Home of His Own by T. Chase (classic fiction .TXT) 📗

then step back. Cody pushed his cowboy hat down, crept up tight to where his hand held his bull rope and nodded. The gate man yanked open the chute and Brody got to see what the woman was talking about.

The large Brahman cross exploded from the chute like a demon escaping hell. Brody swore the ground shook when the beast’s front feet landed. His back feet cleared the top of the gate and Brody knew Cody was in trouble. The kid jerked forward as Tank flung his head back. Tony would tell Brody that all the riders down on the arena floor heard the crack as Cody’s face met the top of Tank’s head.

Right spin and Cody fell into the well, unconscious. Brody jumped to his feet as Cody dangled from the back of the monster, feet dragging the ground. The bullfighters were doing what they were paid to do and that was to get Cody’s hand free of the rope.

Tank wasn’t letting any man close to him.

Brody winced when he saw the animal step on Cody’s leg. It had to be broken.

Cody’s limp body was flung left and right like a rag doll being tossed by a child. Brody shot a glance over to see Tony perched on the gate, ready to leap into the arena. He wanted to shout at his lover, but knew even if Tony could hear him, it wouldn’t stop the man from trying to save Cody’s life.

Tank chased one of the bullfighters to the fence. The man climbed to the top rail, avoiding the bull’s horns. Tank swerved, pinning Cody between his body and the fence.

That move allowed the other bullfighters to jerk on the tail of the rope, freeing Cody’s hand. The third fighter got Tank to follow him, leaving behind the broken bloodied Cody.

Tony was in the arena and racing towards Cody the minute the cowboy’s body hit the dirt. Brody clenched his hands and stuffed them in his pockets. Anything to hide the trembling.

The black bull stopped in the middle of the arena. Its head held high as he surveyed the destruction he’d wrought. The silence was deafening. No one moved. In a weird way, it was like all the people that night existed merely as secondary characters to the main star. Tank’s Reward snorted.

“Get the medics out here now,” Tony yelled.

The tableau broke and the demon’s head snapped around. Brody wondered if the bull understood what Tony said, but more than likely, the beast knew men on two legs posed no threat to him.

“Fuck,” Brody whispered as Tank’s Reward spun around and charged the two vulnerable men huddled on the dirt.

*

Tony hunched over Cody’s prone body. He would do everything he could to protect his friend. The ground shook with each stride the charging hamburger took. Tony didn’t have his vest on so things could go bad if he caught a horn.

A gasp rose from the crowd. Peeking from under his arm, he saw one of the bullfighters go cart wheeling through the air. Tony held his breath, waiting for the man to land. Amazingly, the man managed to land on his feet and keep running. Another of the fighters threw his hat into the bull’s face. Tank tilted his head, trying to hook the straw creation. Tony drew a breath as Tank got closer. Nothing the other men did distracted him from his target. He braced to catch a horn or get kicked by a hoof.

Hot air bathed him when an explosive grunt sounded a few feet away from him.

Glancing up, he saw the mounted rider driving Tank back. The man must have ridden his horse into Tank’s side, forcing the bull to move away. He heard the rattling groan as Cody tried to breathe.

Tony swallowed, staring down at the blood covered face of his friend. Cody didn’t look recognizable. There was so much blood and damage done to just his face alone. He didn’t know what other injuries Cody might have sustained being flung around like he was.

The doctors skidded to a halt and dropped next to him. They pushed him out of the way while they worked to stabilize Cody. A brace was wrapped around Cody’s neck to keep from causing any more damage to the man’s back. He helped them put his friend on a stretcher and it was only as he was running out of the arena, following the EMTs that he thought about Brody.

He glanced up into the stands. Brody was standing up and making his way to the aisle. They looked at each other and Brody nodded. His lover understood he was going to the hospital with his friend.

‘Meet you there,’ Brody mouthed at him.

He grinned feebly.

* * * *

Tony gripped his knees. Waiting to hear about Cody was difficult. He jumped to his feet and started to pace. Brody sat quiet and still. Tony couldn’t understand how his lover could be so calm. A phone rang and Brody pulled his own cell phone out of his pocket.

Tony’s hands shook. God, he wanted a smoke, but he didn’t want to risk missing the doctor if the man came looking for him. He pointed to the hall. He’d go out there. His restlessness was probably annoying the other people in the room.

Still on the phone, Brody followed him out. He focused on Brody’s conversation.

“St. Martin again?” Brody’s blue eyes focused on Tony.

He managed a slight smile. His nerves were getting the best of him, but he wasn’t falling apart yet. Cody had been a good friend and traveling partner. One of the few riders who knew Tony was gay. Cody had been surprised at first, but hadn’t allowed it to ruin their friendship. Tony rarely allowed people close, so when he did, he hated to see them hurt.

“I can’t. I don’t care if he requested me, Morgan.” Brody’s hand trailed over Tony’s arm as he paced past where his lover leaned against the wall, phone pressed to his ear.

“Send Joe. He’s a good guy.