Page 37 of Saving Jared

"Eric," she yelled, but doubted he’d hear her over all the music and noise from the crowd, but he glanced up and waved back with his typical grin before focusing all his attention back on the gigantic bull under him. Darin and Ben gave her a wave as well before giving Eric what she had no doubt was a pep talk. Not that he needed it. Her brother was a bull riding fiend.

Then he pushed his black Stetson down on his head and lifted one hand high while she knew his other had been wrapped tight around the leather strap of the bull’s harness.

She held her breath, waiting. And then he gave the nod and the chute swung wide open. The bull shot out into the arena, bucking and twirling—kicking out his hind legs high. Eric held on for all he was worth, opening up and spurring the bull’s sides while waving his free hand around his head then out to his side in a circular motion as the bull twisted to the left. She grinned as everyone in the stands cheered and Jude’s voice sounded out, "Look at him go!"

Her brother rode with style.

"Hang on!" she screamed as she stomped her feet and cheered.

The colorfully-dressed bullfighters kept close as Willa’s heart beat faster and the buzzer sounded the eight seconds time limit, but Eric kept holding on. Seconds later, Eric let the momentum of being bucked up take him off the back of the bull where he landed in a crouch on the arena floor.

The crowd went wild as the bullfighters wrangled the bull and her brother trotted over to his trampled hat and dusted it against his chaps.

"The most dangerous eight seconds in sports," Jude shouted as Eric waved to the crowd. "But Eric Taggert just went two seconds more, and the judges… Holy sh…crap! A perfect one hundred!"

Eric ran toward where their brothers screamed and jumped up and down next to the chutes. She laughed and clapped as Ben lifted Eric up by both arms and shook him before dropping him to the ground. Then he and Darin surrounded him with hugs and back slaps. She wished she was there with them.

"You should be down there," Emma shouted loud enough Willa heard her over the cheering crowd. She hesitated answering, then figured, why couldn’t she go down there? Now that Eric was headed to the staging area, she could definitely be with him to help celebrate.

Just then, Eric smiled up at her and waved, mouthing, "Love you, sis," before being dragged away by her other two brothers. That made up her mind for her.

"That’s it folks," Jude announced. "The Big M Ranch wants to thank you for being here. Be sure to come back next year for an even bigger planned event. Goodnight!"

"I hate to leave you here." Willa glanced at her friend who had lifted her daughter onto her hip while people pushed by them.

"Look Mommy, it’s Jude!" Mathilda waved. "He’s waving at me."

Willa checked the arena floor to see Jude moving their way with a look of purpose filling his features.

"We’ve got to go anyhow," Emma blurted out. "Bye." And then she was weaving her way through the crowd heading for the exits, disappearing from sight after a few seconds.

She glanced down at Jude whose gaze must have followed after her too, mouthing, "Son of a bitch," as he stood stock still. His jaw tensed before he shook his head and turned to go in the opposite direction. It looked like she wasn’t the only one who felt alone at the moment.

If Jared had had something come up. Fine. But that didn’t mean he couldn’t have at least answered one of the several texts she’d sent him. She pulled her phone from her back pocket and checked the screen. Still no reply.

"Well, hell." She stuck her phone in her back pocket and headed to where she knew her brothers would be. And while she pushed her way against the crowd, she tried not to dwell on the reasons why Jared hadn’t answered.

Reasons that didn’t bode well for her or her heart.

After several minutes of stepping on toes and dozens of "Excuse me’s," she finally managed to get to the arena entrance, then set off at a quick pace toward where her brothers were probably still whooping and hollering. They...

Jared.

He was pretty far ahead of her, his broad shoulders tense as he headed toward the stairs going to the announcer’s booth.

"Jared," she called out, but he kept walking. How could he not have heard her? It wasn’t that loud now. So, she ran until she caught up with him just as he reached the bottom of the stairs, grabbed his hand, and pulled him to a stop. He turned toward her with a glare.

"Hey," she said, her smile faltering, then falling completely away when his eyes on her remained hard. "Didn’t you hear me calling you?"

"Sorry, I must’ve had my head someplace else." She tensed at his flat tone and how his dispassionate gaze raked over her. "Things got busy." The hair at the nape of her neck stood on end and a chill lanced through her as he pulled his hand from hers.

"Is something wrong?"

His jaw clenched as his silvery gaze pinned her in place. "What could possibly be wrong?"

Her pulse that had been pounding moments before at seeing him stuttered at what felt like hate—but it surely couldn’t be—flowing off of him. She didn’t understand, but she wanted to.

“Um… Okay…" She wasn’t sure what to say. "Then I’ll see you later tonight?”

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