Page 156 of Jump Back On

Tugging the rope tight, I looped it under the handle, then around, and I pushed it back through a few times. It wasn't tied, because then it wouldn't come off, but it was twisted enough that it should stay like that for a bit. Below me, Without Ado was starting to get agitated.

"And you're a go," the attendant said.

I checked my rope one more time, then stepped out of the chute and back onto the catwalk. "Ok!" I called to the gate man. "Let him go!"

"What?" the man asked.

"Open the fucking gate!" I yelled at him.

"But you're not - "

"Just do it!"

The latch clanked and the gate swung out. Without Ado hesitated for a moment, and then the bull did the one job he knew: he bucked. That man-hating beast blew up, exploding out of the chute like he was here to put on a show, and my cowbell swung under him the whole time - but I was nowhere near any of his anger.

Overhead, the music was playing like it would for a ride. The clock, however, was stopped. This was a no score, and I'd expected nothing else, but I wasn't about to get hurt because of this animal.

Eventually, the rope came off, but Without Ado was still pissed. The bullfighters were the only targets he had, though. Dropping his head, the bull charged, tossing two of them up in the air before the outrider loped his horse in, swinging a rope over his head.

Yeah, Without Ado wanted nothing to do with that so turned, searching for the exit. Heading the opposite way of the horse put him in the right direction, and that was all the bull needed. Still hopping a bit on the hind end, the beast that had broken a few too many of us headed back for his pen, and I was one of the few men who'd drawn him to come away without injuries.

"Hey, Jake?" Ty called up from his chute.

"Yeah?" I asked.

"Just like Bodacious, huh?"

"You know it!" I agreed.

Because that had been how the cowboys back then had retired one of the most impressive bulls out there. Few could ride him, and too many were getting hurt, so they started sending him out with just a rope. Well, if the PBR wouldn't listen to us about this bad boy, then maybe I could start a trend.

J.D. had made it clear no one could ride that animal. Hell, ifhecouldn't, then the bull was unrideable! J.D. could ride anything! And maybe he'd win the Unleash the Beast competition, but anyone dumb enough to strap themselves to his back was just asking to miss a whole hell of a lot more than one ride.

Everyone got bucked off at one time or another. Injuries, however, took a lot longer to recover from. The way I saw it, my no-score today was the best outcome. I wasn't hurting, I'd ride the next time, and I was pretty damned sure that up there in the announcer's box, Donald Merrill was fuming.

I'd just prevented one of those big wrecks the fans were so excited for. I'd probably prevented a whole video of "the worst wrecks of the PBR" or something, because one outing for Without Ado could put multiple people - the rider and the bullfighters - in a world of hurt.

And that? Knowing the man would rather see me turned into a bull riding statistic? It was just more fuel for me to keep helping Cody. She might not know it yet, but that woman was the best chance any of us had of changing this place.

Maybe the PBR had come a long way, but we still had a lot further to go. I just hoped I'd be here to see it. And who knew, maybe next weekend, I'd be the one winning for once. At least I'd now be healthy enough to ride when the chance came.

Chapter56

The momentthey got Without Ado out of the arena, it was my turn. I'd already strapped in and was waiting, so all it took was a nod. With that familiar clanking sound, the gate swung open, and the second-best bull in the PBR, Speed Bump, came out flying.

True to his reputation, this bull leaped up, proving he was a lot more agile than most animals his size. When he landed, he did it again, trying to convince me he had wings or something. Again, then again, Speed Bump launched almost straight up, doing his little dance a bit closer to the chutes than I really liked, but I had this.

Every time he came down, I felt my shoulders slung around, but I was strong enough to fight that. Keeping my head tucked, I had every intention of riding this bull to the best of my ability. I had a woman to impress out there. I didn't even know if she was watching, but she would. Even if it was later, on a video, she'd see me showing off a bit.

Or so I thought, because after the fourth flying leap, Speed Bump decided to change things up. He went in for the kicks, somehow managing to travel backwards while doing them. The bull was just so damned strong, he was slinging his own body around - not to mention mine!

My chest heaved forward. My free arm pulled me back. I was wobbling all over the place, and I didn't dare try to spur yet. Taking my legs off his side would just put my face into his horns.

I got two of those backwards bucks before the beast turned, spinning to the left. As a right-hander, this was my weaker side, but I could ride 'em either way. Finally, Speed Bump found a rhythm I could count on, so I dared to give him a little spur.

Oh, he did not approve. The spin flattened, and without warning, this bad boy launched again, catching me off guard. My seat slipped. I felt my pockets hit his back, and knew I was out of position. When we landed, my head snapped up. For a moment, I was sure I was going down.

Another buck slipped me over to the left. Bent, sideways, and sliding off the side, I was in a real bad position, but I was hanging on with every ounce of strength I had. My bicep was burning as I pulled at the handle of my rope, desperately holding myself on.

---