Taken By The Bull

“You don’t say?” He looked her up and down, from her head to her heels. “And here was me, thinking that you looked just like the kind of girl who grew up on a farm.”

“Are you making fun of me, Mr Seth Law?” From the corner of her eye, she saw that Mikey had swung the camera around and was catching every word of this on tape. “Would you mind giving us a few minutes of your time, to answer a few questions?”

“I’d rather not.” His shoulders lifted in a casual shrug. “Always been a little camera-shy, myself.” Perhaps the disappointment that Staci felt showed on her face, because he bit his lip, looking thoughtful. “But hey, if you want, I can get you a few moments with ol’ Steve. He’s a su*ker for a pretty face and a little attention.”

Staci’s eyes lit up at the sound of that. “If it’s not too much trouble! It’d surely make my boss a very happy man!”

And me, too. But shh. It’ll never do, to look too eager.

He pushed himself up and off the wall, and nodded in her direction. “Well, if you and your man there want to follow me…” With a casual gesture of the arm he beckoned them to stay close as he turned and walked away, not towards the backstage door – but the exit, nodding to the burly guard who stood in front of it.

I hope he’s not going to prank us – just show us outside and then shut the door, locking us out while twirling his mustache like a villain. Taking a deep breath, she shot a glance towards Mikey before following Seth. No, he couldn’t do that. He doesn’t even HAVE a mustache. Surreptitiously she crossed her fingers as the door opened and let in a blast of cool air, following Seth Law outside into a late evening beneath an indigo sky, lit by bright sodium lamps.

And walked right into the middle of an argument.

“It doesn’t even bother you?” Twenty feet away from the exit door, a tall blonde in a neat Grey skirt and frilled red blouse ranted at a broad shouldered figure, her voice carrying easily over the muted sounds of the crowd inside. “You’re happy to show-boat and play the big-man hero, despite everything?!”

Well, damn, the young reporter thought. Is Mikey still filming all of this? She looked towards him and saw that both he, and the camera, were pointedly facing away from the scene; but the little red light that signaled that the camera was recording was still on. “Um, Seth?” She kept her voice low, not wanting to call attention to herself. “Should we, ah, come back later?”

He shot her a lopsided grin as the woman with the shock of champagne-blonde hair stamped her foot in annoyance, and turned their way. “Fine!” She snapped. Kitten-heels clicked as she strode purposefully along, passing the little group by the door – and then stopped, gray eyes fixing onto Staci. If she hadn’t been wearing such an ill-tempered look on her face, she could have been a catalog model. “More idiots coming to give him the spotlight? Well, I wouldn’t bother! He’s not half the man he pretends to be, sweetheart.”

Then she turned to Seth, and her entire demeanor changed like a light switch had been flipped. “Hiya, Seth! Always nice to see you.”

“Likewise.” Eyebrows twitching upwards, his expression never shifted from polite amusement. “Always a pleasure.”

With a gracious gesture he moved out of her way; she nodded her head once and left through the door that they’d only just arrived through, striding quick and fast like a cold breeze in high-class clothing.

“Well, that was… Something.” Staci wasn’t entirely sure what to say about that. Even if she’d been doing this job for ten years, she doubted she’d ever know quite how to act after walking into the middle of a skirmish like that. It was just so – so awkward. But surely, she had to say something?A professional woman like herself needed to always have an answer for everything, right?

Thankfully she was saved from blurting out the first thing that came to mind by a rich, deep voice echoing out from the half-light. “Well, I do apologize about that.” The tall figure who had been reclining against the wall straightened up, and walked their way with a slow, confident stride. “Can’t tell a lie and say that this is the way I like to be introduced to a strange face or two. I’ve never been one for the personal dramas. Judging from that camera you two are truckin’ around with, it might just be that such things are more your cup of tea than mine.”

Up close like this, he seemed much taller than he had been when standing in the arena; at around six-two, he stood a clear ten inches taller than Staci did. Every inch was built of lean, solid muscle, with wide shoulders and big hands – and just like before, she found herself almost believing that he wasn’t real at all. That maybe, he was a silver-screen cowboy from a time that existed only in celluloid, a ghost from the wide dusty plains and blue skies of a film-maker’s vision.

This is it. After two years of unpaid internship and another three years working on obituaries and grocery-store openings, her break was finally here. Remember what you have to do, she told herself. Get him good and softened up, before slipping into a few questions. “Congratulations on your winning ride, Mr Law. I’m Staci Wilder from JMN News. How does it feel, breaking your own record right here in your home-town?”

There was a slight pause as he met her practiced, breezy faux-charm. “You’re all business, you.” He looked over to his brother, and the two shared a knowing smile. Staci wondered what lay behind that look. Just – answer my questions, please! “Let’s start at the beginning. Nice to meet you, Miss Wilder. I’m Steve.”

Just as Seth had done, he extended his hand towards her, eyes shadowed beneath his cowboy hat. Slowly she reached out and found her small hand enveloped in his – his fingers were strong, his skin warm and slightly rough to the touch. Staring up into the darkness cast by that old hat, she found herself trying to look back into the eyes that she instinctively felt were on hers. “Hi, Steve.” Her voice felt as small as her hand did, and equally lost within his expansive presence. “It’s good to finally meet you. Might…. Might I ask you a few questions?”

“Like I could refuse a pretty lady who asks so nicely.” He released her hand, and tucked his own into the pocket of his black jeans. “Fire away.”

“How – ah-” For an awful, gut-wrenching second her mind went as blank as a cloudless sky. Then the words came, all in a rush. “How did it feel, breaking your own record?”