Chapter Nine
Jackson
I arrived at the arena, thankful this one was indoors. The sun blazed outside, and even this late in the year, Las Vegas still felt too hot for my taste. My heart pounded in my chest, adrenaline coursing through my veins, as I made sure everything was prepared for my final ride. This was it -- my last chance to prove myself in the rodeo ring.
“Hey, Jackson,” a fellow competitor greeted me with a slap on the back. “Ready for your big moment?”
“Damn straight,” I replied with a grin, trying to hide the nerves gnawing at my insides. I knew I had to give it my all tonight, not just for myself but for my family too -- especially my father, the legendary Ty Adler, who had been a national champion back in his day.
As I entered the chute and settled over the bronc, the crowd’s cheers washed over me. I could feel their excitement. It was intoxicating, and I couldn’t help but be swept up in it. The bronc I’d drawn was magnificent. I felt a pang of sadness at the thought of leaving this life behind. The rodeo had been such a huge part of my identity, and now it was coming to an end. I’d have to figure out who I was if I wasn’t a rodeo cowboy anymore.
“All right, big fella,” I murmured. “Let’s make this one count, huh?”
With a deep breath, I settled my hat more firmly on my head.
“Jackson!” I heard someone call out from the sidelines. Glancing over, I saw my sister Danica waving frantically, her husband Ranger standing beside her with a proud smile. I raised a hand in acknowledgment, a surge of warmth filling me at the sight of my family cheering me on. Then I realized… Looking out at the audience, I saw Mia. Shit. It looked like time was up. She’d be meeting part of my family today.
I gave myself a mental slap, focusing on the task at hand. Don’t screw this up. It’s your last chance!
I gave the men a nod and the gate swung open. The horse burst out of the chute. I spurred him on as he twisted and bucked beneath me. Time seemed to slow down as I focused all my energy on staying on the back of the horse, feeling the burning desire to do my father proud and prove that I was worthy of the Adler name. The crowd roared around me, their cheers blending together into a cacophony of sound that only spurred me on.
As I held on for dear life, I couldn’t help but think about how much I owed to the people who had supported me over the years -- my mother, who had always been there to soothe my wounds after a tough ride; my dad, who had been my idol since I was a small boy; my sister Danica, who had never once doubted my abilities; and most importantly, my wife, who had stood by me and brought so much joy to my life.
I’m doing this for you. For all of you. The bronc continued to buck beneath me, our bodies moving in sync like a finely tuned machine. I steeled my resolve and prepared to see this final ride through to the very end.
My heart pounded in my chest like a wild stallion as the bronc beneath me strained to get me off his back. I gripped the rigging tight, taking a deep breath of that familiar scent of dirt and livestock that filled the arena. This was it -- my final ride, the culmination of years spent chasing glory in the rodeo circuit.
“Come on, Jackson! You got this!” someone shouted from the crowd, even over the roar of cheers and pounding hooves I could hear her voice. I could feel the eyes of the spectators upon me, but rather than let it rattle me, I channeled their energy into my own performance.
Eight seconds, just hold on for eight seconds. Gritting my teeth, I expertly leaned into each buck and twist. With every movement, I felt more and more in tune with the animal beneath me, our bodies working together to provide the audience with an amazing show.
“Eight seconds, folks! This cowboy has given us one hell of a ride! Wait… What’s this? He’s still going?” The announcer’s voice boomed through the arena as the buzzer sounded. In that moment, I knew I had done it. I had shown everyone what I was made of and proven to myself that I still had what it took to compete at the highest level. But I wasn’t done. I was going out with a bang.
“I’ve never seen anything like it,” the announcer said. “Not since Lane Frost, and as you know, he was a bull rider. Folks, this is one hell of a cowboy!”
“Whoo! That’s how you do it, Adler!” one of my fellow competitors called out as I let go and flew off the bronc, adrenaline still coursing through my body. “Hell of a ride, man!”
“Thanks,” I replied, climbing the rails of the arena. A grin spread across my face as I took in the sea of applause that washed over me. It was like a wave of pure joy, and I couldn’t help but feel humbled by the outpouring of support.
“Eleven seconds, folks! This cowboy held on for an eleven-second ride. Amazing!”
I scanned the crowd and spotted Mia. I waved to her and gave her a wink.
“Jackson! You were amazing!” Danica gushed as she made her way through the crowd toward me, her eyes shining with pride. “I wish Dad could have seen this.”
“I’m sure he watched it on TV,” Ranger said.
“Thanks, sis,” I said, pulling her into a tight hug. “There’s something I need to tell you. Or rather someone I need you to meet, but Mom and Dad don’t know yet.”
Her eyes went wide. “Are you seeing someone?”
Mia pushed her way through the crowd and threw her arms around me. “I can’t believe you rode for eleven seconds! I’ve never seen anyone do that before.”
