Page 65 of Cowboy Wolf's Secret Baby

He was paired with the same hazer as usual for the steer wrestling event. They worked well together and could almost read each other’s thoughts. Zephyr performed perfectly, and the team won first place. Conner took second in the saddle bronc event and first in the unsaddled bronc.

Conner’s heart thundered as he prepared for the bull riding event. Adrenaline coursed through his veins and he almost felt high from the rush he got from the anticipation. He caught his breath when he heard the name of the bull he drew – Thanatos. He was the meanest bull in the circuit and very few riders had ever been able to stay on him for more than five seconds, let alone the full eight.

Grinning, Conner climbed on Thanatos’ back. He was one of the few riders who had ridden the bull for the full eight seconds and he could do it again.

Maybe he’ll remember me and we’ll have a nice ride.

Conner laughed at his own joke. If the bull did remember him, Thanatos would be even meaner, offended that the cowboy had hung on for the full eight seconds.

He slipped his hand under the braided leather handle that was centered on the bull’s back. Conner pulled the rope tight and wrapped the tail of the rope around his left hand. He moved forward so that the handle was positioned between his upper thighs. He tightened his legs around the bull, making sure that his feet were in front of the rope. Conner took a deep breath and nodded at the man who opened the chute.

Conner lifted on the rope and made sure that he didn’t lean too far forward or back. He held on to the bull with his legs and pushed his butt down when Thanatos lowered his legs and lifted up his hind legs in a buck.

The bull twisted around, jerked, and bucked. The time ticked by slowly as Conner concentrated on staying seated. Conner held on for seven and a half seconds. Thanatos bucked and Conner flew over the bull’s head. Gideon and the other clown rushed toward them, trying to keep Thanatos away from Conner long enough so that he could get up and run out of danger.

All of a sudden, all of the gates of the chutes opened and five bulls rushed out into the arena charged toward Conner.

The crowd stood and screamed. Conner’s heart stopped and he scrambled to his feet, running toward the fence. One of the bulls head-butted Conner in the middle of his back, sending him flying toward the center of the arena. He hit the ground with a thud. The other cowboys jumped into the arena to try to chase the bulls back into the chutes. Men and bulls were running everywhere. One of the bulls, however, was intensely focused on Conner. He groaned and tried to get out of the way, but Conner couldn’t move. He was completely paralyzed.

The bull bellowed loudly and pawed at the ground. Conner once again tried to get to his feet, but he couldn’t move his legs. He could only watch in horror as the bull reared up and stomped his gut and chest. Conner felt his bones snapping. The bull raised his hoof and slammed it down on Conner’s head. The world went dark.

23

Beth

“Conner. Oh, my heavens, Conner. No,” Beth screamed as the horrific scene unfolded in front of her. Her heart stopped and her breath caught in her throat. Her head started to spin and for a brief second, Beth was afraid that she was going to pass out.

The crowd gasped, screamed, and cried out around her. They were horrified at the spectacle in front of them.

“Look,” someone screamed. “A little girl is running into the arena toward the man.”

Beth nearly fainted when she saw Taryn flying toward Conner’s bloodied and broken body lying in the dirt.

The bull lifted up its massive hoof again and was about to bring it down on Conner with one last fatal blow when Taryn put her hand on his side. The huge beast froze and looked around as though it was confused. He put his hoof back down on the ground and looked at Taryn. She petted him and then leaned her forehead against his.

Gasps and whispers exploded in the crowd as the bull stood still for a minute as though communicating with the small girl in front of him. No one in the arena moved. Even Gideon stood, watching the scene unfold in front of him, in complete shock. Everyone expected the bull to explode and kill the child. However, he simply turned and walked back to the chute docilely.

Beth jumped up and ran down the steps. She looked over at her mother, who smiled and nodded, letting Beth know that Matilda was responsible for what happened.

Taryn put her hand on Conner’s head and desperately whispered a healing spell. Beth rushed to her side and did the same.

“Move, ladies,” a voice commanded.

The paramedics threw a board on the ground next to Conner. One of them put a neck brace on him to keep him steady in case he had a broken neck. They carefully put him on the board, lifted him onto the gurney, and ran with him back to the ambulance.

Gideon grabbed his phone and called Dr. Jean, letting her know what happened.

“She’s going to meet us there,” Gideon said.

The rest of the events were canceled for the night. It seemed to take forever to get out of the parking lot because everyone left at the same time.

Conner was in surgery when Beth and Taryn ran into the emergency room. Gideon arrived a minute later. Savvy rushed in right behind him.

“Conner Curry,” Beth almost screamed breathlessly.

“Please calm down, ma’am. How can I help you?”

“My fiancé, her father, just came in. He was trampled by a bull at the rodeo. I need to be with him.”

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