Bull Riding: Part 3 -- What Eight Seconds Will Get You

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Angie watched the rider spinning around the arena on the back of Cyclone and tried to learn from his ride. So far, she had been up on Junior, the smallest bull in the rodeo show, three unsuccessful times. She'd been bucked off within nanoseconds each time and had landed rather unceremoniously in the dust while Jack, the catch rider and Dan, the rodeo clown, chased the bull back to the exit chute. She was determined, despite the growing aches and pains her body was suffering, to make one eight second ride before the day was out.

She had to make the best of today, because who knew when her next chance would be? Kyle had taken a ride out to the county line to visit with some friends he had in the area that he hadn't seen in some time. He's tried to talk Angie into coming with him, but she had told him she had a headache and wasn't feeling well.

As the next rider took his turn, Angie tried to make herself concentrate on him, and not on the guilt she felt thinking of the concern on Kyle's face when she'd said she felt sick. "I hope you feel better, baby. Stay in bed and rest, maybe that'll help. I'll bring you back a surprise."

Finally, it was her turn to ride again. The "little" bull was anxious to be out of the confines of the chute, banging against it and stomping his hooves. A couple of the guys helped her get her seat on the animal's back, and then watched her secure her hand to the rope the way they had shown her before. They gave her a nod when she looked up for approval. Angie took a few more moments to make sure she was secure, then jerked her head in a brief nod and the gate swung open.

Junior launched out of the chute like his tail was on fire, his slobber flying everywhere, his body spinning and churning sickly beneath Angie. Her hat flew off her head and got stamped on by the crazed bull. She focused on keeping her one hand in the air, and tried to keep her balance and her seat center. The pounding her backside was taking from repeatedly crashing down on the bull's back all afternoon was getting to be too much for her by then and she promised herself as tears stung her eyes that this would be her last run. At least for today.

To her amazement, the sound of the eight second buzzer rang in her ears. She'd done it! She leapt from the bull's back, and ran to the side gate, looking back to make sure one of the animal's horns wasn't aiming for her backside. She climbed up one, two rungs of the side rail and breathed a sigh of relief when the catch riders once again guided Junior towards the exit gate.

Before she even had a moment to grin at her success, a hard hand grabbed her elbow and pulled. Angie was hauled over the top rung of the side rail where she caught sight of Kyle's angry face seconds before loosing her balance and falling on top of him, and crushing the flowers he had brought back for her.

"Kyle!" she was surprised to see him. "What . . ."

"Not one word!" he barked at her. He was standing up and pulling her with him. He grabbed his Stetson off the ground and gave it an angry whack against his knee. Angie became painfully aware that everyone had stopped what they'd been doing to turn and stare at the boss and his fiancee. Kyle's hands were shaking when he let go of her arms. "I want you to go to the trailer and wait for me . . ."

"But . . ."

Kyle's blue eyes were as hard as steel and enough to silence her without the words he spoke. "That's right, I'll tend to that." Angie blushed furiously; everyone had heard his threat. "Go and wait for me. Don't make me have to come find you."

Afraid he might actually take her over his knee there in front of everyone, Angie turned and scurried away. In private, she stood a good chance at changing his mind. She'd cuddle up to him and beg his forgiveness; she'd cry if she had to. She was sure she could get out of this.

Kyle was fuming. He turned from the crowd of onlookers and look several deep breaths, tried to stop his shaking. When he'd come into the arena and looked up to see his fiancee tossing wildly around on that bull, he thought his heart had exploded. God, if anything happened to her . . .

After a few minutes, his emotions more under control but still upset, Kyle turned to the onlooking crowd, some of whom were starting hesitantly to return to work. It didn't take much more than a few words to get everyone's attention.

"Listen up! I don't blame any of you for what's happened here, but you should all know right now that if I catch any of you helping a lady to ride a bronc or bull you'll be immediately fired. Any woman I catch riding a bronc or bull will be fired. I don't care if any of you think that's appropriate or not, this is my show and I won't have women on bull's backs. Am I making myself clear?"

There were immediate choruses of affirmative answers.

"Good," Kyle made a vague gesture with one hand. "Please, go back to whatever you were doing."

Many pairs of eyes followed him as he turned and walked in the general direction of the motor home he shared with Angie.

The moment Kyle walked in the door, Angie jumped to her feet and went to him. "Kyle, I can explain . . ."

"You don't have to explain. I'm not stupid, I have eyes. You deliberately disobeyed me. Hell, you broke your promise to me."

"Kyle Billings I am a grown woman. I don't have to OBEY anybody!" Angie knew her outburst would only make things worse, but it was out of her mouth before she could help herself, followed by: "What's the big deal anyway? I made the buzzer, Kyle. Eight seconds!" She grinned, wishing his frown would lift even a little bit with pride at her accomplishment. "And I'm fine, no hard done. So what's the big deal?!"

Kyle took a visibly long, deep breath. "The big deal, Angela Karen is that you could have been hurt or even killed. You promised me you wouldn't do this. Do you remember that promise?"

"Yes, but . . ."

"Well, then it seems to me you shouldn't have to ask me what the big deal is. But I guess you don't take your promises as seriously as I take mine. I believe I made you a promise, about what would happen if you did this damn fool thing."

To Angie's shock, Kyle had unbuttoned the sleeves of his flannel shirt and was rolling up the sleeves as he spoke. "So, darlin', let me prove to you that I, at least, keep my promises."

"Kyle! Don't do this! Please!"

But he was coming towards her and there was no doubt that he would do exactly what he had told her he would. This man who had been her friend and lover, who had saved her from being spanked many times when she was little, who was going to be her husband and the father of her children, was about to take her over his knee and spank her like she was a little girl.

Just as Kyle reached Angie, and had a hold of her wrist, a loud knock sounded on their door. It was followed by the whiny voice of Jim Crowers, a young calf roper from Alabama. "Mr. Billings? Sir, I'm sorry to interrupt but Mr. Hastings sent me for you. He . . . uh, he saw Angie on the bull, sir, and he's a bit upset about it . . ."

Kyle's gaze had never left Angie's face and now it seared her so hotly she had to look away. Her fiancé's voice was surprisingly calm when he called out to Jim. "I'll be right there."

"Kyle . . ."

"Not a word. Do you hear me? Not one." Kyle walked Angie over to the corner by the bed and turned her into it. "I want you to wait, right here, for me, and I want you to think about what you did. Maybe you can figure out why it's such a big deal." His hands rested on his jeaned hips as he studied her silently for a minute. Finally, he sighed and said, "If you know what's good for you, you'll be here, in this corner, when I come back. Then I'll show you then what your eight seconds has earned you."

Angie jumped when the door slammed shut behind him.

Find out what happens next in Bull Riding: Part 4 -- Angie's Punishment Spanking

If you'd like to email OTKromance about Bull Riding, write: otkromance@cs.com