Living for Eight

By Sharon Harris

Charli Porter faces many obstacles on her way to becoming the first female PBR champion, but her career may be threatened when she sustains an injury and gets some devastating news.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Lulu.com
• Release date: Dec 11, 2016
• ISBN: 9781365601583

Book preview

Living for Eight

Living For Eight

Chapter 1: Another Go Round

The buzzer sounded and Charli slipped off El Toro's back. As she bent to retrieve her hat, she heard somebody shout a warning. El Toro had circled around and come back. She turned just in time to see the bull barreling down on her. She ran and clung to the fence and came face to face with a very handsome stranger.

She grinned at him from beneath her Stetson, chewing her gum, with her green eyes sparkling. She grinned at him and tipped her hat. What's your name?

Cort! he shouted over the din.

Hi Cort! I'm Charli. The bull made a round and came back at her. She climbed up higher on the fence, laughing. She even ran her boot over the bull's back as he ran past.

You're crazy! Cort yelled.

That's my secret. Don't let it get out, Charli replied, grinning. Just then El Toro ran straight at the fence and rammed it. Cort grabbed Charli's arm and drug her over the rail just in time. He fell back into the stands with her on top of him. She was still laughing.

You are crazy! he laughed. She crawfished off the young man and stood, offering her hand to pull him to his feet.

Do you want to hang out after this is over? she asked.

Charli met Cort at a cafe after she finished riding for the day. They sat across the table from each other talking and laughing. So how did you get into bull riding? Ain't that more of a man's sport? Cort asked.

Charli sat gazing into Cort's coffee-colored eyes, so entranced by the young man, she didn't even hear the question. She suddenly realized he was speaking to her and looked down at her half-eaten hamburger, embarrassed. Cort grinned at her with his white teeth creating a striking contrast against his copper face and repeated the question.

My dad was a PBR champion three years in a row, but he was injured and had to quit. He started training me when I was five. I've been riding ever since. I've been riding professionally for three years. So far this season, I've taken three short go's.

Cort shrugged, I don't really know a lot about bull-riding, but I do know bulls. We own a ranch outside Las Vegas and run a thousand head on a three-thousand acre spread. Being in bull riding, you may have heard of the Broken Arrow.

Charli slapped the table. The Broken Arrow supplies more than half the bulls for the PBR! That's yours? she asked incredulously.

Cort grinned and nodded. Yeah, me and Nihoi and Namshimi run it.

The two youngsters talked for a couple of hours, then Cort asked if he could drive Charli back to her hotel. She shoved her hat on her brown hair and took his arm. Being familiar with the area, Cort steered Charli out of town and parked down by the river.

It's very pretty here, she told him, as she sat down in some moss on the bank. She reached up to Cort and pulled him down to sit beside her.

The moon reflected off the water into her green eyes and Cort found himself falling for this wild bull-rider. Where do you go from here? he asked.

Charli ran down the list of cities she would be traveling to, as long as she made each short-go. Cort was still confused by her terminology so she explained. In in bull riding, there are a number of go rounds where up to thirty riders compete for placement. The top fifteen riders advance to the short go. The top bull riders culminate at Las Vegas for the final round to determine who will be the PBR champion.

So it'll be months before you get back here? Cort asked sadly.

Charli nodded, but her eyes sparkled. You should come with me, she suggested.

Cort laughed, I don't think I can just up and leave like that.

Charli shrugged, Why not? You got something more pressing to do?

Cort nodded. I help Pop on the ranch. He can't do it alone and Namshimi is too old to do much.

In the middle of their conversation, Charli suddenly stood and pulled her shirt over her head. Cort sat open-mouthed as she stepped out of her boots and jeans. She grinned at him, then ran and jumped into the river. Whew! she squealed when she came to the surface.

You're crazy! Cort yelled after her.

Come on chicken! she laughed.

Cort began shaking his head, but then stood and started peeling off his clothes. He dove in beside her and came up sputtering. The water was cold! Charli dunked his head under, laughing. Cort grabbed her and pulled her to him. Charli raised her hand to his face and gently kissed his lips.

I'm sorry you can't go with me, Cort. It could be a wild ride, she said.

***

Charli wiggled the gloved fingers of her left hand. She closed her eyes and kissed her turquoise necklace, then pushed her hat down tighter on her head. One last deep breath. She barely heard the voice over the loud speaker when she nodded and the gate swung open.

This little lady is on her way to making history right here in Arlington tonight folks! the announcer screamed over the P. A.

Heart Breaker barreled out of the chute into the arena. Charli was totally focused. Just her and the bull. He spun sharply to the left into her hand, then bounded back to the right. He seemed to be floating beneath her. She raked her spurs across his sides, infuriating the beast.

She's taken seven out of seven short go's this season, folks! the announcer shouted as the eight second buzzer sounded. Charli heard the buzzer, but still held on. Ten seconds! Thirteen seconds! Fifteen seconds! She just won't quit! the P. A. screamed over the roaring crowd.

A bullfighter was suddenly beside