Leroy Watches Jr. & the Badass Bull (Bloodsong Series) Read Online Free Page A

Austin had been his fan for years. They were planning a retirement ceremony and party for him. He’d spent forty years in the rodeo arena, saving cowboys’ lives. Maybe the family could meet an American hero. The family was going to Las Vegas and the Golden Olden Days Rodeo. That was final.
     
    He picked a dude ranch on the outskirts of town, booking a cabin for him and Sylvia, and one right next door for Hannah and Jimmy. He planned on riding horses with the kids. Maybe he could talk Sylvia into going, too. They were bound for Las Vegas!
     
    Austin could hardly keep his enthusiasm in check when he told his family. They’d love what he’d planned. The four of them gathered in the living room.
    “I’ve planned something special for spring break. We’re going on a vacation.”
    They perked up at that, eyes widening. They sat at attention.
    “We’re going to a dude ranch near Las Vegas!” He waited for their reaction. He didn’t have to wait long.
    “I don’t want to go to a dude ranch. I want to go to Malibu and Hollywood. I want to meet movie stars.” Hannah gave him one of those “you idiot” looks that only teenagers can level at their parents.
    “Las Vegas is the sleaze capital of the universe. Anyone who watches TV knows that. All these creepy old people with cups of nickels on the slots. The music sucks.” Jimmy got up. “Why didn’t you ask us?” He glowered at Austin. “And dad, since you asked, everyone calls me J now. Or J-man. You should call me that, too.” Jimmy walked out the front door.
    “Why didn’t you ask us where we’d like to go?” Sylvia was composed. A little too composed. “I assume you’ve paid for everything and we can’t change anything.”
    “Yes. I thought you’d love it there. The place we’re staying has horses. We get our own cabins. It’s not sleazy at all. Here, look at this,” passed the brochure to his wife and daughter.
    “The Yipee-I-O Ranch?” Hannah said, staring at the brochure with her lips pulled back in horror. “Yippee-I-O? That’s like Roy Rogers, dad. It’s dopey. Look at that stupid neon horse. It’s like the 1950s.”
    “We’re going to Las Vegas.” He flashed his “I’m the toughest FBI agent in the world look” at them. Neither Hannah nor Sylvia spoke again.
     

 

    5
    MY KINGDOM FOR A HORSE
     
     
    The goddam rodeo was a pain in the ass. If he was going to get to his grandpa’s retreat, he had to win a championship. For that, he had to have a horse. An excellent horse, trained for the events he would entering. Leroy had one or two on the ranch that might do the job, but they weren’t ready. He couldn’t get his own horses to Las Vegas, anyway, with the trailer’s busted axle. He didn’t know anyone on the rodeo circuit who would lend him a horse. Someone with a horse good enough to win wouldn’t loan it to him; he was the competition.
    He didn’t have enough money to do anything. The trip was going to cost a lot, whether he won or not. Gas to and from the ranch to Las Vegas in their old camper would be a bundle. He’d have to pay the entry fees for the classes. They could sleep in the camper, but what about food? They both ate a lot. At least it would be warm in Vegas. The camper had zero insulation.
    His dad would have make $500 a performance, $1,000 for the two days. This was an amazing amount in 1997. It was his dad’s farewell performance. Bullfighters took a lot of risks and got paid well for it. But his dad wouldn’t get paid until after the rodeo was over.
    Where could he get a horse? Where could he keep it while he was there? He couldn’t afford a stall at the Thomas & Mack Center. And what about hay?
    He wondered how he’d keep his promises to his father and grandfather. Leroy kept his mind as far away from the horror of getting on a plane as he could .
     
    “How ‘bout if you get a wild horse and train him up? How long will it take you to train a horse? Using everything you got?”
    Leroy had his hands