Chapter 31
Kacey
“Yep, he’s definitely unconscious,” Chet says from the chair across the room.
We’re all at my dad’s for family dinner, but instead of eating at the table, we’re in the living room watching the Livingston, Montana rodeo on TV.
I haven’t missed a single rodeo that was aired.
Knox has been gone for a couple weeks, but we’ve been able to keep in touch pretty well until the last few days.
He’s in the middle of the Fourth of July run now, which I learned they call Cowboy Christmas because there are so many rodeos with a ton of money to win.
When he told me about their schedule, my jaw dropped.
They started in Saint Paul, Oregon, then went to Basin City, Washington.
After tonight they’ll go to Red Lodge, Montana and Cody, Wyoming on the same day.
Then drive all the way to West Jordan and Oakley, Utah.
They’re not getting much sleep and riding a bull or two a day for eight days straight.
Sounds more like hell week than Christmas, if you ask me.
“I don’t think it stepped on his head. I think he got kicked on the way down,” Carson analyzes the replay from his seat on the couch next to me. I look away, not wanting to watch it again.
“I agree. He’s waking up, though,” Jessie says as the man in the arena gets to his feet with the help of the sports medicine team. He makes his way out of the gate as the next bull rider climbs in the chute.
Jessie and I leave for Estes Park in five days.
Saying I’m excited to see him is an understatement.
Knox tried to enter the rodeos so they would have one night off in Estes, but the association put them out differently, so he has to leave shortly after the rodeo is over.
I tried to hide how disappointed I was. I’ll only get a few hours with him, but he warned me about this, and I can handle it.
A few hours are better than nothing, and I’ll get to watch him ride in person for the first time.
“Looks like Knox is next,” Dad says, as he slides up in his chair, propping his elbows on his knees. He was a rodeo fan before Knox, but now he’s obsessed. He’s even been keeping up on the standings.
I take a sip of my drink and try to breathe normally. I get nervous when Knox rides. I know he takes all the precautions he can, but it’s still so dangerous. Look at the dude who was just unconscious—he’ll probably get on another bull tomorrow like it never happened.
They’re crazy.
The rider gets bucked off and they move the camera to Knox. He’s already in the chute warming his rope up. Now I’m sliding to the edge of my seat, wringing my hands together.
Carson pats me on the back. “He’s got this.”
Carson has come around more to the idea of Knox and me. I think Knox showing up on his way to Vernal spoke volumes to him and my dad. Now Carson ends up at my dad’s most nights watching the rodeos.
The announcer’s booming voice comes over the TV.
“Y’all are going to like this match up. We have four-time national finals qualifier Knox Ward on 608 Prime Time.
This bull has only been ridden a handful of times, but they’ve never been under 88 on him.
Knox has been riding phenomenally this year.
The man is thirty years old, but like fine wine, he just gets better with age. ”
Knox takes his wrap and slides up.
“Come on, Knox. Show ‘em how it’s done,” the announcer calls over the mic.
He nods and the gate flies open. Until Knox, I didn’t really know much about bull riding, and I still don’t, but I can see this bull bucks.
He is jumping higher than any bull I’ve seen, with his back feet kicking all the way out.
He throws his head back and makes another round, but Knox is matching him jump for jump.
“He’s got him,” I hear Dad yell.
At 6.5 seconds, we all suck in a breath as we see Knox come too far off his rope. He gets back into position enough to make it to the whistle, but it’s not enough to let him pull the tail of his bull rope and make a good get off.
I see him reach down for his rope right as the bull makes another big move, yanking the rope out of his hand.
He ends up flying backwards, almost onto the bull’s ass.
When the bull kicks, Knox goes flying right into the bucking chutes.
He slams into the chutes completely sideways, you can hear the gates rattle, even on TV.
He falls to the ground like a sack of bricks and the camera pans away to show the bullfighters going to work, getting the bull away from him and out the gate.
I clasp my hands together as they start to shake.
“Ouch. He rode him, though,” Chet says.
Jessie angrily yells at the TV, “What the hell? Put the camera back on Knox!”
It seems even camera crews in Montana are terrified of her, because they pan back over to Knox and he’s already up on his feet and inside the chute.
Someone swung the gate around to protect him in case the bull came back.
He’s got his hands on his knees; it looks like he’s trying to catch his breath.
“Talk about selling tickets, he’s the wreck and rank ride all in one night. That had to hurt, but you know what will make him feel better? A score like this: 88.5 points!” the announcer says, as Knox takes off his helmet, grits his teeth and climbs out of the chute.
I let out a breath I didn’t realize I was holding.
“I think he’s okay. He looked okay, right?” I say to no one in particular. I just need someone to tell me he’s okay, even if it’s only to make me feel better. It’s not like any of us really knows if he’s okay.
“Yeah, Bug. He got up quickly and climbed out on his own. I’m sure he’ll be sore, but he can’t be too hurt if he’s climbing out of there on his own two feet,” Dad reassures me.
Carson points up at the TV. “Look, he’s there helping Trey.”
