Chapter 35 Verge
Verge
The smile beaming across her face was enough to let me know I made the right move in stepping up to team rope for her.
I’m going to finish strong in the bull riding, but my decision now is easy.
It’s time to hang it up because I’ll do anything to make her happy.
Shit, team roping makes me happy now too.
I have fallen in love with Havoc. Our first few rides were rough, she tried to throw my ass all the way to Timbuktu, but after she realized I wasn’t going to put up with that bullshit, she took a liking to me, I reckon.
I’m now at the trailer smoking, and Shi, Tyler, and Beau are by the trailer playing with Love.
“Where’s Cash?” I ask, looking around.
Shi looks around and says, “I think he said he was going to talk to Uncle Tuff, so he’s not alone.” She smiles as Love runs up licking her face, and she giggles.
I nod, feeling better he’s not alone. I know Pierce isn’t stupid enough to come around us today, but I still won’t feel safe until that motherfucker is behind bars.
I’d put him six feet under if it were up to me, but I don’t have a fancy lawyer dad who can come defend me, nor do I have the money for one, so I keep my distance because if I did see him, I do believe I’d lose my shit.
Shi stands, brushing off the grass on her, and walks over to me as I put my chaps on and zip up my vest. She has Love’s leash in one hand, and the other she puts on my face as she smiles and kisses me. “I love you. I’ll be sitting with mom, okay.”
“I love you too, baby.” I say and kiss her one last time.
The girls walk off together, and I follow them with my eyes until they make it to the bleachers around the crowd. Beau puts his hands in his pockets and rocks back on his heels before he asks, “Who’d you draw?”
“Twisters’ Wrath,” I say, putting my Stetson on.
He nods, and we walk up to the chutes together. Once we make it there, Beau leaves me, and as I’m walking, I run into Cash.
“What are you doing back here?” I ask, holding my rope on my shoulder and my rosin in the other.
“I was helping Uncle Tuff with some stuff, I’m heading to the stands now. Have a good ride.” He says, quickly walking off. I follow him with my eyes as he walks off and then hear the announcer say, “In chute number two, Pierce Drake riding Wild and Chaos.”
I roll my eyes and stand up, hoping this prick falls off.
I see him run his hand down the rope and wrap his hand, and just seeing him makes my stomach churn.
He looks up and our eyes lock, and he has the fucking nerve to wink at me.
I’m two seconds away from losing my shit and walking off until I notice this bull he is on is in an all out rage.
The bull jumps in the chute, trying to buck before it’s even open, and I decide maybe this will be worth watching after all.
I put my foot on the panel and lay my arms over it; at this point too invested to see how this pans out.
Panic fills his features, and it sends a wave of satisfaction through me, and I chuckle a little.
He steadies himself, taking a deep breath, and I see him shake his head. “Okay, boys.”
The chute flies open and the bull bucks wildly back and forth. He holds on, but he’s all over the place, this bull is fucking manic. All of a sudden, his rope snaps in half from under the bulls belly, sending him flying under the bull.
“Oh shit,” I say under my breath, but I’m not mad about it. He deserves to take a hit.
Once he lands on his belly underneath the bull, his hoof comes crashing down right in the middle of his back, and the once roaring crowd goes silent.
I cover my mouth with my eyes wide as I look to the stands and see Shi and Tyler with their jaws on the floor.
I glance back, and the bull bucks again, landing on his neck, and Pierce lays unmoving under him.
The rodeo clowns do their best to get the bull around, but he continues to pummel him.
After a while, the cowboy and the bull riders get the bull chauffeured back into the chutes, and the paramedics run to the middle of the arena to grab Pierce.
I’m no doctor, but after that, I’m positive he’s either dead or, at the very least, paralyzed.
I glance to the left to see Tuff looking at Cash, who nods, and they both quickly avert their gazes.
What the fuck just happened?
I get off the gate, still in shock at how that just happened. I can’t help the feeling in the pit of my stomach that that was formulated, but I keep my thoughts to myself. Once they clear him from the arena, the bull riding continues.
“Verge McCoy, chute 3,” I hear over the speakers.
I make my way to the chute, and as I do, I triple check my rope to make sure for no breaks or dry rot. I have no remorse for Pierce, but fuck, that was brutal.
I climb up to the chute and hover over it as the black bull makes its way in.
For safe measure, I look over my rope again, giving it a once over, and reluctantly hand it to the cowboys.
I then lean down, hovering over the bull, and sit down, steadying my thoughts and trying to control my breath.
I look up to the stands and see Cash, as promised, holding Shi.
She has Love beside her, petting her head as her leg bounces up and down.
Tyler is sitting on the other side, and her mom is sitting beside Cash.
I look out at the setting sun, thinking, I got this, and wrap my hand.
Adjusting myself on the bull, I look up one more time and wink to her.
She smiles, but I can tell she’s nervous given what just transpired with Pierce, and I can’t say I fucking blame her.
Taking a deep breath, I look down at the bull beneath me and then to the cowboy’s saying, "Alright, boys!”
The chute swings open, and Twister dashes right but bucks left. He lands hard, lurching me forward, but I’m solid. He spins as I anticipated, left then right. Bucking high. My spurs are soft on his sides, and my legs hold steady, and I hear the buzzer go off.
“What a hell of a ride, 93 points. This cowboy is a force to be reckoned with,” the announcers praise over the speakers.
I free my hand, jumping off, and run to avoid the bull kicking me. Jumping on the gate, I see her smile, and I smile back. She blows me a kiss, and I see Cash give me an affirming nod.
Jumping down, I grab my rope and head out to go celebrate with my girl. What a fucking day.