but mostly, she prayed for his safety.
“Ladies and Gentlemen,” boomed the announcer’s voice. “Up next is a local favorite we haven’t seen for a while. Tyler Desmond, state bull-riding champion for two years some years back. Today he’s riding Ain’t Love A Bitch. Two-thousand pounds of pure love, ladies and gentlemen.” He chuckled. “Yes, sir-reee, pure love.”
Just as she’d seen him do before every ride, Tyler took off his hat, and after rolling his shoulders, resettled it low over his eyes. The steer was already shifting and snorting, trying to rub its rider off its back by knocking against the sides of the chute. Tyler gave the nod signifying he was ready, and the side gate of the chute opened.
Lacy’s breathing stopped.
Every cell of her being focused on man and beast.
Her gaze locked on Tyler, one arm held high over his head.
Ain’t Love A Bitch bolted from the chute before morphing into a tornado, turning and twirling, kicking up a cloud of dust. The bull kicked its hind legs and, at times, looked as if it were going to kiss the earth with its lowered head. Suddenly, the four-legged tornado changed directions and charged a few feet before touching down again. And still, Tyler held on.
People stood and cheered. Lacy couldn’t stand; Olivia was all but sitting on her lap. She wrapped her arms around the scared girl for support.
Every ounce of Lacy’s strength was transported to Tyler.
Stay safe. Stay safe.
Her gaze swept to the clock on the score board: Four-point-one seconds. Could he withstand this bull’s hellacious bucking ride for four more? She had to see. She moved Olivia over and stood, forcing herself to breathe.
The determined beast bucked his way across the arena, almost as if it were playing hopscotch over imaginary boulders. At times, it twirled to change directions. Tyler swayed and bounced along with the bull’s movements, determined to ride him out. A few times, Ain’t Love A Bitch “sunfished,” completely off the ground, kicking all four feet to the side in a twisting motion. When the buzzer sounded announcing the required eight seconds, cheers erupted from the stands.
Tyler loosened his grip on the rope and jumped off. Before he could completely clear the bull, though, the toe of his boot caught in the rope going around the animal’s girth. The creature turned and kicked out its hind legs striking him before charging toward the rodeo clowns, dragging Tyler who by now resembled a rag doll. First he was on his back and then on his stomach as his dragged body kicked up a cloud of ominous dust.
Olivia screamed. Lacy’s heart rose to her throat, blocking her own scream of terror that sought escape.
One rodeo clown danced in front of the enraged bull while the other disengaged Tyler’s boot. Rodeo workers jumped in the arena to chase the steer out so medical personnel could enter. Tyler lay motionless.
Lacy grabbed Olivia’s hand and together they ran down the bleachers to reach him. By the time they got through the exit, the ambulance crew wheeled him out on a stretcher. His face was bloody from where he’d been dragged across the ground. At least the protective vest he’d worn saved part of his body. One EMT removed his boot. Another took his vitals. Tyler’s eyes remained closed.
Dear God, is he going to be okay?
“Tyler?” She leaned over him. “Tyler?”
“Daddy?” Olivia swiped away tears. Her eyes were huge with worry. Her pointy chin trembled.
“You’ll have to move aside, both of you, so I can see how serious his facial injuries are.” A paramedic wrapped a blood pressure cuff around Tyler’s arm.
A hand clasped hers. “Stay,” Tyler’s deep voice was now a dust-covered croak. “Angel?”
“Ye…yes, daddy?”
“Stay with Lacy. I’ll be fine. Don’t cry.” His eyes remained closed, perhaps to block out the pain.
Lacy squeezed his hand. “Don’t worry. I’ll take care of her. Let go now, so the EMT’s can take care of you.
“Ladies and Gentlemen,” boomed the announcer’s voice. “Up next is a local favorite we haven’t seen for a while. Tyler Desmond, state bull-riding champion for two years some years back. Today he’s riding Ain’t Love A Bitch. Two-thousand pounds of pure love, ladies and gentlemen.” He chuckled. “Yes, sir-reee, pure love.”
Just as she’d seen him do before every ride, Tyler took off his hat, and after rolling his shoulders, resettled it low over his eyes. The steer was already shifting and snorting, trying to rub its rider off its back by knocking against the sides of the chute. Tyler gave the nod signifying he was ready, and the side gate of the chute opened.
Lacy’s breathing stopped.
Every cell of her being focused on man and beast.
Her gaze locked on Tyler, one arm held high over his head.
Ain’t Love A Bitch bolted from the chute before morphing into a tornado, turning and twirling, kicking up a cloud of dust. The bull kicked its hind legs and, at times, looked as if it were going to kiss the earth with its lowered head. Suddenly, the four-legged tornado changed directions and charged a few feet before touching down again. And still, Tyler held on.
People stood and cheered. Lacy couldn’t stand; Olivia was all but sitting on her lap. She wrapped her arms around the scared girl for support.
Every ounce of Lacy’s strength was transported to Tyler.
Stay safe. Stay safe.
Her gaze swept to the clock on the score board: Four-point-one seconds. Could he withstand this bull’s hellacious bucking ride for four more? She had to see. She moved Olivia over and stood, forcing herself to breathe.
The determined beast bucked his way across the arena, almost as if it were playing hopscotch over imaginary boulders. At times, it twirled to change directions. Tyler swayed and bounced along with the bull’s movements, determined to ride him out. A few times, Ain’t Love A Bitch “sunfished,” completely off the ground, kicking all four feet to the side in a twisting motion. When the buzzer sounded announcing the required eight seconds, cheers erupted from the stands.
Tyler loosened his grip on the rope and jumped off. Before he could completely clear the bull, though, the toe of his boot caught in the rope going around the animal’s girth. The creature turned and kicked out its hind legs striking him before charging toward the rodeo clowns, dragging Tyler who by now resembled a rag doll. First he was on his back and then on his stomach as his dragged body kicked up a cloud of ominous dust.
Olivia screamed. Lacy’s heart rose to her throat, blocking her own scream of terror that sought escape.
One rodeo clown danced in front of the enraged bull while the other disengaged Tyler’s boot. Rodeo workers jumped in the arena to chase the steer out so medical personnel could enter. Tyler lay motionless.
Lacy grabbed Olivia’s hand and together they ran down the bleachers to reach him. By the time they got through the exit, the ambulance crew wheeled him out on a stretcher. His face was bloody from where he’d been dragged across the ground. At least the protective vest he’d worn saved part of his body. One EMT removed his boot. Another took his vitals. Tyler’s eyes remained closed.
Dear God, is he going to be okay?
“Tyler?” She leaned over him. “Tyler?”
“Daddy?” Olivia swiped away tears. Her eyes were huge with worry. Her pointy chin trembled.
“You’ll have to move aside, both of you, so I can see how serious his facial injuries are.” A paramedic wrapped a blood pressure cuff around Tyler’s arm.
A hand clasped hers. “Stay,” Tyler’s deep voice was now a dust-covered croak. “Angel?”
“Ye…yes, daddy?”
“Stay with Lacy. I’ll be fine. Don’t cry.” His eyes remained closed, perhaps to block out the pain.
Lacy squeezed his hand. “Don’t worry. I’ll take care of her. Let go now, so the EMT’s can take care of you.
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