Page 79 of On the Wild Side
I want to start the season right, with a win and a high score, and Man Hater is the highest-standing bull right now. He’s going to help me get that score.
Finally, it’s time to start. The bull is already in the chute, ready to go, and I go about my usual routine, looking him over in a split second, making sure the ropes and grips are where I want them. Holding onto the railing, I set my foot on his back, letting him know I’m here before I settle onto him, get my grip set, and tell my man to tighten the rope.
Finally, I nod, and they open the chute, and this son of a bitch takes off, bucking and throwing himself around like a fucking devil.
But I hold on, finding his rhythm, clinging to him until I hear the buzzer, and then I let go and fall, scrambling out of his way as Man Hater continues to buck and throw a fit.
I wave at the audience, who are going out of their minds, and then I take off my hat and gloves, ready to give interviews as we wait for my final score.
It’s all a blur. It always is. I hope I sound somewhat coherent as I answer questions, but the adrenaline is rushing through me so fast I’m almost euphoric.
Ninety-seven point seven.
Not my best score, but with it being the first ride of the season, I’ll take it. I have room to improve, but I’m also the highest-scoring rider of the night, and that feels fucking good.
Finally, after another hour of interviews and talking with friends that I haven’t seen in a few months, I check my phone and see that I have a text from Ryan.
“I’m coming through Cheyenne to pick you up in my plane. I’ll be waiting at the airport.”
I don’t have to wait for tomorrow morning’s flight, and that sends relief through me. Because as exhilarating as the past thirty-six hours have been, I’m ready to go home to my girls.
I take a quick shower before I gather my things, and ignore the come-ons from the bunnies as I walk through the arena and find the ride Ryan has waiting for me to take me to the small, local airport.
When I climb the stairs onto the plane, I find my brother sitting in a seat, staring down at his laptop. He takes off his glasses and grins up at me.
“How’d it go?”
“It’ll get better, but I had the highest score. Rode Man Hater.”
“That bull is a mean bastard,” he says, shaking his head.
“Yeah, tell me about it.”
“And how do youfeel?”
The door of the plane closes, and the flight crew prepares for takeoff, so I sit across the aisle from my brother and fasten my seatbelt.
“Like I got tossed around by a pissed-off bull.” I chuckle and sit back in the seat for a second, letting my system settle. “You didn’t have to pick me up.”
“You shouldn’t have gone commercial,” he counters. “If I’m home, you can take the plane. You’ll get out and back faster, and I’m paying this crew whether I use them or not.”
“You are?”
He nods, and I shrug.
“Hell, I’ll take you up on that, then. This fucker isfancy.”
The flight attendant asks me if I’d like something to drink.
“Do you have ibuprofen? And some whiskey. Maybe a bottle of water.”
“Of course, sir,” he says with a nod and turns to fetch it.
“Fancy,” I say again to my brother, who just smirks. “Where are you coming home from, anyway?”
“I had to make a quick trip to New York for a couple of days for a meeting. I was on my way home, so we made a detour to grab you.”
“Appreciate it.” I accept the pills, and the drinks are set on the table in front of me. Now that the adrenaline is wearing off, the aches have set in. I’ll be stiff as a fucking board by morning. I knock back the pills and the whiskey and then open the bottle of water and take a sip. “How’s Polly?”