Page 104 of Cowboy Daddies

“You good?” he asks.

I nod, though my stomach is already twisting. “Yeah.”

It isn't true. I feel like I’m going to puke. Like I want to run out of the arena and out of the fairgrounds and forget about the perfect night I had with my hunky rodeo cowboys. Because as invested as I am, I know this can’t go anywhere. My home is Blue River, and I’m not cut out for the riskiness of it all.

The gate swings open.

Black Thunder explodes out of the chute.

My heart jumps into my throat.

Tripp's free hand flies up, his body snapping with the bull's first violent twist. Black Thunder bucks hard, launching his hindquarters into the air before dropping and twisting again. Tripp stays centered.

“Come on, Tripp!” I shout, leaping to my feet before I know what I’m doing.

The crowd is roaring now. I barely hear anything except the pounding of my own heart and Levi yelling beside me.

One second.

Two.

Black Thunder spins left, then suddenly reverses direction. Tripp's legs clamp down, his shoulders moving with the bull instead of against him.

Three.

Four.

The bull bucks so hard that Tripp nearly gets thrown over his shoulder. Somehow, he recovers. He straightens, his free hand still high in the air.

Five.

I realize I'm holding my breath.

Six.

For one perfect second, relief rushes through me.

Then Black Thunder bucks again.

Tripp's grip breaks.

He flies sideways, hitting the dirt with a sickening thud before rolling once. The crowd's roar changes instantly, excitement collapsing into a collective gasp.

“Oh my God.” Bile rises in my throat. Beside me, Levi has gone stock-still.

Tripp doesn't get up.

The bullfighters rush into the arena, distracting Black Thunder and driving him away. I can't take my eyes off Tripp. He's lying on his side, one arm pulled tight against his body.

Levi catches my wrist.

“Marci.”

“I know.” My voice comes out barely louder than a whisper.

The medics run in. One kneels beside Tripp while another checks his head and neck. Tripp tries to shift, but the medic immediately stops him.

“Don't move,” I hear someone say.