The 8 Second Ride

Homegrown

Hey guys picture above is Tanya Schmitz (playing Clara O'Brien). She is riding her Destiny.

Jason's POV-

"Jack I really don't feel like riding practice bulls right now!" I yell from my room.

She had to go and take Matilda jumping over the fences. I can't believe my sister let her take Matilda back to her place without asking me first. That horse is mine, I don't mind Clara having her but Jo should have asked before she took her. I try calling her again but she won't answer.

"Jason give her some time, I get why she didn't want to be smothered anymore. You smothered her for the two weeks she has been awake." Jack comes into my room and stands by my bed with his arms crossed.

"I didn't smother her, she just needed to be careful otherwise she could get hurt again."

"You spent every single day with her making sure she didn't do anything stupid, I think she just wants to do some stuff on her own." he takes the TV remote from my hand and turns the TV off.

"Now get up because you are coming with me to the practice arena." he pulls me up onto my feet.

I slowly trudge downstairs and find my parents in the living. I walk right past them and grab my boots pulling them on. I walk out to the truck and climb into the passenger seat.

"See it wasn't so hard now was it." he smirks and pulls out of the driveway.

"I really don't want to go ride bulls right now." I turn up the radio and the song '50 Shades of Crazy' by Chase Rice comes on and it explains everything about my relationship with Clara.

"We are not listening to this shit and we are riding bulls because how are you going to get to the PBR if you don't practice." he was right.

I wanted to become one of the top bull riders in the world and I was so close to riding in one of their events. If I get a ride above 84 points at my next rodeo I will be able to go ride in my first event.

"Yeah I know, if I get a ride higher then 84 for the next rodeo I will be able to ride in the Thief River Falls, MN bull riding competition. But if I don't I will have to go against Jacob Throne." Jacob Throne is one of the bull riders I have been competing against for the spot in the PBR.

Jacob has a great riding record and has rode in more rodeos then me. When have been going against each other since the high school rodeos.

"Well then be better start practicing now shouldn't we?" he changes the radio station until he finds the right one.

We pull into the parking lot of the local rodeo grounds and we walk to the chutes and there are several people that I know there. There are some green horns standing on the outside of the ring. They watch intently as the older and more experienced riders get on there bulls and complete their rides.

"Hey Jason haven't seen you in awhile, how have you been?" Luke comes up and shakes my hand before turning back to the chutes.

"I have had some things to deal with these past couple of weeks. How many city kids think they can really ride a bull?" I say while chuckling  and turning to look at how many there are.

"They have been coming and most leave with a dislocated shoulder or even broken limbs." he chuckles and points at someone.

"She on the other hand has been coming here for awhile, she just got out of accident and she hasn't ridden in a couple of years but she used to be really good." the girl starts to come over to Luke and I.

"Clara how have you been?" Luke asks and my head whips to the side looking her right in the eye.

"Just fine and how has the bull training been treating you lately?" she looks away and talks to Luke for a little bit.

After her conversation she walks up to a chute and starts to get ready for a ride. She climbs in the chute and pull her bull rope wrapping it tightly around her hand. Clara pulls herself until she is in the right position, she nods her head and the helpers pull the gate open. The bull she is riding goes to the left and drops its front, spinning back to the right. Clara uses her arm to control her movements, the bull jumps with all fours leaving the ground and spinning around at the same time. The timer sounds and she gets thrown off but runs to the fence. She pulls her helmet off and the young riders look shocked and mesmerized at the same time. Clara climbs off the fence and walks around to the chutes. I grab her hand and pull her to the back of the building.

"What are you doing here?" I say while hugging her.

"I am getting back into bull riding, I never told you that I bull rode in high school. I won nationals and then I retired only doing small rodeos after that." she say into my chest.

"Please never do that again?"

"I am going to ride every so often but not professionally anymore." she lifts her chin and presses her lips to mine.

"I am still mad at you for being the way you were earlier today though, oh and your not getting Matilda back for a while." she smirks.

She pulls away and walks back to the chutes to pick up her bull rope. I go to the locker room and get ready for my rides today. I walk out and see that she is back on another bull. I get over to the chute right as the helpers pull open the chute and the bull burst out of the chute.