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"Four weeks," he muttered.
"Eight," I countered, remembering what the doctor had said.
"Four with PT," J.D. corrected.
"And the PBR doesn't have a rule that will keep a rider sidelined," Dad told me. "When it comes to the bulls, things are strict. Riders? Y'all can climb up there with as many broken bones as you want."
"I'm gonna be good," J.D. promised. "Four weeks. Means I'll drop down a bit, let the pack catch up, but I'm not missing Nashville."
"His home show," I clarified.
"Gotcha," Dad said, looking over at Tanner. "What about you, boy? How you holding up? I know you're probably fretting as much as my girl, hm?"
Tanner chuckled once, ducking his head. "I missed the save."
"No," Dad told him. "You made it. Bull just wasn't listening at first. The riders know the risks. Ain't your fault they do this. Ain't your responsibility to train the bulls. And trust me, that run you made looked real good on TV."
Tanner's shoulders softened a little and he looked up. "Thank you, sir."
"Just Dean," he told Tanner. "I also had a feeling the pair of you'd need some help dealing with a wounded dumbass. Has he started getting cranky yet?"
"Just woke up," I told Dad. "He's due for pain meds soon, though."
"And you two are going to need some sleep soon." Dad looked us over. "Did you eat?"
"We were busy," Tanner admitted.
Dad just nodded. "And this is exactly why I'm here. Figure you can worry about your boyfriend. I can worry about my kids, right?"
But his eyes hadn't been on me when he said that. I saw Tanner tense at the edge of my vision. J.D. looked over. Dad just smiled.
"Pretty sure I saw some fast-food places on the way here - "
"Howdidyou get here?" I asked.
Which made my father grin the same way J.D. usually did. "Well, seems that when my baby girl has a fit on live TV, Gerardo pulls a few strings. His son, Ricardo, has a pilot's license."
"For crop-dusting," I agreed.
"And they have that Cessna," he reminded me. "We had to land in the next town over, and I had to wait for the rental car to get there, but it was faster than driving to St. Louis."
"You flew?" Because I was still trying to wrap my mind around this.
Dad just nodded. "Honey, I told you before you left. If you need me foranything- and I think this sure as shit counts - then I'm here. I'll rescue you, and anyone else you're dragging around after you. That means these two, looks like."
"Yeah," I breathed. "Kinda does."
"Good, now let's go get some grub, hm?"
"Ok," I agreed. "I just have to make sure J.D. can eat it too."
"Fuckin' starving," J.D. said.
So my father wrapped his arm around my shoulder and turned me for the door. "Take care of that boy, Tanner. We'll be back."
"You gonna ask what I want?" J.D. called after him.
"Nope," Dad said. "You're the dumbass who couldn't hold on. You can take what you get."
