Page 40 of Just Hold On

Chapter 36

When I showedup at the arena in pink, one of the Brazilians - whose name I didn't know - whooped at the top of his lungs. All of the guys with him made a point of looking me over, tugging at my new chaps and shirt, and a few punched my shoulder the same way they did the other guys. All of them noticed that I looked a little nicer, and a few of them commented on my lipstick, because - yes - I was all dolled up.

I introduced them to my dad. They greeted him in English, Portuguese, and some combination of both, depending on the rider. When they'd all shaken his hand, we got pointed toward the registration desk. That line took a while to get through, but when I made it to the counter, the woman behind it dropped my paperwork on top and smiled.

"You're all paid up, Miss Jennings. J.D. drew for you when he got here this morning." She tapped the top page. "That has your bull, chute, and ride time. I've got two passes to get behind the chutes, a front row seat on the Red Bull side, a wristband for you, and your annual membership is paid up. I just need you to sign right here." And she stabbed her finger on a very little X.

I took the pen and scrawled my name. "J.D. did this, right?"

She smiled. "I'm not supposed to tell. He swore me to secrecy."

"Which means yes." I said, and the woman nodded.

Dad just chuckled behind me. "Kiddo, I think you've got these boys wrapped around your little finger already."

"Right now, I'm just telling myself that I got him a six-figure bonus, and trying real hard not to feel guilty."

A laugh sounded behind me, but it wasn't one I recognized. "No guilt," the guy said. I turned around to find Tanner standing there. "And J.D. dropped his credit card on the counter, but the seat's from us." He smiled at my dad. "Heard you were coming, so we wanted to make sure you got to see. Red Bull gives us a few seats at each event. None of us have friends or family in the area, so it worked out. We've got you covered all weekend long, Mr. Jennings. Call it payback for the beer Wednesday night."

Dad slapped Tanner's shoulder proudly. "Thank you, boy. Make sure the other two know I appreciate it, will ya?"

"And you can get backstage, Dad," I reminded him.

He just shook his head. "No, sweetie. That's your playground. Last thing I would've wanted was my old man looking over my shoulder when I was getting ready to ride. I'm gonna be a spectator right here, all night long. Unless you get hurt, then I might change my mind."

"No getting hurt," I reminded him. "Not willing to take the risk of my mutton busting pictures being leaked."

Tanner cleared his throat. "Uh, Cody? They're starting the line-up. Willing to walk down there with me?"

"Sure." I paused long enough to give my father a hug. "Wish me luck?"

"Luck isn't something you need," he told me. "Just finish the night in one piece and I'll be the proudest man in here."

Tanner waited, but when I fell in at his side, he pressed his hand to the small of my back, steering me the right way, to where I needed to be. We walked around the arena rail, away from the cattle chutes, then down a set of stairs. Like all PBR events, there was a round, padded bullpen in the center to house the cameras. It had to be at least fifteen feet across. Then, on both of the short sides, a cloth drape had been set up, covered in sponsor names. For the introduction ceremony, a walkway across the arena had been set up, and it looked like the drape was meant to hide us until it was showtime.

The moment we got back there, Jorge and Isaac converged on Tanner. He shrugged at me, but was grinning as they hauled him off. Me? I was left to figure out where I fit in with this insanity. A woman was walking around with a clipboard, so I asked her, and she told me we were lining up by overall ranking, lowest to highest. At twenty-first place, that put me closer to the front than I liked, but not as bad as in Tulsa, when I'd gone out second.

Counting down from thirty-five, I found my spot and checked with the guy before me. He said he was twenty-three. The one behind him was nineteen, so I wasn't the last one here. Sliding in between them, I settled in to wait, looking around, hoping to find my friends. I didn't, but quite a few of the guys tipped their hats at me, and only a few scowled like I didn't belong.

Eventually, a young man with a headset walked down the line, checking names against his list. When he got to me, he paused. His eyes looked me over, moved to his clipboard, and then back. A deep crease appeared on his brow.

