Southern Charm

Chapter 9

TRACE

The bull had knocked Jessie down with its horns and tossed her back down in the air. She shrieked out of pain and then was silent. Now, she was in the middle of the arena face down, perhaps not breathing. One of us needed to get to her and quickly. The stadium was silent as we stood around, waiting for the bull to move. We had to be careful whatever we did, or someone else would get injured.

I hopped over the gate to try and make some distraction, but the bull dragged his feet in the dirt. He kicked Jessie, and I blurted out, "No!" Jessie slightly moved, and I was shocked. I thought she was out cold. "Jessie, do not move." The bull's eyes turned to me. I wanted his focus on me or anyone but Jessie. Jessie needed immediate medical attention, and as a professional bull rider, we all knew that. Bulls were dangerous, and after you'd been thrown off one, the danger didn't end there. People had died from bull attacks, and I was not about to let that happen to Jessie. Colton, Parker, Bennett, Dane, and the other riders were all inside the gate, ready to help.

Bennett took a step forward, and the bull took a step back from Jessie. I stepped forward, and then the bull took two steps toward Jessie. This was not the way we wanted things to go. "Maybe I can run in quick and get Jessie. Then you guys run in opposite directions. Distract him in any way possible." I was the closest to Jessie, so it was logical that I went in to get her. I had watched her ride at the gate since she got on the bull.

We all nodded in agreement, and I took a deep breath. I hoped my plan worked because, right now, it was the only thing any of us thought would work.

I rushed to Jessie as the guys distracted the bull. I could scoop her into my arms and run toward the open gate. The bull didn't follow the others; he instead followed me and knocked me down onto my back. Luckily, I was right at the gate and closed it with my foot. The guys tamed the bull and got him back into his pen while the medics gave me a hand up. Jessie was out this time, and I was sure it was from the pain.

"I'll go with her to the hospital. I'll see you guys there," I said. I laid Jessie on the gurney as the medics began rushing outside to the ambulance. I jogged behind them and prayed for Jessie to be alright. She was unconscious now; dirt and bruises covered her face and arms. I was sure she had broken ribs from the kick of the bull, but who knew what else? If I hadn't told her to look out, she might be dead because that bull would've rammed right into her back with its horns.

DANE

"I'm going to shoot that bull in between the eyes!" I shouted. Colton put his hands on my shoulder and calmed me down. We were in the waiting room at the hospital. Jessie was in surgery, and we didn't know the circumstances or when she would be out for us to see her.

"Dane, you're not going to do anything. Bulls always injure someone at some point if we aren't careful, and this time, it happened to be Jessie. We can't change what occurred. We have to be there for her now, no matter her diagnosis," Colton said. Veronica entered the room with her white coat on. She hugged Colton tight and stood in the middle of the room. Veronica was an orthopedic surgeon, and I knew if she was here, my sister had broken a leg or something. "How bad is it?"

I waited for Veronica's answer, and she nodded. "She's going to be okay. Recovery will take a couple of months. Jessie has fractured her femur bone. I hope she doesn't have plans to ride again anytime soon because I would not recommend it even after the surgery. Doing so could permanently damage the femur. She can take visitors now, but not too long because she needs rest," Veronica said.

Trace was sitting in the corner of the waiting room, his head back against the wall and his eyes closed. "Trace, do you want to go see her?" I asked.

Trace shook his head and winced at the slightest movement. He must have hurt his back when he fell with Jessie. "You guys go ahead before visiting hours are over. I'll see her last if there is still time."