Page 130 of Opposites (Never) Attract
I had no idea how it happened, but one second I was covering my own eyes, sick with dread that Seth might get hurt, and the next I was shouting encouragement to a brother I never knew I had. The bull was doing its best to heave Seth off his back, but Seth was like water on that bull. Nothing but fluid grace. He was holding on for dear life with one hand, while his other flung up in the air, fist raised, like a tool he was using as a counter weight.
In less than ten seconds, it was over, and rather than being thrown from the bull, Seth was actually able to jump and roll until he was on his feet.
The rest of the crowd leapt to their feet cheering, all of us witnessing something that none of the other cowboys had done.
“Whoohoo! Way to go, Seth!” I was shouting, along with everyone else. My heart in my throat the whole time.
As the clowns rushed in to distract the bull, Seth gave a big wave in our direction.
“Can he see us?” I asked. There were thousands of people packed in here.
“He can see family,” Tag said, waving back. “He knows we’re here for him and that’s all that matters.”
“Right,” I said, more to myself than to anyone listening. The crowd noise was far too loud. “Family is all that matters.”
When the bull riding was done, the women competed in barrel racing, and I told anyone who was listening that Shirley and I, if given a chance and years of training, would probably be awesome at that.
“Sure you would,” Mac said, patting me on my arm. “Hey, Tag. Isn’t that the girl from Big Horn you used todate?” Mac pointed at a stunning brunette down in the arena who’d just finished her ride.
“Abby.” Was all Tag said.
“She’s gotten really good.”
“She has.”
“I need the bathroom!” I announced. A little too loudly.
I pushed past Tag’s long legs, doing my best not to touch him, and made my way through the crowds. Behind the bleachers, riders and fans mixed and mingled. The riders were celebrities, and, by the look of the crowd of people around Seth, he was the biggest celebrity of all of them. He glittered in the lights from the concession stand, and I couldn’t help but smile just looking at him. The charm just oozed off that boy.
As I took my time, wandering through the crowd, people from town stopped and talked to me, congratulating me on the financial miracle I’d pulled off.
“It’s hardly a miracle,” I said to Mrs. McCormick, another old teacher of mine.
“Honey,” she said, pushing her round, little glasses up higher on her nose. “I know a miracle when I see one.”
It was awkward being hugged by all these people. Squeezed and thanked. But, it was also very, very nice. So nice, in fact, I felt my eyes well up. I’d made a lot of rich people more rich. But, I’d never had such an impact on people’s lives before. It was satisfying. Satisfying in a way I’d never felt in my job.
Seth looked up, and he must have seen me amongst everyone. Because, to my surprise, he excused himself from his fans and walked across the dirt and grass to where I was standing.
“Hi, Seth. It’s good to see you again.” I held out my hand for him to shake and he picked me up offmy feet and gave me a huge squeeze. I could only laugh and hold on for dear life.
“Always wanted a sister,” he said into my ear, for me alone.
He put me back on my feet, and the lump in my throat was so big I didn’t know what to say.
Just then, the stands started to empty out, and soon after, we were surrounded by family. There was back slapping and hugging. Seth stood there with his arm slung over Mac’s shoulder and turned back towards me.
“My brothers said you saved everyone in town,” he said.
“That’s an exaggeration,” I assured him.
“No, it’s not,” Tag said, his arms crossed over his wide chest.
“They said a little bit about you too, Tag. We need to have a word about how you treat our sister?” Seth said with a grin, and slapped Tag’s chest. Tag grinned and smacked him back and suddenly the two of them were wrestling like boys. Carter’s son got in on the action and Tag heaved the kid up over his shoulder like a sack of potatoes.
“Good ride,” Tag said to Seth. “You keep going like this, you’ll get another buckle in no time.”
“God-willing,” Seth said then. He was pulled away by fans, sponsors and event organizers. So, that was the last we saw of him.
