The Bull Rider's Redemption

by Heidi Hormel

  Clover walked out of the diner quickly, not even paying for her pie and coffee. After the grilling, the Leigh sisters could take care of that. Half a block down the sidewalk, Clover had cooled off enough to get back to the biggest surprise in the conversation. Why was her father buying properties and paying above-market price? She needed to confront him about his interference. She was an adult woman and could certainly stand up to her daddy. As long as he didn’t bring up Danny and that morning. No. She could face that, too, and hold her head high.

  Chapter Ten

  Danny stood watching with nothing like excitement as AJ helped his former boss unload the bull. They were setting up a little practice ride at the small outdoor stadium near the community college, where the charity bull-riding extravaganza would take place in just over two months.

  The bull his friend had found for him had enough pep to give Danny a workout without the full force of the spins and bucks of a competition ride. It would give him a chance to practice riding with his left hand. Right now, the numbness in his right was barely there, but it could be full-on numb at any time, something that would be dangerous if it happened during a ride. If his hand was numb, how could he grip the bull rope? It would be a good chance to get hurt really bad.

  “DD here is a good bull,” AJ said as they got everything ready in the chute. Danny’s guts churned. It felt like a really, really long time since he’d climbed aboard a bull. What the hell had he been thinking? “He’ll give you a good ride without thinking he needs to kill you.”

  “You’re the expert.” Danny gritted his teeth as he prepped himself. It all felt so wrong. The wrong hand, the wrong bull, the wrong arena. Except he’d promised his town he’d do this. He’d also promised himself that he hadn’t quit riding because he had to. He’d prided himself that he’d known when to get out. This event would prove to himself that he could’ve kept riding if he’d wanted to.

  “Dave will be out there to help you off, if you need it. But this old bull is easy. No worries. Dave uses him a lot for his classes and clinics. He knows the drill.”

  Crap. It sounded like AJ thought he was a rookie. “You know how many buckles I have?”

  “Yep. And I also know you haven’t ridden for at least two years, and you’re using your left hand.”

  “Always said I could ride with one hand tied behind my back.”

  “That one of your mama’s sayings?”

  Anger flared through Danny, making him want to punch his longtime friend. He pulled in a breath to calm himself. He couldn’t ride like that. He needed a certain amount of quiet in his brain to ready himself for the ride. He worked to find that place where everything went quiet, calm. He nodded his head that he was ready, but instantly the calm was gone and it was too late to change his mind. AJ had released DD and the bull knew his business. He bolted from the chute and lifted his hindquarters in a mighty buck. Danny stayed centered...barely. He worked to find the rhythm of the animal’s stride and buck. It just wasn’t there. He could feel the animal bunching its body for a spin, cursed and went flying. The dirt of the arena hadn’t gotten any softer. DD stood quietly, tail flicking. He really was a beginner’s animal. Crap.

  Danny stood and dusted himself off. AJ was looking at him oddly, maybe a little worried. Danny waved his hat and went back to the chute. He would have a bruise on his hip, but otherwise he was good. He’d climb back on board after giving the bull a rest. This was just practice. You fell when you practiced so you didn’t when it came time for the big show.

  * * *

  “ONE MORE TIME,” he told AJ after another three-second ride.

  “Not sure DD wants to.”

  “He’s barely gotten a workout.”

  “Dave,” AJ yelled. “One more?”

  The stockman considered the request, then nodded. The bull had let him test his left arm. Though the animal was barely working to unseat him, Danny couldn’t figure out exactly why he was having such trouble. Staying on the bull should have been easy. This time he’d do it. He’d clear his mind properly and get his seat settled. Number four was the charm, right?

  He could’ve sworn as he settled himself on DD again the bull gave him the side eye. You again, fool? Danny silently told the bull to shut it. He was a two-time champion with multiple picture-perfect rides and more buckles than days of the week. He would ride this old bull and win this time. He nodded to AJ, and in that split second Clover’s face popped into his mind. He ate dirt. Damn it.

