Bullheaded

when you take the gold buckle.”
    Cody watched Johnny study the menu and pick up the phone. He didn’t listen. The ache in his chest overwhelmed him with pain, but he knew Johnny was right. Injuries and age were catching up with him. It was time for a change.
    When Johnny returned to the room with a fresh bag of ice, Cody pulled him down and kissed him. “Thank you, babe.”
    “What’s all this, then?” Johnny asked quizzically.
    “I’m just so glad we’re back together,” Cody said. And he was. Contemplating retirement was bad enough; without Johnny, it really might have killed him.
    He slept pressed as close to Johnny as he could, holding him tight in his arms with his face buried in his hair.

    T HE limp was barely perceptible, but the brace was obvious under Cody’s jeans. Of course Dub noticed. Johnny saw he stayed by Cody’s side, ready to lend a hand if Cody needed it but not making a big deal of it. Dub knew Cody well enough to know when he was hurt.
    The second day was round two of the finals. The one that counted for Cody. If he did well tonight, he would stay in the top five positioned where he could take the lead, but to win he would have to ride each of the five bulls left to him. Unless everyone else fell off, which they weren’t likely to do. They wanted to win just as badly. At least Cody had the experience and discipline to compartmentalize the pain and focus on his ride.
    When the gate opened, Johnny could tell Cody was sure of making the whistle. The ride went by faster than usual, but Cody managed to answer everything the bull threw at him. Johnny could also tell, as usual, Cody was going to make a mess of the dismount, as he seemed to be having trouble getting his riding hand loose. Yanking at his rope, Cody fell off too close and rolled right beneath the bull that was still bucking like a demon. He dodged a kick aimed at his head by inches and covered up, curled in a ball and waited for rescue.
    Chris was in the best position, at point closest to the bull’s head. Johnny charged toward him but watched appreciatively as Chris got the bull’s head turned toward himself. The bull left Cody and took off after Chris. Vern darted in between them and Chris veered away to safety as Reese wove into the mix. Johnny took his turn, getting the bull closer to the open gate. As the bull trotted out, Cody was on up his feet, punching the air in triumph to the sound of wild applause. Some woman in the stands was screaming his name rhythmically. Cody pumped both fists at the crowd, shouting with glee. Then Cody ripped off his helmet and tossed it high into the air, but Johnny noticed he threw it straight up so he wouldn’t have to move to catch it. He snickered at the thoughtful strategy.
    After Cody was out, the team gathered by the gate and tapped fists. Vern gave him a quizzical smile but said nothing. Everything that had to be said had been said in the locker room before they came out, when Johnny told them about Cody’s knee. None of the team had questioned why Cody hadn’t gone to the doctor. They knew bull riders were lunatics.
    “Thanks, Chris. That was a great save,” Johnny said.
    Chris looked surprised and pleased. “Thanks a lot. I guess an old guy can still run around the ring once or twice.”
    “It’s not the feet, it’s the head,” Reese said. “Experience.”
    “You read that bull right. You know what you’re doing,” Johnny said. “I respect that.”
    Chris nodded, and it seemed to Johnny he could see his confidence grow. Because he was the youngest and newest on the team, he’d never thought it was his place to compliment the others, and it surprised him to see his words meant something. Then it was back to business.
    When Dub rode, Johnny applauded his ride, thinking once Cody retired and stopped stealing the spotlight, Dub would probably step out of his shadow and people would notice what a great rider he was in his quiet way. He wasn’t as exciting, but he was damn good and technically expert.
    The next flight came out, and when it was his turn, Bobby Blue fell off his bull and ran to hit the challenge button. The judges denied his challenge and Bobby Blue smacked a sponsor’s sign in disgust before slamming through the gate. Johnny was surprised to find himself disappointed Bobby Blue bucked off. He realized, suddenly, that despite Bobby Blue’s overrated confidence, he felt almost like a mentor to him. Or maybe it was because he and Cody were back