Page 4 of Before You Can Blink
Pop folded both arms over his barrel chest. “Used to compete. Mind if I ask why you gave it up?”
Tugging on the back of his neck, Murphy replied, “Didn’t bring home too many buckles. Had to man up and get a job that pays the bills.”
An unimpressed humph sounded from the back of Pop’s throat.
“But I wasn’t half the rider your son is.” A hand clamped down on my shoulder. “Can’t compete on the broncs in the junior circuit until he’s sixteen, but if he’s this good now, I can only imagine what a year of training would do. He’d be likely to blow the competition away and could snag some decent sponsors.”
“And if he gets hurt?” My dad arched an eyebrow.
Murphy’s head tilted from side to side. “Minor injuries come with the territory.”
Pop’s chest rumbled. “It’s not the minor ones I’m worried about.”
“Your concern is certainly warranted,” Murphy agreed with a nod. “But the way I see it, life’s a risk anyway. Every day you wake up, you have no idea if it could be your last. Gotta make the most of what time you’re granted on this earth. Can’t do that living scared.”
“He was lucky enough to walk away the first time. I have no interest in tempting fate twice.”
My heart sank, and any hope of riding wild horses in front of a screaming crowd was dashed in an instant.
Pop was as stubborn as they come. Even if I begged and pleaded, he wouldn’t change his mind on this, so I knew better than to try.
With a jerk of his head, my father commanded, “Get in the car, son. We’re gonna head home after I have a few adult words with . . .” His words trailed off as he waited for the offer of a name.
“Murphy.” The man by my side extended his hand and shook with my pop. “Murphy Tripplett.” He shot me a sympathetic smile. “Better hustleup and do as your dad says. Wouldn’t want to get you in any more trouble today, kid.”
With my head hung, I shuffled to the pickup and climbed into the passenger seat. Through the windshield, I watched on as my father laid into Murphy, who simply nodded, allowing Pop to get it all off his chest.
But the whole time, I kept thinking that I would do just about anything to get on the back of another wild horse. Pop might have the power to keep me off them for now, but as soon as I turned eighteen and moved out, he wouldn’t be able to stop me.
A grin curved on my lips as the picture of my future became clear for the first time in my life.
I was going to be a rodeo champion.
Chapter 2
Jett
Age 16
May
“WouldJettSullivanpleasereport to the principal’s office?”
The request was issued over the wall-mounted speaker in the corner, and every eye turned in my direction as my classmates let out an obnoxious “oooooh” in unison.
Rising from my desk, I looked to Mrs. Chambers for permission to leave.
She dipped her chin. “Go ahead, Jett.”
Turning toward the door, I passed Wade on the way out, and he asked, “What’d ya do?”
I shrugged. “Hell, if I know.”
“Language!” Mrs. Chambers called out from behind me.
“Sorry, ma’am,” I muttered before slipping out of the room.
The walk to the office didn’t take long. Rust Canyon boasted a population of only six hundred souls, and with less than half of those being under the age of eighteen, our singular school was small.