  “What the hell, cowboy?” AJ said.

  DD didn’t even have the momentum to keep going. He stood by Danny and AJ snorting...laughing before trotting toward Dave, who was holding out the bull’s favorite treat: marshmallows.

  “Bee flew at me,” Danny lied. He wouldn’t tell AJ that Clover had distracted him. He’d always said no matter how many women he chased, they’d never come between him and a bull. “I’ll do more conditioning. I know what I’ve got to work on now.”

  “Like how to ride a bull? You were better your rookie year. What’s wrong?” The last was asked with the serious tone of a good friend with worries.

  “Been longer than I thought since I climbed aboard. I’ll be ready to try again as soon as you can line something up.”

  “If you say so. Let me help Dave. Then I’ll buy you a beer.”

  “Sorry. I’ve got to go. Mayor stuff,” Danny lied. He didn’t want to talk to AJ about his failure and what was at the root of it. He wanted to go home, shower and brood. The best he could do was brood on the drive home because there was a handyman job he’d been promising to finish up and another small project he needed to bid on. Both could probably be put off until tomorrow, but right now he wanted to keep busy.

  On the way to the job, he analyzed the rides, as his late friend Gene had taught him and AJ to do. He hadn’t been able to get the right rhythm or feel of the bull using his left hand. He couldn’t believe that it made such a difference. He couldn’t believe he’d never had to ride that way because of a broken bone or a strain. Or maybe being teenager-stupid had made it easier. Next practice, he’d have to use his right hand and hope that it didn’t decide to go numb at the wrong time.

  * * *

  AJ AND HIS former boss Dave showed up with another practice bull a few days later. This one was DD’s son, fierier than his father but still a good practice animal. He wasn’t fond of turning corkscrews or more challenging bucks, making him not-so-popular with the professionals but perfect for training.

  Today Danny had prepared himself to use his less reliable right hand in the hope he could find his rhythm again. Waiting for AJ and Dave to get Black Fury into the chute, Danny pictured what he would do for each twist and turn of the bull. He then cleared his mind, focusing on a tuft of hair on the bull’s head as he lowered himself on the animal, who twitched at the weight but otherwise didn’t move. Danny found his seat and the calm he’d been looking for last time. He nodded and the gate opened. The bull crow-hopped, then threw up its back legs. Danny easily rode out those maneuvers until he heard AJ yell “Eight,” and he easily jumped from the bull.

  Dave corralled the animal and Danny knew he had his mojo back. He’d be able to ride in the event and not make a fool of himself. It felt right, too. The smell of dust and heated animal. The creak of the leather under him. All of it added up to a weirdly comfortable place.

  “Well, hell,” AJ said as Danny went back to the chute. “Look who showed up to watch.”

  Danny squinted into the stands and saw the sun glinting off auburn. Damn. Clover was here. Why was Clover here? He wanted to be 110 percent on his game before anyone saw him riding. He was at 85 or so. Another three weeks of conditioning and practice rides would get him there with plenty of time left over before the event. He wanted to do all of that without an audience. She waved.

  “Still draw ladies like bees to a flower, huh?�
�� AJ commented.

  Danny didn’t answer and didn’t wave back to Clover. While he was confident he had his timing back, he wanted to work on his form. He had at least two, probably three more rides on the bull before they needed to call it quits.

  Danny blanked out the fact that Clover was there and focused on the bull’s tuft of hair again. He mentally went over the last ride and the animal’s quirks. He’d go for the tip of the hat, one of his signature moves that audiences loved and expected from him.

  He nodded his head to AJ to let the animal out and Black Fury tore out of the chute, racing forward before going into a series of hard bucks and sharp turns. Danny found his rhythm, and as he counted to the six-second mark, he reached for his hat. But Black Fury went into a fast spin—the move he never did. Danny tried to tighten his grip as well as find his center. His hand was numb. He couldn’t move his fingers. He let the hat fly as he reached down to loosen the rope so he could get off the bull fast. The animal reversed his spin and Danny went soaring off the animal, landing hard, his deadened right hand and rapidly numbing arm crumpling under him.

