Bullheaded

myself!”
    “They’re leaving room for you,” Dub said with a huge grin. “Go out there and win it, because this year will be your last.”
    The comment cut Cody in a different way, but he wasn’t going to spoil Dub’s moment. “I’m not going to fall off even for you, friend.”

    “A T FIRST it seemed like the judges were trying to leave room for someone to overtake Cody Grainger, but now they’ve fallen in love with him again and his scores have been creeping up with each go-around. Given the rides he’s been making, he’s beginning to earn the scores he deserves. This crowd is electrified from Dub Whittaker’s ride and they’re amped to see what Cody Grainger can do on the back of Spinal Tap.
    “This bull is a shoo-in for this year’s World Champion Bull, and stock contractor Olney Lewis is looking to Cody to show his bull off and win him that stock contractor buckle. Spinal Tap has been on the circuit for three years and has yet to be covered by any rider. Cody has gone up against this bull twice, and both times the bull had it all his own way. But the way Cody Grainger announced he was taking on this Goliath of the sport shows he thinks he has what it takes to ride that bull.
    “Rex talked to Cody just a little while ago. What did he have to say, Rex?”
    The television reporter took over, speaking to the camera by the gate. “There was no quaver in Cody’s voice when he claimed this bull, and no tremble in his step when he came by to talk to me just minutes ago. He picked that bull with conviction! The way he’s been riding in this finals, I would say he might have a chance to break Spinal Tap’s buckoff streak like he vanquished his own.”
    The ring announcer said, “I have to remind you Cody bucked off his first bull in round one. Could that signify a chink in his armor?”
    “The Cody Grainger I’ve been watching here this weekend is back to his usual form, doing things other riders can only dream of, but you’re right. Only time will tell if Cody can pull this off.”
    “And Cody is in the chute now, starting his wrap. His good friend Dub Whittaker is helping him get set. Dub just had that great, great ride on High Society, scoring a much-needed 92.25, making him the only one here who might be in position to take that buckle from Cody Grainger this year. In just a few minutes we’ll know which man comes out on top.”
    “Don’t listen to that bullshit, Cody. Just go out there and ride,” Dub muttered.
    “Listen to what?” Cody flashed him a grin. “I can’t hear anything but you.”
    “You know I want to win this thing,” Dub said, “but you go out there and ride the crap outta this bull like only you can! It’s time someone showed him the righteous way.”
    Cody said, “I’ll do just that,” adding, God willing , in his mind. Then he went back to making sure his rope was pulled tight, wrapping it around his gloved hand, beating his fingers shut around the handle. Going through the ritual familiar to him since he was a kid, each step had to be completed to his satisfaction to take him one step closer to the moment when the gate opened and it was just he and the bull.
    Finally he nodded.
    The first leap out of the gate was so explosive, Cody felt the jolt pushing him back onto his pockets, but he forced his chin down and pulled himself forward, glaring at the bull’s shoulders. But the opening volley was nothing compared to Spinal Tap’s next assault. Up went his hind feet, so high that Cody knew the bull’s spine must be practically vertical in the air. He felt the bull’s rump push his shoulders forward and forced himself to stay loose instead of giving into his impulse to clamp down. Leaning back even while his hips slipped forward, he flung his free arm up over his head to stay with the bull.
    Touching down briefly on his front feet, Spinal Tap did a swooping turn and launched them high in the air, viciously snapping his body sideways until his head almost touched his tail. Cody was well up over his rope and bent at the hips, swinging his free arm to stay with the bull.
    Everything came to a shuddering stop when the bull landed and switched direction again without warning. Cody was entirely concentrated on feeling each movement under him, staying centered on the bull, staying loose, chin down.
    Another vertical jump, and the bull stumbled almost to his knees when he landed. Spinal Tap pushed himself back and the momentum propelled Cody forward. He barely