The expression on his face confirmed what they already knew. Harris knew Ashleigh, and Ashleigh knew him. She just didn’t know his real name.

“That isn’t my brother,” said Lyric. “He is.” She pointed at Bullet.

Ashleigh turned around to look. “I don’t know that man,” she said. “Is this some kind of trick?”

Harris tried to deny he knew the woman with Lyric, which resulted in Ashleigh breaking down in tears.

“I don’t understand what’s going on,” she said to Lyric.

“You’ve been tricked, but not by my brother.”

“But he told me his name was Bullet Simmons. It isn’t a name I’d ever get confused with Harris.”

“He lied to you.” Lyric motioned for Tristan to come closer.

“H

arris and Tristan used to date. She can tell you all about the kind of man he is.”

“That’s okay,” Ashleigh said through more tears. “You all must hate me. I’m so sorry. I had no idea I was bein’ played.”

Tristan wanted to tell the girl she could’ve avoided all this by not having sex with someone she didn’t know, but lecturing a total stranger wasn’t her business. Bullet was though. She looked for him behind Lyric and King, but he wasn’t there.

“Did you see where Bullet went?” she asked King.

“No. Not with all the commotion goin’ on. I wasn’t payin’ attention.”

“Excuse me,” she said to the group, and went in search of him. She ran into Billy and Jace first. “Have you seen Bullet?”

“Yep, he’s behind the chutes, gettin’ ready to ride.”

Tristan looked up at the big scoreboard over the arena. The clock was ticking down to the official start of tonight’s competition, the final of the week.

She ran to the stands and found Liv with Dottie and Renie. Most of the gold buckles had been awarded the previous nights, but bull riding was the last competition each evening and the last event to be awarded.

Scores were close between the six riders slated to ride tonight, which included some of the best riders in the world. After four buck-offs and a disappointing ride from the fifth contestant, Bullet was up next.

When the chute boss told Bullet he’d be the last rider of the night, barring any re-ride options, he was relieved. Mentally, he could prepare himself better. As long as he didn’t buck-off, he was in a damn good position to finish in the top two or three. A good ride—a really good ride—and he might be able to win this thing.

Bullet grabbed his bull rope and handed it to Buck, who’d be pulling for him. He climbed up, grabbed the opposite side of the chute, and rested his boot on the bull’s back.

He crawled over and slid his legs down the sides of the bull, making sure his toes were pointed forward and in, so his spurs didn’t touch the animal. He sat right down, keeping a tight hold on each side of the chute, until his spotter, Jace, was in position.

He ran his gloved hand down the resin on the rope, warming it up, getting it hot and sticky. Buck waited for the nod that it was tight enough. He may be Bullet’s trainer, but in the chute, he was the boss, and he called the shots. He couldn’t afford to let the bull think he was anything but the aggressor.

He grabbed the handle that was woven into the rope, and positioned his hand so his pinky rested against the middle of the bull’s back, and then moved it just to the right. With his long arms, it’s where he felt most comfortable.

Bullet shook his head, and Buck tightened the rope once more. Using his opposite hand, Bullet took the rope from Buck and laid it across his riding hand. He made sure the rosin started right at his pointer finger, and took the wrap behind, so there wasn’t any slack, and then forward again to lay it back across his hand. He took the tail of his rope and threw it behind him. He’d ridden too many hooky bulls. If the bull felt the rope, it might throw its head back to get rid of the nuisance.

He got up on his rope with his knees bent slightly. His feet were in front so his center of balance was ready to ride the buck. His calves were tight, his toes out so every part of his leg was right against the bull’s body. His riding arm was slightly bent, his back was straight, and his chin was tucked so he was looking right in front of his riding hand, at the bull’s shoulders. He put his free arm in front of him, kept his toes forward, and nodded his head for the gate to be opened.

As soon as he felt the bull move out of the chute, he turned his toes out and squeezed his legs, going with the bull’s buck.

When the bull went right and reared, Bullet kept his back straight and got up on the inside of his legs. He kept his chin tucked and rode into the kick. He transitioned from being up on his legs to shoving his hips and lifting on his rope.

The bull spun away from his hand, to him that was an easier ride. He got over the bull’s shoulder and drove his body down with his own riding shoulder. He kept the line tight, and when the bull kicked again, Bullet shoved his hips forward. The bull went back into a spin, kicked again, but Bullet stayed right with him.

He heard the whistle blow and positioned himself to get off into his hand. With the bull still moving, he rocked over his shoulder and kicked his leg at the same time. He let go and landed on his hands and knees on the ground. He crawled out and watched as the bullfighters distracted the bull and got him through the gate.

Tags: Heather Slade Cowboys of Crested Butte Romance
Source: readsnovelonline.net