  * * *

  CLOVER’S HEART STUTTERED as Danny flew through the air then stopped when his arm collapsed under him and his head smacked onto the dirt. He didn’t pop up immediately. She ran from the stands, ignoring the ankle-breaking unevenness of the dirt to reach him. Two other men were already there. “Danny,” she yelled. “Danny.”

  He didn’t answer and the men didn’t even turn to look at her. This was bad. She searched for her phone in her purse as she ran forward. The men moved and she saw that Danny was sitting up. Thank God. His arm looked odd. Had he broken it?

  “I want to go again,” Danny said. “Just caught me off guard with that spin.”

  “His spin is more like a slow turn in a cul-de-sac,” AJ said. She remembered him from her days on the junior bull-riding circuit.

  “Is your arm broken? How many fingers do you see?” she asked, elbowing past the men.

  “What the hell are you doing here?” Danny asked, the new knot on his forehead looking worse with his frown.

  “Was looking at some land out this way and wondered what the commotion was,” she lied. Danny’s frown deepened. “Let me call 911. You probably have a concussion.”

  “I don’t have a damned concussion and my arm is fine.”

  She could see the arm wasn’t fine. It hung at the wrong angle with his fingers clawed inward. She reached out to touch it and he didn’t move away. “What’s wrong?” She was worried. Had he broken his arm? Put it out of joint?

  “Damn it, woman. I’m fine.” He pushed himself up with his good hand and stood. Neither of the other men said anything as he rubbed at his dangling arm. It didn’t move or jerk. That had to mean it wasn’t broken. He couldn’t do that with a broken bone, could he?

  The older man said, “That’s enough for today.”

  “That bull’s got at least two more rides in him.”

  AJ put his hand on Danny’s shoulder. “If Dave says we’re done, then we’re done.”

  Danny stiffened except for that dangling right arm. Had he injured his back? Was he paralyzed? “Danny, I’m taking you to the hospital right now if you won’t let me call 911. Or what about Pepper? I’ll call her.”

  He knocked the phone from her hand. “I said no,” he shouted. Everyone froze, including the bull.

  “What the hell, man?” AJ said. “You need to apologize.”

  Danny kept his back to her. “Sorry.”

  “Lame,” AJ muttered.

  Danny whipped around, his arm swinging and his face dark with anger and fear. “I’m sorry, m’lady. I shouldn’t have hit your phone. I shouldn’t have yelled.” He stomped off.

  “Aren’t you going after him? He hurt himself,” Clover pointed out to the men.

  AJ answered, “Bull riders hurt themselves all the time.”

  She snorted and hurried after Danny. She knew riders hurt themselves, but this was bad. Between his head and arm, he shouldn’t be driving. She caught up with him just feet from his pickup.

  “Danny.” He stopped but didn’t turn to her. “At least go see Pepper. Your arm looks bad.”

  “Enough,” he whispered hoarsely. “I don’t need you acting like you care.”

  That hurt. “I care about you, Danny.” She tentatively touched his shoulder, approaching him like she would a hurting horse.

  “Ha. You’re trying to destroy me and my town.”

  She’d chalk that up to his pain. “Regardless, you’re a human being, and it’s obvious that something happened to you in that fall.”

  “Nothing more than usual.”

  “Turn around and talk to me. I know you’re stubborn, but I never knew you to be stupid.”

  His shoulders dropped a fraction of an inch and he turned. His face was anguished.

  “Danny,” she whispered, “what’s wrong? Let me—”

  “It’s numb. It may never get better.”

  “Your arm?”

  He nodded. “The doctors said that it’s probably a nerve that’s inflamed. Probably. When it...well, when it acts up, my arm goes numb. My fingers are numb a lot but that’s not so bad. Have to be careful with the saw, though.” He laughed hollowly.

