Cowgirl Up
By Deirdre O’Dare
Tab stood wide-legged, one booted foot braced on each side of the chute. The black-brown back between her heels twitched as one of the other riders fished the end of her rope beneath the bull and poked it up to Tab’s waiting hand. She grasped the end and slid it through the loop, drawing the rope tight. The bell gave a harsh clang as the bull shifted.
They called this one Big Trouble. He fit the name, more Brahma than Angus in spite of the dark color of his loose hide. He moved restively, knowing, just as she did, what came next. Slowly she eased down until her butt met the wide back. She gripped the rope tightly with her rosined glove and nodded. As ready as I’m gonna be.
“Cowgirl up,” someone said.
She listened with half an ear to the announcer’s chatter