"Cody Jennings?" he asked, sounding very confused.

"That's me. Spring Creek, Missouri."

"Huh." He shrugged then kept going.

I knew why he was confused. Tonight, I looked nothing like a bull rider. I'd gone for a feminine look, but nothing too girly. My lips were barely tinted, but highly glossed. I had on plenty of eyeliner and mascara. My hair was in loose curls that lay over my shoulders and looked country, but not hillbilly. The sparkles on my chaps and rhinestone belt finished the look, making it clear that I wasn't like all these other cowboys.

Now came the wait. The lights around the arena dimmed. The volume got turned up. The bull riders didn't move until the pyrotechnics went off, letting us know it was time to shuffle forward in an orderly manner. I'd done this once before, but in Tulsa I'd been no one. I'd also been a kid in blue with my hat on and head down. This time was very different. This was also a much bigger event.

Placed high enough in the Tough Enough Series rankings, Ty was near the back of the line, with J.D. at the very end. Thankfully, I was in the middle. Closer to the front, but at twenty-first place, I sure wasn't complaining. I was the fourteenth to go out, and when the curtain opened, I marched across the dirt looking just as proud as the guys around me. The spotlights made all of my bling shine, and I was grinning from ear to ear, because up there in the stands was my father.

"And our newest member on the PBR Tough Enough Series," the announcer called out, slowing the pace just a bit, "is from Spring Creek, Missouri. Let's get a round of applause for this lovely little lady, Cody Jennings! Look at all that pink. Sure won't miss her on the back of a bull!"

I lifted my hat like the guys before me. This time, I looked up, well aware that my face was on the massive screen behind me. The best part was that people were cheering, and it wasn't just the women in the crowd. Then the spotlight moved to the man behind me, and I took my place in line, waiting for the prayer and anthem.

"Hey," the guy beside me said when I fell into place. "Where'd ya get the chaps?"

I tilted my head back to the line of cowboys. "Ty McBride. J.D. got me a helmet as a welcome to the PBR gift."

He nodded, looking amused. "It's working for you. Heard you came in top five at Tulsa?"

I just shrugged. "Yeah, now let's hope that wasn't a lucky weekend or something."

He laughed, reaching over to slap my shoulder. "Got a feeling it wasn't. Nice to meet you, Cody."

Then it was time to bow our heads. Just like the guys, I pulled off my hat and held it over my heart. When the anthem played, mine was the only soprano voice coming from the arena floor. Then, when the lights came back on, I was lost in the mass of bodies as we all jogged back to the chutes, but it didn't surprise me at all when a strong arm dropped on my shoulder as soon as we were behind the gates.

"Who'd ya draw?" Ty asked, meaning my bull's name.

"Without Ado. You?"

Steering me to the back, he groaned. "High Water. He's dropped me twice this year. Know anything about Without Ado?"

I just shook my head. "Not a thing."

"Yeah. He's big and powerful. Comes out straight, gives you a few false hops, then goes crazy. He'll double back if you slip at all, so just hold on, ok?"

Something in the way he said that had me worried. "And?" I asked.

Ty stepped around to face me. "That's the same bull that put Chase Tompkins in the hospital with a broken back in January. He's got a mean streak."

"And yours?" I asked.

He just shrugged. "Likes cubes and scratches behind his left ear. I'm just saying that when you hit the dirt, don't stick around. Your bull will come for you. Get on the fence, baby." Then his head jerked up. "Tanner!"

"Aw, man," the bullfighter in question grumbled, but he walked over. "I was just - "

Ty didn't wait for him to finish. "Cody's got Without Ado."

"Shit." Those words changed Tanner's tone completely. He looked at Ty for a moment, then nodded. "See if some of the guys are willing to hang around the corners. Worst case, we'll throw her up the fence."

"Guys!" I snapped. "I've done this before. Stop acting like I'm fragile!"

Tanner just waved me off. "I didn't know that bull was here, Cody. He's a bastard. This isn't about you - it's about him. He ran Jorge over twice. Gave me a bloody nose. Broke one of Isaac's fingers. Just lemme know before you start preparing, and we'll stick close."