  Words fled from her and she just wanted to enfold him in her arms. She was woman enough to know he wouldn’t allow that. “I hadn’t heard. How do you expect to ride?”

  “I’ve ridden with worse. I can do this.”

  She wouldn’t point out that had been stupid. “I know doctors in New York and San Antonio. I could talk to them.”

  “I’ve seen enough doctors. I’ll do this show because that’s what I said I’d do. It’s going to raise tens of thousands of dollars for the garden. I can’t let Angel Crossing down.”

  “But you could—”

  “I’ll be fine. Plus, you and your daddy will be gone by then. Destroyed our town and moved on.”

  “I never took you for a drama king,” Clover said, not sure exactly how much of that was teasing.

  “I don’t need this crap.”

  She touched his good arm. “It’s my turn to apologize. At least let me drive you home.”

  “I told you I’m fine.”

  “Yeah, right. I can see the knot on your forehead. I’ll follow you, then.”

  He didn’t say anything but got in his truck. She hurried to her rental to follow him. She wasn’t done with convincing him to go see Pepper or head to the emergency room. She knew how bull riders were—as stubborn as the animals they rode.

  * * *

  THEY HAD TAKEN the puppies and Maggie May out and rounded them back up and into the apartment without a word between them.

  “I’ve got people adopting all but Hulk and Maggie May,” he said when they got back to the apartment.

  “You’re keeping them? What about your landlord?”

  He shook his head and stopped abruptly.

  “That’s it. Sit and let me look at your head and arm. I see your hair has grown in over the stitches just fine.” Thinking of Danny hurt made her stomach clench with fear.

  “I’m not a little boy,” he said, plopping down in a chair.

  She pushed back the blond hair with streaks of near white from being hatless in the sun. The lump had a small bruise in the center. That needed ice. Even she knew that. She reached down for his right arm and he moved his shoulder to keep her from touching him. “I need to make sure you didn’t hurt it. You wouldn’t know since you can’t feel it.”

  He turned his head away from her but she could see his jaw moving with anger and frustration.

  She carefully and slowly took his arm, treating him like a skittish stallion who needed his hooves cleaned. She smiled at that. Danny would like being compared to a stallion ov
er a bull. She worked the plaid sleeve of his shirt up his forearm. The skin looked fine. She ran her hands along it and couldn’t feel any lumps or bumps. His hand looked fine, too. Could the odd angle she’d noticed been all because of the numbness? She couldn’t push the sleeve beyond the elbow, so she’d have to take off his shirt. His face was still turned away. Pretend you’re Pepper examining a patient. She started at the button at his neck. Now he turned his head.

  “What the hell are you doing?”

  “I need to look at your whole arm.” She kept her voice steady and unemotional.

  “I’ll do it.” He stood and yanked off the shirt clumsily.

  Clover focused on his right arm. She reached deep to touch him without emotion. Her hand started at his shoulder, well muscled and strong. Everything good there. Her hand inched down onto his bicep, which jerked. She glanced up at him, but his face hadn’t changed from its stoic cowboy lines. She massaged down the muscle, feeling for anything that shouldn’t be there. The skin was warm and taut with a spring that reminded her of their nights together, her fingers digging into those same arms and holding on.

  “I’ve never had an exam like that,” Danny said as he looked at where her hands stroked his bicep. His smile was cocky.

  She stilled her fingers, even as they ached to sink into his flesh to feel the heated strength of him. “You seem okay, but you should still see Pepper.”

  “I don’t think her exam will be the same.”

  “Stop being such a jerk.” She stepped away from him. The warm bubble that had surrounded them as she’d checked his arm had burst with his stupid comments. Time for her to go.

  “I’m sorry,” he said suddenly. “My mama taught me better. I appreciate your checking on me.”

  She nodded, not able to speak because she was so off balance. She was getting whiplash from his shifting mood. “I’m glad you really are fine, except for the numbness.” Now they were back to stoic cowboy.