Page 70 of All Night with the Cowboy
Chapter 21
TANNER clapped his hands together, sending powder puffing up from between his palms, and breathed in the familiar smells of being part of the action at a rodeo. It had been a couple of months since he’d made the decision, but actually working up to a big event, knowing it was his last professional ride? That was something else entirely.
He’d started riding when he was tiny, when his dad had thought it was a bit of a laugh to put his brave young son on top of a calf and let him pretend he was in the rodeo. Then he’d started riding horses and breaking in the wild ones, riding broncs and going on to watch his heroes who won title after title staying on top of the meanest bulls around.
The bug had bitten early, before he’d even left school, and despite all the rows and threats from his father, Tanner had refused to give in and done what he wanted to do. His father had been furious with him for turning his back on a more stable career, but when he’d startedearning more and more money, eventually becoming the highest earner on the PBR circuit, as well as earning his degree, his father had eased off. Until the fall. Then everyone had been on his damn back.
But today was the end. It was a celebration of what he’d done and the man he’d become, but he also knew it was about growing up and moving on. This was a young man’s game, and he’d survived and lasted longer than most.
“And next up we haveTaaaaaanneeeeerrrrrrFord,” the announcer trilled, making Tanner’s name last at least a few seconds longer than it should have. “Ford is one of our most popular riders on the circuit, and injury hasn’t stopped him from being called the second-chance cowboy!”
Tanner channeled all his energy into the ride, lowering himself down onto the back of a bull that he’d probably been drawn to ride three times in his career. He wasn’t a standout bull, but he’d do the job.
Tanner signaled that he was ready and within an instant they were propelled out into the ring, the bull giving it his all and spinning, bucking, and kicking to get his rider off. Tanner loosened his body, let it go with the movement of the beast beneath him. He nudged his spurs in, his left arm raised high as the bull gave one hell of a buck, tossing himself around as Tanner did his best to stay on and give the crowd one hell of a ride to remember him by.
Then just like that, he was flying through the air, stumbling to his feet and leaping up onto the railings to avoid the charge of the angry bull.It was over.
Tanner waved to the crowd as they cheered and bellowed, some of them die-hard fans who’d seen him ride countless times, some who probably saw or heard about the agony of his big fall, and others watching him for the first time. He was sure going to miss it.
“Good ride,” one of the guys said to him as he climbed over and down to the other side.
“Thanks,” Tanner replied, recognizing the young man who’d spoken to him. “Bobby, is it?”
He received a grin in response. “Yeah it is. Didn’t expect you to know me.”
“You’ve got a lot of talent,” Tanner said, straightening his hat as he talked. “I’ll be seeing you from the other side of the fence next time.”
“You’re retiring?” Bobby asked, sounding incredulous.
It took Tanner a second to reply. It was a hard word to get used to saying. “Yeah, this is my last one. I’ll see you around.”
He walked slowly and looked at the bulls, waiting for their time in the ring. He loved the sound of them, the way they moved, their big, thickly muscled bodies. Bulls were in his blood, but there were so many ways he could stay involved in the sport he loved. He leaned on the railings, seeing Thunder Cat, the bastard bull that he’d expected to hate so much. Turned out he wasn’t so bad at giving second chances after all.
Maybe he could mentor someone, a young ambitious rider who needed a hand up. He could breed bulls. Hell, he could take over operations of the entire beef side of Ford Ranch if he wanted to right now. But all that mattered to him now was being happy, and he’d finally seen the forest for the trees—riding bulls wasn’t the onlyway to feel that buzz of adrenaline that he’d become so addicted to.
***
Lauren popped a light, fluffy pink piece of cotton candy into her mouth, grimacing as she watched Tanner half leap, half fall from the bull he was riding. She slurped back a big sip of cola, trying to settle the frantic, twisting sensation in her stomach as she waited for him to leap up on to the railings. Thank god he was about to retire. There was no way she could stand to watch him doing this more than once—her heart had been in her throat the entire time!
She breathed a sigh of relief when he leapt up onto the railings and waved to the crowd who were busy cheering and clapping for him. It was insane how many people were watching. She wondered where he’d gone and how he was feeling.
He was probably trying to absorb the moment and commit it to memory, so instead of going to look for him, she stayed put and kept watching the show. Respecting his space and giving him the time to process what he was doing was the least she could give him right now.
She leaned forward to watch a rider being hurled through the air, cringing as he hit the ground and the clown ran in to distract the bull. She gasped when the bull spun around and came back for him, just as the rider was pulled to safety. This was not something for the fainthearted! She wondered if the guy had a partner or family watching on.
“Hey, beautiful.”
Arms slipped around her from behind, big hands warm to her stomach as lips found her neck and dippedagainst her collarbone. She relaxed into his touch, loving the softness of his fingers and the deep whisper of his words against her skin when he spoke.
“Are you sure you’re done?” she asked, rocking back into him and wishing her hands weren’t full of cotton candy and cola.
He leaned over her shoulder and sipped through her straw. “You really should be drinking beer, not cola,” he scolded. “And only you would eat cotton candy instead of a corn dog.”
She laughed. “Onlyme, meaning because I’m a girl?”
“Come on,” he said, tugging at her waist. “It’s time to go.”
“Go where?” she asked, taking a long, final sip of her drink before dropping it into a trashcan.
