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Zip laid on the plaid comforter with his head on his front feet. His eyes followed my every move as I walked back and forth across the room with my walking boot. My leg still ached with every step and turn, but the pain became part of my life.
“The doc said I shouldn’t ride, and Dee doesn’t want me to.” I passed him on the bed. “But if I don’t ride at the Bull Riding Finals, I’ll lose my chance to win the championship.” I ran my hands through my hair. “All those nights on the road, the rides, the eating fast food...everything here that I gave up with Delilah and my family. What do you think, Zip?”
He jumped up and gave a sharp bark.
“You’re right.” I tossed my old, black duffel bag on the bed. A couple of jeans, T-shirts, and button-up shirts landed next to the bag. I shoved everything in. I wrestled my good foot into the worn-out cowboy boot sitting next to the bed, shoving the other in the bag before zipping it up. “Dee is going to be mad, but maybe she’ll come with me.” A small sprout of hope unfurled in my chest. Then, I slung my duffel bag over my shoulder and dug out my gear bag from the closet.
“Zip, time to go.” He leaped off the bed and trotted to the door. His stumpy tail wagged in excitement. His nails clicked on the floor ahead of me when I opened the door to head down the hall.
Dee’s singing floated from the kitchen when I approached. Her voice blended in harmony with the radio. She stood over the sink, peeling potatoes as a pot of stew simmered on the stove next to her. The aroma of beef and carrots caused my stomach to rumble. I’d forgotten to eat lunch today. Zip ran to the door and barked at the door handle.
“Oh, honey, do you need to go outside?” She asked in a sweet voice. She set the peeler and potatoes down. She turned toward the front door and froze when her eyes met mine. The blood drained from her face when her eyes roamed over my gear and bag. She leaned a hip against the counter and crossed her arms. “Really? Were you even going to say goodbye?” Her eyebrow raised as bitterness dripped from her tongue.
“Hey. Dee.” I set my bags down and stepped towards her. She backed up against the counter and raised her hand, fending me off. “This is something I need to do.” How do I set into words how much this means to me? “You have to understand. I don’t want to have this fight again.”
“You aren’t ready.” She crossed her arms and glared at me.
I guess we were going to have it anyway. “He said I could ride,” I said. The corners of my lips pulled up into a small smile.
“No, he said you could ride a horse, but he wouldn’t recommend bull riding.” Her voice was hard when she turned back to the potatoes with her shoulders drooped slightly. “Don’t let me stand in the way of your dreams, but then again, I’ve never been part of them.”
The bite of her words stung and fractured my heart, causing pain as I struggled with my decision again. “I am sorry, Dee. But I must go. Please, come with me.” I said softly.
She shook her head. “I can’t watch you get hurt or die.”
I wanted to take her in my arms, but everything in her body language said she didn’t want to be touched and she didn’t turn back around. I sighed before crossing the kitchen. The screen door screeched when I opened it, and Zip ran in front of me as we walked to my truck. He put his front two feet on the running boards for me to boost him into the passenger seat before sliding into the driver’s seat. I turned my ancient truck down the driveway just as Kaleb rode up on his horse. He leaned down to peer into the truck window.
“Heading out?” He asked. The black horse he was riding stuck his nose in my hand.
“Yep,” I said. I stared out the windshield trying not to think of how I hurt her, again.
“Delilah mad?” Kaleb lifted his hat from his head to wipe the sweat from his brow.
“Yep.” My voice closed in around the words, and I tried to swallow the lump stuck in my throat.
“Thought she’d be. You still going?”
I nodded.
“In that case, drive safe and call Kurt,” he said. He shrugged and shoved his cowboy hat back on his head.
“Thanks.” I nodded at him.
Kaleb backed his horse away from the truck and rode over to the barn. I straightened the steering wheel to start on my way to the Bull Riding Finals. I messed things up with Delilah, but I needed to do this. I could beg for forgiveness when I got back.
#####
THE ROAD TO LAS VEGAS was a long trip, especially alone. Usually, I traveled out with some other riders from my area or met up on the way and we would caravan, but I’d been off the circuit for almost three months now and my usual driving partners were buddied up with other people.
“It’s just you and me, Zip.” I glanced at him. He had stretched out on the truck seat. His nose hung over the edge causing him to snort. He jerked at his name. “Well, and my thoughts.” He huffed and went back to sleep.
There probably was a better way to handle the problem with Delilah but I needed to do this. If I was being perfectly honest with myself, I was getting too old to bull ride much longer. It was harder to stay in shape, I didn’t have as much strength as I used to, and recovery was much longer than when I was younger. Next year, I may not even qualify to go to the Bull Riding Finals. It sucked getting old.
The highway stretched on for what seemed like forever and the markers ticked on by as the gas gauge slowly dropped until the needle came to rest on empty about an hour outside El Paso. I swung the truck around to park next to a beat-up gas pump. A strong wind rolled off the empty landscape, pulling at my hair and clothes when I climbed out of my truck. The area smelled of gasoline and motor oil. While I filled the tank with gas, Zip trotted to a nearby scrub bush to do his business. There was not much else around besides a little tan house adjacent to the gas station. The desert stretched out for miles in all directions. I squinted into the glare of the sun when a large bird circled overhead. The pump shut off and I headed into the small building to pay.
