80 Years

Superstitious

The first time in ten years that I actually sat and watched this event in rodeo. Every rodeo I've been to since I was sixteen, i didn't watch. Didn't watch the end, even if it was a pro rodeo, amateur rodeo, sanctioned. It didn't matter. I wasn't. I wasn't watching. I use that time to beat the crowd until tonight. Tonight, I know I have to watch. Something tells me he will be here. I unsaddle my barrel horse, Cade, hang back up his bucket and his hay bag, and place my hat back on my head. I'm making my way back up to the bleachers, just as the announcer is stating. "Ladies and gents, let me introduce you to the secret service of rodeo. The unspoken heroes! Your Hometown cowboy, Gage. And his right hand man, Sean, and the Bar H rodeo company pick up men, Stetson on the paint, and David on the palomino. I make eye contact with Sean, and I can tell he is not sure what to do. I can see the whites in his eyes as he signs to Gage, I watch his back stiffen, and as he slowly turns eyes scanning the crowd. His eyes find mine. I've never been one to shy away. So I left my chin proudly. Gage signs back to Sean. With his back to me, i can't see what's being said. The bull riding event has always been my least favorite. the bulls are unpredictable just as the Bronx, but worse, I take a deep breath and watch Cowboy after Cowboy Falls, and I know he loves this. I love watching him. I've missed this, at least that I can admit to myself. the last bull rider of the night needs no introduction. Decker Wyatt, the man, the legend himself. The crowd screamed so loud. It takes a lot of my self-control to not cover my ears as a barrel racer. You'd think that I'd love nothing more than a loud crowd. But it makes my skin crawl. Decker is known to be careless. the man can ride anything and make it look like a dream. Decker nods, and the bull comes leaping out of the chute. The longest 8 seconds of my life. I see Gage and Sean move in to get him off the bull he is hung up on. I'm walking down the bleachers as Gage finally gets him free. All I could hear was the crowd yell as I walked down. I make it past the gates that lead to the parking lot. I start my truck and dump the water. I rehang the hay bag in the horse trailer. As the announcer says that deckers won and made it safely to the fence. Thanks to the bullfighters, I put my rope can up and make a grab for the lead rope while I pet my bay horse. He steps hard to the left, startling us both. I turned to look at what spooked him when I felt a hand around the back of my neck. I instantly recognized his lips as he crashes in to me. We're both speechless when he releases me. I pull the rope and grab my hat from the ground that he knocked off with his. "Gage," I say breathlessly. I load my horse, tie him in, and step out of the back. The ring on my fingernail shines. I don't come home for a reason. I settled down with a man who loves me and will give me the world. He's loyal. He loves me for who I am. And he's waiting for my phone call. As I watch gauge eyes, the ring is on my finger. Roam, I'm sorry I didn't know. I didn't know I didn't know what came over. I saw you in the stairs and then I didn't and I just he trails off "Gage. I'm sorry, " as I walked to my track. Open my door slot in the seat. Put on my seatbelt like I always promised I would. As I put my track in drive and start to pull away. I look back at Gage. He's on his knees. Watching me drive away, my heart skips a beat as it always does.