Back in the Saddle (Jessica Brodie Diaries #1)(33)

Sure enough, a moment later the poor kid was heading fast, face-first into ground. Half way to the face smash, his upper body jerked around, caught by the still anchored hand. The bull jumped again. The cowboy now airborne, legs useless, working at the rope, desperately trying to get free.

The clowns rushed in, looking for an opening with which to help.

As the bull jumped and spun, the trapped cowboy was whipped along with it, his weight nothing to the strength and power of the massive animal, not slowing it down in the least.

I clutched Candace.

The body of the kid was flung into the gate, loose-limbed, helpless. His limbs made sickening dull thuds as each hit the gate, ringing through the gasping stands, stopping hearts. His loose hand tried feebly to block his face from harm as the side of his torso clanged off metal, then was bashed by the thrashing bull.

“Get him away!” I half yelled, wringing my hands.

Into the air again, body flung forward this time, falling lifeless, defenselessly over the two hard, blunt horns. His hand finally ripped free, his body landing in a heap at the bull’s feet.

I sighed in relief. But it was short-lived.

The bull bent to him immediately. With its big horns, it ground the cowboy into the packed dirt, butting at him, trying to do damage. The mighty swing of its head went high as it moved forward, now stomping the lifeless shape.

I stared in mute horror, hand on my chest, the other hand loosely covering my mouth. I wanted to walk away. I wanted it to be over, but I couldn’t. I didn’t want to leave him. As weird as it sounded, I didn’t want to turn my back, thinking that if I could at least bare witness, nothing worse would happen.

The clowns were trying to distract the bull with all they had, putting themselves in harm’s way to get the bull to leave the cowboy. Out of the corner of my eye I saw William hurriedly releasing two dogs from a large crate. The dogs were small to medium sized, and looked like cattle dogs. Blue Healer if my memory served.

The dogs took off into the arena like phantoms, one target destination in mind. The first one to reach the bull started barking, jumping up to nip the bull near its balls. The second went after its heels, distracting, but also directing.

The bull was on its second gouging of the lifeless form littered across the ground, when the irritating presence of the dogs cut through its territorial haze. The animal gave a mighty snort, pawing at the ground, unsure what to do with sharp teeth nipping at its foot or belly.

The clowns, getting a window, stepped right into the bull’s face, doing everything they could to work with the dogs underfoot and direct the bull away. It was enough. All the confusion, all the interference, had an effect.

“Oh…” I couldn’t finish the word as the breath noisily escaped my lungs.

Our arena was unnaturally quiet as the paramedics rushed onsite. The broken shape on the ground out in the arena was completely still. Parents were sprinting to the lifeless form.

I had to turn away.

It was a strange thing, getting on an animal that could do that to you. Why would someone flirt with that much violence? Why would they call this a sport when it could go so horribly wrong?

I wanted Lump to organize the people in the arena so the kid got the best care he could. Or Jane to explain why it looked way worse than it did. Or even Flem to start yelling swear words, lead me away, and tell me some gross jokes. Anything but this utter destitution, watching violence while being an outsider, with no one I trusted to lean on.

I have never missed a group of people so much in my entire life.

I found myself wandering away, tears threatening to break free. The past event reminded me of how much I didn’t know about my new home, the culture of my new home, and I needed to regroup. Badly.

As I was aimlessly rounding the trailer, I ran directly into William, both of us trying to careen to prevent a collision. Surprise lit up his face until he took in my helplessness. His hassled expression melted into concern.

“Are you okay?” he asked softly.

I nodded. Keep it together!

I did not want to break down here. I wanted to get my shit together, tuck it all away, and have a cry later on.

He nodded once, but didn’t seem convinced. He grabbed something from beside the trailer and ran back to the arena.

Relieved he didn’t try to play awkward super hero with the strange girl having a meltdown, I wandered toward the horses. Music notes floated on the still air and wound their way to my ear, somewhat soothing. I followed them to their source, a small, battery powered boom box, and sat next to it on a rock. I tried to clear my mind, but images of the cowboy, flopping around like a doll in the hands of a naughty child, punched my memories.

Cue waterfall of tears.

I let my head fall into my hands. Let the tears come. Not that I had a choice.

As I was racking with sobs, my eyes squeezed tight, hot tears making trails down my cheeks, I felt two strong arms wrap around me, pulling me in to an equally hard body. I let them, knowing who it was by the smell. I put my head against his chest and couldn’t stop myself from tearfully heaving.

His hands moved over my back in comforting ways as he coo’d softly in my ear. His fingers delicately entwined loose strands of hair behind my ears as he gently rocked me back and forth, not hurrying me or trying to stop the water works in any way. I put my face in the crook of his neck, breathing him in, letting my loneliness and uncertainty subside, relishing the tight encircling of his arms.