A bell chimed overhead as I entered. A young boy of eight sat on a high stool at the cash register.
“Mister, do you want a pop or candy?” His thin voice rasped.
“Nah, just the gasoline.” I handed over my credit card. He punched a couple of buttons on the machine. He turned the card over and gasped.
“Mister, are you Kade Kisment, the bull rider?”
“I am.” I smiled at his awestruck face. His eyes were as wide as saucers and his cheeks were rosy with excitement.
“Be right back.” He dropped my card on the counter and sprinted through the back door to the little house. The screen door slammed shut and his high-pitched voice called to someone. Within a second or two, he came running back. A little girl was being dragged behind him, followed by a woman in a flower print dress. I pulled the cowboy hat from my head and held it in my hands.
“See Ma. It’s really him.”
I stretched out my hand to shake hers. “It’s nice to meet you, ma’am.”
“This is my ma and my little sister, Sara. We are huge fans of yours.” The boy climbed back on to the stool to continue checking me out. The little girl clung to her ma’s legs. I leaned over and winked at her. She blushed and hid her face in the dress.
“I apologize, Mr. Kisment. We watch bull riding on TV and you’re his favorite.” The woman blushed a little while watching her son finish the transaction. Love and pride shone through her eyes at the little boy. I imagined that’s how Delilah would look at our child if there ever was one. It pulled at my heart that I may never have that family of my own if I didn’t change something.
“Kade is fine,” I said.
“Here’s your card. Mr. Kade. Will you sign my poster?” He pulled out a large poster of a bull kicking up dust.
“Sure thing, kid.” He handed me a marker. I signed the corner of the poster.
“Yippee! Thank you, Mr. Kade.” He beamed at the poster. “I want to ride bulls just like you someday. Are you heading for the Bull Riding Finals?”
I nodded as I placed my cowboy hat on my head.
“Good luck, Mr. Kade.”
“Thanks, kid. Y’all take care, now.” I headed out to my truck. Zip looked at me through the back window, wagging his stumpy tail. I turned my truck towards Vegas as I watched the small family in my rear-view mirror. The woman had her hands on each child as they waved me away. I wished that were how Delilah had watched me go, but she probably never even left the kitchen counter. I drummed my fingers on the steering wheel as I thought about how I was going to fix this with her, after the Bull Riding Finals.
#####
ANOTHER NINE HOURS went by before I finally arrived in Las Vegas. The city lit up the night sky like a beacon. Different colored lights flashed. People milled the walkways as I drove my beat-up truck to the hotel where the check-in was held and where all the riders were staying. A smart looking valet hurried to my driver’s door when I pulled up. He handed me a card with a fancy number scrawled on it. I shoved the little card in my pocket and gave him a tip. Zip jumped out and sat next to me on the curb.
“I know it’s tempting but don’t take it for a test drive,” I said, handing over the keys.
The valet laughed as he looked at the rust spots and worn-out seat. “I am holding out at least for a Corvette.” He hopped in and drove away.
Another attendant stood waiting for my bags.
“It’s fine. I got it.” I swung my duffel bag over my one shoulder and hoisted the gear bag in the air. Zip lifted the corner of his lip at the man as we walked on by.
The sliding glass doors opened to the hotel lobby which was decorated in a chess theme. Everything was in black and white, except the employees wore red with black or white pawns on their backs. Alternating black and white tiles ran the length of the floor. In the corners, life-size knights on horses stood opposite of each other. A king and queen sat on thrones above the lobby on each side. Black plush chairs sat around a white table that faced a fireplace. On the table was a game of chess in action.
“How may I help you?” The clerk at the front desk asked.
“I am here for the Bull Riding Finals. My reservation should be under Kade Kisment.” I set down my bags and leaned against the counter.
“Yes, I have you right here. You’re in room 811. Take the elevator on the right and go to the eighth floor. The room shouldn’t be too far down,” he said. He slid the room keys across the white granite. “Check-in for riders is in the White Queen’s Ballroom. Take the hallway to the left and go to the end.”
“Thank you.” I pocketed the keys as a whoop filled the air.
“Well, isn’t it the unlucky Kade Kisment?” A voice called that made my shoulders tighten. I groaned inwardly, and Zip growled next to me. “Are you well enough to hang on for a couple of rides?”
“It’s sure nice to see you too, Garcia.” I turned towards the thin, tightly muscled Hispanic man. His large black cowboy hat sat low over his eyes. His western shirt was buttoned up and closed with a bolo and a large belt buckle graced his jeans. I extended my hand to him. He took it and weakly shook it. “I see you have been cleaning up without me in your way.”
He chuckled before slapping me on the back “May the best or the luckiest cowboy win this weekend, Kisment.”
“Yes, may skill beat out luck.” I nodded to him and walked to the elevator. Zip was still growling at my heels. “It’s fine, boy. He’s obnoxious but harmless.” The elevator door closed around us. “I don’t like him either.” I scratched behind his head as he licked my fingertips. “He has been the luckiest guy on the circuit, but I think his luck has just ran out.”