Page 39 of Big Daddy Bull Riders

“Not to rain on the parade,” Jackson said, “but riding a barrel is a lot different than getting spun every which way by a fifteen-hundred-pound bull.”

Mina’s jaw fell slack. “They weigh that much?”

“Some of ‘em more,” Jackson confirmed. “Been on one that was nigh near two thousand. And that’s a fact.”

“Don’t go scaring her,” Slater said. “But you’re right. This doesn’t compare to the real thing.” He looked at Cane, Austin, and Walker. “Though I’m obliged to you boys for lending a hand.”

“Don’t mention it,” Cane said.

“We just hoped it helped a little,” Austin added.

“Oh, it did,” Slater said. “Still, Jackson is right. This is solid training. But nothing prepares you for the real deal.” He sighed, as if he was hesitant to add what was to come.

Mina waited patiently.

A moment later, he continued.

“There’s a small rodeo this weekend up in Guthrie. Still some slots open. Not a big purse. But a thousand bucks ain’t bad.”

Mina instantly looked at Jackson, wanting to gauge his reaction. As she’d suspected, he didn’t look thrilled.

That much was confirmed when he said, “You want to climb on the back of a bullthis weekend? You’ve barely been practicing!”

“Rampage gave me plenty of practice.”

“That was a horse!” Mina interjected. “Not a bull.”

“Listen to the cutie,” Jackson said, jerking his thumb toward her.

She smiled.

Slater did, too, but he said, “Riding a bucking bronc like that ain’t easy. Add jumping on it from a moving truck and, well, I’d say that’s some good practice.”

Jackson sighed as he rubbed the back of his neck. “I can’t talk you out of this, can I?”

“You know you can’t,” Slater replied. He then looked at the firemen. “I’d appreciate it if y’all kept this to yourselves. No sense in letting others know what I’m doing and why.”

Walker nodded. “This is your business to share.”

Mina wasn’t surprised. Slater didn’t strike her as the type of man who wanted folks to make a fuss over him. He’d try to win that money to help Big Cedar because he felt it was the right thing to do. But he wouldn’t make a show of it.

“Well,” she said, taking his hand and Jackson’s, “I guess we’re traveling this weekend.”

Slater patted her bottom with his free hand and grinned.

“That’s right. Guthrie, here we come.”

CHAPTEREIGHTEEN

Guthrie was a charming community with a quaint downtown full of Victorian-style buildings, many of them dating back to the late 1800s and early 20th century.

Unlike the mountainous terrain of Big Cedar, Guthrie sat on a swath of flat prairie, about forty-five miles north of Oklahoma City. There were some small hills around, but nothing too major to speak of. Still, it had laid-back vibes and Mina instantly fell in love with the small city.

“It’s like we went back in time!” she said as she stood on the sidewalk, looking at the intersection of Oklahoma Avenue and Division Street. “This place looks like a European village had a baby with an old west, frontier town.”

Holding her hand, Jackson laughed. “That’s a pretty good description.”

“Have you been here before?" she asked.

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