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said. “Too slow to catch worms.”
    “Don’t spoil his fun yet,” Cody said. “He’ll be singing a different tune when he’s saddle-sore and banged up some.”
    “He’s probably a city boy, studying up on that-there cowboy lingo. Ain’t we gonna laugh when he lands on his back in the dust,” Travis replied. “Well, which one would you slap a saddle on? I’m taking Tommy.”
    “Bobby Blue’s my baby,” Cody said. “If he can get over himself and ride, I think he’s tough enough.”
    “My money’s on Zane. He may be quiet but he’s taking it all in. Plus he got first pick of the bunks while the rest of them were arguing. Good strategy,” Johnny said, quelling his irritation at Cody’s amusement about Bobby Blue. The kid was probably good-looking enough, but it was overshadowed by his being a prick.
    “That leaves Aubrey for my man RJ,” Travis said. “Gentlemen, the bets are down. May the best cowboy win.”
    “Let’s go wash up for supper,” Cody said. “And keep a straight face in front of them.”
    “Straight face, eh?”
    “You know what I mean.”
    Johnny followed him into the big house, where they took turns at the kitchen sink. Cody’s limp came back as soon as the boys were out of sight, and Johnny found it secretly entertaining that he’d tried to hide it. But a couple days off from riding had already helped, and Johnny intended to try to keep Cody off a bull’s back as long as he could. He knew Cody would have to show off for his students at some point, but hopefully it would come later in the week.
    Cody’s dad set a pitcher of milk on the table while Val went out to ring the triangle. “What do you think of this lot, son?”
    “It’s going to be a fun week,” Cody said. “Here they come. Hope Ma made enough.”
    “You know your mother, son. She either made too much or way too much, as usual. I don’t think anyone is going to starve.”

    RJ SAT on the top rail of the fence, chewing on his toothpick and looking bored. Travis leaned against the gate, his arms crossed and his hat pulled low over his eyes. Johnny had his elbows hooked onto the rail, casually leaning back against the fence, looking mighty tasty to Cody.
    He had lined up the four boys so they were looking into the sun while he had it on his back. It was all strategy, to see if any of them would shift around so they weren’t squinting into the light.
    “So, you wanna be a bull rider.”
    “I am a bull rider already.” Bobby Blue thumped his chest. “Don’t know what you got to tell me that I don’t already know.”
    Ignoring the kid’s brashness, Cody went on. “First of all, there ain’t a bull that can’t be rode and there ain’t a rider that can’t be throwed.”
    “Whoa! Say it isn’t so! I ain’t never heard that old shit before!” Bobby Blue crossed his arms and scowled in disgust, darting a mean glance toward Travis.
    “Would you shut the fuck up?” Aubrey exclaimed in exasperation.
    “Would both of you shut up! If I wanted to watch you two wave your ropes around, I would just shoot myself,” Tommy said. “Or maybe you.”
    Zane watched quietly but didn’t say a word.
    Bobby Blue opened his mouth to retort but Cody deftly cut him off. “Just so you know. Inevitably even the rankest bull will be topped, just as sure you’ll all be on your faces breathing dust at some point, with the wind knocked clean out of you. Happens to the best of us.”
    “Yeah, I saw you at Toledo when that pussy bull put you down,” Bobby Blue said.
    Johnny pushed off the fence, both hands curled into fists as he glared at Bobby Blue, who ignored him as if he weren’t there.
    Calmly, Cody agreed. “Yeah, I eat the dust plenty of times too. It comes with the territory. Even the greats in our sport spent their fair share of time on their backs with no score to show for it. You can count on being thrown, you just don’t know when, so safety comes first. This morning we’re going to cover equipment. Safety