It was amazing just how quiet it could be standing behind the chutes, even with the crowd in full voice. Jake grabbed the rail and pulled himself up onto the mounting platform as they began to load the north side chutes. The metal gate work rumbled, and shook with violent tremors as the bulls railed against their confinement. His eyes carefully regarded the mamoth bull named Long Black Train fill out all of the chute, careful to not show any shock or reservation lest one of the other riders catch it.
The large wad of Big League Chew that Jake had been working arround was pushed to the front of his mouth. Clenching the gum between his teeth Jake pulled a long strand out of his mouth working the gum into a long single ribbon of pink. When it was the desired length the gum was pulled completely free from his mouth and stuck to the top rail of the gates. The plastic container of jerky snuff was pulled out of the back pocket of his wranglers, his fingers dipping into the shredded beef and forming a ball just a tad smaller then a golf ball. Jake worked the ribbon of gum arround the snuff til it was all one golf ball sized package. Opening his mouth wide, the odd mixture was shoved deep into his cheek, where it was bitten firmly giving a pleasant flavour of sweet and salty washing over his tounge.
The plastic container was placed back in his pocket when he felt his rope man pat him on the shoulder. "Your up next Jake. Best get on it." Jake nodded and pulled on his riding gloves. "You got'er rigged up?" Jake asked as he cinched his gloves arround his wrists. It was a question out of habit more then anything as he knew that if he was next they would already have his rope wrapped and waiting on him. The Train was snorting, and pawing at the dirt in the chute looking and sounding very much just like his name sake. Jake climbed the rails and threw his leg over to the outside rails so that he was straddling the back of the bull. "Go down easy Jake this one is a big sucker, he'll bust your leg up like nothing." Jake nodded at his rope mans words. The resistol hat on his head was pulled down tight just before Jake lowered himself to sit on the back of Train. Jake grabbed his rope, and slide his right hand up and down repeatedly, getting a good stickiness from the rosin and friction. When he was satisfied the gate men and his rope man began helping him to get the bull rope tight arround the bull, and feeling good in his hand. As they worked Jake wondered just how many of the people up in the grandstands knew that the rope was tied nowhere it was all in the riders grip, just one mans hand against two thousand pounds of bucking bull that kept him on.
The rope work done there was nothing to do now but wait til the timekeeper was ready, and then nod. Suddenly everything became loud booming in his head in stereo. The PA system was belching out AC/DC "ThunderStruck" at full volume, the crowd stomping their feet on the aluminum bleachers in time with the music. Then Jake heard what he had been waiting for. "Riding out of chute gate 3 riding a bull we call the Long Black Train, from YeeHaw Junction Florida, Jake Duncan." Everything faded away again as Jake set his mind on the task at hand. Jake tucked his chin to his chest and gave a firm nod of his head to the gateman. "Let'er rip tater chip!" Jake would call out.
The gate flew open, and the Train living up to his reputation blew out hard. His head bowed nearly to the dirt floor of the arena, his hind legs kicking up a tremendous spray of red clay dirt. Jake bit down harder on his wad of gum, and jerky snuff squeezing tight on his rope working with the bull in a effort to hang on. Train spun to the left working away from Jakes hand which left Jake in a fairly good position as the clock ticked away at the eight seconds. There were two seconds to go when Train decided to turn back right violently turning Jake away from his hand, and unsettling the rider briefly. 0.08 seconds to go in the ride he was almost there Jake thought to himself, when Train launched himself up and back to the left the bull looking like a helicopter blade spinning in the air. Jake slid to the left and got way off balance, nearly losing his grip. The busser sounded signaling a complete ride just before Train landed back on the arena floor, the jolt which sent Jake spilling into the dirt.
GET UP!....RUN! The words screamed inside Jakes head over the sharp lightning bolts of pain that screamed up his shoulder. Jake followed the words advice and jumped up quickly and ran to the safety of the fence scrambling up the rungs til he could judge what Train was doing. Train despite taking a few passes at the bull fighters was ready to call it a night and had headed out the gate. Jake hopped down from the fence, and went back to reclaim his hat. Beating the brim of the hat against his chaps to knock some of the dirt off Jake heard them call out his score. When the crowd gave out a chorus of applause for his ride Jake despite the pain lifted his hat, and gave them all a big wave.
