Taken By The Bull

“Right here, in my home-town?” As he filled in the missing part of the question, he nodded thoughtfully; as if those words were mere coincidence. “It felt good, of course. Just like I’d always dreamed, ever since I was a boy.”

It wasn’t quite the answer that she’d expected. Sure, the words were all there, but there was a strange lack of feeling – as if none of this was a surprise to him. Not at all. “So, what comes next for you?”

“Have you ever gotten everything you’d wanted, everything you’d planned for, and then found that the world just keeps on rolling around the sun?”

What…? Staci’s smile faltered, her eyebrows drawing together quizzically. “I, well – can’t say I rightly have?” The quick-moving and confident speech of the professional, aspiring reporter was gone. Just like that, she was left grasping for the right thing to ask.

“It’s the most peculiar feeling. But not a bad one, I’d say.” A casual shrug tilted his shoulders, a half-grin lighting his face. “I guess, I should tell you how I’m gearing up for the Championship in Vegas. But really, all I’m thinking of is getting back to my bed, and waking up tomorrow for a day’s work on the ranch. Winning titles is a grand thing, but honoring our family’s legacy is what really matters.”

They own a ranch? What am I saying, of course he does. Just look at him! “I’ve never been to a ranch!” The moment the words left her lips, she could have kicked herself. This was rapidly starting to sound like less of an interview, and more like a casual conversation over dinner. A casual conversation where she fumbled her words and embarrassed herself horribly. Come to think of it, that was how many of her dates tended to go.

Her thoughts raced, dizzyingly fast. Get us back on topic girl, before you blow it! “You’re a hard-working guy, Steve! Have you got a message for all of your fans here in Biloxi?”

“Let me see… Keep supporting the PBR!” For the first time he looked right at the camera, taking his eyes from Staci. “But really, thank you all. I’ve been all over America, and one day away from Biloxi is one day too long.”

“Well. Thank you, Steve! It’s been wonderful chatting with you! And good luck on your road to the Championship!” This… Hadn’t gone quite as smoothly as she’d expected, and she could feel the tension in her shoulders and face as she turned back to the camera. “This is Staci Wilder for JMN News, at the Mississippi Coast Coliseum in beautiful Biloxi. Good night!” Her smile froze into place for endless, aching seconds until Mikey signaled that the take was done. Her entire body sagged and she heaved a deep sigh from the bottom of her lungs. “Phew.”

“Are you alright, Miss Wilder?” Steve’s low voice murmured. “You seem a little tense.”

“You could say that.” Now that it was done – now that she knew there was nothing more that she could do – a strange and giddy lightness flooded her senses. Mikey’s puzzled expression told her everything she needed to know about how well it had all turned out. “Truth is, I don’t know anything about bull-riding. So I feel like a real fish out of water, and just about as flailing.”

“I think you did a wonderful job.” His tone was so reassuring, she could almost believe it; and it coaxed a smile from her, looking up into his eyes. “Here.” He reached up, and took the cowboy hat from his head, setting it on her own. He had a gentle way to him, despite being such a big man. “Have this as a souvenir, ma’am. If you got time before you’re on your way, why don’t you come on over to the Double Thunders tomorrow? I always got time to talk a little while about this little sport that I play at.”

Self-conscious and a little flustered, her hand stole up and touched the brim of the hat as if to check that it was really there. It was too big, of course; and it smelled faintly of some light and musky cologne. “The – the Double Thunders?”

“That’s our ranch,” Seth spoke up. That sent blood flushing to her cheeks; she’d almost forgotten that he was there. “You ask just about anyone, they’ll point you our way.”

“I’d like that!” The answer came too quickly, sounded too enthusiastic. “Perhaps we will.” She paused, grasping for the next thing to say. “Thank you for the interview – both of you. And, well. I hope you get to clear the air with your girlfriend, too.”

From the corner of her eye, she saw Mikey’s eyebrows shoot up as if they were propelled by jet-fuel, and Steve chuckled good-naturedly. “Ah, Dawn’s my ex-fiancee. I doubt the air will ever really be clear, where that one is concerned.”

She opened her mouth to speak some silly platitude, about there always being more fish in the sea, about how someone like him would surely find someone else; but thankfully common-sense reasserted itself. “Well, ah. Thank you again for your time!”

“The pleasure is ours.” With a polite little incline of the head he stepped past, always keeping two feet of space between the two of them. “Come see us, y’hear?”

“Good night, guys.” Seth added as he turned, and headed to the door that led back inside. “Later!”

It wasn’t until the door closed behind them that Staci finally let loose the breath that she’d never even realized she was holding. “Whew! Thank the Lord, that’s all done with.”

“A consummate professional,” Mikey replied, dryly. “I think you might just win a Pulitzer for your insightful and probing commentary. ‘I’ve never been on a ranch before!’ Truly, inspiring stuff.”

“Shut up!” She raised her fist to punch him in the arm, and then remembered that he was holding several thousand dollar’s worth of camera equipment. “You’re a real sh*thead, Mikey!”

“And you’ve got a crush on Steve Law, but hey. I’m sure that no-one will notice.”

“Of course I don’t.” Scowling, she crossed her arms over her chest. “In fact, I’m starting to think that what’s-her-name might have had a point.”

“Come again?”

“You’d think that someone who had this record-smashing victory would be a little surprised about it, wouldn’t you?”

With a grunt, Mikey shifted the heavy camera from his shoulder and held it under one arm while rubbing his neck with his free hand. “That’s true. Seemed like no big deal to him, didn’t it?” He glanced over his shoulder in the general direction of the car lot; it seemed that he was starting to think about getting back to the van, and to their hotel rooms for the night. “You got that look about you. That look a cat gets, when it knows there’s a mouse hiding behind the furniture. So, what’s on your mind?”