Page 1 of Leading the Blind
Chapter One
“Jesus fucking Christ! Open your goddamn eyes next time! That bull damn near rang your bell.” Bax shook his arm, and Jason swore that made the world swim before his useless fucking eyes again.
“Andy Baxter, you’d best back the fuck off. This ain’t the time.” He’d know Coke’s voice anywhere, the bullfighter as much a part of his family as anyone ever had been.
“Gramps, don’t.” Jason Scott leaned against the rail, breathing hard. The last thing he needed was Pa and Ma MacGillicuddy freaking out because he’d lost his cookies at a bull riding. Bull riding fans were a specific breed, and it didn’t matter one bit whether it was the big show or a tiny two-gate sheriff’s posse arena. They all talked.
“Well, someone has to,” Coke ground out. “He’s being an ass.”
“He needs to keep his eyes open.” But Bax lowered his voice, thank God.
“I know. I got dirt in ‘em. It’s not like I can wipe them, Bax.”
“For eight seconds, you can suck it up.”
“Right. ‘Cause you were always fucking perfect.”
Bax grabbed his shirtfront and shook him. “Every. Fucking. Ride.”
“Stop it,” Coke snapped, and they stopped. Gramps rarely spoke in that tone. When he did, well, they listened. “Y’all are being buttheads, and I don’t need this shit, youcomprende? Folks got phones.”
“Sorry,” Bax murmured, which made Jason snort.
“Don’t tease the bull, son. Tell Andy you’re sorry.”
Jason blew out a hard breath. “You know I am, butthead.”
“Good boys. Come on now. We got to get out of the public.” Coke tugged at his arm. Hell, Coke had to get back to work.
“Right. I’m going to get out of here, Gramps. I sure as shit ain’t making the short go.”
“Okay, son.” Coke clapped him on the back. “Be good.”
Bax laughed. “Right. He’ll be trying to drive off in the truck soon.”
“I’d do better than some.” His head was starting to pound like there was a damn mariachi band in there, playing away.
“You did okay last time,” Bax agreed, taking his arm and leading him out of the arena. “Until you didn’t.”
“Story of my life.” He rode like a champion, until he didn’t. He could see, until he couldn’t. He had a whole life, until it was over. Now? He was fixin’ to try and take some of it back.
“Hey, I just want you to be safe.”
“I know. I just want you to not have to babysit my ass forever.”
“I’m not your babysitter.” Bax lowered his voice. “I’m yours, and we’re in this together, Mini.”
Jason felt his fucking shoulders come down from around his ears.Okay. Yeah. ‘Together’ he could get behind.A burden?No, that he couldn’t do. “Right. Sorry. You want a beer?”An aspirin? Something to stop this pounding?
“Sure. Sounds good.” Bax led him out of the arena, the dirt changing to concrete.
He tried to make sure his face was thunderous, keeping anyone away who might want to talk. He was getting better at that part—the talking to fans—but not much. Right now he thought he might die if someone stopped them. Bax kept him moving fast, and soon enough he was in the cab of their truck, the sudden quiet shocking his senses.
“I’m taking you to the travel trailer, okay?” Bax sounded either pissed or scared. He wasn’t sure which.
“Okay.” Jason didn’t want to fight no more, so he folded his hands and sat quiet as a mouse.
They didn’t play music, they just drove, and when they got to the gravel road, Jason knew they were at the weird little campground.
