Pavonia

Chapter: 6

I woke early thanks to my sleep schedule for class. I got dressed in a high school shirt and a pair of shorts with my boots. I grabbed my rodeo hair don't care ball cap and put it on backwards. I slipped out of the trailer and went to give Bentley some water and hay. I cleaned his hooves and legs working my way to his head. I brushed his tail out and braided it back starting at the base working down to the edges. I then went to his mane doing the same thing. I checked his mouth over along with his eyes and ears before putting a fly hat and mask on him. He shook as I brushed his coat out to get the excess dirt off him. I then left him alone to get breakfast. Only one other girl was up. We made breakfast quickly eating, before I went to clean my tack. Its just the once a month cleaning it needs.

Bailie woke up about an hour into me doing my classwork. "You work too much." She said. "I would rather get ahead than fall behind." I said. She shook her head. She got a plate of food and sat down across from me. "Hey Remi, do you want to practice today?" She asked. "Only if you are down to." I replied. "Maybe when you get done with your work." She said. "Will do." I said. I was done by the time she was changed and done eating. We both hit the arena and practiced roping for an hour or so. Someone was always there dragging the arena every two hours depending on the traffic through it.

All day long I was watching my classwork and staying on top of it all day long. That night, I had on a college shirt and a pair of nicer jeans since I didn't have to compete until very last with bulls. I watched from Bentley's back to get a good view. Around the time I went back to the trailer and threw my jeans from last night and the shirt on before my riding vest and chaps. I left Bent at the trailer and walked with my bull rope over my shoulder. When there, I tied my boots closed at the ankle and wrapped my riding wrist. I put my glove on and rosined my rope attached. Two other girls were riding besides me. Three went last night too. The top three will ride tomorrow night and the rest of the events will have the top five.

I handed the guy doing the riggings mine before I stretched and was ready to get in the chute. I then got above the bull on the rails. "Ready?" I was asked. The head coach for Vernon was right there too. "Are you sure Remi?" He asked. "Yes sir." I answered. I lowered down onto the bull. I wrapped my hand with the college regulated wrap and got up on it. I took a breath. Then nodded. The gate, the rush, the tailspin, the buzzer, the dismount, running to the fence and getting over. It was a rush every time. I got my rigging back before I had to sit down. I took a few deep breaths before standing up and unzipping my vest. I walked slowly back to the trailer. I had to lean against one. The adrenaline was gone. I could tell I had got kicked somewhere.

"Are you ok?" A male voice said from behind me. I turned around seeing a guy there. "I will be fine." I told him. I started walking again. I rounded the corner and felt pain shoot up my back. I had to stop again. "I doubt you are fine." The guy said like he was following me. I looked back at him. "Look. I'm fine, if you want to follow me back to my trailer, I do not care if you do. Im not interested in doing anything tonight except going straight to bed after taking some ibuprofen." I said. "Just making sure you get there fine." He said. I turned around and started walking again. I got to the trailer, several of the guys were outside drinking with a few of the older girls. I went inside, took some painkillers, and changed into pajamas before crashing.

One of the girls came in to get more alcohol. "Hey why dont you come outside with us?" She asked. I shook my head. "Not a good idea to mix alcohol and whatever I took." I told her. I crashed, out cold and hoping my back felt better in the morning.