Chapter 23

Iwatch her stomp off. Just like a woman, I think, scowling at her retreating form. She doesn’t even realize how close she’d been to being torn up. Sure, I’d been angry and shouted some shit—Dakota will probably be mad at me—but she needs to know how badly she fucked up. Kill Dozer is famous in his own right, not only because of how unrideable he is, but because. . .

I sigh and look over the fence at the bull. “You know, you really are an asshole,” I growl at him. “It’s not enough that you’ve kicked my ass, but you wanna hurt innocent people, too? She didn’t hurt you. I’ve watched her offer you apples every goddamn day and you still try to kill her. I should grind you up into hamburger meat.”

Kill Dozer snorts, as if he doesn’t care at all. I suppose he doesn’t. Most bulls don’t care about ending careers or stomping on people. All they care about is where their food is coming from and his comes from over the fence, destined to be handled away from his angry ass.

“You know, if I hadn’t bought you when I did, you’d be a nice juicy steak right now,” I tell him, trying to put him in his place. No response. Instead, he turns and wanders back over to the wheelbarrow with Ninny.

Kill Dozer has always been so dismissive. He’s aggressive now, but his real aggression comes out when you’re on his back. He spends that time doing everything possible to get you off and used to be considered one of the most dangerous bulls to be assigned to. I’d ridden him once. Once. I’d even made it the whole eight seconds, the height of my bull riding career. I’m the only bull rider to have pulled it off. The first. . . and the last.

The reminder has me rubbing at my back and the scars there. The muscles are pinching right now after hoisting up Kate without any sort of warm up. To lift the calves, I’m always warmed up or else I pay for it later. Dakota and Wiley get pissed every time they see me do it, but they’ve realized I won’t ever stop. It’s why I keep the muscles in my back and core in top shape, to counteract the pain there. I’m gonna be hurting tomorrow though, and I scowl at the thought of having to take my pain pill. I hate taking that shit. Always upsets my stomach.

I point at Kill Dozer as he sniffs at the hay in the wheelbarrow. “You try and take something else from me, I’m going to cut you up and eat you for real,” I threaten him.

He only snorts and starts eating the hay.

Fucking asshole.