Bullheaded

kept his free arm clear of the bull’s shoulders when Spinal Tap surged forward with a sudden burst of speed, rocking Cody back until he was almost lying against the bull’s back. Sensing its advantage, Spinal Tap followed up with another huge vertical jump.
    But Cody was in the zone. He stayed right with the bull and even started spurring with his outside leg a little to show he was in control. He could feel a grin of pure enjoyment on his face. This was flying! The amazing rush of adrenaline and excitement and physical challenge all rolled into the most astounding, exhilarating, satisfying ride of his life. He never wanted it to end!
    Vaguely he could hear Johnny shouting, “Keep riding him! Keep riding him!”
    He heard the whistle but it didn’t register. Dimly he heard stamping and yelling, and saw the four bullfighters closing in around him. He heard Johnny shouting, “You made it! Get off! Get off!”
    Cody yanked at the rope, and suddenly the bull went to his knees. Remembering another time when a bull rolled on him, and the subsequent time out of action for injuries and rehab, Cody yanked harder at the rope, trying to get free.
    “Stay on him, stay on him!” Johnny yelled, running toward him.
    Cody froze in place, not understanding the conflicting orders. The action seemed to slow down as he watched Johnny slide to a stop and put his hand on the bull’s head. The bull lurched up, lashing out with one front foot to sweep Johnny’s feet out from under him. As Johnny went down, he yelled, “Bail! Get off now !”
    Cody dove off the bull, rolling on his shoulder and coming up on his feet with unaccustomed grace, anxiously looking back to see what happened to Johnny.
    But Johnny was up on his feet again, playing tag with his team, each of them darting in and out in front of the bull from different directions until the thoroughly confused animal gave it up and went for the gate.
    When Cody looked up at the stands, people were standing on their seats screaming. Thirty-nine bull riders were crowded behind the chute, hanging over the rails to cheer and applaud for him. They knew just what it took, and they appreciated his ride for the great performance it was. An overwhelming feeling of joy came over Cody. He’d done it! He’d gotten Johnny back and he had ridden Spinal Tap! He had no idea of his score, although the confetti and screams were good clues it was over ninety.
    The burst of emotion was too much for him, and he had to vent physically. Knowing he probably looked like a complete fool, he did a crazy little dance across the ring, kicking his feet out from side to side, the fringe on his chaps flailing around. He didn’t even feel his knee as he ran to the shark cage, leaped up on it, and raised his fists in the air, shouting with relief and joy.
    He saw Johnny laughing until tears streamed down his face, standing with Vern, Reese, and Chris. Even the usually impassive Vern was grinning and waving both fists back at Cody.
    Cody jumped off the cage and ran to the fence to climb up to his parents’ box. His mom and dad both grabbed for him and hugged him. He felt the thumps on his back from RJ and Travis. He could see proud smiles and lips moving but he couldn’t hear what anyone was saying.
    Jinks the clown was there to shake his hand when he dropped back into the ring. He ran over to the gate where Vern, Chris, and Reese gave him a high fist bump in turn, but Johnny gave him a one-arm manhug with a thump on the back. He noticed Johnny was holding his rope for him, and let his cheek brush against Johnny’s for an instant before he broke away. With a last glance and a secret smile for Johnny, Cody went for Dub, who hauled him up and over the fence in his turn and pulled him into a ferocious hug. All the other riders crowded around, as if touching him would transfer some riding magic to them, patting him, pounding him, yelling at him.
    “Knew you had it, man! This is your year!”
    “Thanks, Dub. For everything.”
    “I didn’t teach you to ride, friend.”
    “Maybe you did, friend,” Cody said. “I wouldn’t be here this year without you.”
    The stock contractor who owned Spinal Tap came by and shook his hand with both of his. “Thank you, Cody! You got that gold buckle for me. Any contractor would kill to have you up on his bulls. You make us look good!”
    “Thank you , Olney. That is one damn fine bull!”
    Already he was being pulled away. He had to go back to the shark cage, where