Bullheaded

hurt. Gritting his teeth, he straightened his leg and slid his kneecap back into place.
    He managed not to yell, but he was sweating and panting as he hung on to the door, not daring to put weight on his leg, waiting for the shivering rush of adrenaline and agony to pass. When he felt merely wrung out and damp with sweat, he chuckled to himself. Thank goodness it had been only partially dislocated.
    Then Cody lowered his jeans and wrapped his knee with tape. From experience, he knew how to strap it to hold his kneecap in place. And he wouldn’t have to ride again until tomorrow. Just as the medic said, he didn’t need a good knee to ride. It would only be a little tricky when it came to getting off.
    When he pulled up his jeans and buckled his belt, he fingered the buckle thoughtfully. It was the one he’d won for Johnny. He was hoping he could hold out long enough to win the gold. All he wanted was to give it to Johnny.
    Cody limped out of the john to the sink and splashed water on his flushed face and dried off. He restored the supplies to his locker and tried to control the limp as he went back out to watch the rest of the riders try to steal his buckle.

    W ATCHING the dirt Zamboni smooth the ring between flights always had a calming effect on Cody. He took a deep breath before saying to Dub, “Well, that was one jacked-up ride.”
    “Did you do it on purpose?” Dub seemed relieved Cody was talking and not sulking over the buckoff.
    “What the hell?”
    “You know, ratchet up the suspense for everyone by disqualifying in the first round. Keep it exciting?”
    Cody drew in a deep breath and managed to laugh. “I’ve had more than enough suspense this summer to last me. No, I did not do it on purpose. That was a really rank, mean bull, and you can’t ride them all.”
    “Well, you seem pretty confident for the guy who was the first one to fall off in the finals.”
    “Yes, I am feeling confident. Thanks for asking.”
    “You slapped at 5.3 seconds. Why’d you stay on?”
    “Because I could.” Cody knew he sounded a little smug.
    “Everyone knows you can, why risk getting injured?”
    “Think about it. What’s the last thing the judges saw before the whistle?”
    “You toughing it out and spurring to beat the band,” Dub said. “Okay, maybe it’s a good strategy.”
    “I stayed in control even though I slapped.”
    “You’ve got a gold buckle in your future, I feel it in my bones,” Dub prophesied.
    “I didn’t know you were psychic,” Cody teased. “How are you going to do?”
    “Coming in second, right behind you like I always do.” Dub shook his head sadly and then grinned. “But next year I’ll win. I’m only twenty-six. If you retire after this, I’ll still have a few good years left in me to make good.”
    “You will, I know it,” Cody said. He still wasn’t ready to think about retiring, especially when things were looking up.

    H E WAS sitting on the bed with ice on his elevated knee when he heard Johnny enter the adjoining room. He’d left the door open between them so he wouldn’t have to get up again. He might be able to hide this from the medical staff and other riders, but he didn’t have a prayer with Johnny. Johnny got to see him naked—at least Cody was hoping he would.
    Johnny bounded eagerly into the room and stopped short, taking in the pillow, the strapping, and the towel under the plastic bag of ice. “Fuck! I knew it.”
    “You saw?”
    “Was it the gate or the fence?”
    “The gate coming out. The bull kind of knocked me into it.” Cody shrugged in resignation. “I’ve dislocated that knee before. It makes it easier to pop in.”
    “All the way or partial?”
    “Partial.”
    Johnny came over and sat on the bed, putting his hand on Cody’s good leg. “I guess I don’t need to ask if you put it back yourself.”
    “I can’t take a chance of the doc striking me off the list. I’ve got to win this year!”
    “You’re crazy.”
    “So are you. I only sit on top of them. You get cozy with them right down there in the ring.”
    “Do you need something? Chicken soup? More ice? Some morphine?”
    Cody laughed. “Morphine sounds great, but I guess I’ll make do with some aspirin.”
    Johnny went to his bag and got aspirin and then went to the sink for some water. “I guess we need room service.”
    “I guess so,” Cody agreed. “I’d better stay off it as much as I can.”
    “Are you going to be able to ride with that?”
    “I