Page 27 of Let Her Buck

Sadie sighs. “Maybe. Or maybe he just doesn’t know how to stop chasing the only life he’s ever known. Maybe he’s never had something—someone—worth slowing down for until now.”

I blink hard, trying not to let the tears come. “I don’t want to be someone’s maybe.”

“I know, honey.” She rubs my back. “But sometimes people don’t realize they’re ready for forever until it’s standing in front of them, pissed off and beautiful and telling them to get their shit together.”

I huff a small laugh through my tears. “You calling me beautiful or pissed off?”

“Both. Definitely both.”

We stay quiet for a beat, the rodeo announcer’s voice booming in the background, calling the next rider to the chute. I rest my head on Sadie’s shoulder, grateful for her presence. I would definitely have broken down if she hadn’t found me.

“How’s Evan?” I ask quietly.

“He’s great,” Sadie says, her voice perking up at the mention of her lifelong crush turned boyfriend. “He couldn’t make it to the fair today, but we have a date tonight.”

“At least you know where you stand with him,” I murmur, hating the hint of bitterness in my voice.

Sadie nudges me. “Honey, West asked you to wait. Long enough for him to finish what he started. Don’t you think you can do that?”

I swallow. “I don’t know.”

But as the bull gates slam open and the crowd erupts into cheers, I find myself turning toward the sound. My heart’s already watching, even if my head hasn’t caught up yet.

A huge cheer rises among the crowd as West steps into the chute. Despite the chaos around him, he remains calm, centered, like he’s made for this.

But I’m not calm. My breath catches in my chest, my nails dig into my palms, and the world begins to narrow until all I can see is him.

His eyes find mine—just for a second. One look. One breath. And then the gate bursts open.

The bull charges forward in a blur of muscle and fury, and West moves with it like he’s dancing with danger. Perfect. Controlled. I can barely breathe as I watch, but then it happens…

His eyes flick to me again.

Just for a second.

And everything tilts.

The bull bucks sideways, violent and mean.

West loses his grip.

He flies.

My knees buckle.

Time slows, but my memories don’t.

Because I’ve seen this before. I’ve lived this before.

One moment, my papa was riding strong, waving to me from the chute, grinning like he was invincible. And the next, he was flying. Just like this. Just like West in this moment.

I let out a chilling scream.

I screamed then too. I screamed and screamed, and no one could bring him back.

Now I watch West hit the dirt with a sickening thud, and the memories come rushing in, along with the sickening feeling in my stomach, the miserable helplessness and utter feeling of uselessness.

The crowd gasps. Everything seems to fall right along with him.

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