned but didn’t make it very far before running back to Slater, jumping into his arms, and sobbing into his chest.
“Daddy! You have to be okay! Promise me you will be!”
She felt the man’s body go rigid against hers. It almost seemed as if he was forcing back tears. Perhaps as big and tough as he was, seeing his little girl cry was too much.
Changing a glance at Jackson, she saw that his eyes seemed a little damp, too. A heaviness hung in the air.
“I promise, sweetpea. Just trust your Daddies,” Slater said.
They kissed. She then kissed Jackson. Who cared if anyone saw? It was their life. They could live it however the hell they wanted to.
“You run along now, honey,” Slater said, patting her behind. “Get up in the stands where it’s safe.”
She sniffled, dried her eyes, and then obeyed.
She just hoped it wasn’t for the last time.