Professional Bull Riders World Finals, Las Vegas
November 4
TANNER FORD shut his eyes for a nano-second before signaling for the chute to open. His fingers were clenched tightly around the rigging, glue helping to hold him in place as the bull emerged full throttle into the arena. He heard the roar of the crowd but blocked out everything else, counting in his head, listening only to the grunt of the beast beneath him and the powerful thrust of his enormous, unpredictable bucks.
Holy shit. The bull swung sideways, living up to his reputation, lurching back and forth as he shook the hell out of Tanner. Thunder Cat was known for being gnarly, but then that’s precisely why Tanner had been thrilled to draw him. He was going for the win, and he wanted to take home the title for the second year in a row.
He was at five seconds. He was so close, and he tucked his spurred boots firm against the bull, wanting him to buck harder, wanting to score the best damn points in the—
Tanner lurched back, the whip-fast movement popping something in his wrist and sending pain shooting through his arm. He held as tight as he could, but something wasn’t right. He couldn’t keep his balance.
Thump. He hit the ground with a cruel thud, the snap of his ankle a noise he’d never forget—if he survived to tell the tale. His arms flailed as he tried to protect himself from the charging bull, the insistent fall of his hooves was too close for comfort as Tanner tried to roll away and failed.
“Arrghh!” he screamed as he tried to use his leg and his ankle refused to oblige. The sickening flop of his foot made vomit rise in his throat at the same time as twin horns descended toward him.
Thunder Cat gored him, going straight into his side. Tanner screamed as burning hot pain exploded through his chest, and the bull lunged for him again, piercing him a second time, his helmet peeling off his head as he desperately tried to protect himself.
He lost all feeling in his hand when the big beast careened over his wrist, then stomped on him again as he charged off. And just as Tanner tried to breathe again, tried to suck in some air that just wouldn’t fill his lungs, everything went black.