Chapter 60
I was going to kill him. I didn't even care who saw, because it would be worth it. That motherfucker had put his hands on Cody again, and I would make sure he paid for it. I would make sure she was safe! I would...
"Tanner!" Jorge snapped, grabbing my arm to spin me around so I had to face him. "You good?"
"He fucking -"
"I know," Isaac said as he moved to my side, cutting me off. "We were right there with you. We saw it too."
"But he did it!" I yelled, slashing out with my hand to vent the rage taking over.
Jorge caught my shoulder and shifted closer. That made it impossible for me to lash out again, unless I wanted to hit him. I didn't, so I had to calm the fuck down.
"Breathe," Jorge said. "We got this. They got this. Cody's not alone anymore, and if shit goes down, we will climb the fucking chutes and help, ok?"
I nodded. "Do I have to keep the bull off him?"
"No," Isaac said before Jorge could answer. "You don't, but everyone's watching you right now. Do you want to be bitter, get revenge, or make him look like a petty piece of shit?"
I dropped my head and pushed out a tense, pissed-off breath. "You were supposed to tell me to be the better man."
"You already are," Isaac pointed out. "The problem isn't being better. It's giving the Pbr a reason to fuck us over again."
"And we just got back," Jorge reminded me. "Never mind the sweet deal."
"Yeah," I said, but their logic was making my rage recede.
Pulling off my hat, I scrubbed at my face, then put it on again. "Ok. Let's do this."
So Jorge whistled. That made Cletus look over. Jorge gestured, then Cletus said something into the mic he always wore, but it wasn't broadcast to the fans. This had to be to the staff. A moment later, the next bull rider climbed back into his chute to strap in for the second time.
"And that was a little bull rider bravado," the announcer said.
And Cletus broke in. "Naw. That was a girl beating the boys. Makes some of 'em get crazy!" And he spun his finger around his ear, playing the over-the-top fool he was supposed to be.
I chuckled, relieved to hear Cletus was calling out the bullshit for what it was. That made it easier to get back into the groove. Together, we turned, sorted, and saved a few men from the next handful of bulls.
For a moment, I let myself stop worrying about the bullshit going on behind the chutes.
All that mattered was right here, taking the risks, and making sure I shot the gap when the bull needed extra incentive.
And maybe I was going a little overboard, but for the most part, it felt good.
It felt exhilarating, like I was on top of the world, with the power to control a one-ton animal.
Then the next chute opened. I recognized the red-and-yellow gear quickly, but the bull came out spinning. The three of us backed up, trying to give it space to get away from the wall so it didn't foul itself - or kill the rider.
But that was Eli. I knew he was one of Austin's cronies. He'd been shit to Cody, but I couldn't fuck over my team. I had to make it clear I was necessary. The Pbr needed us, because without us their problems got worse, and to do that, I needed to stop caring about who was riding.
The bull finally evened out and surged forward. That kept Eli clear of the walls, but this animal was playing dirty. Its bucks were flat. The spins didn't last long enough to earn points. Instead this bull was just giving its rider a shake-down.
And somehow, Eli managed to stay on right up until the clock was spiraling out the last second. That was when the bull jumped and twisted. For a moment, I was sure it was going to land on its side, yet it caught itself at the last moment. Eli didn't.
His chest flopped forward, crashing down on the bull's neck.
His feet came up until he was basically lying across the animal's back - yet he kept his free hand out and his other was gripping the rope for all he was worth.
For a moment, he bounced there, then jiggled, but just before he slid off the side, the buzzer sounded.
And then Eli slammed down onto the dirt with an audible grunt. The bull knew, though. That beast spun, clearly intending to charge, and Eli didn't have enough room to get up. There was just no way he could make it to his feet before he got hit.
So I had to turn the bull.
My purple shoes dug into the sand as I ran hard. One step. Two, and the bull was closing in on Eli. Isaac couldn't turn him. He was on the wrong side, so this was all up to me now.
"Ha!" I yelled - and then jumped.
My hand grabbed the bull's ear. My movement turned that into a tug, yanking the animal's face around, and right at me. The next step it made, it was turning, and I knew I'd just spared that asshole's ass.
"Ho!" Jorge called out, darting across my path to steal the bull's attention.
"Yah!" Isaac screamed as he came in from the other side.
Each time we crossed the bull's path, it distracted the animal. Every time it focused on a new ‘threat,’ it lost a little of the need to destroy. Twice more, we darted, tapped, and turned - and then the bull just stopped. With a loud huff, it snorted out the frustration.
"Time to go," I told him, flapping my hands to send him forward.
And he went. I dared to glance back to find Eli slowly making his way to his feet. He paused to dust himself off, then bent at the waist. Clearly, he was feeling that hit.
"I got this," Jorge said, making a straight line to Eli's rope.
I simply turned, scanning for Cody up there behind the chutes. I found her easily. Standing with J.D., their black attire made them into a shadow over by the last chute. Thankfully, they weren't looking this way.