The large wad of Big League Chew that Jake had been working arround was pushed to the front of his mouth. Clenching the gum between his teeth Jake pulled a long strand out of his mouth working the gum into a long single ribbon of pink. When it was the desired length the gum was pulled completely free from his mouth and stuck to the top rail of the gates. The plastic container of jerky snuff was pulled out of the back pocket of his wranglers, his fingers dipping into the shredded beef and forming a ball just a tad smaller then a golf ball. Jake worked the ribbon of gum arround the snuff til it was all one golf ball sized package. Opening his mouth wide, the odd mixture was shoved deep into his cheek, where it was bitten firmly giving a pleasant flavour of sweet and salty washing over his tounge.
The plastic container was placed back in his pocket when he felt his rope man pat him on the shoulder. "Your up next Jake. Best get on it." Jake nodded and pulled on his riding gloves. "You got'er rigged up?" Jake asked as he cinched his gloves arround his wrists. It was a question out of habit more then anything as he knew that if he was next they would already have his rope wrapped and waiting on him. The Train was snorting, and pawing at the dirt in the chute looking and sounding very much just like his name sake. Jake climbed the rails and threw his leg over to the outside rails so that he was straddling the back of the bull. "Go down easy Jake this one is a big sucker, he'll bust your leg up like nothing." Jake nodded at his rope mans words. The resistol hat on his head was pulled down tight just before Jake lowered himself to sit on the back of Train. Jake grabbed his rope, and slide his right hand up and down repeatedly, getting a good stickiness from the rosin and friction. When he was satisfied the gate men and his rope man began helping him to get the bull rope tight arround the bull, and feeling good in his hand. As they worked Jake wondered just how many of the people up in the grandstands knew that the rope was tied nowhere it was all in the riders grip, just one mans hand against two thousand pounds of bucking bull that kept him on.
The rope work done there was nothing to do now but wait til the timekeeper was ready, and then nod. Suddenly everything became loud booming in his head in stereo. The PA system was belching out AC/DC "ThunderStruck" at full volume, the crowd stomping their feet on the aluminum bleachers in time with the music. Then Jake heard what he had been waiting for. "Riding out of chute gate 3 riding a bull we call the Long Black Train, from YeeHaw Junction Florida, Jake Duncan." Everything faded away again as Jake set his mind on the task at hand. Jake tucked his chin to his chest and gave a firm nod of his head to the gateman. "Let'er rip tater chip!" Jake would call out.
The gate flew open, and the Train living up to his reputation blew out hard. His head bowed nearly to the dirt floor of the arena, his hind legs kicking up a tremendous spray of red clay dirt. Jake bit down harder on his wad of gum, and jerky snuff squeezing tight on his rope working with the bull in a effort to hang on. Train spun to the left working away from Jakes hand which left Jake in a fairly good position as the clock ticked away at the eight seconds. There were two seconds to go when Train decided to turn back right violently turning Jake away from his hand, and unsettling the rider briefly. 0.08 seconds to go in the ride he was almost there Jake thought to himself, when Train launched himself up and back to the left the bull looking like a helicopter blade spinning in the air. Jake slid to the left and got way off balance, nearly losing his grip. The busser sounded signaling a complete ride just before Train landed back on the arena floor, the jolt which sent Jake spilling into the dirt.
GET UP!....RUN! The words screamed inside Jakes head over the sharp lightning bolts of pain that screamed up his shoulder. Jake followed the words advice and jumped up quickly and ran to the safety of the fence scrambling up the rungs til he could judge what Train was doing. Train despite taking a few passes at the bull fighters was ready to call it a night and had headed out the gate. Jake hopped down from the fence, and went back to reclaim his hat. Beating the brim of the hat against his chaps to knock some of the dirt off Jake heard them call out his score. When the crowd gave out a chorus of applause for his ride Jake despite the pain lifted his hat, and gave them all a big wave.