Page 4 of Untamed
An event’s list of bull riders and the bulls with which they are randomly paired is called the “draw”. The draw for a 25thPBR: Unleash the Beast event is typically created via computer the Wednesday prior to an event. If a bull rider says he has a “good draw”, it means he’s happy with the bull that he was randomly selected to ride.
Every town has a history. Stories, urban legends, scandals. Ellensburg, Washington, it’s no different. What’s the story here?
My brothers and me, probably, but also a place called Mel’s hole. It’s a hole in the ground near Manatash Ridge and if you ask me, creepy as fuck. I’ve been there, once, and I’ll tell you about that fucked-up night later.
First, let me tell you about the legend. Much like any bottomless pit, you can throw in as much shit as you want and you’ll never hear it hit bottom and the hole never seems to fill up.
One would think—me included—it’s just an underground stream or something of that nature, but there’s more.
According to the stories the hole was once used for cow dumping. Don’t confuse it with cow tipping. I did as a kid and was sorely mistaken. Again a story for another day, but cow dumping, that’s where ranchers would dispose of sick cattle. But, as the story goes, told by Mel Water's, a self-proclaimed inter-tribal medicine man named Red Elk, and several other eyewitnesses, me included, during certain times of the day a black beam can be seen coming out of the hole. Like a dark column-like shadow, rising straight into the air and appearing out of nowhere. As the story goes, a local hunter dumped his dog in the hole after it’s accidental death, only for the dog to appear trotting out of the woods several hours later. I’ve traveled all over the world and I can honestly say I’ve never experienced unease like I do there. Hell, even animals avoid it. Although, it seems to bePet Cemetery,so they might want to hang out there more often if they find themselves, you know, accidentally dead and then come back to life as something else.
Now, you might be wondering what that has to do with anything. It doesn’t. I’m haunted by the story, so you might as well be too. And maybe it explains my unease at being back in Ellensburg after leaving four years ago. I didn’t plan on ever coming back and now that I’m here, I keep thinking about that goddamn hole.
Standing on the front porch of my cousin’s house, he stares at me like I’ve been gone for four years. “Goddamn, it’s good to see you, man.”
I want to say it’s good to see him, but I can’t say it is. Instead, I nod and give him a smile. “It’s been a while.”
Kade nods. “What brings you to town? I would have thought you’d be on the road catching the next rodeo.”
Rodeo? Bull riding is not a rodeo. I’m not barrel racing or roping steers. It’s man against beast. A two-thousand-pound bucking bull you’re trying to tame, but whatever. Call it what you want.
I’m agitated. I hate having to explain myself. I’m pretty sure most men do. It’s a common theme given our lack of fucks we usually give for conversations that involve things we don’t want to discuss.
I’m one of those people who avoids it at all cost. And given my profession, crazy-as-fuck bull rider, it’s a problem at times. There’s a good portion of every day where there’s a camera in my face.
Which explains why, even though I’m asking him for something, I’m annoyed by the slightest explanation of my sudden appearance in town.
“How long are you here for?”
And Kade. Well, I don’t particularly like this dude. In fact, I don’t like him at all, despite him being family. But he has what I need. And I’m not entirely sure I want to answer his question. The less anyone knows about me, the better. “Not long,” I finally answer.
“I’m real sorry to hear about Stanton, man.” Kade leans back into the doorframe, his feet crossing over one another like he’s completely comfortable. I’m sure he is, this is his place after all. It’s me who’s uncomfortable and out of place here. “Sucks. He was a good ol’ guy.”
You know what I find worse about losing a parent? The way people refer to them in past tense. Fuck that. He’s still a good guy. He’s just not here with us anymore. Even him dying doesn’t change the fact that he’s still my dad, and still the greatest influence on my life.
The Kentucky Headhunters “Dumas Walker” flows through the open door. At least it’s a good music choice.
I look past Kade, into the same house I used to pass out in every Friday night, avoiding eye contact. “Me too. I’m just here for the deed to the land. I really need to get going.”
Kade gapes at me like I’m crazy for wanting to leave, but motions inside. “Yeah, man. I got it inside. Why don’t ya stay for a drink?”
I shouldn’t. I need to be up early but after the day I’ve had traveling across the country with little sleep, a drink sounds pretty fuckin’ good.
“Heard you had a rough go in Vegas. There’s a party out back.”
I laugh. Of course he brings up the ride in Vegas. When you win, when you have a good ride, nobody says shit. It’s when you have a tough go that nobody withholds comment. “Not much has changed, has it?” I smart off with, wanting to rearrange his face.
I follow Kade inside. He turns over his shoulder, grinning. “You know how it is around here.”
I do know. And unfortunately, after everything that’s happened in this town, a party with a bunch of high school and college kids isn’t exactly where I should be.
“The deed?” I ask, raising an eyebrow when Kade’s lost interest, distracted by the arrival of a blonde wearing barely any clothes.
He watches her walk by then looks at me, smiling. “Right.”
I pay little attention to those around me, including the ones who stare, pointing as if they know me. They do. It’s hard not to when my face is literally plastered everywhere in this small town as the local hero having won the Professional Bull Riding Championship last year. My brothers and me, it wasn’t always the hero mentality for us here. There was a time when the Easton brothers were hated in this town. So we left.
And I never planned on coming back until Pops died. He passed away a couple weeks back and the land and house he owned here sold. Needing to clear my head going into the second half of the tour, I offered to come back and take care of it before I had to be in Mississippi in a couple weeks.
