Page 58 of Buck This
Cobalt should’ve never talked about Teague. He should’ve never mentioned his brother, or that damn night. He should’ve never encouraged the sharing of the pictures that had wrecked Buck This Storme’s life.
Tonight, Cobalt would learn not to fuck with a Storme.
Tonight, everyone would learn.
She was out there. Torrey was close. Buck could feel her. That part he hadn’t expected. When he’d slept with her, it had done something to him. It had tethered him to her, and now he could tell where she was in the building. She was in the box near the chutes. He tried to see her through the bars but couldn’t.Unable to help himself, he pushed up and hooked his hooves over the top. He got a glimpse of her. She wasn’t scared of his behavior as the cowboys behind the chute tried desperately to keep him from jumping out the rest of the way. She stood tall and proud, and she smiled and nodded to him. He could do this.
A hot pain zinged through his hip, and he lowered back to the ground and bellowed when he realized they’d used a Hot-Shot on him. That only pissed him off more.
Cobalt was here now, sliding onto his back, and everyone was yelling as he swung his head and tried to tag him in the thigh with his sawed-off horn. The chute prevented the full range of motion to accomplish it, but he still tried twice more, clanging his horn on the metal grate time and time again. He kicked hard just to rid himself of some of the pent-up rage.
He always had a hard time understanding human language in this body, so it was just a rumble of nonsensical words.
Torrey was here though, and so was Teague.
He could see him. Teague was standing on the stage in the middle of the arena. Buck This froze, his gaze aimed right through two of the bars to the stage.
Teague looked just as he remembered him. Flannel button up shirt, old worn jeans, dusty boots, and the cream-colored cowboy hat their grandfather had gifted him. He lifted his chin higher into the air and nodded once.
Buck strong.
The gate swung open, and Buck This Storme exploded out of the chute.
One.
He landed hard on his front and flung his flank to the side, then was airborne again as soon as his back legs hit the ground. He twisted in the air and kicked front and back legs hard. Cobalt had a good seat.Let’s see what you’ve got.
Two, three…
Buck This Storme slammed back down to earth and twisted the opposite way, tightening his circle. He flung his body to the side, and he could feel it—Cobalt was losing his balance.
Four.
If he could smile in this body, he would’ve.
Buck This Storme slammed to earth and went airborne, twisting as he kicked, and Cobalt flung to the side.
Five, six.
He was barely hanging on, and Buck This Storme slammed his hooves to the arena dirt and kicked his back end up. Cobalt went sailing, but his hand was still in the rope.
He twisted to the side again and yanked Cobalt through the air. He lost his grip and went flying. Buck This Storme had known that would happen. He’d felt it.
Buck This Storme aimed for him before Cobalt even hit the dirt. He was going to kill him. He wanted to. He wanted to destroy him.
He charged for him while the bullfighters scrambled to reach him, and time slowed.
He was going to make it to him before anyone could stop him.
Cobalt was going to die tonight.
Teague appeared in front of him, and Buck This Storme locked his legs to avoid hitting his brother.
“It’s good,” Teague said, his voice echoing through Buck’s head. “It’s enough. This is just the beginning for you, little brother, not the end.”
Breath heaving, Buck This Storme stood there frozen while the crowd roared.
The bullfighters had dragged Cobalt to the rail, and he was scrambling up them, and out of Buck’s reach.
