Page 41 of Eight Seconds to Fly
Frankie shook his head. “He ran into Juan trying to find me, and he came to find me and Davi went home. They’ll give him an alibi,” Frankie said softly.
I nodded, but looked at Branch. He stayed on the other side of the room, not coming any closer. Beau moved to the side so I had a clear view, and my eyes watered. “Branch.”
That one choked word undid us both. He was across the room and had me in his arms, my body wrapped around him so tightly that I didn’t think I could ever leave. I wanted to sink into the safety of him, the strength of him, and never let go. I buried my face in his neck and cried and cried. I couldn’t help it, as the adrenaline just poured out of me in fat, hot tears. “I couldn’t stop him. I tried but I couldn’t. Why couldn’t I stop him?”
Someone swore and I could hear the bathroom door crack. But Branch’s arms didn’t loosen. I clung to him like a baby koala and he held me solidly. He had me. He promised me he did, and in that moment, I believed him with all of my heart.
“I’m taking you back to the hotel,” he said. Beau said something about the cops and the hospital. I could feel Branch shaking his head, but Beau must have swayed him, because Frankie was helping me back into my jeans and putting my hat on my head. I felt better with it on. It was like armor. A helmet might protect me from the feet of a bull, but the hat protected me from the prying eyes of people.
It felt like an eternity passed, each one of them taking turns to hold me, before a cop and the event boss walked into the bathrooms.
The event boss wasn’t someone I knew, but he looked like everyone else in rodeo. Hat, boots, bolo tie. The cop was a detective in dress slacks and a white shirt rolled up his forearms. He had a hard face and grey at his temples. The guys barricaded me on all sides. They had my back.
“Miss Moore.”
I swallowed hard. “Everett. Tessa May Everett. T.M. Moore is just my name for when I ride,” I said softly, annoyed at how unsteady my voice was. I was stronger than this.
He gave me a soft smile, and something in me loosened. He believed me.
“Miss Everett. My name is Detective Kane. Can you tell me what happened? Or we can do this down at the station if you’d prefer?”
“No. Here is fine.”
“Is it okay if I record it?”
I lifted my chin, and took a deep shuddering breath. I could do this. I swallowed hard, and replayed the… event. By the time I reached the end, I was shaking so hard that Frankie had wrapped me in his arms and held me against his body. Branch slammed his fist into the wall of the cubicle, and Beau went over and whispered to him furiously. The detective and the event boss looked at Frankie touching me, and the detective noted it down. I didn’t care. I needed the comfort of Frankie.
The detective gave me another soft smile. “I’m just going to take some pictures of your injuries, is that okay?”
I nodded and stepped out of Frankie’s arms. Detective Kane took some quick snaps of my face and throat, of the hand prints on my arms. The bleeding wound on the back of my head, and the growing bruise on my ribs.
“Some of the other riders said you and Junior flirted. Are you sure it isn’t a case of mistaken signals?” the event boss asked me. The detective looked at the man like he’d lost his mind. The event boss doubled down. “Junior comes from a very well off family. His parents own South West Motors. Trust me, I know for a fact that Junior had hundreds of women at his disposal. He didn’t need to take it by force to get laid,” he said to the Detective.
The cops jaw tensed. “I don’t know about you, Sir, but I never have to beat my lovers. Should I check on your wife?” The event boss flushed bright red and blustered.
I wanted to laugh, but I don’t think I had the ability at the moment. The cop shook his head. “That should be all we need. Are you sure you didn’t see who beat Stanley Wilfred Junior?”
I shook my head. “No. My vision had gone dark by then because I couldn’t breathe. But if I did know, I’d fucking hug him because he saved my life,” I said furiously. The detective looked at the hands of all the guys in the bathroom with me, but they all had alibis. He couldn’t pin it on them. The detective nodded and handed me his card, making me promise to call him if I suddenly remembered.
When it was just me and the guys left in the room, my knees buckled, but Frankie caught me and hefted me against his chest. “I’m taking you back to the hotel, Tessa.”
Branch looked savage. “Fuck this shit. Fuck this sport. Fuck that asshole for suggesting you wanted to be raped. I’m taking you home. We’ll be happy breeding fucking bulls without this bullshit.”
I winced at the R word. I shook my head. “They aren’t chasing me away, Branch. They aren’t taking your dream either.” I let out a shuddering breath. “I’ll take tonight. But I’m not going to run away with my tail between my legs. I’ll be back here tomorrow.”
He straightened. “Then I’m coming back to the hotel with you.”
I shook my head. “Like hell you are. You are going to ride tonight. You are going to get the eight seconds. And then you are going to come home and hold me until I feel strong again.”
He gathered me back into his arms, and his fingertips traced my aching face. “You are the strongest person I’ve ever met, Nugget.” He shook his head. “I’ll ride tonight. Tomorrow, we’ll throw their hypocrisy in their face.”
I nodded, and gave him a small smile, before resting my head on his chest. I looked at Frankie’s big dark eyes. “I need you to stay too. Go fight bulls. Beau will take me home and watch me. He can patch up my face and keep me safe.” He looked like he wanted to protest. “I need you to find Davi and Miguel. I need you to talk to them, tell them I’ve got them. Please, Frankie. I owe them everything.”
Frankie looked so torn, but finally he caved. He kissed me softly on my split lips, and then strode out of the room without arguing anymore.
I rested my head against the wall and breathed deeply. Beau and Branch had a low conversation, then Beau was in front of me, wrapping my hand in his.
“Come on, Nugget. Let’s get out of here.”
