Page 58 of Silent Count
The rodeo starts, and the first rider lasts about three seconds before getting tossed. He bounces back up quickly, and the pickup men wrangle the bull back into the chute. It all happens so fast, and then the next guy flies out.
Charlie and Brooke are standing at this point, clapping and cheering for each rider. There is definitely an intensity to the sport that’s unlike any other. Chelsea has her arm linked with mine, and her hand is resting on my thigh. She’s watching each rider with awe, flinching when they get tossed.
“Scoot over, man. I’m going to hang with Charlie and Brooke.” Silas stands to move by, and I’m too tall to shift my legs, so I stand too, letting him by.
Chelsea also stands and leans into me as he passes. “Do you notice how he’s been staying around more when Brooke comes by the house or hangs out with us?”
I haven’t really noticed, to be honest. I’ve been so wrapped up in her, football, school, and the filming of the docuseries.“Interesting. No, I haven’t really, but they actually seem like a fit.”
“I was thinking the same thing!” She leans up and kisses my cheek. “We should go eat after this. I had my eye on a funnel cake when we walked by the stand. It smelled so good. I might try a fried Twinkie too.” She wiggles her eyebrows.
“Lucky, I’m sorry, but that just screams diabetes.” I laugh when she mock pouts. “How about this: I’ll buy you whatever sweets you want after we eat some real food?”
“Deal. But I’m not leaving without at least a funnel cake. It’s calling to me.” She winks, then turns her attention back to the arena.
Noelle has a pamphlet in one hand and grabs Chelsea’s hand with her other. “Oh! They have a mechanical bull in one of the tents. We should do that!”
“Yes! That would be fun! But you go first.” Chelsea laughs. “Just so I can scope it out before I do.”
Noelle holds out her hand. “Deal. But you’ll do it with me, right?”
Chelsea takes her hand. “Yes, I’ll try it with you. Although I’ve never even ridden a horse. So, I’m sure I’ll fall off before it even starts.” She laughs.
“No, you’ll probably nail it, and I’ll look like the idiot. I don’t care though. It looks fun.” Noelle shrugs.
“I’ll do it too,” Brooke chimes in. “I’ve always wanted to try that. My friends and I went to a country bar a few weekends ago, and there was one there, but the line was too long, so we didn’t bother.”
Now that Chelsea mentioned Silas’s attention on Brooke, I look at his face while she talks. He’s got a little smirk going on while he listens to her. Maybe there is some interest there. I’ll have to ask him later.
“Hey, the last rider is coming up. Let’s watch, and then we can go look at this bull-riding thing.” Casey says.
“I want to eat too!” Chelsea tells him. “I’m surprised you guys aren’t hungry. You guys are constantly hungry.”
“I ate a sandwich before we left, but I’m ready to eat again.” He nods, then points at me. “Bo had two breakfasts today. One at the field after our workout and one when we got home before we left.”
“It wasn’t two breakfasts. That quesadilla I had before we left was just a snack.” I pat my stomach. “I’m ready to eat again though. I went hard at the gym today.”
“We can go in about”—Casey looks at his watch—“five minutes or less, depending on how quickly this guy gets thrown off. Unless the girls want to stay for the barrel races. But those don’t start for, like, forty-five minutes.”
“I don’t think I can wait that long to eat,” Chelsea says.
“Me neither.” Charlie joins in. “I’m getting hungry too, but I did want to see the barrel races. Those girls are badass.”
“Maybe we can find another rodeo and go watch the girls some other time.” She claps her hands. “Oh! Maybe when the guys are at an away game.” Chelsea nods excitedly.
“Yes! I love that plan. I’m so glad you’re in our mix of friends now, Chelsea. We needed another brain in here for all the good ideas.” Charlie leans over and holds her hand out to Chelsea for a high five.
“Aww, thanks, Charlie. I’m glad to be part of the group too.” She high-fives her and then turns to look at me, smiling.
“Hey, I have good ideas!” Brooke says.
“You do, babe. But Chelsea’s, like, really smart.” Charlie puts an arm around Brooke.
“And I’m not?” Brooke laughs, but she doesn’t seem offended.
“You totally are. I’m just saying, it’s good to have another brain in the mix. Whatever. You know what I mean. Let’s watch this last guy and go.”
They both laugh.
