Chapter 47
Knox
National Finals Rodeo, Las Vegas, Nevada
“One more, Knox. You’ve got this,” Trey encourages from the chutes above me.
I’m taking my wrap on my last bull of the national finals. The crowd is so loud I can barely hear the announcer.
“Forty-six men have tried this next bull, and forty-six have failed to ride him, but tonight Knox Ward is tying his hand to him. He’s sitting number one in the world.
Ridden six out of nine bulls so far and as of this moment, he’s sitting second in the average.
Can he ride the unridden to win a gold buckle? ”
The crowd inside the Thomas and Mack arena roars even louder.
This is it, this is my chance. It’s my time.
I wouldn’t be in the situation I’ve always dreamed about without Kacey.
She has been my biggest supporter. I hadn’t been on a bull since the last weekend of September, and I’ve been extremely sore here in Vegas.
But Kacey has been my massage therapist every night, she’s got ice for ice baths, and she comes early with me every night so I can go to Sports Med.
Not to mention, she took care of me the entire time I was laid up, all while still working at the ranch. I’ve never known such a driven, genuine person, and I’m so in love with her. She has made me a better man. Even if I don’t win a world title, she’s far more important to me than a gold buckle.
I exhale, and all I can hear is my own heartbeat thumping in my chest. I slowly slide up to my rope, letting out one more deep breath, and nod my head.
The bull explodes out of the box, and when he hits the ground, he sucks back, and his head disappears from sight.
I flex my lower back and lift on my bull rope.
Pulling my knees up slightly, I keep myself from teetering forward, keeping my shoulders square.
He blows up again, I push on my rope driving up on my legs.
He hits the ground kicking so hard I nearly get whiplash, but he’s in a left lead, so I pull my chin back down and look at his left shoulder as I lower my free arm, transitioning my weight to my left leg.
We make another round and a half to the left when he explodes back into the air. I make sure I draw my knees up again, because when his front feet hit the ground, I know there’s going to be a monster kick to follow.
I will not let him raise my chin again.
As soon as he reaches the full extension of his kick, I feel he’s changing direction, but my weight is on my left leg, so I immediately throw my free arm over my head and pick up my left foot to move my weight to my right side.
I’m still a tick behind.
“Keep moving! Keep moving!” I hear Trey yelling from the chutes.
The bull rears, and I try to drive over him, but I’m too late.
As he’s transitioning from rear to kick, I shove my hips over to the right and throw them to my rope as hard as I can, hoping I don’t get jerked down when he kicks.
Everything is moving fast, and this damn clock seems to take an eternity.
By the time he hits the end of his kick, I’m back in time with him.
He makes one more jump and I hear the whistle blow.
It wasn’t fucking pretty, but I made it.
I grab my tail and yank it free from my hand, kicking my hips to the left, using the bull’s momentum to throw me away from him.
I stick the landing, planting both heels in the arena dirt, walking backwards, as I watch the bull run out of the arena.
I’m sure I could break a record for how big my smile is right now.
I pull off my helmet and blow a kiss up to where I know Kacey is sitting in the stands.
“He rides the unrideable and with that, he is your new World Champion!” the announcer bellows.
“Congratulations, Knox. You are officially a World Champion. Tell us how you’re feeling right now,” the interviewer prompts me as they hand me my gold buckle.
There are thousands of people watching me as the lights focus on me, standing on stage in the center of the Thomas and Mack Arena, but I only feel Kacey’s gaze.
“It’s a dream come true. This is a goal I set for myself when I was a little kid.
I never would’ve been able to accomplish it without help from all my friends and family, but I want to give a special shout out to an amazing woman.
Kacey, you’ve been my rock all season—through the good times and the bad.
You deserve this buckle every bit as much as I do. I love you, sweetheart.”
The crowd lets out a collective, “Aww,” as I raise my buckle in the air and point up to Kacey. She will come down in a few minutes and she’s the first person I want to share this moment with. She’s the person I want to spend every moment with for the rest of my life.
After the awards ceremony, I hurry back into the tunnel under the arena stands. I make it halfway to the locker room when I see blonde hair and green eyes running my way. I meet her halfway, scooping her up in my arms.
“Congratulations! I’m so proud of you. I love you.” She vibrates with excitement in my arms.
I pull back and kiss her—not a quick peck, but a real kiss. I grip both sides of her face, my tongue finding hers, before leaning back to whisper, “I love you, too.”