I looked from one face to the other, trying to figure out what the hell was going on. "So this isn't some protect the girl thing?" I asked.

Ty just crossed his arms, but Tanner shook his head. "A few of us have asked for that bull to be retired after this season. Some of these animals are fine. Some are pets. Then there's bulls like that one. Don't get under him. He'll break you and not give a damn that you're a girl."

"Good to know." Then I pushed between them and headed for my gear.

If I was on a man-eater, I needed to make sure I had all my ducks in a row. Behind me, Ty and Tanner were still talking. I could only guess about what, but the set of Ty's shoulders said he was on the defensive. Well, let them work it out. I wasn't about to out Tanner, and I didn't have time to tell Ty that we'd become friends, even if tentative ones.

If I was on a bull that liked to break his riders, then I needed to get my head in the game. Like everyone else, I'd dropped my gear in the back hall when I'd checked in. I found that and headed up toward the chutes, looking for a good place to call my own. Since everyone knew I was a girl, that meant I didn't need to hide anymore.

When I found a decent gap, I claimed it, dropping my bag and hanging my rope up to prep. To both sides of me was a long line of my fellow bull riders, all getting ready in their own way. Some were stretching, others cleaning their ropes, and still others were adjusting their spurs, boots, or chaps. I reached in my bag for my rosin, well aware that my backup rope and glove would need a whole lot of love.

With my focus on my glove, all I saw were the black-and-red boots when they stopped by my bag, but I could only think of one person who would wear that particular style of Ariats. Looking up, I saw I was right. J.D. Adkins leaned against the cattle panel, watching me with a smug look on his face. I just rolled my eyes and smeared on a bit more rosin.

"Thank you, J.D., " I told him.

He grinned. "Welcome, rookie, but that's not why I stopped. Wanted to tell you that you look good."

"Shit," I breathed, realizing my hair was still down. "Crap. I didn't braid my hair!"

"Keep going," he told me, reaching up to lift off my hat and setting it down on my bag. "How tight?"

"Uh..."

"I can braid hair, Cody. Used to have some of my own before I had to put it under a helmet. Let's just say that I'd rather braid yours than see you cut it off. How tight?"

"Loose enough that I can flip it under my helmet. Not so loose that it'll come undone when I hit the dirt."

"Can do." Then he moved behind me, standing just a little too close, and leaned to the side so he could lower his voice and still be heard, as his fingers worked their way through my hair. "We still friends after how I left?"

"Yeah," I promised. "I mean, you're doing my hair. Doesn't that mean you're one of my besties?"

"I'm good with that." His fingers were down to my shoulders, nearing the end. "Where's your hair tie?"

"I have a rubber band in my front left pocket," I told him, because my hand was still in a very sticky glove.

He made a little huff of surprise, and pressed closer. One of his hands held the end of my braid. The other? It slipped into my pocket, caressed my hip, and found the rubber band. When he pulled his hand out, he pulled me back, pressing my ass right into his pelvis.

"J.D.!" I gasped, pulling away. "Not here."

"Huh, so somewhere else then?"

I sputtered, realizing I'd walked right into that, but I also wasn't willing to say no.

He just ignored my disconcerted noises. "Yeah, and Without Ado? I fucked up drawing him for ya. Not much to do about that now. Just don't spur. Let go of those points, because he'll go apeshit. Crank down on your hand, grip with your legs, and watch for the false bucks. He'll unsettle you in three if you give him the chance." Then he finally let go of my hair. "And that's one bull that you don't fuck with. When you lose your balance, just bail and run."

I stood there, hoping I didn't look as worried about this as I felt. "Thanks," was all I managed.

J.D. tipped his hat. "Welcome. Don't worry. I take good care of my friends." Then he stepped back. "Considering that's a massive group consisting of, um..." He pointed both hands at me like finger guns, laughed, and then just turned and walked away, never bothering to finish the thought.

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