Page 93 of Lost Trust

“So, when I say you gotta want it, I mean you gotta want it.” I point at one of the boys. “You. Help Micah load the chute.”

The kid straightens. “Yes, sir.”

I point at another. “You. Your turn to ride.”

His face goes pale for half of a second before he tries to cover it.

“And you two? You’re gonna bullfight with me this round.”

That gets them moving.

We run a few different bulls. Switch the boys around. Ride. Load. Bullfight. Ride again.

The first kid comes off a little crooked, but hangs on longer than I expected. The second gets bucked hard, but rolls clear. One of the bullfighters gets caught too close and has to scramble, but I get between him and the bull before things turn ugly.

For the most part, they do well. They listen, and hopefully, they’ve learned something.

And by the end of the session, they’re sweaty, filthy, breathing hard, and grinning like idiots. Exactly how they should be.

I’m watching Micah help one of the younger boys out of his vest when something catches my eye beyond the rails.

Marina.

She’s standing outside the arena, arms folded loosely over her chest, watching us.

I catch her eye, and she freezes. Then immediately steps sideways, like she can somehow disappear behind the bleachers.

I stare after her, and a laugh works its way up my throat.

Caught.

I dismiss the boys and send them off to clean up before dinner.

Then I head for Marina.

She’s pretending to be very interested in something on the side of the building when I stop in front of her.

“You liked what you saw?”

Her eyes flick up to mine. “I was watching the boys.”

“Sure you were.”

She rolls her eyes. “You’re a good teacher.”

That catches me off guard.

“Yeah?”

“Yes. Though your speech there in the beginning didn’t do much to convince me to let Ryder start training,” she says.

I shrug. “Gotta give it to ’em straight. Weed out the weak before the rodeo life chews them up and spits them out.”

“You don’t think that was a bit harsh? They’re just teenagers.”

I nod. “And we’re building men. They need to hear the truth, not a load of bullshit.”

I lean one shoulder against the building. “So, you here to ask me to dinner this time?”