Page 34 of Forever Enough

“He’s going to want to roll left, then right. Don’t get into the well,” Blayze said as he grabbed onto my vest. “Cover him.”

I nodded. Growing up with three world champions was the reason I was the rider I was today. They taught me everything about bulls and how to ride them. I knew all the tricks of the trade.

Position your pinky finger at the middle of the bull. Make sure the bells are all the way down the rope so your foot doesn’t get stuck. Keep your feet facing forward in case the bull moves fast or the wrong way in the chute. Posture straight. Slight lean forward at the hips and pray the bull’s head isn’t down when the chute opens.

I put the tail of the rope around my hand and grabbed it tight in my grasp. Some bulls didn’t like it when you put the tail over their necks, so I’d gotten into the habit of throwing it to the side and back of me. Something I’d learned from watching Blayze.

I drew in a deep breath. Riding here in Uncle Ty’s arena was a far cry from riding out on tour. The loud crowd, the music, the announcers. All of it can mess with your mind—and the bull’s—if you don’t know how to block it out. Once I sit on the bull, though, the only thing I can hear is the sound of my heart beating.

My father drew his arm back, seeing that I was about to give the nod to open the gate. He leaned in closer and said, “Cover him, Bradly.”

Those three words, spoken by my father, had always made shivers go up my spine. I nodded—and the gate flew open.

Uncle Ty was right, this bull was hell bent on getting me off his back. I squeezed my legs against his sides and moved with him. The harder he kicked, the more I fought.

“Jesus!” I barked as he spun so fast, I nearly lost my hold. “Not today, buddy.”

The buzzer went off, and I started to get my hand free. As if knowing what was about to happen, the bull saved his best move for last. Twisting in a way a large animal like him shouldn’t be able twist. He bucked like his life was depending on it, and I went flying through the air.

For a moment after I hit the ground, I couldn’t move. The breath had been knocked clean out of my body. I saw someone run toward the bull to get his attention, then my father was suddenly standing over me.

“You alright?”

“Breath. Knocked. Out.”

His strong arms hauled me up before he shook his head. “Jesus Christ, Bradly!” my father yelled. “I thought you were going to fly across the arena.”

I could hear cheers from the chute area, and all I could do was laugh—well, once I got air into my lungs. “That son-of-a-bitch knew exactly what he was doing.”

My father laughed and slapped the side of my arm. “They always do. You should know that by now.”

Pulling off my helmet, I ran a hand through my hair and searched for her. My heart tripped in my chest when our eyes met. I could see even from where I was standing the breath she let out.

“Well, hell. I’ve seen that look before.”

Not wanting to look away from Mackenzie, I asked, “What look?”

“The look a man gets when a woman has managed to sneak her way in here,” Dad said as he hit my vest in the vicinity of my heart.

Looking at Dad, I asked. “Have you?”

He chuckled. “Yes, and you are wearing it. Had a good day with Mackenzie?”

We started walking back toward everyone. “Yeah, you could say that. Dad, do you believe in love at first sight?”

My father stopped walking and slowly turned to face me. When he smiled, I felt the tightness in my chest loosen some.

“Yes, I do believe in it. A part of me thinks that I loved your mother the moment I was old enough to realize what love was. I was just too stupid to see it. Don’t be like your old man, Bradly. If you have feelings for our Mackenzie, follow your heart. Just don’t hurt her or your mother will kill you.”

“If I have things my way, Dad, she’ll be my Mackenzie.”

Tossing his head back and laughing, he replied, “Apple didn’t fall far from the tree.”

“I’ll take that as a compliment.”

“As you should.”

We made our way up the steps and to the back of the chutes, where Josh was getting ready to ride next. Mackenzie was standing next to Avery as my sister talked her ear off, but her eyes were locked on me.