My sister eyed Mia, then me, and I saw the moment she realized this was the person I wanted her to meet. “Mia, this is my sister, Danica, and her husband, Ranger.”
Mia gasped and glanced at them. “Oh. Um…”
“You have a pregnant girlfriend?” Danica asked. “And you didn’t tell any of us? Are you insane?”
I held up my left hand. “Actually, she’s my wife.”
Ranger let out a low whistle. “Man, I do not want to be you. Your parents are going to kill you when they find out.”
“Don’t say anything. Please. I want to tell them in person. In fact, we’re heading to Alabama when we leave Vegas.”
“Fine.” Danica shook her head. “But it’s your funeral. And don’t you dare tell them I knew about this!”
My sister turned to Mia and gave her a soft smile. Ranger reached out to take Mia’s hand. “It’s nice to meet you.”
“Why don’t we take your wife and find a quiet place to sit? Maybe a nearby restaurant?” Danica asked.
“You don’t want to stick around and see if I won?”
Ranger snorted. “Yeah, like anyone is going to beat that score? Have you seen your stats? You’ve won. Congratulations, man.”
Mia hugged me once more and reluctantly left with my sister and Ranger. And just as he’d said, I’d won. As of today, I was the national champion bronc rider, and it felt fucking fantastic.
“Thank you, Mia,” I murmured. “For everything.”
It wasn’t until now I’d finally realized I didn’t just like her. I loved her. As soon as we got away from the rodeo crowd, and my family, I’d tell her. It was time for me to confess how I felt.
“Jackson!” a voice called out, pulling me from my thoughts. A man in a black cowboy hat approached, extending his hand with a business card. “Impressive ride out there. I represent a major sponsor, and we’d love to have you on board.”
I glanced at the card before looking back at him, weighing the implications of what he was offering. The temptation tugged at me, but I knew deep down that it wasn’t the life I wanted anymore. Not now that I had something -- someone -- even more important to me.
“Thank you,” I said, handing the card back. “But I’m done with the rodeo circuit after tonight. I appreciate the offer, though.”
“Are you sure?” he asked, eyebrows raised in surprise. “There are some great opportunities for you here.”
“I’m sure. My wife and I have other plans. We’re expecting our first baby, and I’m not going to miss out on all my daughter’s firsts.”
“All right, then,” the man said, tipping his hat. “Best of luck to you both.”
I waited with the others for the announcements of the winners for each event, each of us anxiously shifting, our boots kicking up dust. As each winner’s name came over the loudspeaker, the crowd went wild. The moment I saw my event was next, every muscle in my body tensed up. Had I scored high enough? Sure, I’d held on longer than anyone else, but that wasn’t going to count. However, there were other factors aside from holding on for eight seconds. No matter how long I’d hung on, if any other aspect of my performance had been lackluster, I could still fall short of coming in first place.
“Let’s hear it for this year’s bareback bronc champion… Jackson Adler!” the announcer boomed over the loudspeakers. “Now folks, this is what we call a legacy. His daddy, Ty Adler, was also a national champion. Let’s give it up for Jackson Adler!”
The rest of the awards passed in a blur. Once it was all done, I knew it was time to go share the news with my family. I checked my phone and located the restaurant Danica had selected. The moment I walked into the place, I received congratulations from multiple people.
Danica stood up from her table and waved at me. I hurried in her direction, leaning down to hug Mia and kiss her cheek.
“You did it, Jackson!” Mia smiled up at me. “I’m so proud of you.”
“Dad and Mom were watching,” Danica said. “Thankfully, the cameras didn’t catch our little family reunion, and the broadcast didn’t say anything about your wife. But seriously, Jackson, you need to tell them. Mia said you’ve been married for six months, and clearly she’s far more pregnant than that. What the hell were you thinking?”
Ranger grabbed her hand and made her sit down. “Let it go, Dani. He’s a grown-ass man. You have to let him live his own life.”
“Yeah, sis. Loosen up the apron strings. Save that shit for Langston. Or better yet, your own kid.” I winked at Mia before facing Danica. “Where’s Tucker? Did you leave my nephew behind?”
“Not exactly. We dropped him off with Mom and Dad,” Danica said. “Then we flew to Vegas. Since you drive to all your rodeo events, I guess you’ll be going back to Alabama the hard way. Although…”
“What?” I asked.
“How pregnant is Mia, exactly?” she asked.
“I’m due within the next week,” Mia said. “Why?”
“Didn’t your doctor caution you about traveling this late in your pregnancy?” Danica asked. “You really shouldn’t have come all the way to Vegas either, unless the two of you have been living here.”
I reached over to take Mia’s hand. “We’ve had to move around so much she doesn’t have a regular doctor. She’s gone to clinics when we’ve been able to work an appointment into the rodeo schedule. There’s one here she’s seen three times, but without insurance…”
As a rodeo cowboy, it wasn’t like I had an easy way to add her to an insurance plan. The one I had was through the Dixie Reapers. Although, since Wire knew what was going on, I should have asked if he could discreetly add her. I wasn’t sure how it was set up, though. There was a chance the officers would have seen the information, and then my dad would have found out.
