Chapter 41
CHAPTER FORTY-ONE
mikey
It was nothing short of a miracle, but a few days after Juniper had left, I was cleared to compete again in Cheyenne.
Missing the Fourth of July rodeo may have hurt my standings a little, but I was currently only seventeenth in the world.
Performing well would put me in a good position and set me back on track to make it to the NFR in December, if not propel me into the top fifteen.
It was a ten-day event, so there was an opportunity to bring home a large check as long as I didn’t buck off and lose out of the tournament-style bracket.
Isa had gone home after the Fourth of July, so it was just the boys, me, and Ellison.
“You didn’t hear it from me,” Ellison whispered when the others were walking a little bit ahead of us, “but I’m glad you and Juniper worked it out. It was about time you found someone.”
I gave her a look, and she waved her hands.
“Not in a ‘you need to settle down’ type of way, but in a ‘I’m glad you’re happy, you deserve that’ kind of way. Although, it does help that she’s your match in every sense of the word.”
I chuckled. “Thanks for the clarification, Firecracker.”
“Too bad she couldn’t be here.”
“Yeah, it’s too bad, but she’s adjusting nicely to her new place and job. I’ve got plans to go see her.”
“Mikey Tucker, taking a week off bull riding?” She feigned shock.
“You know I’d do anything for a woman.” I winked.
Rolling her eyes, but still flashing me a grin, she corrected, “You’d do anything to get a woman in bed.”
“I mean, yeah, but don’t you know? I’m a changed man. Who would have thought all it would take is a bet for me to get my shit together, huh?”
“I’d expect nothing less.” She laughed as she threw her arm around me, even though I was just tall enough that she had to stretch her arm up a little. “Bring her home a nice check tonight, why don’t you?”
“That’s the plan.”
Colter looked over his shoulder. “What’re you two getting into back there?”
Ellison waved him off. “None of your business, Sparky. Just keep walking.”
“Don’t try stealing my girl now,” Colter teased.
I shook my head, lips curling up into a grin. “No thanks, Carson, I’ve got my own spitfire now.”
“Atta boy.” He winked as he faced forward again and started up a conversation with Reid and Jake.
“I’m telling you, though,” I raised my voice a notch, “Jake and Hayden are next. It’s gotta be Houston. There’s some kind of weird magic in that city.”
“Houston or the Ace in the Hole bar?” Ellison laughed. “God, if I didn’t have to step foot in that place ever again.”
Hayden shook his head, laughing silently to himself.
“What’s up, bud?” Reid asked.
“Ah, nothing. Just thinking to myself.”
“You got a secret girl you haven’t told us about?” I reached out my arm to smack him lightly on the shoulder.
He looked back at me over his shoulder. “Something like that.” I could tell he was trying to be casual about it, but there was a longing—a yearning—in his eyes. The same type of longing as the night of the Fourth of July.
“Wait, have you ever had a girlfriend, Hayden?” Jake asked curiously.
He shrugged, spinning around to face forward again. “Sort of.”
“Hayden!” Ellison drew out his name. “Tell us more!”
“Nah, guys, there’s nothing to say. She…words don’t do her justice. Come on, we need to get going so we’re not late.” He started walking faster, the conversation—if there ever was one—was clearly over.
“How’s everything going?” Juniper asked on the other end of the line.
She’d called to check in a few times during the rodeo, especially when she knew she would be working and wasn’t able to watch a broadcast. I’d also talked to her once before a performance, and it seemed to help calm my nerves a bit, just knowing she’d be watching from afar.
“Been good so far. If I compete well enough tonight in the semifinal, I’ll be moving on to the Championship.”
“I hope you do! I have to work today, so you’ve gotta make it so I can watch you win on Sunday. But I thought I would call, just to wish you a good ride.”
“I’m glad you did. You’re my good luck charm, you know.” I grinned.
I could practically hear her rolling her eyes. “Glad I could be of service. I’m sure you don’t need luck, though, you can do it all on your own.”
“Nah, I definitely think having you in my corner has helped. Listen, I’ve gotta go, but I’ll talk to you soon?”
“Talk to you soon. Good luck out there, Casanova. Don’t fall off,” she teased, the sarcastic nickname that had eventually transformed into a term of endearment rolling off her tongue.
“Don’t plan on it, Peach.”
The call ended, and a wide grin pulled at my cheeks.
“I guess the headlines should have read, Mikey Tucker: Bull Riding Bachelor No More,” Maverick teased as he walked up behind me. “Guess the rumors are true, then?”
“Rumors?” I raised a brow.
“You and that girl. The one you were, uh”—he coughed—“fake dating. You’re back together, then?”
I couldn’t help the warmth that grew in my chest. “We are.”
“I’m happy for you. Don’t mess it up this time.” He winked, and I rolled my eyes.
