Chapter 59
Like A Prayer was a solid white bull with dark around his eyes and no other markings. He also didn't have a hump, but I could work with that. While the chute attendants worked my rope around him, Jake stepped over to the other side, waiting for the tail to pull.
I worried about checking my gear. My helmet was on. My vest was secure. My chaps, spurs, and everything else were as good as it was going to get. In other words, I was fucking ready for this.
But just as I moved to get into my chute, a girl screamed out, "Go Cody!" at the top of her lungs.
I paused, looked over to J.D.'s family, then waved. Immediately, both Maria and Isabella waved back enthusiastically. Ok, that felt good. It was the last push I needed to get my mind where it belonged.
"Ready when you are," Jake said. "Break's almost over, so Wes should be riding any minute."
In other words, I needed to hurry my ass up.
Moving into the chute, I balanced over the bull's back and leaned in.
The rosin on my glove gripped against the stuff I'd smeared on my rope earlier.
Again, then again, I pulled, waiting to see it stringing out.
But when it took longer than I liked, I added a little force.
Jake tipped. "Easy, cowgirl," he taunted. "Stroke it, don't yank it."
"I like it hard," I shot back - and did it again.
This time, he was ready for me, but the little smirk toying on his mouth? Yeah, I liked that. Fuck, I actually liked him. Maybe it was lust. Maybe it was simply having permission and encouragement from my boyfriends. I didn't honestly know, but right now I was not going to worry about it.
I shifted my focus to the handle as the chute behind me rocked.
I could hear yelling and cursing, which meant the bull had just fucked up Wes's wrap.
Good, that was a few more seconds for me.
Again, then again, I worked over the handle, then moved back to the tail of my rope, needing to keep that warm.
Wes's chute opened with a bang hard enough to shake mine. Daring to glance back, I saw dust and motion, which meant he was out. I had eight seconds, maybe twice that, and then it'd be my turn.
"Listen to the song," Jake reminded me, but his voice was softer.
It made me look up. "Please tell me it's not a love song for my ride?"
"Not a love song," he promised. "More of an anthem."
"I can do anthems," I decided.
Then, "You're a go!" the chute attendant snapped.
I shoved my hand into the handle, gestured for Jake to pull a bit more, then made my wrap quickly.
I didn't know shit about this bull except that he was related to Preacher's Son - which was useless to me.
In other words, I was riding blind, but Tanner was out there to save me, so it was time to be a little wild.
I wrapped the bull rope around my hand one more time, then tucked it into my fingers.
"You good?" Jake asked.
"Get the fuck out of my way," I told him.
"Waiting on you," the gateman said.
I checked to make sure Jake was clear, then dropped down onto the bull. My knees locked into his armpits, I nodded, and yanked my arm hard just as the gate clanked. The animal had just enough time to feel my weight before the gate swung outward, giving him the escape he wanted.
Up. One ton of bovine was a lot of muscle when it decided to fly, and this one made my head snap back with the force of his rear. At the top, he kicked out, which allowed me to jerk my chin back into place, and then it was on.
And in the background, I heard music. I didn't have time to focus on it, but it felt like it should be familiar. Then the chorus kicked in.
— THEY SAID I'M TOO LOUD FOR THIS TOWN, SO I LIT A MATCH AND BURNED IT DOWN. WHAT DO YOU WANT FROM ME? I'M NOT AMERICA'S SWEETHEART!
The pulse was pounding, and the bull was bucking almost in time to it.
When his ass came up, I shoved my legs as far down as they would go, then spurred as wild as I could on the way back up.
My thighs came off the animal, my chaps flapped in the air, and that pretty pink logo was right up in my face with the force of it.
Then this bad boy decided to spin into my hand. Oh, I could deal with that. I used my knees to keep him going, and rolled my heels along his ribs. I had this. I knew I did, and even with the catchy but sassy music playing at top volume, I could still hear the crowd going wild.
Like a metronome, Like A Prayer kept going - until he doubled back. I heaved my ass over, staying with him, and kept my arm up in the air. My shirt made my declaration. My riding? Yeah, they'd have to be blind to miss that I had this.
Then lights began to spin across the dirt and the music cut off. I lifted my head enough to see Isaac waving his arms before the bull, letting us know we'd made time. A smile took over, and I quickly flipped the tail of my rope over, then over again.
The moment the rope began to loosen, this bull's bucks slowed to little more than a bob of his ass, so when I came off the side, it was nice and easy - and right into Tanner's arm.
"Stay," he said, shifting me over so he could run after the bull.
But that hunk of muscle knew he was done. He trotted for a bit, then stopped and actually looked around, seeking out the exit on his own.
"Ha!" Jorge yelled. "There it is, big boy."
And Like A Prayer trotted out slowly and calmly, as if he'd just punched out for the day. It was enough to make me chuckle.
Isaac bent to snag my rope from where it had landed, then tossed that to Tanner. While I popped off my helmet and turned to check the scores, my boyfriend hurried over. He offered me the rope with one hand, and wrapped his other behind my back.
