Total pages in book: 97
Estimated words: 95273 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 476(@200wpm)___ 381(@250wpm)___ 318(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 95273 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 476(@200wpm)___ 381(@250wpm)___ 318(@300wpm)
When Brady glances our way, his face transforms into the biggest smile.
“Excuse me, I need to hug my family.” He rushes to us and pulls us in. He’s sweaty and filthy—it’s amazing what only eight seconds on a bull will do—but I don’t care.
“I’m so proud of you,” I yell into his ear. “So damn proud of you, Cowboy.”
“Thank you,” he says and kisses me right on the mouth, for the whole world to see. I don’t pay any attention to the cameras flashing around us. “I love you so much.”
“I love you.”
“Me, too!” Daisy’s jumping up and down. “Me, too, Daddy!”
Brady lifts her in his arms, and then we’re surrounded by the rest of the family with hugs and congratulations.
“Come on,” Brady yells out. “I want my whole family on that stage with me.”
“Aren’t you Dirks Johnson’s widow?” I hear behind me as a reporter approaches Amy. “Ma’am, I’d love to get a word from you.”
“Later,” Amy says. “I’ll stick around to talk after the ceremony.”
“You don’t have to talk to them,” Brady assures her, but she just smiles and shakes her head.
“I want to. Dirks would be so proud of you, Brady. I should say something on his behalf.”
It’s not often that I see Brady at a loss for words, but Amy has managed to render him speechless.
The next hour is a blur of excitement. And when Brady is finally awarded the trophy and the coveted gold buckle, along with the million-dollar check the size of a couch that makes Daisy’s eyes bug out, the arena quiets so they can hear his speech.
“Wow,” he says and takes a deep breath, looking out at the crowd. “You guys have been with me for a long time. Through a lot of injuries and a lot of heartache. Some great rides.”
He waits for the applause to die down.
“This season was a roller coaster ride, but I’m grateful that I managed to stay healthy enough to make it through to the end. As always, I need to thank the fans, who never fail to wow me with their dedication to this sport. My family is truly the best. I love them with all my heart, and I’m grateful for their support through what is always a chaotic season.”
He turns to me and grins, and I get butterflies in my stomach.
“This lady right here is the best thing that’s ever happened to me, and I can’t thank you enough for everything you bring to my life every day.”
He thanks Daisy in the cutest way ever that has tears coming to my eyes, and then he pauses and looks over at Amy, swallowing hard.
“Someone is missing here today. When I started this sport, I met a guy named Dirks Johnson.”
The arena explodes in applause, and Amy wipes a tear from her cheek.
“He was my best friend. Probably the best damn bull rider that I’ve ever seen. That man was talented. But more than that, he was a good man. A devoted husband and a loving father. The best friend I’d ever had, aside from my brothers. Dirks was the kind of guy who gave 100 percent of himself in everything he did, and that included getting on a bull. And it cost him. He’s not here with us today as I stand here to accept this honor and to announce that this was my final ride.”
He has to stop talking as the deafening noise surrounds us. Finally, he gestures for everyone to quiet, and they do.
“I’m stepping aside so that young riders can do what they love, and that’s how it should be. How it’s supposed to be. I wish my friend was here to retire with me so we could have a beer and talk about the old days.” He smiles faintly, then shrugs a shoulder. “Thank you for an amazing career, for allowing me to do what I love for so many years. This was one hell of a way to go out.”
He passes the microphone back to the announcer and then wraps his arm around my shoulders and buries his lips in my hair.
“Let’s go,” he says. “I’m starving.”
After celebrating with the family for a while, Brady and I decided to take Daisy back to our suite to order room service and relax.
He needs to ice the ribs that he tweaked again. Of course, he was stoic and didn’t let on that they were killing him.
My stubborn cowboy.
“This is a good burger,” Daisy says as she takes a bite.
We’re all sitting cross-legged on the king-sized bed, our plates in front of us, enjoying our meal.
“I almost forgot something,” Brady says and walks out of the room for a second.
Daisy and I share a look, but she shrugs as if to say, I don’t know.
When he returns, he sits on the bed again and grins at me.