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"And a bit," J.D. said as he added just a little more rosin. "Helmet, girl!"
I lifted my hand, showing I already had that with me. "I'm on it. Play nice, boys."
That earned me a smile from both of them, but the truth was that I needed a moment on my own. I had to get out of my own way, get my mind in the zone, and brace for this. My third event, and I wasn't doing too bad. Somewhere out there, my daddy was watching with his friends, and I wanted to make him proud, even if he said I already had.
I just wanted this.
Following the hall, I found myself outside in an aisle between cattle chutes. On either side of me, bulls mooed. Some thrashed their heads, hoping for a little more space. Others looked like they were taking a nap. Stock contractors wandered between them, along with other PBR staff members. I even saw a man whose shirt labeled him as the veterinarian.
But there was something about the clouds in the sky, the bright lights that looked like they belonged in a football stadium, and just the sound of it all. So many people, and they were here to watch. That was what made me want this so bad. It was the draw that kept us getting up and getting back on. Sure, the money didn't hurt at all, but this? It was what lit the fire in our blood.
"Hey," a guy said, falling in at my side.
I looked over and didn't recognize him. "Hey," I replied.
He thrust out his hand. "Gustavo Ribeiro. Brazil." And while his accent was thick, his English was good.
"Cody Jennings, USA," I said.
He grinned. "Yeah. Renato and Emilio told me." Then he gestured up towards the backside of the scoreboard. "Where ya at?"
"Eighteenth. You?"
He grinned. "Fifteen. They say you're gonna make me work for Rookie of the Year."
I laughed once. "Um, didn't I start a bit late for that? I mean, J.D. keeps telling me I'm gonna be, but I thought he was just stroking my ego."
"Nope," he promised. "It's all points. Highest points for the first year. There's three more, but they're nothing." He gestured to the arena. "Two went already. Ate dirt."
"Which was where I was headed," I admitted. "Wanted to get a look at this place."
"Then I'll come," he offered.
I looked over, my eyes narrowing. "It's ok. I think I know my way around the chutes."
He just hooked his thumbs on the waistband of his chaps. "The guys from Brazil say you're good, Cody." He dragged his tongue across the inside of his cheek, making it puff out. "But Austin's up there, and, well..." He tried his best to smile. "I'm a gentleman."
I turned to face the guy. "Is he talking shit about me again?"
"Still," he said. "Austin Chambers, Eli Tripwood, Derek Mitchell, and Casey Davis. You need to keep your eyes on them, because my English is good, but I do not think that rape is slang."
"Shit," I breathed. "No, I'd love some company, Gustavo. Thank you."
He grinned again, nodded once, then gestured for me to go first. "And Brazil will take care of ya. It's why women love us."
Well, right about now, it was why I did. And yet, I couldn't help but wonder if maybe this guy was looking to set me up for a fall. If we were both competing against each other for Rookie of the Year, would he really be this nice? Then again, not all guys were like the ones I'd ridden against back home. No, it seemed that in the PBR, most men were the real kind.
Most. Sadly, that wasn't the same as all.
Chapter17
The moment Codywas out of the area, I turned to J.D. "Don't you dare get her fucked up in her riding," I warned him.
The look he shot me would've scared off lesser men. Granted, it made my balls suck up a bit, but damned if I would show it.
"You get her to sit pretty," he told me, "and I'll get her to get in there."
"No," I begged. "Listen to me, J.D. She can't ride like you. Cody's half your size." I paused to look him over. "Ok, maybe not that drastic. All I'm saying is that when you get slung into the wall, you get up. Her?"
