Page 78 of Kentucky Nights
“Excellent. I know we are all excited to be here to see the best of the best in the county compete! Qualifying in these events will get you to the championship. While we would all love for these cowboys and cowgirls to see themselves in the championship round, that just isn’t on the table. Competitors who are the fastest, have the best accuracy, and have the least amount of penalties, will move on to their dreams while the others will cry themselves to sleep.”
“Oh my god.” I bury my face in my hands, hoping no one remembers I’m here with him.
Everyone laughs too. I know Kentucky is hearing this and wanting to kill Lorcan. This is feeding the Void’s ego so much.
“Up first, we have the steer wrestling for the big, strong men who need to prove themselves. Isn’t that cute?”
“It’s a good thing he can’t die or he’d already be dead,” I say to myself.
“Our first competitors are a championship duo, holding a record time in this event. I hope they don’t think they are untouchable because that’s when egos become dangerous.”
“Who are you? Why are you in this—” The second announcer’s voice vanishes from the mic.
I can only imagine what happened to him.
“Steer wrestling is a team event. One needs to keep the steer in a straight line while the other jumps on the steer by grabbing it by the horns and wrestling it to the ground. All four legs of the steer have to point in the same direction in order to stop the clock for an accurate time.” Lorcan whistles. “You humans are off your rockers. I don’t even think Lucifer would do something this insane. You really have no care for life, do you?”
I pinch the bridge of my nose from Lorcan-induced stress. I truly think the only person who can handle him is his fated mate. Bless whoever she is. He will keep her on her toes. I hope she is preparing herself for constantly being surprised.
“The chute releases!” Lorcan shouts. “Followed by our team, Cal McCartey and Oklahoma Richards.”
I whip my head to the arena so I don’t miss anything. It’s my first rodeo, and I want to be able to enjoy it. The steer is fast with a tan body and white horns that curl upwards, the perfect handles for a cowboy.
“Skew-dang! This team is fast. It’s no wonder they are champions. Cal manages the direction of the steer, doing his best to keep him in a straight line. Oklahoma jumps from his saddle!” Lorcan announces with excitement. “He brings down the steer! Their time is three point two seconds. Damn, that’s going to be a hard act to follow. The record is two point two seconds, and I believe they will be able to break that as their competitive days go on.”
A few more steer wrestlers compete, and none of them are able to get close to the time Cal and Oklahoma did.
“Next, we have my personal favorite event, barrel racing. My buddy is one of the competitors, and I just know he is going to smoke all your asses. You stand no chance. Let’s go, Kentucky!”
By the time this rodeo is done, Lorcan is going to make an enemy out of every single cowboy and cowgirl here.
I snicker to myself, loving how much fun I’m having, and most of that is due to Lorcan being himself. As I sit here waiting for the next event to start, my thoughts wander to Carmen and the dental office I work at. A stab of guilt hits me, ruining my appetite for my favorite snack.
Carmen has always been by my side. Through thick and thin, ups and downs, she’s been there. She deserves to know where I am and would love the rodeo. She’s the adventurous type, morethan I ever was. Maybe I can convince her to come visit or move out here. I’d love that even if it would be selfish of me to ask.
I can’t fathom the idea of leaving Kentucky.
As for my job, I’ll get another one or create my own by opening my own dental practice, like Kentucky and I talked about.
The twist in my gut returns, and the hair on the back of my neck stands up. I narrow my eyes, sliding my attention over every corner of the arena. Someone is watching me. I don’t know where they are or who it is, but my instincts are screaming to run away.
I can’t. I couldn’t do that to Kentucky.
The loud crash of the chute opening startles me. The crowd roars as a cowgirl finishes the first barrel race. I clap slowly, staring across the arena at the other set of bleachers. I scan every face, trying to pinpoint who is out there.
Goosebumps arise on my skin. My tongue and throat become dry. A stampede replaces my heartbeat. Any faster, and it would gallop out of my chest.
“Ladies and gentlemen, the moment we have all been waiting for, my friend, Kentucky Jones! He is a world champion and has countless records. It’s been a while since he has competed though, and he is going to have to brush the rust off if he wants to beat the cowgirls who were before him. And before you go giving him shit about choosing to barrel race, you’d better remember it’s a unisex sport, and if you love it, that’s the reason to do it. Fuck everyone else.”
“There are children here!” someone yells up at the announcer’s box.
“I don’t care,” Lorcan replies, sticking his head out of the window. “They won’t be going to Hell. You know that, right? I’ve been there, and no one has ever been sent to the underworld for cursing. My gosh, humans can be so dense.”
“Okay, you’re out of here, buddy. Go sit down before we kick you out of the event.” A booming security guard’s voice blares into the microphone for all to hear.
Half the crowd claps, happy for Lorcan’s demise, while the others boo.
“I’m going, I’m going, but don’t come crawling back to me when you realize my worth.”