Danica narrowed her eyes. “Seriously, Jackson? That sounds like some fucked-up shit Foster would pull, you know, if he rode horses and not a motorcycle.”
I winced, not appreciating the comparison. “I’m not a fuckup like him.”
“Can’t prove it from where I’m sitting,” she muttered.
Once Ranger calmed my sister down, the rest of dinner went smoothly. We parted ways and I took Mia back to our hotel. After hearing what my sister said about traveling this close to her due date, I was more than a little worried. What if we’d hurt the baby by driving all over the place?
“Jackson?” Mia asked, breaking the silence that had enveloped us. “Are you okay?”
“Ah, just thinking about how to tell my folks about us,” I admitted. “I’m not sure how they’ll take it.”
“Your family loves you, Jackson. They’ll understand,” she reassured me, her hand resting gently on my thigh.
“Maybe,” I muttered, unconvinced. My mind raced with what-ifs, each more terrifying than the last. What if they judged Mia for her past? What if their disappointment severed our already fragile relationship? I’d finally felt like Mia and I were in a good place, but it wouldn’t take much for her to start doubting herself again.
“Jackson, we can’t control how they’ll react,” Mia said softly. “We just have to be honest and hope for the best.”
“Right,” I agreed, though my heart still weighed heavy in my chest.
“Besides,” she continued, a mischievous smile playing at the corners of her lips, “once they meet Poppy, they’ll be too busy falling in love with her to worry about anything else. Do you really think they’ll be able to act cold toward us once they see our precious baby?”
Just as I began to relax, imagining my family’s adoration for our baby girl, Mia gasped, clutching her belly.
“Hey, what’s wrong?” I asked, my heart hammering in my chest.
“Jackson… I think… I think my water just broke,” she stammered, panic lacing her voice.
I glanced down at the floor and realized she was now standing in a puddle. Shit! What the hell was I supposed to do? She didn’t have a bag ready or anything. I grabbed a duffle and threw in a change of clothes for her, a onesie she’d bought the baby, and a handful of diapers out of the package she’d insisted on getting last week. Maybe deep down she’d known it was time.
Once I had everything I thought she’d need, I helped her out to the truck. I broke every speed limit on the way to the hospital.
“Almost there, babe,” I reassured Mia as we pulled into the driveway. “Just hold on.”
A few minutes later, I pulled up to the ER. Helping Mia from the truck, I saw an orderly come out with a wheelchair. While he took her inside, I parked and then rushed back to Mia’s side. A nurse was asking her questions, but her contractions were causing her so much pain she couldn’t seem to focus.
“She’s my wife. Can I fill out the paperwork while someone helps her?” I asked.
“Jackson…” Mia groaned, her breathing labored as her contractions grew more intense. She held out her hand to me, and I grasped it.
“Let me fill out these forms and I’ll come find you.”
The triage nurse finished entering the basics, gave her a wristband, then sent her to the maternity ward. When I got to the part about insurance, I knew we were going to have an issue. I called Wire, not knowing what else to do.
“Hello,” Wire said, answering on the second ring.
“It’s Jackson. Listen, Mia just went into labor, and we’re at the hospital in Las Vegas. She doesn’t have insurance. I don’t know what the hell to put for all this financial shit.”
“Well, I didn’t see that one coming,” Wire said. “I mean, I found your marriage certificate, and her medical records. I thought she still had a little time before the baby got here. And you still haven’t told your family?”
I cleared my throat. “Technically, Danica and Ranger know. They came here for the national rodeo. Fuck. I need to call Danica and let her know we’re at the hospital.”
“I’m transferring ten grand into your account. Tell them you’ll pay that for a deposit and ask them to bill you for the rest. They’ll probably want a credit card on file.” Wire sighed. “You really need to tell your parents.”
“I will, just… not right now. And thanks, Wire.”
I hung up and quickly shot off a text to Danica, then filled out the rest of the papers. Once I’d made the ten-thousand-dollar payment, I went to the maternity floor where a nurse had me scrub up and put some weird gown thing over my clothes, something to cover my hair, and even little paper booties to go over my shoes. By the time I got to Mia’s side, she looked exhausted.
“You’re doing such a good job, Mia,” I said, doing my best to remain calm. “Ready to see our daughter?”
She nodded and gave me a tight smile right before another contraction hit. Hours later, as the first light of dawn filtered through the curtains, Little Poppy made her way into the world. She was tiny, healthy, and beautiful -- everything I’d hoped she’d be. As I cradled her in my arms, I fell head over heels in love.
“Welcome to the world, Poppy Adler,” I whispered, tears misting my eyes. “You’re going to be one hell of a ride.”