Chapter 27 #2
He grinned and offered a hand to shake. “I thought you looked familiar. Call me and we’ll have a good talk.”
Wow. Okay. This kid might very well ride for ninety. But if he didn’t today, he would soon.
“Thank you, sir,” Pistol told him. “I know that I’m just a rookie, but I got this. I’m gonna be the greatest thing ever to hit bull riding. You watch and see.”
“No such thing as ‘just’. I can’t wait. Your dad will be proud. Good ride, cowboy.”
Pistol gave him a confident nod, hat brim dipping, then headed for the chutes.
He picked up his Coke and was still grinning as he entered the stands.
God, he couldn’t wait to tell Bodie this story.
He’d had no idea Thierry Simpson’s son was riding today, or how much of the circuit he’d already been on.
He was going to have to keep his eyes open.
There was nothing like being in a position to sign rodeo royalty.
Bodie had brought this to him whether or not he knew it. Damn.
He headed for his seat, nodding here and there to people who had become friends. Most of them gave him encouraging nods because they knew Bodie had had a bad weekend. He was hopeful today would be better.
“Cole.”
Huh. Another former rider he’d met through Rowdy. It was close to finals so they were coming out of the woodwork. “Ash. Good to see you.” He took his seat and pulled up the event on his phone to see when, and which bull, Pistol would be riding. “How’ve you been?”
“Nothing to complain about. You?”
“Oh, good. Great. I’ve got a champ on my roster, you know. No complaints here either.”
“I do know. He’s a good guy. Solid. I hear that y’all are getting real friendly.”
“We are. Interesting that you heard that, but it’s true.” He squinted at the line-up, thinking it best to change the subject. “Did you know Thierry Simpson’s son is riding today?”
“Little Pistol?” Ash blinked. “No shit? I thought Thierry was only raising ropers.”
“Apparently, he’s a chip off the old block. I have it on good authority—Pistol’s that is—that he’s going to ride for ninety and leave in the money. I gave him my business card. Because if it doesn’t happen today, you know it will.”
Ash shook his head. “Man, if there is any human being on Earth that is biologically made to do this, Pistol’s the guy. Seriously. Go you. You gonna keep Bodie on too? Work both sides against the middle?”
“Not sure what Bodie’s plans are yet. We’re going to rework his contract after finals, so we’ll see.
” Bodie’s plans one way or another were no one’s business yet, but Ash had been around long enough to know anything could happen.
“Pistol isn’t a champion contender just yet, so yeah, it’s possible I keep them both. ”
“Good deal. I’m betting on Bodie for the championship this year. He’s got my vote.”
He nodded. “Mine too, thank you. It’s been a tough weekend for him. I’m not sure why.”
Ash shrugged, but the expression was unconcerned. “He’s not a kid. His body is wearing down, even if he doesn’t say it. We wear down.”
“Don’t tell him that.” Not yet anyway. Maybe never. Certainly not before finals. Cole was going to make sure Bodie felt like the stud he was between now and then. “I know you’re right, though. He does too.”
Ash nodded. “It’s tough, man, but he’s not a dumb guy. He rides smart, not emotional.”
“He does. He’s all business—oh! That’s Pistol in the chute.” He pulled out his phone to record the ride.
The kid rode like a dream, like a man who didn’t worry a bit about getting hurt. Pistol rode with pure balance, damn near floating on the top of the bull, breaking at the hip, spurring the entire time.
“Okay, I’ve never seen this kid ride. I’d remember him if I had.” He’d have added the kid to his watchlist long ago. “He just comes out of nowhere to debut the weekend before finals? That’s quite a statement, huh? I wonder why Thierry isn’t here to see this?”
Ash winced. “Oh man, it’s hard for Thierry to get around. Bull riding was hard on him; he’s pretty much in a wheelchair these days. His wife kind of keeps him at the ranch. It was a rough life for him, physically.”
Cole sighed. “Oh, I didn’t know. I’m sorry.” So Pistol was out here doing this for his dad. Right on. “Hopefully, he saw that ride on TV. Wow.”
Ash actually laughed at that. “Oh, I bet there are ten riders out there videoing it and sending it to his mom. Don’t you worry about that. Probably every angle so that Thierry could critique it.”
“Nice.” Cole chuckled. He liked all the positive energy. He looked at the line-up again as they waited for Pistol’s score. Bodie didn’t ride for what seemed like ages, even with his tough weekend.
“Ninety-three point eight!”
The crowd went wild, and Pistol did a cartwheel across the dirt.
“Woohoo!” He was up on his feet applauding. “Amazing! He said he was going to and he did. Wild.” All he could think was that’s my next one. The kid had sought him out just like Bodie had. He couldn’t wait to talk to his cowboy about this. He was so excited.
By the time Bodie rode, everyone was taking a bathroom break before the short-go, and he bucked off at seven seconds.
So… maybe tonight wasn’t the night to tell him an upcoming champion just asked for his representation. It might be a quiet night. He’d wait and take his lead from Bodie on conversations. Period.
He shook hands with Ash and made his way out of the stands.
He already knew he’d get a text suggesting they just meet at the truck so he headed that way even before Bodie had time to send it.
He just hoped Church stayed out of everyone’s way.
This wasn’t the night to get into it with either of them.
Bodie was in the truck before he got there, hat down over his face, slumped down in the seat.
Hiding.
He didn’t bother to mention that no one—not a cowboy in the world—could hide in a burnt orange truck. He just climbed into the passenger seat and rested a hand on Bodie’s thigh. “Hey, cowboy. You ready to get moving?” They could take the dogs out down the road a bit where the eyes were off of them.
“God yes. I was avoiding the fans. I’m not feeling handshaky, you know?” Bodie grinned at him and winked.
“I get it.” Since he got the grin, he decided he could tease. “You better let me drive and lie down on the floorboard then because there is no missing this truck.”
Bodie waggled his eyebrows. “Stop maligning my goddamn truck. It is the perfect truck. On the day that this truck dies, I will have a giant Viking ceremony and set it on fire as it floats down the river on a boat. I love this truck.”
He grinned at Bodie. “I know. That’s the only reason I’m willing to be seen in it.” Maligning the truck. At this point, if he didn’t tease about the truck, Bodie would think there was something wrong with him.
“You are only bad-mouthing my truck because you are worried that you are not man enough to be seen in this glorious, amazing truck of joy.” Bodie’s hand slid out and stroked his thigh. “Trust me, you don’t have to worry.”
“You got me. I am completely insecure in my manhood.” It was good to play a little. Drag Bodie out of this weekend funk. “You can keep telling me how much I don’t have to worry. I’m listening.”
“It’s true, you don’t have to worry. You are totally a stud.” Bodie winked at him, rolled his eyes. “What’s your position on marriage?”
Okay, that was not something that he had expected to hear.
And it was something he never thought he’d have to answer either.
He glanced at Bodie. “Well, maybe you’ll have to propose to me and find out.”
“All right, good to know.” Bodie nodded to him and then leaned back, his expression satisfied.
That was irritating as fire, because what did that mean, in a practical sense? Then again, maybe it didn’t matter. He was Bodie’s with or without a ring, and until this very minute, he hadn’t ever considered the “with” part.
“You driving or am I? The pups are going to need to potty.”
“Can I trust you to drive my truck? I mean, you don’t seem to love her like I do.”
He was going to kick Bodie’s butt.
“I love you. You love the truck. Ergo, I love the truck.” He chuckled. “Or something like that.”
“I love you. I love the truck. Let’s go home and see our dogs.” Bodie sat up and started the truck.