I point. “Lift!”
Bram kicks.
She adjusts.
“That’s it!” I yell.
Another jump.
Another kick.
She’s finding a rhythm.
The students lining the fence start cheering.
“Come on, Natalia!”
“Ride him!”
Bram twists left.
She stays centered.
Damn.The kid can ride.
“Lift!”
Another jump.
“Breathe, Nat!”
Bram bucks harder.
“Post up!”
Five seconds … six. She’s still there.
Then I see it.
One tiny mistake. Her hips drift forward, and her weight shifts. Bram feels it and takes advantage. The bull launches upward, and his hindquarters kick toward the sky.
Natalia comes floating out of her seat. One second, she was riding. The next, she’s airborne.
“Oh hell,” I yell, my eyes meeting Royce’s as we both spring into action.
I don’t think. I move. Jumping from the fence before she hits the ground.
She flies nearly six feet before crashing upside down into the dirt.
The entire arena goes silent.
“Nat! You all right?”
Cody, another staff member, is a professional bullfighter. He breaks toward Bram, and I sprint toward Natalia.
She rolls onto her side. Trying to catch her breath.
Wind knocked clean out of her.
