Page 56 of Big Daddy Bull Riders

Mina reached out and took Jackson’s hand and they stayed there with each other for a few more minutes.

It didn’t need to be said. Both knew what the other was thinking.

They were worried. And they sure didn’t like the thought of Slater getting on the back of another bull.

Not one damn bit.

CHAPTERTWENTY-SEVEN

It was two days later, and Mina discovered that the arena in Tulsa wasn’t anything like the other ones she’d been in when traveling with her Daddies on the circuit.

“This place is huge!” she said. “Like something in Dallas.”

Jackson nodded. “Yeah. This is their big concert venue. We’re smack downtown. It ain’t some rural fairground, that’s for damn sure.”

You wouldn’t know it by looking at it, though, Mina thought. The floor had been covered in dirt. Chutes and gates had been erected. The place was ready to host the big rodeo. Next week, it would probably look like a typical concert arena, with some popular singer hosting a show there.

It was empty now, save for a few other riders who were there, getting their rigging out, along with their teams, and the officials as they put the last-minute touches on. Soon, though, Mina knew it would be packed with nineteen thousand people, all wanting to see her Daddy—and other competitors—ride bulls.

Mina sure didn’t want Slater to go through with it. She’d cheer for him. Nothing could stop her from doing that. But she’d pray for him, too. And hold out hope that he’d pull through unscathed.

But maybe it wouldn’t come to that, she thought. If she could just find something out about Hugo Sparks…

Over the past couple of weeks, she’d pulled on several digital threads, but the mystery hadn’t unraveled yet.

Perhaps it wouldn’t. Because maybe there wasn’t any mystery to solve. What if Hugo Sparks was just who he claimed to be—a cunning, shrewd, unethical, yet totally legal real estate developer out to increase his holdings?

“I brought my computer,” she said, holding up her backpack. “I’m gonna go find a spot to do some work.”

“Everything okay?” Slater asked her.

“Yeah. Just need to work on some paper stuff.”

She wasn’t lying. The danger Big Cedar was facing was huge news! And if she could do a hard-hitting investigative piece on Hugo Sparks, then that would be even better.

She retreated up into the nearly empty stands, got out her computer, connected it to the wi-fi, and got to work.

It only half distracted her, though.

She was a nervous wreck as she worried about Daddy.

* * *

“Mina!”

Mina looked up from her screen to see Daisy headed up the stairs that led to where she sat in the stands. The arena was starting to fill up now, though it was far from at capacity. They still had an hour before the rodeo started.

“Daisy!” she hollered, standing. That’s when she noted the long line of folks behind her friend.

The three firefighters were there, along with Sheriff Quinn and Alyssa, Joe and Mindy, Doc and Janie, Clyde and Belinda, Theo and Grace, Amber and her Daddy, Sawyer. Even Marsha had come!

“What are you all doing here?” Mina asked.

“We came to support y’all. And cheer really loudly,” Daisy said.

“And maybe talk some sense into your Daddy,” Walker added.

“Come on,” Mina said, hugging Daisy and then waving at everyone else since she couldn’t get to them for embraces. “If we go back down the stairs, I’ll lead the way to where he’s at. You can say hi to him before it starts.”

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