I didn’t plan on it. Losing Juniper once had hurt. Losing her twice would be devastating.
We chatted for a little while longer as we waited for the bull riding to draw nearer. We were both competing in the second section. The first bull riding section was in the beginning of the rodeo, but our section was the very last event of the night.
“Tonight, we have nine more cowboys riding for their chance to advance to the short go.”
My bull was already in the chute. I was fourth in the lineup, and Maverick was sixth.
The first rider scored an eighty-four, and the second one bucked off.
I’d visualized a successful ride in my mind, controlling my breathing until it was slow and steady and I was fully grounded.
“That was an eighty-two-point-five ride! Let’s get ready for our next rider.
You’d have never guessed he was coming off an injury with the week he’s had so far.
Coming all the way from Silver Creek, Montana, we’ve got Mikey Tucker on Easy Money!
” The announcer rattled off an introduction as I lowered myself down onto the bull.
The scent of burning rosin filled my nostrils as I ran my hand up and down the tail end of my rope. I’d ridden this bull before, so I knew how he bucked straight out of the chute, and I adjusted my seat accordingly.
The guy helping out at the chute pulled my rope tight, and I wrapped the tail around my hand then across my palm.
The world around me started to fade, the cheers from the crowd, chatter from other bull riders, and encouragement for me all becoming static as I locked in.
After taking a deep breath, I slid up to my rope then nodded. Easy Money went exactly where I expected him to, and I adjusted my body accordingly. The arena around me blurred, but I wasn’t focused on anything but me and the bull. My partner for eight seconds.
Gritting my teeth, I stuck my chest out and raised my free arm. My legs flexed, and as the bull kicked, I spurred him.
He was mean, but we got the job done, and the eight second buzzer went off.
When I was back to safety, I looked up at the screen just as the announcer called out, “Eighty-nine-point-five for Mikey Tucker!”
It was enough to secure my spot in the Championship short go, and I pumped my fist in the air.
“Ladies and gentlemen, you’ve traveled from all over the world for one of rodeo’s biggest events. We’ve promised some fantastic competition, and so far these athletes have delivered. But we’re not done yet! It’s Championship Sunday!”
The uproar from the crowd was deafening, but I smiled thinking about the energy in the arena.
“Quite a comeback, Tucker.” One of the other bull riders nodded at me.
“Thanks, man, but it’s not over yet.” I tried to be humble, but I knew I wasn’t going to buck off today. I was determined. My season—despite the injury—had been on a steady climb since Houston, and I wasn’t going to let it drop off now.
I’d proven to the press and fans that I was in this. Despite the doubt and the odds, I was climbing back up the world standings.
Now, the only person I had to prove anything to was myself.
Maverick and I had been almost neck and neck, but I’d pulled through to land myself in the number one spot going into the short go. Which meant my ride would be the very last one of the night.
Colter and Reid won the team roping, as expected, and Jake placed sixth in the tie-down roping, so he still cut a check.
Now it was down to bull riding.
“I hope you’re not tired yet, folks. Hang in there with us, because it’s the event of the night, what you’ve all been waiting for. The bull riding.”
The bullfighters for the night were introduced, and rock music blared through the speakers as the first bull rider climbed into the chute.
I didn’t pay much attention to the other rides, only focusing on my surroundings when a score was announced, like keeping a running scoreboard in my mind of what I would have to beat tonight.
The first few riders scored in the lower eighties, and a few in the middle got close to ninety points.
Maverick gave me a fist bump before we parted ways to get by our respective chutes. He’d ride first, then me.
The announcer read off Mav’s stats then the stats of the bull he was riding.
“Let’s go, Maverick!” the announcer cried out as Maverick nodded, and the bull burst out of the chute in a fury.
He moved gracefully with the bull, matching its kicks and spins with expert finesse.
When the eight second buzzer went off, I was already up on the platform, ready to climb into the chute.
As the announcer called out, “Ninety points!” a wave of anxiety washed over me.
I straddled the top of the chute and took a deep breath as I lowered my knees onto its back.
“Our final performer of the night, the matchup of the night, is one you are not going to want to miss! Don’t get up from your seats quite yet, ladies and gentlemen.
This bull has an eighty-three percent buck-off rate.
Many a cowboy has tried to best him, and many have failed.
He goes by the name of Play Your Cards Right!
” The announcer paused for effect. “Let’s see if our cowboy, Mikey Tucker, can ride this old boy to victory! ”
Music played in the background, but I only focused on the task at hand as I ran my hand up and down my rope until the rosin was sticky. One of the other bull riders was pulling my rope, and Maverick had run over to offer encouragement.
This time, when I wrapped the tail end of the rope around my hand, I ran it between my pinky and ring finger. This was it. This could very well be one of the most important rides of the year, and there was no way I was going to buck off.
“Let’s go, boys,” I gritted out as I nodded, and the chute gate flew open.