"You do realize," I told him, refusing to pull my eyes away from the scoreboard, "that you've just confused everyone watching the stream, right?"
"Don't really care-" And he stopped hard as the numbers posted.
85.75.
My mouth fell open in shock, then I turned to Tanner and jumped at him, wrapping him up in an excited hug. "Eighties!" I squealed. "They scored me!"
And over the sound system, a chunk of that same song played again. The part that said "I'm not America's sweetheart."
"Yes!" I said, letting go of Tanner so I could look up to the booth and wave, hoping he knew that was appreciation I was showing.
"I think you have a new friend," Tanner joked, draping an arm over my shoulder to lead me toward the side gate.
"Nope, just Jake's brother," I said, making sure that was soft enough and mumbled enough no one could eavesdrop.
"Oh, so a crush," Tanner teased. "No, that song's perfect for you, Cody. And about time they gave you a half-decent score too. I'd say you deserve more, but everyone's been getting low numbers tonight."
"I'll still take it," I said, then ducked under his hat to kiss his cheek. "Thank you!"
He caught my hand before I could leave. "You good, though?"
"Yep," I said.
"And J.D.?"
"He's ok. Not good, but ok," I assured him. "Now go work."
"Yes, ma'am," Tanner teased, skipping backwards a step.
I rolled my eyes at how adorable he was, then slipped out the side gate, opening it only wide enough for my body so I wouldn't jostle anyone else.
And I slammed right into someone's back.
"Sorry!" I said, reaching out to clasp the man I'd just crashed into
"Cody!" a girl called, trying to get my attention.
But the guy turned and my heart sank. The moment Austin's eyes landed on me, rage took over his face.
"What the fuck are you doing?" he demanded.
"Trying to get out of the fucking arena!" I shot back, puffing up to prove I wasn't scared of him.
He just leaned in, putting his face mere inches from mine. "And you can't take a fucking hint. You got Casey killed. You made me lose sponsors. It's always all about you, isn't it, Cody?"
"Says the idiot who can't realize his actions have consequences?" I shot back. "Cry me a fucking river, Austin."
And he shoved - but this time I was ready for it. I rocked back, caught myself, and pushed right back into his face.
"I didn't do shit to you!" I roared. "I also don't care if you like that I'm here. Get the fuck over yourself, and stop putting your goddamned hands on me!"
But instead of backing off, Austin grabbed the collar of my vest and shoved me back, right into the gate I'd just come in. The look on his face was insane, like there was nothing human left inside him.
"You fucked me, Cody. You ruined the Pbr, and you're going to fucking get away with it because as much as I fucking hate having sluts riding with us, the ones in charge hate the fags more. But if I see you again, I will make you pay. I will hurt you..."
I could hear men screaming. I knew people were moving, but even though I tried to push Austin away, he was strong enough I couldn't move him. He also didn't shut up.
"... I will show you what a real man is - and that you aren't one! Don't go in any dark alleys, bitch, because I will rape you, then leave you crying in shame. I will fucking destroy you!"
And then the wall I was pressed against vanished. I staggered, stumbled, then crashed down on my ass, but not before I saw an entire rainbow rush past me.
"Get your hands off her!" That was Tanner, and he sounded ready to kill.
"Break him!" someone else yelled.
I caught black and red in the middle of that, so I knew J.D. was there, but the person who came to my rescue was not the one I was expecting. She was dressed in pink, grasping her phone in her hand, and didn't hesitate at all to dart into the arena to help me up.
"Cody, are you ok?" Isabella asked.
"Yeah, get out of here," I told her, moving her out of the arena, toward the stairs that led back to the seating area.
"Don't touch her!" Tanner screamed, sounding like he'd just snapped.
"Back up!" another man yelled.
Then I heard J.D. "Get him the fuck out of here!"
People were moving. Groups of them, like waves, and the last thing I wanted was Isabella getting caught in the middle of that. So, grasping her arm, I towed her halfway up the stairs - which inadvertently gave me a clear view of the mess I'd just escaped.
Eli, Jake, and Wes were doing their best to separate the groups. Ty and J.D were yanking Austin toward the stairs on the chute side of this alley. Jorge and Isaac had Tanner. One was on each arm, and they were clearly struggling to hold him back.
"Enough!" I screamed - and everyone actually stopped.
"Tanner, go work," I ordered. "Austin, go ride." Then my eyes landed on Derek. "And you keep him away from me, because I'm not alone anymore. Teamwork is over-fucking-powered, assholes."
"Go," Ty growled, adding authority to my directions.
But J.D. saw who I was with. "Isabella, get the fuck out of here!" he snapped.
Which made Austin call back, "Oh, have a fucking buckle bunny on the side, J.D.? Guess you're as easy as your rookie, huh?"
And J.D. spun around with death in his eyes. "That," he snarled in a way that made my skin shiver in fear, "is my sister."
"Oh." And Austin turned, hurried up the stairs, and quickly lost himself in the cluster behind the chutes.