Chasin' Eight (Rough Riders #11)(42)

Ryder raced in and dropped at Chase’s feet. The kid didn’t utter a peep; his focus was entirely on the successful rides. Cash switched out the disks to Chase’s attempts today.
About bull fifteen, Ryder piped up. “Dad? Can I ask something? How come Chase’s left shoulder is back? Not straight in line like the right one? It kinda hangs over his leg.”

Chase looked at the kid and then at the TV. “Rewind that.” Sure enough, Chase noticed the discrepancy immediately. “Can we go back and watch the disk where I actually rode some bulls?”

Cash swapped out the disks. Low and behold, Chase’s shoulders were straight.
Colby said, “I’ll be damned. I don’t think that’s all of the problem, but it’s a good place to start.” He grinned at Ryder. “Gib’ll be fit to be tied when I tell him your eagle eye caught that. He’ll probably want us to start taping him so he can watch for mistakes in his ridin’.”

“What mistakes?” Ryder scoffed. “Gib is gonna be world champion one day.” He looked up at Chase with pure hero worship. “After you win the world title a coupla times.”

“I sure hope so.”

Colby pushed up from the floor. “How you feelin’, cuz?”

Like dogshit. “Okay. Why?”

“I’d like to get you on that mechanical bull while this is fresh in my mind.”

When Chase didn’t respond, Cash said, “Unless you’re too sore. We can do it in the mornin’.”

Chase’s gaze moved between the two men. They were sacrificing family time to help him out. He’d cowboy up no matter how goddamn bad he hurt. He withheld a wince as he eased out of the chair. “I’m game. Might need a shot or two of whiskey afterward.”

“I figure we all will.”

Gemma leaned in the doorway. “So I should wait on the cake?”

“I’m thinkin’ Ryder deserves the biggest piece for his help,” Chase said.
She smiled at her beaming son. “I’ll have a cowboy-sized slice ready when you get back.”

Cash didn’t ease Chase into the ride. He cranked it full blast. Colby wandered the perimeter of the mats. After Chase’s fourth attempt, Colby walked closer to pat Chase’s left thigh. “Turn your leg in and you’ll stop leanin’ back on this hip. If the hip is aligned, so will the shoulder.”

He shifted to find the proper seat. “That feels weird.”

“Good. Now make sure when you throw your left arm up that you don’t change this alignment.”

Chase raised his left arm. The mechanical bull kicked hard to the right and then spun to the left. Chase focused on keeping his upper body aligned. It worked. He bailed off after he heard the buzzer.
Both Cash and Colby grinned at him. But Cash whistled when Chase started to walk off the mats. “Huh-uh, McKay. One ride could be a fluke. I’ll need at least two more.”

“Sadistic bastard,” Chase mumbled under his breath as he climbed back on.
Think. Align. Focus.
He ended up riding the next two. As sore as he was, as tired as he was, he couldn’t wait to get on bulls tomorrow.
Back at the house, he shoveled in a piece of strawberry shortcake and knocked back a shot of whiskey with Cash and Colby before returning to the bunkhouse. He took another shower, needing the hot water to dull the day’s aches and pains.
Ava’s door was closed and no light spilled from the window as he walked past her side of the bunkhouse.
He wanted to tell her about the breakthrough he’d had tonight. What did it say that she was the first person he’d thought of telling?