章節 8: The Ride Home
Billie Bob Jones
"How long have you been riding?" Benedito asked me as I put on my gear, my bag was resting in the bucket of Clyde's truck and Benedito instantly came to stand with me.
"About ten years," I answered as I put on my leather riding chaps.
"Isn't it a dangerous sport?" he frowned as I put on my black rodeo vest for protection and changed the rowels on my spurs.
"It is, but what's the point of living life without some danger," I chuckled as he watched me with a small smile.
"I like the way you think."
"Thank you," I cast him a smirk before I walked to the cage that enclosed Mellow Yellow, the bull with a beige coat.
Rob had already put on the rope that I had prepped with rosin and a leather pad on the bull to protect it from the ropes. I put on my gloves as I balanced myself on the iron bars of the gate that were on either side of the bull as I suspended myself above him.
"Okay Bobby remember, breathe and focus on his movement. He bucks forward a lot so remember to keep your thighs flexed and squeeze," Leroy calmly said next to me.
With my gum guards inside my mouth I nodded before I looked at Cody and JD who were waiting for me to give them the signal to open the gate. I sat on the bull, held onto the robe with my right hand and lifted my left. Once I was sure I was set I looked at Cody and JD then nodded.
They immediately pushed the gate open and Mellow Yellow shot out immediately bucking. Being on a bull you had to let go for those eight seconds. You had to focus on what was happening then and there. As I focused on staying on and keeping perfect form the fact Benedito was watching did not cross my mind.
Every single time I practiced I pretended like I was already in the arena with the judges watching my every move. That was how I always got the perfect scores, a perfect ninty, because I made sure I was mentally ready for what was to come.
When JD whistled indicating I had stayed on for eight seconds I let go and fell to the sand that cushioned my fall.
"That was damn amazing Bobby, well done," Clyde hollered from the gate making me smile. My eyes skimmed to Benedito who just stared at me with a blank facial expression. Was he impressed or did he just find the sport useless?
I still had more bulls to ride but unfortunately Clyde had to leave because he needed to help one of the ranch owners in the area. The weather was getting worse by the second and we decided to cancel practice.
"Will you be fine with getting home?" Clyde asked as he looked up to the sky that was darkening by the second due to the approaching rain.
"I can take him, I don't mind," JD piped in making me smile.
"I can take him. In fact I wanted to discuss something with you," Benedito voiced in making us all look at him. JD slightly frowned but shrugged before looking at me. The pressure to pick was immense but with Clyde's stare I knew who I had to accept.
"I guess I'll ride with Dito," I sighed, "we still on for dinner though," I smiled to JD which made him grin.
"You bet," he chuckled, "See you later Bobby."
"Let me go get my things," I said to Benedito who simply nodded with pursed lips. He looked slightly annoyed and I wondered why? Whenever I was around JD he just looked unhappy. Maybe they did not get along as well.
I sighed and got my gear. Benedito pressed a button on his key which made the trunk of his car open by itself. I felt slightly bad that I had to go into his car after rolling about on the dirt.
"Don't worry. It's not like I'm going to be the one who has to clean it," he smiled making me scoff. Rich people. I dropped my bag in the trunk and headed to the passenger side. He surprised me though by opening the door for me making me frown.
He raised his eyebrow almost daring me to argue but I figured he was my ride home before the storm, no point being prideful. He probably thought I would not know how to open the door to such a luxurious car. What a prick.
I sighed and climbed in, he gently closed the door before walking around the car and hopping into the driver's side. I could see Rob look at what had just transpired with his jaw almost touching the ground before he climbed into Ben's truck.
He was definitely going to harass me about this later.
The car seats were ridiculously comfortable that my sore body immediately sunk into them. Benedito fiddled around with the screen in front of the car and the seat heated up. The warmth massaged my body making me groan out in appreciation. Having a fancy car really came with its perks.
He started the car that barely made a sound and started driving on the gravel road.
"So what did you want to talk to me about?" I asked him after the silence became unbearable.
"Clyde and I discussed how we would like to move forward with the renovations of the ranch and he appointed you to help me with the plans. Especially since you're into the labour of everything so you would know what needed to be upgraded more."
"Oh," I nodded. "So what would I have to do?"
"You'll come to my office in Houston two to three times a week and help me out source what you think would work better. You'll be compensated for your efforts so don't stress," he added as if it would help the blow that I would unfortunately have more one on one moments with him.
By now the rain had started to fall making the already lonely ride feel even worse.
"Okay," I shrugged. It was not like I had much of a choice in the matter anyway.
"You don't seem too excited."
"How can I be? The few times I met you at the café you seemed to find my existence to be inconveniencing to you. I'm not really sure what tone that has set for the work place," I frowned as I turned my body to look at him.
He quickly turned his head to stare at me before looking back at the road, "you peeked my interest that is all."
"And that was why you looked at me with so much disgust?"
"What I feel for you is nothing close to disgust," he grinned making me pout. I did not know what he meant by that so I simply kept quiet. A headache was already starting to roll in and that made my already terrible day even worse. "How old are you Barbie?"
"Bobby," I corrected. "I'm turning twenty-six in three months." He nodded. "How old are you Dito?" it was only fair.
"Thirty-three."
"You're old," it spilled out of my mouth before my brain could process. "Not that that is a bad thing or anything."
"You don't have to explain yourself to mind my feelings," he chuckled, "you can be honest with me."
"Okay."
We kept quiet for most of the ride home.
"Barbie?" Benedito turned to face me as he stopped in front of my house.
I sighed getting irritated with his new name for me and faced him, "Dito?"
"I have invited you and your family for dinner tonight at my house to celebrate our business venture together. I expect you to be there."
"I have plans," I frowned not happy with how he seemed to just demand things from me.
"Cancel them. Your father and mother know I am expecting you."
"Are you obsessed with me or something?" I folded my arms over my chest as I glared at him.
"Yes," he simply nodded.
My heart stopped beating for a second as I waited for him to tell me he was joking but he never did.
"I got you something, you'll find it on top of your bed. I expect for you to wear it tonight," he did not wait for me to respond as he pulled out an umbrella from the universe knows where and hopped out the car.
He came over to my side and opened the door for me. He held out his hand and I looked at him as if he had grown another head. I mounted off horses just fine, what the hell was a car?
I ignored his hand as I jumped out the car. He followed me closely with the umbrella over us to the trunk where I got my bags.
"I will see you tonight," he said close to my ear. I figured he had leaned in because of the rain so I let it slide.
"Unfortunately," I smiled before I climbed up the porch stairs. He stared at me for a few seconds before he climbed back into his car.
I watched his car drive down the road before I entered the house.
"What the hell was that?" Ma squealed as she stood in the foyer. Obviously she had seen everything.
Just my luck.
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