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I looked to see Bradly getting his helmet on. Ty met my gaze and jerked his head for me to get my ass over there.
“Get in there and move the bull. He’s wedged against the gate, and we can’t get the flank strap on the bastard.”
Doing as my uncle said, I used a piece of wood to get the bull away from the gate. Once Bradly climbed on, I held onto the back of his vest as he adjusted the rope and the strap. The bull was getting impatient and was starting to get feisty in the chute.
“Fuck!” Bradly yelled out as the bull pushed against the gate. Moving to get him off it, I yanked on Bradly’s vest.
He didn’t say a word, which told me he was fine.
Letting go, Bradly hit his hand, adjusted in the seat, and gave the nod. The chute gate flew open, and Bradly and Spitting Fire took off.
“Cover him, Bradly!” I yelled while Ty and Dirk shouted out too. I watched with pride as my younger cousin rode the shit out of the bull. Eight seconds seemed like a lifetime, and when the buzzer went off, I turned to Uncle Dirk who looked proud as hell.
“That’s my boy! That’s my kid!” he yelled.
Ty and I both laughed as Bradly came running back into the chute to get away from Spitting Fire. He climbed up, and Uncle Dirk pulled him into a hug and slapped his back.
“Damn good ride, Bradly. Damn good!” Dirk said. I was sure Aunt Merit was in the stands sending up a prayer of thanks.
The way Bradly looked at Dirk made my chest squeeze. He loved his daddy, and there was nothing better than getting that approval from your father. Especially when your father was one of the best bull riders in history. Though not as good as my dad—or so Dad would say.
I felt a hand squeeze my shoulder, and I turned to see the man I had just been thinking about.
“You good to go, Blayze?”
I nodded. “Yes, sir.”
“And you want to ride?”
Again, I replied, “Yes, sir.”
Dad looked as if he was in deep thought for a few moments before he said, “All right. I’ll be one of your flank men.”
I grinned like a little boy who’d been let loose in a candy store. “Don’t get too used to it. I’m only doing it for charity.”
He tossed his head back and laughed. “I’ve heard that before.”
We turned around, and I froze. Coming up the steps as fast as she could was Georgie.
“Georgie?” I asked in surprise.
A look of relief washed over her face, and she ran toward me. Given the determined way she was moving, I braced myself right before she launched herself into my arms and wrapped her legs around me. A few people around us whistled, and someone called out to get a room.
“Georgie, what are you—”
Before I could finish, she pressed her mouth against mine and dug her hands into my hair, knocking my cowboy hat off. She held me tightly, and I deepened the kiss. Then she suddenly pulled back, her green eyes meeting my blue.
“I love you, too, Blayze.”
For a moment, I was stunned into silence. The only thing that came out was a puff of laughter. “What are you doing here?”
“Morgan said you were riding today. I’m not here to tell you not to ride, but I’d be lying if I said I didn’t care about what happened to you. But I won’t ask you not to ride. I just…I needed to tell you that I love you. I listened to your message as we were walking in. I had spotty service driving out here.”
“Georgie, I’ve got so much to say, and I need to apologize.”
She shook her head and kissed me again. “Don’t. We can talk later.”
“Blayze!” Ty called out.
I smiled at her. “I need to ride, baby. Wait here, okay? Stay right here. Do. Not. Leave. Again.”
Georgie nodded. I knew it wasn’t the first time she was up on the bucking chutes since her father also rode bulls once upon a time, nor was it the first time she’d ever watched me ride a bull from this vantage point. I simply needed her close by.
After getting my helmet and vest on, I stood in front of my chute. As much as I wanted to talk to Georgie, I needed to focus. My mind needed to be on the ride. A few deep breaths, and a good hard stare at the bull in the chute, and I fell into line. It was like I had never stopped riding. I climbed onto the bull with my father in the front, Ty in the back. Dad adjusted the flank strap as I got my rope in place and hit it a few times to get it right. I adjusted my seat and saw Hunter out of the corner of my eye, ready to open the chute gate.
