Page 86 of Bull Riders Don't Swoon

And that’s what he’s been telling me all along.

twenty-seven

Griff

The last rider of the first flight exits the ring safely, and I finally allow myself to search the stands for my dad.

While the rodeo clown sets up for a skit, I grab water from a volunteer and wave at the crowd where my dad sits. He’s still wearing that ridiculous straw hat, and he and Riley wave back.

Even from a distance, it’s clear he’s enjoying himself, and when he waves back, the little boy in me surfaces with mixed emotions. All the science fairs or public speaking that he missed, I can’t forget how much I wished he were in the audience for. But tonight feels like a new beginning. Like the ten-year-old who wanted his dad to be at the library for his speech on hermit crabs, I use this moment to insert him there and wave back.

And that’s the moment I know I can’t walk away from this part of my life completely. Bullfighting was never my end goal, but in some sort of way, having Dad here to see me fills a hole I’ve long ignored. Jamieson’s confession that he didn’t need me to prop him up surprised me, but in the best possible way.

With all the changes and emotional fragilities of my life the past few months, I’m standing in a rodeo ring experiencing the greatest epiphany of my life.

I can still have everything I’ve ever wanted.

The man. My dad. Rodeo… and the dream I tucked away when I left university because I was being pulled in too many directions and couldn’t possibly stretch any further.

The revelation settles over me, and for the first time since I was a kid struggling to grow up far too soon, I finally see a light on for me.

The short intermission ends, and I get back to work, vigilant of all the bull riders, but with a new restlessness for Jamieson’s ride. He has a lot on the line with tonight’s ride, and choosing to go with a new pre-ride routine hopefully doesn’t backfire.

“Give it up for hometown rider, Jamieson Carr.” The announcer’s voice blares over the speakers, drawing out the ‘r’ in his name so it sounds like a growl. The crowd roars so loudly it drowns out the announcer. Jamie’s black helmet and long torso are visible as he works to position himself on the bull, Morphine Dream. The bull has a good chance of bucking him off tonight because he has a winning record and has only seen the end of eight seconds with a rider still on board three times all season.

Nothing about Jamieson’s posture shows he’s nervous. He’s all confident moves and sharp instructions to the people at the top of the chute helping him. Then he’s nodding his head, and the men pull open the gates.

The massive black bull with mismatched horns launches out of the gate, hell bent to throw Jamieson off. It bucks high and hard, sideways and back again. My heart is in my throat because this is the best ride of his life. His form is perfect, and every muscle in his body must be on fire while he fights to survive the ride.

The buzzer sounds, and from the corner of my eye, I see the stands with our friends and family jump to their feet clapping, andI’m pretty sure my dad’s straw hat goes flying. Jamieson works to free himself and holds on just long enough to grab onto a pickup man while Morphine Dream simply trots to the end of the ring and down the corridor like a respectable loser.

“Jamieson Carrrrr….” The announcer draws out the end of his name again as the man himself stumbles towards me while ripping off his helmet. “Get on your feet because the hometown hero just rode Morphine Dream for the biggest score of the night!”

Then Jamie is right in front of me with his smile and those damn dimples that make my knees weak.

“Ninety-five points for the bull rider, folks!”

“Holy shit!” Jamie’s eyes widen as he reaches me, and we both laugh.

“Holy shit is right! You did it. You’re going to the finals, Jamie.”

“I’m going to the finals, baby!” He tilts his head back and howls like a wolf at the moon, and I’m so happy for him that my chest aches with a joy I don’t know how to express.

But Jamieson does.

His hands grip my shirt as he pulls me into his chest.

“That ride was for you, Griff. You’re it for me.” He crashes his lips to mine, and we let ourselves fall into a passionate kiss in the middle of the ring with the roar of the crowd surrounding us.

My hands shake as they clutch at his waist, and when we finally break for air, we find a line of cowboys waiting, applauding with smiles on their faces.

I duck my head against Jamie with a groan. “Oh god. This is embarrassing.”

Jamie just grins with that mischievous glint in his eye and tugs me towards the exit. “As embarrassing as that time I made yousing karaoke with me and the prompter broke, so we made up the words?”

Despite my embarrassment, I bark a laugh and take his hand in mine as we exit the ring. “Not quite. Although if you kissed me then like you did just now, I’d probably think it was the best karaoke performance of my life.”

Jamieson takes a few minutes to receive congratulations from some of the bull riders, and I stay with him because he doesn’t let go of my hand, and I’m not one bit mad about that.

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