Caballeros

Say What? (Edited)

Joaquin

I am in shock at what Trinity just said; she has never said that to anyone. I mean she has heard people say it of course but I'm not sure she knows what it means. I say the first thing I comes to mind.

"I'm sorry Jules."

"Honey, don't be sorry. She is a baby and she doesn't understand," She says opening the fruit snacks for Trinity.

Trinity is sitting in front of us and once she sees the open fruit snacks she claps. I don't think she had ever eaten fruit snacks. I'm always afraid she'll choke on them. Jules hands them to her and she looks at me. She grabs them from Jules quickly and begins to try to take them out.

"One at a time baby girl," she tells her.

Trinity begins to one at a time as she was told which surprises me. She gets overly excited and shoves a whole handful into her mouth. Jules gets up quickly and takes the fruit snacks from her. She also takes what she can out of her mouth.

"No ma'am, one at time baby," she says in a gentle tone. Trinity throws a major fit, screaming and kicking. "No fussy pants, you can choke love."

Jules picks her up and rocks her back and forth. Seeing her deal with Trin's meltdown without batting an eye is amazing. She soothes my baby girl and before you know it Trinity is fast asleep in her arms. Jules kisses her temple and stands up and I stand up with her.

"I'm gonna take her in the house so she can sleep." She says.

"You're so good with her Darlin'. I am gonna go get set-up," I say. She comes and gives me a gentle kiss on the lips. She makes my heart do flip flops in my chest. "See you out there."

I go into the barn and some of the bull riders are getting ready. Some of the guys are talking shit to each other but it's all in good fun. I normally keep to myself because I like to get in the zone before riding. I grab my stuff and put it on; as I put on my gear I think about what Trin said to Jules. I think of how good she is with my daughter. If only she was her Mama, she got handed a raw deal when her own mama left her.

I head out to the mechanical bull to get some practice runs in. The practice bull is not any run of the mill bull you find at a local bar, this bad boy is on full speed. I climb on and I ride for about eight seconds until I am bucked off onto the mat. As I am getting up the bull swings back and hits my shoulder at full speed.

"Fuck!" I yell out in pain. I look to see who's running the bull; Arnie. "God damn you Arnie, what the fuck do you think you're doing?"

"My bad," he says like nothing has happened.

I move my shoulder in circles and it is painful as all hell. I am gonna feel this later. A young boy brings me an ice pack and he smiles a toothless grin. I take off my shirt and damn it's already bruising. I put the ice pack on my shoulder and sit on a nearby chair.

"Thanks little man," I say as I fist bump him.

"You're welcome," he smiles and runs off.

Hector comes in and gives a death stare at Arnie. Damn news travels fast in this place. He walks over to me; he takes off the ice pack and shakes his head.

"Damn it! How you feeling Hijo?" He asks.

"It's better now, glad it was my shoulder and not my face," I say.

"Are you going to be able to grip the bull tight enough?"

"I got this, don't worry Don Hector."

"Alright then, be out there in ten minutes to start."

"Yes sir,"

I get all geared up with the ice pack on my shoulder still. I look out in the crowd and see my girls. That sounds nice. I walk over and Jules's eyes go wide when she see the ice pack.

"Baby! What happened to you?"

"I like the sound of you calling me baby."

"Don't change the subject Mister," she says and I throw my head back and laugh.

"Dada owie," Trinity says. Little traitor.

"Yeah daddy did get an owie. Darlin' I just got hit by in the shoulder with the mechanical bull."

"How did that happen?"

"Damn Arnie, didn't turn it off when I fell off of it. I slammed my shoulder pretty good."

"You want me to kick him in the nuts? I've got my boots on," She laughs. I grab her face and kiss her.

"Naw baby, I got it." I laugh.

"How many riders are there?" Octavio asks.

"Five and only two will go onto the championships tomorrow," I say.

"Wow, good luck out there," he says.

"Thanks Octavio. Darlin' I have to go now, I need kisses from my girls."

"I like the sound of that, "she says. She kisses me quickly. "Give daddy besitos honey." Trinity kisses me too.

I get to the pen and I'm nervous because I have never beat any of the other riders here today. I have always come up short. We pull straws and I pulled the short one. I 'm up first, I take a deep breath and lower myself down and grip the harness and a searing pain shoots through my shoulder. Mind over matter Joaquin, do it for them I think as I look at the girls. The gate opens and Goliath takes off. Everything is a blur just like I like it all I hear is a horn in the distance. One last buck sends me flying off and I land on my shoulder. I groan out in pain but I do not have time to think about it. I jump up and run over and jump the fence.

I run over to Jules and my baby; they are beaming at me. I climb the barricade and kiss the baby first. I pull off my cowboy hat and place it on Jules head she smiles at me. I place my hand around the back of her neck and pull her in for the kiss of her life. This kiss leaves us both breathless and all I hear is hooting and hollering for us from the crowd. This is how life should feel and it's blissful.

Win or lose today, I've already won so much. The grand prizes are better than anything in this world and they are staring right at me.