"Thanks," Eli said, pulling my attention back to him.
He patted Jorge's shoulder, accepted his rope, but didn't leave. I thought he might be waiting for his scores, but instead he headed my way. Isaac groaned, knowing this couldn't be good, but well before Eli reached me, he held out his hand, offering to shake.
"Thanks, Tanner," he said.
I accepted his grip cautiously, doing nothing to hide my suspicion. "Uh-huh..."
So Eli shifted just a little closer and ducked his head, hiding his face from the cameras. "Look, what Austin said over there was out of line."
"Didn't seem to bother you before," I countered.
"Kinda did," he said, catching my eye. "I wasn't there when he and Derek beat the shit out of Cody for a reason. And no, it wasn't because I knew about it. It was because he knew I'd stop him."
"Why?" I asked.
"Because hitting girls? That's bullshit!" Eli snarled. "Look, I don't agree with how you're living your life. I think what you do is sick as fuck, and I think this sport is too hard for a woman."
"But Cody's doing just fine," I reminded him.
Which made Eli sigh. "Yeah. So I have to say 'most' women, now. Whatever. Not my fucking problem, right? If she gets hurt, that's not on me. And if you fuck dudes, well, I don't wanna see that shit."
"Didn't invite you into my bedroom," I shot back.
Which made him huff out something like a laugh. It wasn't much, but it proved he was listening to me, and he might even be getting my point through his thick skull. But clearly that wasn't what he was here to talk about.
"Look, all I'm saying is that threatening to rape her?
That's fucking bullshit, ok? Austin has convinced himself it's Cody's fault that Casey died, and he's so wrapped up in trying to put that somewhere else, he's a fucking mess.
He can't mourn the guy, calls us pussies if we try, and is spiraling bad. "
"And losing sponsors," I added.
"That too," Eli agreed. "But he just crossed my line, Tanner. That shit he said? It was a bridge too fucking far, so I'll do you a solid."
"Ok?"
He glanced back, toward the bullpen, then to me again.
"Seems gay is worse than woman. Austin's damned sure he has something in the bag.
He won't say what, but he keeps saying you and J.D.
are going to get a real big surprise. I know he's been whining to Merrill every chance he can get.
But here's the thing. I also know Merrill's trying to push the undesirables out.
That means you. After that disgusting shit you pulled earlier, it means J.D.
too. And while Cody just became less of a problem, that doesn't mean they want her sticking around. "
"Gotcha," I said. "Judges and directors?"
"I dunno, but sure sounds that way." Eli paused as his score posted.
A little smile curled one side of his mouth when he saw what he got, then he looked at me again.
"Just know Austin's serious. That wasn't an empty threat.
I can say that if I know, I'll stop him - or do my fucking best. I just don't think he trusts me that much. "
"Thanks," I told him. "I'd say I owe you - "
"You just paid for that," Eli assured me. "Thanks for not giving me a second. We're calling this me paying my debts." Then he slapped my shoulder and headed out.
I turned to watch him go, trying to figure out what I felt about that. The guy was a dick. The numerous ways he'd made it clear he didn't approve of me or my lifestyle? Yeah, unnecessary - but also expected. And yet, he'd given me a fucking heads-up.
"You good?" Isaac asked as he moved to my side.
"Yeah..." I breathed. "But I think Eli just verified that the judges are trying to run Cody out. And our little kiss at the opening ceremony? It turned their hate to J.D."
"Well, fuck," Isaac said. Then he did the last thing I'd expect. "Hey, Cletus!"
The man turned, lifted a brow, but checked to see what Isaac wanted before making it a part of his show. When he realized this wasn't a joke, he hopped off the bullpen he usually used as a stage, and hurried over.
"Yeah?" he asked, moving his mic away from his mouth. It also didn't transmit, which meant he'd muted it.
"Judges aren't being fair," Isaac said. "J.D.'s about to get shit on."
"I see." He nodded a few times, giving all the physical signs of something being sorted out. "You want me to call it out?"
"Can you?" I asked.
"I can make it a joke," Cletus assured me. "What I can't do is push too far. Tanner, I can't get fired."
"Not asking you to," I assured him. "But I'm fucking sick of these games."
"Me too," Cletus said just as Jorge joined us. "I can tell you Sousa's pissed about the suspension bullshit. He honestly thought he was doing it because you left the arena. The 'gay' thing? He's not happy Merrill put him in the middle of that."
"And sounds like Merrill and Austin are in cahoots," Isaac informed Jorge. "Eli's trying to be Switzerland."
"No," I clarified. "Eli said Austin just crossed a line when he went after Cody earlier. He's done. Not sure he'll pull away, but so long as he doesn't join in, then the odds are a hell of a lot better."
"Watch your back, Tanner," Cletus told me. "You just put a big fucking target on it, because no matter how sweet and country we all like to say we are? What you're doing is not going to be accepted."
"Don't care," I told him.
And the clown smiled. The big kind that made his face paint curl insanely. "Good."