Page 48 of Tame Our Wild

A light breeze floats by, stirring the memories. My eyes snap shut, my body swaying involuntarily.

At this point, I wouldn’t be surprised if the whiskey is flowing through my veins at a rate that should stop my heart. But all it does is spur on the vision of a sunny midsummer day. The old practice arena and chutes, currently blanketed in black night, shift and warp around me into lush fields of green, with pops of yellow from the flowers overtaking the pastures like they do every summer.

“He may have hated that we wanted to be bull riders, but I swear Dad was made for this life.” My twin laughs beside me, shaking her head in amusement at the group of men loading the bulls into the pens, laughing and drinking beer like it’s a barbecue party and not our usual weekend practice session.

Dad’s been so supportive of our riding careers, and I know I’m not alone when I say that all I want to do is keep making him proud. There was nothing like seeing the flash of pride in his eyes when Paisley and I walked away from the intermediate youth rodeo last season, placing in first and second place.

Of course, I placed first, but rubbing that in my sister’s face would land my ass in the dirt faster than being bucked off a bull.

I may be gaining more muscle than I can keep up with, but Paisley will never be afraid to call me on my shit and put me in my place. I swear she kicked me around in our crib when we were younger, too.

The start of the new youth intermediate season may be a few weeks away, but this is the year our work really matters. We’re seventeen, but the minor league is right around the corner when we turn eighteen. Paisley and I are determined to work our asses off to make it to the PBR as the first set of twins. Plus, for Paisley, I know she’s determined to make it, since females competing at the professional level are rare in the sport.

“Cols and Pais,” my dad calls. We look up, watching him walk toward the house. “Mom made some lemonade and snacks for everyone before we start. You two want to join us?”

On any other day, Paisley would shake her head with me, but she knows she can’t practice today. Then she glances to the side with her lips twisted thoughtfully, peering at her horse grazing in the field right outside the practice pen. The fields are a lush, vibrant green, dotted with wildflowers and the sunflowers that have recently popped. I can only imagine that not being able to ride her horse, Cosmos, is harder on her than not being able to bull ride, since those two are inseparable.

“Go ahead,” I call. “I’m going to stretch and get my gear on.” I need to get in the zone. Get in my mental headspace for this training session. My coach said that was one of my issues last year.

I know how hard sitting out has been on Paisley since that bull threw her headfirst into the fence last week. It scared the shit out of me and everyone, but luckily, it was only a concussion. As much as she hates sitting on the sideline for two weeks, she still needs rest.

Unfortunately, my sister is competitive as hell. She points out everything I’m doing wrong, since she can’t ride and is forced to watch. Honestly, I can’t wait till she can get back at it and stop pestering me.

“Don’t do anything until we get back,” Dad says, giving us a stern look.

“Yes, sir,” we respond simultaneously.

Paisley turns to me and rolls her eyes before lowering to sit cross-legged in the dirt in the middle of our practice area. The light breeze whips her hair from side to side under her cowgirl hat.

“This sucks! I wanted to start this season off strong, but that’s not going to happen if I’m missing this many practices.”

I lower myself to the ground to sit in front of her, propping my arms on my knees. “You’ll be fine. You were outriding all those guys last season, and a break isn’t going to hurt you.”

Her head slants, the sunflower charm necklace I gave her for our sixteenth birthday glittering in the sunlight. “Yeah, and while I’m sitting here, those guys are getting better with each practice. Don’t you remember our dream?”

Like it’s so easy to forget. All I want in life is to stand on that platform and have earned the world title, the buckle, and the million dollars that comes with being the best in the world.

And if it’s not me, I want it to be her.

That’s all we want in life—to be side by side in the rankings and chase the thrill of the ride and everything that follows that life.

“I remember the dream,” I answer.

“Then I should be practicing right now,” she argues.

I kick her boot with mine. “If I were in your place, you would be telling me the same thing.”

“No, you would be begging me to help you find a way to practice when Mom and Dad aren’t around because you are hardheaded.”

“So are you,” I joke.

She grins arrogantly. “Weird, it’s like we’re twins or something.”

I’ll never get tired of this constant joking between us, because behind the teasing is a whole lot of love and a connection that nobody will ever be able to sever between us.

A grunt has both of our heads turning to see the black bull waiting to be loaded into the chute.

“We’re almost professionals,” Paisley says, her eyes not leaving the bull. “We know what we’re doing.” Her head snaps toward me, those aqua eyes pleading in a way that is already preparing me for what she’s about to say. “You can help me with one practice ride. Mom and Dad don’t have to know.”