My eyes snap back to the screen. He’s right, you can see Knox is back up on the chutes by Trey on the side of the camera frame. He took his chaps and vest off and put his cowboy hat back on. He’s talking to Trey who already has all of his gear on and Knox seems fine.
“See? He’s alright. Bull riders are tough.”
“This is his traveling partner, right?” Jessie asks.
She wasn’t at the ranch the day they stopped, and she has only seen him with his helmet on.
I never bothered to look him up online, so when they got to the ranch and I saw his shaggy blonde hair, blue eyes, and smile that could drop a nun’s panties, I knew he and Jessie would be fire and gasoline. He’s exactly her type.
“Yeah, he fell in the well and ‘got ran the fuck over’ last night. He’s gotta be sore,” I tell her.
“Language,” my dad scolds.
“It’s a loophole.” I smirk at him. “I was quoting Knox, I don’t want to misquote him.”
Carson scoffs next to me as my dad glares at me. Outside working, he’s worse than a sailor, but he’s always had a rule about cursing in the house.
“What’s the well?” Jessie asks.
“Knox explained it to me last night. When a bull starts to spin, they refer to the inside of the spin as ‘the well’ because once you fall in, there’s almost no chance of climbing back out.
He said some bulls are naturally welly because of how they buck, and they get a reputation for dropping guys in. ”
We watch Trey buck off at 6 seconds, then all of us move to the kitchen to clean up dinner. Pretty soon, my phone is ringing. I pull it out of my pocket to check the caller ID.
“Go,” my dad says, “talk to him. We’ve got this covered.”
“Thanks, I’ll text and let you know how he is.” I wave goodbye as I walk out the back door and answer Knox’s call.
“Hey, we’re packing up to head out. Wanted to call you quick.”
“Are you okay? Looked like that dismount hurt.” I catch the tremble in my voice and take a deep breath. I trot down the back steps of Dad’s house and start walking home with Rein on my heels.
I can hear Knox moving around packing up. “Yeah, I’m all good, just knocked the air out of me a little.”
“Good to hear. It was a great ride. Think you’ll win it?”
“Thanks, probably not. There’re some good matchups tomorrow night, but I should get a good check.”
“As long as you’re pulling checks, you’ll keep climbing in the standings,” I say encouragingly.
“Exactly,” I can hear the smile on his face. “Hang on one sec, I’m going to start the truck, and you’ll connect to the speakers.” I hear doors shutting and the dinging of the key in the ignition.
The phone connects to the truck speakers right as Trey asks, “What was your bull’s name?”
“Prime Time,” Knox answers.
“Yeah, Prime Time to get your shit wrecked.” Trey laughs and I hear shuffling like Knox hit him.
“Oh, fuck off. You’re the one who got thirsty last night and dove into the well.”
“I wasn’t thirsty, I thought I saw a penny,” Trey jokes back.
“It’s not a wishing well, you idiot. Unless you were wishing to get your ass ran over, then wish granted.” Knox laughs at whatever look I’m sure Trey just gave him. “Face it, you got excited, made too big of a move and end up diving in the well.”
“Hey, I wasn’t excited. I never get excited. I’m as calm and collected as a monk.”
Knox busts out laughing. “Monks shave their heads. Can I shave your head?”
“Touch my hair and we are no longer friends. The ladies love my blond locks.”
“You’re telling me I could’ve gotten rid of you at any point over the last few years if I just shaved your head?”
I watch Rein run up ahead of me, sniffing around. The guys keep going on the other end of the line. I like it. It makes me feel like I’m there, even if I’m states away.
“Psh—you know I’m great. You’d get bored without me,” Trey says confidently.
I clear my throat, and the line goes quiet for a second, like they forgot I was there.
I’ve noticed this before when I’m on the truck speaker, they get bickering like siblings and forget I’m listening.
It’s really entertaining. If anyone ever followed these two with a camera, they would have a new hit reality TV show.
“No, I’d get some peace and quiet, that’s what I’d get,” Knox states, before addressing me. “How was your day, Kace?”
I fill him in on my day and tell him, “Jack came by to shoe a couple of horses. I think he misses your company.”
“Oh yeah? Did you tell him I do a better job than he does?” I know he has a cocky grin on his face.
I laugh. “Well, if I did that, you’d have to come back to shoe horses after he quits. Matter of fact, that doesn’t sound like a bad idea.”
“Wait a minute now. Tell him in September; I can be back to shoe in October.”
I hear his maps telling him to turn up ahead.
I walk up the front steps to my house, and Rein curls up in her dog bed. “Alright, I suppose I can wait to tell him. I just got home. I still need to shower and do a load of laundry. Talk tomorrow?”
“Of course, we’re about to stop and get some food. Night, Kace.”
“Night, Knox.”
I hear Trey singsong, “Goodnight, Mrs. Ward!” as I hang up the phone.
Click.
I can’t help but shake my head at the nickname he’s taken to calling me.
Five more days until I can see Knox, feel his arms around me, and kiss him. I can do five days.