and she wanted to know the answer.
The woman next to her didn’t take her eyes off the action as she said, “It’s to keep the bull bucking in a tight spin.”
“Oh.” CeCe turned toward her, about to ask next why the bullfighters wanted the bull to stay in a tight spin, when the woman sucked in a breath.
CeCe’s focus whipped to the action on the dirt. She saw the reason for the woman’s gasp immediately.
The rider had slipped off but remained attached at the hand as the bull kept bucking. The rider tried to stay on his feet even as he was flipped around like a rag doll by the powerful animal’s motion.
He was going to get trampled. There was no way around it.
CeCe’s heart seemed to stop beating as she watched the horror unfold before her. “Why doesn’t he let go?”
“He’s hung up.” When all CeCe did was frown at the woman, she continued, “His hand. It’s stuck in his rope.”
“Oh my God.” That information had CeCe’s eyes widening as she watched.
Wade ran alongside, grabbing for the rope that bound the rider to the deadly bull.
The animal didn’t take kindly to Wade’s attempt to help. Just as the rider fell to the ground, finally free of the rope binding him, the bull turned its giant head toward Wade and flipped him up into the air.
Like a gymnast, Wade spun in a complete circle while airborne before crashing flat on his back in the dirt.
CeCe covered her mouth. She could only imagine what that fall had felt like, but what was worse was that now Wade was on the ground just feet from where the bull’s four hooves pounded with deadly force.
Things moved so quickly she could barely track the motion. A man on a horse somehow got a rope around the bull’s neck while the other two bullfighters ran to the downed rider and Wade.
Seconds later, more people ran into the arena, males and females who didn’t look like bull riders or the organization’s suited executive staff.
“Who are they?” she asked.
“Sports medicine.”
Was there no real medical crew on site? From what she’d seen of this sport, there should be a full team of EMTs and an ambulance inside the damn arena.
CeCe intended to find out why there wasn’t and then demand they include one for future events. She paid a fortune to sponsor this deadly sport. No men were going to die because of it if she had any say in the matter that could prevent it.
So many people surrounded each of the men she couldn’t see them. Her panic increased until a cheer erupted through the arena that had become deadly silent as the crowd held its collective breath and waited.
“He’s up.” The woman next to her pointed in the direction where Wade had fallen.
Sure enough, he stood and lifted an arm to the crowd to prove he was fine. One of the guys handed him his hat and he planted it back on his head as another cheer sounded.
“The rider’s up too.”
At the woman’s announcement, CeCe swung her gaze and saw the rider limping out of the arena with the help of two of the medical professionals.
She’d spent three days sitting in the VIP seats during the events in Georgia but apparently she hadn’t paid all that much attention to the action, because she didn’t remember seeing anything like this.
CeCe blew out a breath. “This sport is insane.”
The woman sitting next to CeCe sent her a sideways glance. “Welcome to bull riding.”
CHAPTER 5
“Hey, Clint. Let me ask you something.”
The stock handler, who had been watching the same award ceremony play out on the dirt that Wade had been, glanced over. “Sure. Ask away.”
“What do you know about this CeCe Cole?” Wade followed CeCe’s progress as she picked her way across the arena floor in heels not meant for dirt.
Tom Parsons assisted her progress with a hand on her arm, leading her toward the winner of the event for the buckle presentation.
Wade had been piecing together the many parts of this mystery all event. The details were slowly falling into place